Chapter 17

Parking the motorcycle up near the garage door, Xander heads into the house to get his keys and leave the keys to the bike.  He stops in shock looking at the couch in the living room as Buffy has Faith’s head in her lap and is gently stroking her fingers through her hair.  ‘What the fuck?’  Xander wonders to himself before turning as Tara taps him on the shoulder. 

“Here’s your keys, Xander.  Thank you.”  Tara smiles softly at the young man.  “I’m sorry for getting an attitude earlier.”  Looking over at Buffy and Faith, her eyes fill with worry.  “We’ve got to do something about Willow.  I honestly didn’t think she would physically harm anyone, but I guess I was wrong.”

Xander looks at Faith and Buffy on the couch and back to Tara.  “Tara… I kind of thought you and Buffy…”  Trailing off he looks in Tara’s eyes worriedly. 

Smiling gently at Xander, Tara quietly offers up a quick comment.  “You aren’t wrong, Xander.”  Looking back at her lover, and hopefully soon to be lover, she looks back at Xander.  “It’s a little different dynamic now.  Do you think you’ll be okay with that?”

Xander blinks in confusion and looks from the two slayers back to Tara and back again.  “Okay, what the hell am I missing here?”  He asks quietly.

Tara can’t help but giggle.  “I’m sorry, Xander.  All three of us are in a relationship together.  Or will be when Faith is healed up enough.”

Xander stands there still not quite getting it, then his eyes widen in surprise looking at Tara.  As he continues thinking about it for a moment, his eyes start to glaze over.

Trying not to laugh as she watches the emotions crossing Xander’s face Tara starts to blush as his mouth opens and a little bit of drool escapes.  “Xander, go get Anya from the shop.”  Tara laughs smacking him in the shoulder.

“What?”  Xander shakes his head looking at the blonde and then blushes when he realizes what he had been thinking.  “Okay, get Anya, go home.  I can do that.”  Turning to leave, he’s stopped by Tara’s voice.

“Do you think you’ll be okay with this?”  Tara asks quietly.

Xander looks at her before grinning widely.  “I don’t know, Tara.  Three hot chicks, together?  It might be too much for me to handle.”  Softening the grin he looks her in the eyes and seriously states.  “Do you love them?”  At Tara’s nod he smiles softly.  “If you guys love each other I guess that’s all that matters.  Who am I to judge anyone?  I think I’ve done enough of that.  Plus I’m in love with an ex-vengeance demon, I think I need to grow up and let everyone else live their own lives.”

Reaching up and kissing Xander gently on the cheek Tara pulls away smiling.  “Thank you, Xander.”

Blushing and looking down, Xander mumbles.  “You’re welcome, Tara.”  Before heading out of the house.

***

Dawn waves goodbye to Janice and her mom as they leave from dropping her off.  Turning and heading into the house she turns to go in the living room and sees Faith laying there with her leg propped up on a pillow and reading one of Tara’s text books.  Dropping her book bag on the floor she rushes over to the woman and kneels beside her.  “What happened?”

“Willow happened.”  Tara states coming from the kitchen with a couple pills and a bottle of water.  Handing them to Faith, Tara sits down gingerly beside the brunette on the couch and gently runs her fingers through her hair.  “She attacked Faith.  I had to stitch her leg up.  It should heal in a couple days.” 

Dawn pales looking down at the bandages on the slayer’s thigh and then back up at Tara.  “Why is she doing this?”

Looking with concern at Dawn, Tara reaches out with her other hand and lays it gently on the young girl’s shoulder.  “I really don’t know why, Dawnie.  I can just guess.” 

“Why do you think she’s doing all this?”  Dawn whispers watching as Tara’s eyes sadden.

“I think it all boils down to the power.  She wants to control everything and everyone.  She thinks of us more as possessions than thinking, breathing humans with our own choices to make.”  Tara sighs looking down.  “I don’t think we’ll be able to reach her, Dawnie.  I think she may have already crossed the line.  When she physically hurt Faith….”  Closing her eyes in pain Tara shakes her head and a tear slips down her cheek as she feels Faith wrap her arm around her waist, pulling her tight against her side.  

“You need to make sure to be careful, Little D.”  Faith huskily states looking seriously at the teen.  “I don’t think she’ll actually physically harm the rest of you.  I think because of our past history she doesn’t care if she hurts me.” 

Buffy smiles sadly at her family as she comes down the stairs.   “Unfortunately Faith is probably right.  There never was any love lost between the two even when Faith first came here, before everything else happened.”

“That’s because she was jealous of your relationship with Faith.”  Tara offers up the answer quietly.

“What?”  Buffy asks sitting down at the other end of the couch, gently placing a hand on Faith, rubbing her thumb across the ball of her foot. 

“From what little she told me before about what happened, I got the feeling that Willow knew how you felt for Faith and was jealous.”  Making eye contact with Buffy, Tara continues.  “She felt like Faith was stealing you away from her and she didn’t like it.  I think she might have gone out of her way to cause any kind of antagonism between you two that she could.  It’s probably nothing that you would even be able to recall now, but I think this has been brewing inside Willow for a long time.”  Looking down at Faith, she smiles softly.  “It could have just been a simple word or two placed in a conversation that would make you take something out of context.  It wouldn’t take much.”

Buffy and Faith look at each other, wondering if Tara could be right.  “She’s been pretty dead on with everything else, she could be right about this.”  Buffy states to Faith.

Faith nods her head looking back up at Tara.  “I guess it would have been easy to drive a wedge between us back then.  Okay guys, enough sad and depressing talk.  What’s for dinner?”

Laughing at Faith, Tara reaches down and kisses her quickly on the mouth.  “I haven’t laid anything out for dinner and unless everyone wants soup, I guess we better order out.”

“I ate at Janice’s when we were doing our Science homework.”  Dawn relaxes somewhat as the tension seems to ease in the room.  “I think I’ll head upstairs and finish the project I was working on.”  Dawn grabs her book bag and quickly heads upstairs. 

“She really is okay with this, isn’t she?”  Buffy whispers watching her sister run up the stairs.

“Yes, she is.”   Tara smiles softly at Buffy.  “I think she’s pretty much like everyone else.  She just wants everyone to be happy.  Even if we are sick puppies.”  Tara smirks at Buffy.

“I’m going to pay for that comment, aren’t I?”  Buffy groans, rubbing her chin before smiling. 

“For a very, very long time.”  Tara grins.  “What do you guys want to eat?”

“Well, we had planned on ordering a pizza, I guess we still could?”  Buffy suggests.

Looking at Faith and seeing her nod Tara stands up.  “Any requests for toppings?”

“Meat!”  Faith yells out, making Tara and Buffy laugh.  

“One Carnivore’s Delight for Faith.”  Tara jokes looking at Buffy. 

“I’ll take anything, I’m easy.”  Buffy smiles up at Tara.

Tara walks quickly over to Buffy.  “I know you’re easy.”  She growls lowly, before kissing her passionately.  Finally pulling back after a few minutes she grins at the slayer’s dazed expression. 

“Hey!  What about me?”  Faith whines slightly. 

“Are you trying to say you’re easy, too Faith?”  Tara smirks easing up beside the slayer and kneeling on the carpet beside the couch looking at Faith.

“If I get a kiss like that, hell yeah.”  Faith smirks back at Tara and then moans as her lips are captured in a pressing firm kiss.  As she moans, Tara’s tongue slips in battling gently with hers before being chased back into her own mouth by Faith taking control of the kiss.  Faith growls deeply as Tara captures and sucks firmly on her tongue, flicking it lightly at the same time. 

Pulling out of the kiss Tara grins at Faith.  “Let me get the pizzas ordered.  Then I’ll want to double check your leg and put some ointment on it before seeing if it needs to be wrapped back up.” 

Both slayers watch the witch head into the kitchen before looking back at each other and smiling.  “That woman can damn well suck the paint off the side of the house!”  Faith growls lowly.

Eyes becoming unfocused Buffy nods her head.  “Oh, yeah.”  Shifting slightly at the arousal coursing through her at the thought of how well Tara can suck, Buffy groans deeply.

“Damn, B!  That good?”  Faith questions watching Buffy and smelling the arousal coming off the other slayer, feeling her own arousal kicking up another notch in response.

Leaning in to whisper quietly, Buffy rumbles lowly.  “She made me come like four times last night, Faith.” 

Eyes darkening in response, Faith groans quietly.  “I’m about to pop here, with the damn teasing and everything, B.” 

It hits Buffy that Faith probably is, since she hadn’t been with anyone since coming here, and that was one thing Faith wasn’t shy about before.  “I’m sorry, Faith.  I wasn’t even thinking.”  Shaking her head at her own selfishness, Buffy frowns.

“Yo!  B.  It ain’t your fault.  Just all the teasing before was fine, but here lately with the kissing and touching it’s just kind of keeping me on edge.  Now…”  Faith trails off closing her eyes and taking a deep breath.  “Now, thinking about it, it kind of pushed me almost over the edge, you know?”

“I’m still sorry.”  Buffy whispers looking to see if Tara had come back in from the kitchen yet.  “Let me see what’s taking Tara so long.”  Buffy gets up and runs her hand through Faith’s hair before heading into the kitchen.

“’Kay.”  Faith shifts, to get more comfortable.  Picking at the bandages Faith pulls the tape back to ease the bandage off and look at the stitch job the witch had done.  ‘Damn, girl can make nice tight small stitches.’  Faith thinks checking them out, lightly running her finger over the wound.

***

“Hey, are you okay?”  Buffy asks coming into the kitchen seeing Tara standing at the kitchen sink staring out the window.

“Hmm?”  Tara turns her head slightly to look at Buffy.

Walking up behind the witch, Buffy wraps her arms around her waist and rests her chin on her shoulder.  “Are you okay?”

Placing her hands on top Buffy’s arms, Tara looks out at the darkening sky.  “She could have easily killed her, Buffy.  I can’t let Willow hurt any of you.”

“Tara, we can’t let you take her out.  There has to be some other way to get control of her.”  Buffy whispers quietly. 

“It doesn’t look good, Buffy.”  Tara clenches her jaw.  “I won’t let her hurt you guys.  If something like this happens again…”  Shaking her head Tara closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. 

“Let’s not think about this right now.”  Buffy whispers quietly before placing a kiss on the witch’s neck.  “Right now we need to think about a certain horny slayer that’s lying on the couch in the living room.”  Buffy smirks at Tara.  “I think you might want to drag her ass up the stairs when I go on patrol and help her out.”

Tara snorts back a laugh.  “What were you two discussing or doing while I was in here ordering the pizzas?”

“Oh, we were just talking somewhat.”  Buffy smiles as Tara turns in her arms and looks at her with a raised eyebrow.  “Okay, we were discussing you.  Your kissing abilities, among other things.”

“Really?  And what other things were you discussing while I was making sure you two are going to be fed?”   Tara smirks at the fidgeting slayer. 

Blushing a deep red, Buffy looks down and mumbles extremely lowly. “Sucking ability and making me come four times last night.”

Not quite catching what Buffy said, Tara leans in and asks.  “What was that?”

“Tara!”  Buffy whines, making the witch laugh.

“Okay, I won’t make you say it.”  Tara grins before gently brushing her lips across Buffy’s.  Pulling back and smiling into the slayer’s eyes, Tara reaches up behind her neck and pulls her into a deep kiss, flicking her tongue repeatedly against Buffy’s before swirling it around gently.  Finally pulling back, panting quietly, Tara rests her forehead against Buffy’s.  “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”  Buffy whispers hugging Tara tightly to her.  “Better check on Faith’s leg before the pizza gets here.”

Chuckling Tara pulls away gently before tapping her finger on the slayer’s nose.  “I’ll check on Faith’s leg, among other things tonight.” 

“Hmmm.  Makes me wish I didn’t have to go on patrol.  I would kind of like to watch that.  I learn well from watching.”  Buffy huskily states, making Tara laugh.

“You are hopeless.  And you’ll definitely get your chance.”  Tara smiles.

“My chance at watching or doing?”  Buffy questions smirking.

Walking towards the living room Tara smirks back over her shoulder.  “Both.”  Making Buffy laugh quietly. 

***

“Faith!”  Tara exclaims coming into the living room, seeing the slayer poking at her wound.  “Stop that.  What do I have to do sit on you to make you behave?” 

Looking up at Tara practically yelling her name Faith leers at the rest of the comment.  “Oh, yeah you can sit on me to make me behave, come on over here.”

Rolling her eyes at the slayer, Tara sets the supplies on the coffee table and sits down by Faith’s knees.  She reaches out to look at the wound.  “Your slayer healing has kicked in.”  Tara sees that the skin looks like it’s already knitting together nicely.  “Some redness around the stitches, but that’s to be expected.  Hopefully between your slayer healing and the small stitches, you shouldn’t scar.”  Reaching over for the healing salve, Tara gently works it into the cut. 

“Tara.”  Faith huskily calls her name. 

Looking up at Faith, Tara stops the light motion.  “What is it?” 

Reaching up with her hand, Faith pulls the witch down on top of her and kisses her deeply.  Pulling back a short distance Faith places small kisses up Tara’s jaw line to her ear.  “I want you.”  Faith hoarsely whispers before kissing her way down her neck, nibbling at her pulse point before sucking gently.

Groaning at the sensations Faith is causing, Tara reaches up grasping the Dark Slayer’s hand, squeezing tightly.  “Faith, I don’t think… oh Goddess… the couch is a good place for this.”  Tara pants out roughly. 

Scraping her teeth over the witch’s neck, Faith sucks down hard on the soft skin, moaning loudly.   “Don’t care.”  Faith mumbles as she pulls away from the skin that had garnered her attention.  Looking at the mark on the witch’s neck she smirks.  “Ooops.”

Sitting back up slowly, Tara looks at Faith with passion-filled eyes.  “How come I got this feeling I’m going to have a mark on my neck for a week?” 

Looking at Tara with raised eyebrows Faith shrugs.  “I don’t know what gives you that idea.”

“Maybe because you placed a mark the size of a half dollar on her neck?”  Buffy growls playfully, having watched the two women kissing.  “I’m really hating having to go out on patrol now!”  Buffy mumbles before heading back to the kitchen. 

Taking a deep breath, getting control of her hormones, Tara looks at Faith, reaching out and running her hand through the dark locks.  “How’s your leg feeling?” 

Closing her eyes at the pleasure from the soft touch, Faith slowly opens them back up smiling.  “Its feeling good, slayer healing should heal it great by tomorrow morning.  We should be able to take the stitches out then.” 

“And having a good dinner tonight will help also.”  Tara states before grinning.  “Still don’t mean you aren’t on bed rest all day tomorrow.”

Frowning in displeasure, Faith snarls.  “Come on.  I’ll be almost good as new in the morning, I can still go with you to your classes, I mean all I’ll be doing is sitting there, that’s as good as bed rest.”

Standing up and gathering the items Tara raises an eyebrow.  “It’s not open for discussion, Faith.”  Tara quickly takes the items to put them up.

“Pain in my ass.”  Faith grumbles loudly.

“I heard that.”  Tara states heading up the stairs.

“You were meant too.”  Faith states sarcastically.  Looking up to see that Tara was up the stairs, Faith swings her legs around and slowly stands, grinning before heading towards the kitchen limping slightly.

“Get your ass back on the couch, Faith before Tara comes down here and flings you on it.”  Buffy quietly states standing in the kitchen doorway. 

“Damn it, B!  You know as well as I do that I’ll be pretty much healed by the morning.  So what’s the big?”  Faith growls out.

“The big is that you were hurt badly.  You were hurt by my best friend since sophomore year of high school.  You were hurt by Tara’s ex-lover.  And it scared the shit out of Tara.  That’s the big.  Now get your ass on the couch and don’t give Tara a hard time or I’ll fucking kick your ass, understand?”  Buffy states lowly and quickly.

By the time Buffy finishes Faith’s shoulders are slumped and her eyes are filled with sadness.  “I’m sorry, B.  I didn’t realize…”  Shaking her head Faith turns around and limps back to the couch, lying down.  Tucking her arm under her head she looks up at the ceiling with a tear working its way down her face. 

“Faith… I didn’t mean to…”  Buffy closes her eyes trying to think of what to say.  Walking over to the slayer and kneeling down beside her.  “I didn’t mean to upset you, Faith.”

Faith looks over to Buffy as more tears start rolling down her cheeks.  “It’s hard isn’t it?”  At Buffy’s questioning look Faith takes a deep breath.  “Caring for people, letting people care for you… Loving someone.”  Faith roughly wipes the tears from her face. 

Buffy nods her head swallowing.  “Yes, Faith.  It’s hard, it’s painful, sometimes it feels like it’s going to rip the heart out of your chest.  But it can also be the most wonderful thing in the world.  The feeling of being loved, loving back and having someone care for you.  Someone that when you think about them you smile.  Someone that with a single touch can make you want them so much…”  Buffy trails off for a second.  “I never really had that before, Faith, not the good parts.  Now I have that with two wonderful women I’ll be damned if I’m going to give it up.”  

Just then the doorbell rings announcing the pizza delivery.  Looking at Faith, Buffy leans down and whispers quietly.  “You are loved, and even though you can’t say it, you love us.  We both know it Faith and we’ll be here for you no matter what.”  Standing up and answering the door, Buffy pays for the pizzas before taking them to the kitchen. 

Tara comes down the stairs with slightly reddened eyes, heading straight for the kitchen.  She grabs plates down then turns to the refrigerator to grab drinks out for the three women.  As she turns from the refrigerator she feels strong arms wrap around her.  “I’m sorry.”  She whispers into Buffy’s neck as she starts shaking.  

“Shh.  It’s okay Tara.  The adrenalin of what happened finally ran out and your natural reaction came to the forefront.  You did great… You’re doing great.”  Buffy whispers, hugging her tightly.   “You took care of Faith.  And you kept yourself from being hurt.  That’s what’s important.” 

“I love you both so much.  I’m afraid that something bad is going to happen to you and it scares me so much.”  Tara cries softly into Buffy’s neck.  Taking a couple deep breaths, getting control of herself before pulling back, she grins sheepishly at Buffy.  “Just hormones going crazy.  Will Faith be okay in the morning?”

Buffy smiles softly.  “Pretty much.  The stitches will need to be pulled out.  She might be a little sore and stiff but getting up and walking around will help that.  The blood loss will probably take another day to get her back to normal, but it isn’t anything that should keep her from her normal activities.”

“I kind of went a little overboard, huh?”  Tara smirks softly.

“Yeah, but I understand why.”  Buffy smiles softly.  “We better get the food in there before she starts yelling and screaming that we’re starving her to death, since we won’t let her hobble around.”

“I’ll take a plate piled with her pizza and a soda.”  Tara smiles.  “Maybe she’ll accept the peace offering.”

Grabbing up the plate she fixed for the slayer, Tara quickly heads to the living room. 

Watching Tara take the plate to Faith, Buffy smiles.  “I don’t know what we ever did to deserve you, but I’ll pray to whatever God, Goddess, Deity that there is and thank them for the rest of my life.”  Buffy whispers to herself.  Shaking her head out of her contemplation, she grabs a plate and piles it high with pizza for herself before grabbing one for Tara and putting a couple pieces on it for her. 

***

Carrying the plate and soda into the living room, Tara sets them down on the coffee table before turning to look at Faith.  Seeing sad brown eyes looking back at her, Tara feels her heart going out to the slayer.  Sitting down on the edge of the couch Tara places her hand above Faith’s heart.  “I’m sorry for being a pain in the ass earlier, Faith.”  Tara quietly states looking at her hand.  “If you feel up to it tomorrow, I would love for you to take me to school.” 

Raising her hand up to cover Tara’s, Faith smiles softly.  “Look at me, Tara.”  As Tara raises her eyes looking back into those beautiful brown eyes, she feels the tears start to fall again.   Reaching up and gently wiping the tears from the witch’s face, Faith smiles.  “It’s okay.  I’m here and I’m alive.  I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Moving her hand up and around the slayer’s shoulder, Tara pulls her up gently to hug her tightly against her. “It wasn’t your fault, Faith.  It just hit me hard how easily we could have lost you.  I’m sorry I went kind of off the deep end tonight.”   Pulling back Tara smirks at Faith.  “Anything I can do to make it up to you?”

Faith grins hugely.  “I’m sure I can think of something.”  She states making Tara laugh. 

“Are we okay?”  Tara asks seriously.

“Yeah, we’re fine Blondie.  I’ll be more careful from now on, that way I don’t bring out your butch side.”  Looking the blonde up and down Faith smirks slightly.  “Even though it does do something for me.”

“Maybe if you’re lucky you’ll get to see it again.”  Tara smiles.  Standing up, she swings Faith’s legs down on the floor and hands her, her plate of pizza before sitting down beside her, watching her eat. 

“Is it safe for me to come in here now?”  Buffy asks from the hallway holding both plates in her hands and smiling.

“Get in here, Buffy.”  Tara smiles at the slayer.  “And I’m assuming one of those plates is for me?”  At Buffy’s nod Tara smiles in thanks.

Coming over to the couch Buffy hands the plate to Tara and sets her plate down on the table before going back to the kitchen and grabbing a soda for Tara and herself. 

Coming back to the living room she sets the sodas down before sitting down and grabbing a piece of pizza to eat.  Looking over, she sees that Faith has already eaten all the pizza that was on her plate and Tara was slowly eating a piece of hers shaking her head in disbelief at the Dark Slayer.  

“Go ahead and get more, Faith.  I know you want to.”  Tara smiles softly as Faith grins standing up grabbing her plate and limping into the kitchen.  Turning to Buffy, Tara leans over and places a kiss on her cheek.  “You have my permission to take me down a notch if I get all Alpha Female again, okay?” 

Blushing slightly Buffy smiles.  “Actually, I think I’m kind of like Faith.  I like it when you go all butch.” 

Rolling her eyes at Buffy, Tara reaches for her soda.  “Next thing I know you two are going to insist on getting me a harness and vibrator.”  

Faith smirks as she walks back in.  “There’s an adult store over on Elm and Chestnut, Buffy.  They should have those items.”

Plopping back against the couch Tara closes her eyes and blushes.  “Figures.”  She states resignedly, making both slayers laugh.

“My birthday’s coming up in a few months….”  Faith hints as she sits down and eats another piece of pizza.

Buffy looks at Faith and grins.  “Do they have different kinds?  I never have checked them out before.”

“Goddess help me.”  Tara murmurs before standing up and grabbing her plate to take to the kitchen. 

“Yeah.  Different colors, different lengths, thicknesses.   I would say one of the soft leather harnesses would be best to have.”  Faith states around a piece of pizza.  “Probably one that’s either hot pink or purple, I think that would appeal more to Tara.”

Buffy blushes slightly.  “You seem to know a lot about these things, Faith.”

“Better believe it.  I didn’t always want a bed partner, you know.  Sometimes a little help makes a world of difference.”  Faith smiles at Buffy. 

“I’m sure Tara will come around, if you really want it Faith.”  Buffy smiles softly.  “She’d do anything for us if we asked.”

Nodding her head Faith grins slightly.  “Yeah, I know it.  That’s why I’m not going to ask.”  She whispers quietly. 

Frowning in confusion at Faith, Buffy shakes her head.  “It’s why… What are you saying?”

Looking towards the kitchen to make sure Tara wasn’t coming back Faith turns to look at Buffy.  “I’m not gonna ask because if I ask, she’ll do it.  I… I don’t want her to do it because of me, does that make any sense?”  Faith asks Buffy.

Staring at Faith for a few long seconds Buffy finally realizes what she’s saying.  “You’re afraid if you ask her, the only reason she would be doing it is because you asked her, not because she wanted to.” 

“Right.”  Faith smiles, happy that Buffy understood what she was trying to say.  “Are you working tomorrow?”

Buffy nods her head.  “Yeah, I work 11-7 tomorrow.”  Buffy puts down her empty soda can, debating on whether or not to get another piece of pizza.  “What is Tara up to now?”

Faith smiles.  “Can I go and see?”

Buffy grins.  “She let you go to the kitchen before, I don’t see why you can’t again.”

Smiling in thanks at Buffy, Faith hops up and quickly limps into the kitchen.  Seeing Tara scooping out batter onto cookie sheets Faith chuckles. 

Turning around when she hears the chuckle Tara smiles at Faith.  “What are you laughing at?”  Turning back around to finish putting the peanut butter cookie mix on the sheet, Tara quickly slides it into the oven.  Turning around and running hot water into the bowl, she turns it off and looks back at Faith, drying her hands on a tea towel. 

“I’m laughing at the fact that Buffy and I were worried about what you were doing and you’re in here making…”  Sniffing the air deeply, Faith smiles.  “Peanut butter cookies.”

“Well, it seems that certain people in this household have a sweet tooth.  And since I am such a nice, kind, caring girlfriend, I need to fix stuff to take care of this problem.”  Tara smiles at Faith.  Slowly walking over to her, she looks her up and down.  “I guess I could have at least got you something to wear.” 

Looking down at the mutilated jeans Faith grins.  “Might as well finish cutting that leg off and then the other one and make a pair of shorts out of ‘em.”  Faith suggests. 

“I can do that.”  Tara whispers before reaching up and running a hand down her cheek.  “I love you.  And I really, really want to make love to you.”  Leaning in and placing a gentle kiss on Faith’s lips, Tara pulls back.  “May I make love to you tonight, Faith?” 

Faith swallows hard and closes her eyes.  Breathing heavily Faith realizes that Tara was being literal.  That she wants to make love to her.  Not have sex and not fuck her, but make love to her.  Opening her eyes looking into the blue depths so filled with caring and love Faith can’t help but nod her head.  “Please.”  She quietly states. 

“Thank you.”  Tara whispers.  Reaching in and kissing Faith lightly again on the lips, Tara smiles as the timer goes off on the stove.  “Cookie time.”

Pulling the two sheets of cookies out of the oven and laying them out to cool, Tara turns and smiles as she sees Buffy standing behind Faith with her arms wrapped around the Dark Slayer. 

“I need to head out for patrol.  Will you two be okay?”  Buffy asks quietly. 

“Yeah, we’ll be okay B.”  Faith grins and winks at Tara.  “I’m gonna see if I can get Blondie over there to scream my name tonight.”

Grinning wickedly at Tara, Buffy whispers in Faith’s ear.  “Make sure you make her come at least three times for me, okay?  Last night was a little one sided if you know what I mean.”

Chuckling as Tara scowls at the two of them, Faith leans back to whisper in Buffy’s ear.  “You mean to tell me, that she made you blast off four times to her once?”  At Buffy’s nod Faith smirks slightly before whispering again.  “Did you at least get a taste?”

“No.  She actually borrowed a thigh.”  Buffy whispers as she blushes at the thought of going down on the blonde witch.  “I still haven’t…”

“You will.  And a lot of it.”  Faith growls before nibbling on her earlobe.  “Just do what feels natural, trust me.” 

“Enough with the whispering you two.”  Tara states walking towards the two women.  Leaning in and giving Buffy a quick kiss, she pulls back smiling softly.  “Be sure to come back in one piece.  Let us know when you get home, or just come on in.”  Tara wiggles her eyebrows slightly. 

Buffy’s eyes open wide before she blinks a couple times and whispers. “Okay.” 

Chuckling at Buffy, Faith turns and gives her a quick passionate kiss.  “Be careful out there B.”

“I love you.”  Tara whispers as Buffy turns to get ready for patrol. 

“I love you too.”  Buffy turns back and kisses the witch before turning to Faith and kissing her.  “I love you both.”

***

“Do I even want to know what you two were whispering about?”  Tara asks as she goes to pull the cookies off the cookie sheets.

Coming up behind the blonde, Faith sneaks a hand around her and grabs a cookie.  “I’ll give you three guesses.”  Faith smirks as she munches. 

“Well, I figure it’s obvious it was about me.”  Tara looks at the Dark Slayer with a raised eyebrow.

“You wouldn’t be wrong.”  Faith smiles watching Tara’s eyes narrow slightly.  Reaching for another cookie Faith leans a hip against the counter a short distance from the blonde. 

“Hey, do I smell cookies?”  Dawn squeals when she sees the peanut butter cookies.  “I’m getting my fair share of these, especially since someone.”  She looks pointedly at Faith.  “Got the majority of the brownies.”  Dawn reaches and grabs four cookies.  “I finished my project and I’m going to watch that show on Discovery.”

As quickly as Dawn popped in she was out of the kitchen again, making both women chuckle.

“How come I always feel like it’s been a drive by teen-ing with Squirt?”  Faith states grinning. 

“That pretty much sums it up.  She’s a good kid.”  Tara smiles softly before getting down a container to put the cooled cookies into leaving some on a plate wrapping it with saran wrap for Buffy when she gets home from slaying.

Watching the blonde stretch up for the saran wrap, Faith watches the witch’s shirt tighten across her breasts.  Eye darkening she watches ‘til Tara’s done wrapping the plate before reaching for her.  Shifting her body so her back is against the counter and her legs spread, she pulls Tara in, wrapping her arms loosely around the witch’s waist.

Looking at Faith in surprise at the maneuver that only took seconds, Tara relaxes into the slayer’s body.  Raising a hand to run her fingers through the slayer’s hair and the other hand grasping her hip, Tara raises an eyebrow.  “You’ve got me, now what are you going to do with me?”  Tara asks huskily.

“Please, before you do anything with her can I get something to drink?”  Dawn pleads from the doorway to the kitchen. 

Growling under her breath at the interruption Faith looks at Dawn and can’t help but laugh.  “Go ahead and get something to drink, I’m going to take this to somewhere a little less busy.”  Faith grasps Tara’s hand and pulls her up the stairs and to the bedroom.

“Faith!”  Tara exclaims before laughing as she hears Dawn mention something about horny slayers.

Pulling Tara into the bedroom, Faith quickly shuts the door behind her, and pulls the witch into a tight embrace, going in with open mouth and tongue searching and finding a willing mate.  Tongues wrapping around each other rolling in continuous motion Faith groans in pleasure as Tara wedges her thigh between her legs and presses against her center.  Grasping the blonde’s hips and pulling her in tighter against her, Faith works her hips in a circular motion against her thigh.  Capturing the blonde’s tongue, Faith sucks gently at first and then more forcefully as she feels the pleasure building inside her. 

Pulling back, panting heavily Tara looks at Faith with passion filled eyes.  “This time isn’t going to be fast and rough, Faith.  I want you to know that.  There’s time for that later.”  Tara leans in and kisses Faith gently but firmly, starting a softer exploration.

Groaning out in frustration Faith finally breaks away.  “But, Tara….” 

Quickly pressing her lips against Faith’s to quiet her Tara pulls back.  “My way first, then your way, okay?”  Seeing Faith battling with herself Tara pleads silently with her and the moment she saw Faith acquiesce she softly smiles.   “Thank you.”

Faith looks at the blonde with a slightly worried look on her face.  “I ain’t used to soft and slow, Blondie.”  Faith whispers quietly.

“You’re not used to being made love to, Faith.”  Tara whispers back keeping eye contact with the Dark Slayer.  “But you will be.”  Leaning in and running light gentle kisses along the slayer’s cheek and jaw line to her ear before whispering.  “I’m going to undress you slowly and as each piece of skin is revealed I’m going to make love to it.”

Moaning at the heat running through her body just from the witch’s words Faith looks at her.  “You’re gonna kill me.  I know you are.  But what a way to go.”  Faith growls lowly and then smiles at the blonde.  “I’m yours to do what you want, but remember payback is a bitch.”

“Goddess, I hope so.”  Tara murmurs before pulling away and gently tugging the slayer’s hand to have her go to the bed.  “Lay down.”  Watching with dark blue eyes as Faith lays down in the middle of the bed Tara smiles softly.  “I’m going to ask something of you, and I know it won’t be easy.” 

Faith growls out roughly.  “What?”

“Can you try and keep your hands to yourself until I tell you to touch me?”  Tara whispers watching the slayer’s face.  Watching the slayer’s refusal on her face, Tara sighs quietly.  “I’m going to let you touch me, hell I’ll let you do anything you want, but just let me have this?  Please?”

“You’re asking a lot here, Blondie.”  Faith growls lowly.  “And this ain’t gonna be like last night, I’m giving you a head’s up right here and now.”

Blushing slightly Tara looks down.  “Is that what you two were talking about earlier?”

“Damn straight.  B wanted to make sure you got yours tonight.  I’m gonna make sure that happens.”  Faith looks the blonde up and down before smiling with a calculating look on her face.  “How about we make a sort of compromise?”

Tara looks at her trying to figure out what the slayer is up to.  “What is it?”

Chuckling at the blonde Faith shakes her head.  “Nothin’ bad.  How about we both go ahead and get naked, and you can do your thing, but maybe not as slowly as you planned?”  Faith raises an eyebrow, having a feeling the blonde was going to draw it out for hours until Faith was screaming in frustration.  “And if you do that, I’ll try real hard to keep my hands to myself while you do it?”

“I don’t get a promise?”  Tara asks, knowing already that Faith was giving her a lot more than she had honestly expected from the woman.

Faith shakes her head.  “I can’t promise.  I’ll try real hard, but that’s a promise I can’t make to you.”

Nodding her head in acceptance Tara smiles.  “Deal.”

Faith grins hugely and rolls off the bed to quickly start stripping, as she hears Tara laugh quietly in front of her she looks up with a bra in one hand and the fingers of her other hand at the button of her pants.  “What?”

“Easy, there wild child.”  Tara murmurs as she puts her hand over the slayer’s.  “Let me help you out of the pants, I don’t want you to accidentally mess up my handiwork, okay?”

Faith, realizing the blonde has a point, nods her head.  “Okay.  But I get to help you out of your clothes.”  As Tara chuckles Faith smiles. 

Easing the button out of the hole and unzipping Faith’s pants, Tara kneels in front of Faith and eases them over the slayer’s hips and inhales realizing Faith has gone commando.  Stopping for a moment Tara looks at the completely bald mound of the slayer and the juices glistening on it.  Inhaling deeply, Tara moans at the dark spicy smell coming from Faith.  “Goddess you aren’t making this easy.”  Tara murmurs before easing the pants slowly over the wound and down the slayer’s legs, smiling as Faith steps out of the pants.  Looking back over at the wound one more time to make sure it looks okay, Tara slowly stands up looking Faith in the eye before leaning in and pressing a firm kiss on her mouth. 

“My turn.”  Faith states huskily.  Pulling the top off the witch and seeing the white lace bra underneath Faith groans at seeing the nipples insistently poking at the fabric.  Brushing her thumbs over the nubs Faith growls wanting another taste. 

Moaning as the slayer plays with her nipples Tara steps back.  “You’re supposed to be undressing me, not playing.”  Tara states quietly.

“Bitch.”  Faith mumbles good-naturedly. 

“I can be.”  Tara acknowledges before reaching behind her back and unhooking her bra to quickly pull it off.  Seeing Faith is leaning down towards her breasts, she puts a hand up.  “Nope.”

Snarling her lip slightly Faith flops back on the bed.  Easing to the middle of the bed, Faith turns on her side to watch the witch undress. 

Easing off her skirt, Tara grabs the clothes on the floor and quickly drops them in the hamper before hooking her thumbs in the side of her panties and easing them down her legs.  Looking over at Faith she smiles.  Faith’s eyes are glued on her breasts watching them sway gently.  “Enjoying the view?”  Tara asks huskily as she stands up and quickly discarding the panties before she walks towards the bed. 

“You have no idea.”  Faith whispers in a low rough voice.  “You are absolutely gorgeous.  And after we go shopping for you, I am going to make damn sure that belly button of yours gets pierced.  Your stomach is just crying out for attention to be drawn to it.”

Tara blushes and places a hand to her stomach.  “I’ve never liked my stomach, the poochiness of it.  I thought it was ugly.”  Tara explains.

“Oh, no.  God no, Tara.”  Looking up with pleading in her eyes. “Can I touch it, please?”

Seeing Tara nod her head in acceptance, realizing she isn’t going to be able to keep Faith from touching her, she slowly climbs into the bed to lie beside the slayer. 

Reaching down with her hand to run it lightly over Tara’s lower abdomen, Faith smiles.  “It’s soft and warm and beautiful, Tara.  It calls out to be kissed.  I want to rub my face over the softness, lick and nibble it.”  Faith lightly arches her hand so her fingernails gently scrape across Tara’s stomach, making her arch up into the slayer’s touch.  “So responsive.  I wish I knew the words to explain what you make me feel inside, Tara.  Not just your body, but you.”  Looking up with a serious look in her eyes Faith whispers.  “I care for you so much.  You and Buffy both.”  Feeling a tear ease from her eye and run down her cheek she looks down.  “I wish I could say it…”

“It’s okay Faith.”  Tara whispers quietly.  “One day you will.  For now, Buffy and I know you love us, and that’s the most important thing.”  Leaning in Tara gently kisses the tear away.  Starting softly and slowly, Tara starts placing kisses over the slayer’s forehead, eyebrows, eyelids, cheekbones, jaw line and finally, reaching the slayer’s bow shaped lips Tara gently eases her tongue inside to gently caress the inside of the Dark Slayer’s mouth, gently making love to her with her tongue before gradually pulling away to Faith’s displeased groan.  “Got more to kiss, Faith.”  Tara mumbles as she eases Faith onto her back and starts to slowly kiss down the slayer’s neck, lightly nibbling on the cord at the side until reaching the pulse point that’s beating so quickly with the slayer’s blood pumping through.

Licking repeatedly over the area before gently sucking on it Tara listens as Faith moans, making Tara heady with want.  Lightly kissing across her strong shoulder, Tara works back around to the collarbone, licking and sucking.  Working her way down, Tara runs one hand up to lightly circle the slayer’s breast with her fingertips, while supporting herself with her other arm.  Easing herself further down, Tara slowly kisses around the other breast, licking with a firm tongue on the sensitive skin underneath where it meets the rib cage smiling as she feels Faith buck up slightly. 

Clenching her hands into the bed sheets so she doesn’t grab the witch and make her take her nipple into her mouth, Faith groans at the teasing, at the love coming from Tara.  Unbelieving of anything feeling this good, but God needing so much more. 

Licking up and around the nipple, not touching it with either her hand or her lips Tara smiles, pleased Faith is trying to keep her end of the bargain.  Glancing down at the dark rosy nipple that she’s been teasing around she sees Faith’s hands clenched in the sheets so tightly that her knuckles are white.  Feeling the tension in Faith’s body Tara shakes her head, realizing she isn’t going to be able to take her time as much as she wants to.  Changing her mind about what she’s going to do to the slayer, this first time, Tara quickly sucks the nipple in her mouth while pinching gently on the other nipple at the same time, making Faith arch up into her.  Sucking firmly and flicking it with the tip of her tongue Tara feels it harden even more.  Pulling slightly away, Tara lifts her body, making sure to not hit the slayer’s sore thigh. Easing the slayer’s legs apart so she’s lying between them before leaning down and lavishing attention on the other nipple, while pinching the one she was previously sucking on more firmly.

Groaning in approval at the firmer treatment the witch is giving her, Faith pushes her hips up, pressing against Tara.  

Deciding she would come back to the slayer’s luscious breasts later, Tara quickly works her way down kissing the slayer’s ribs and stomach, running her finger over the scar that Buffy had given her.  Kissing the scar then lightly running her tongue over it, Tara thanks the Goddess that she had spared Faith’s life that day.  Shifting herself down further, Tara eases Faith’s legs up and over her shoulder to make her more comfortable before inhaling deeply, watching as the juices flow from the slayer, Tara quickly leans in and starting at the bottom of her slit she quickly runs her tongue up collecting the juices and moaning at the spicy flavor.  “Goddess, so good, Faith.”  Tara moans quietly.  Quickly delving her tongue between her lips, Tara greedily gathers more of the slayer’s essence before sucking on first one outer lip then the other quickly sucking the juices off before diving back in, flicking her tongue up and over the swollen muscle aching to be touched. 

Faith bucks up hard as she feels Tara flick her tongue over her clit, groaning loudly and rolling her hips around.  “Please, Tara.”  Faith groans out.

Quickly bringing her hand up, Tara separates the outer lips and then the inner lips of the slayer before bringing two fingers to her opening, glancing up she sees the glazed look in the slayer’s eyes and the need coming from her before quickly easing two fingers in the slayer, keeping eye contact and watching as Faith closes her eyes and pushes her hips against her fingers.  As her fingers easily slip into the slayer, Tara pulls them almost all the way out before quickly going back in with three fingers and leaning down to suck the swollen clit in her mouth, setting up a quick pace inside Faith as she sucks continuously on the swollen muscle, not stopping, a continuous steady strong sucking and feeling as the muscle starts quivering and spasming in her mouth, Tara quickly flicks her tongue over it repeatedly as she sucks harder, making Faith buck hard over and over against her as she climaxes.  Curling her fingers in the slayer, Tara searches out the sweet spot, locating it, she rubs firmly but gently over it continuously until she feels Faith’s whole body shaking in response and growls as Faith grasps her head pulling her tighter against her as she explodes drenching the her and the covers. 

Keeping up the motion with her fingers, Tara eases back from the slayer’s clit, licking up the sweet juices that came from the orgasm the slayer had just had.  Licking around her hand and back up to repeatedly placing gentle kisses on the slayer’s mound, feeling as the slayer’s muscles finally relax, letting her gently remove her fingers from inside her.  Pulling her hand up to her face Tara smiles at the fluid running down before lapping it up quickly, enjoying the slayer’s essence to the fullest.  Finally Tara rests her head on the slayer’s stomach, realizing her own body is rocking slightly, looking for release she chuckles quietly.

Slowly getting her bearings after the most intense orgasm of her life, Faith looks down at the chuckling witch.  Feeling the bed rock slightly it takes Faith a moment to realize that it’s the witch rocking, her body craving its own release.

“You want some help with that?”  Faith calls out quietly in a sex roughened voice.

Looking up at the slayer in confusion Tara frowns slightly.  “Help with what?”  When she sees the lascivious smile cross the slayer’s face, her confusion clears up and she blushes lightly.  

“Come up here.”  Faith whispers.  As Tara eases up her body, gently dragging her breasts up her stomach and then presses them down hard against Faith’s breasts, Tara moans and closes her eyes, rubbing her breasts firmly over the slayer’s Tara leans her head down against Faith’s shoulder taking a deep breath. 

Enjoying the pleasure of their breasts rubbing together Faith pushes up slightly to cause more pressure.  Reaching up with one hand, Faith reaches around the witch and slowly runs it down her back, following the line of her spine, before reaching the top of the witch’s ass.  Teasingly running her fingers along the crevice between the witch’s firm butt cheeks, Faith finally cups one cheek tightly, squeezing it firmly.  Keeping the one hand on the witch’s ass, Faith takes her other hand and reaches for Tara’s head, gently urging her from her shoulder to look up.  Looking into the dark, dark blue eyes of the witch, Faith groans before pulling her down for an intense, dominant kiss.  Flicking her tongue repeatedly against Tara’s before invading her mouth fully wrapping her tongue around Tara’s repeatedly before pulling back slightly, panting heavily. 

“You’ve got two choices and you better make your decision quick.”  Faith hoarsely states. 

“What choices.”  Tara asks between pants rocking her body against Faith’s, enjoying the pleasure of her breasts rubbing against Faith’s firm, full breasts.

“You keep climbing until you’re above me and I make you come until you can‘t support yourself, or you can roll over onto your back and I’ll spend the next couple hours making you squirm all over this bed in pleasure.  Either way you’re mine.”  Faith states intensely. 

Tara feels her body already starting to shake in response to the slayer.  Knowing she probably won’t be able to support herself much longer, she kisses Faith firmly before easing off the slayer to lay on her side looking at Faith. “You irritate your leg I’ll kick your ass, understood?”  Tara seriously states looking in Faith’s eyes. 

“Yes, ma’am.”  Faith states before grinning hugely.  “You are so mine.”  Faith growls before shifting her body and gently pushing Tara onto her back before kissing her over and over again, both of them moaning in pleasure.   Easing down Tara’s neck, Faith sucks where the skin of her neck meets her shoulder, sucking down hard leaving a mark. 

Tara groans loudly as Faith sucks on her neck.  Running her hands through Faith’s hair repeatedly, Tara cries out as Faith eases down and takes a nipple quickly in her hot, wet mouth, flicking her strong tongue over the nipple repeatedly while pinching the other nipple firmly.

“Mmmm.  Taste so good.”  Faith mumbles before switching to suck on the other nipple.  Gently trapping the hardened nub between her teeth and pulling up gently.

“FAITH!”  Tara cries out in pleasure as Faith’s teeth bring that pleasure bordering on pain that can be so sweet. 

Smiling to herself at the witch’s response, Faith releases the nipple before laving it gently with her tongue.  Easing her body further down, Faith rubs her face against Tara’s lower abdomen growling out at the smell of the witch’s arousal, easing a hand down to the witch’s opening and gently running her fingers between her lips, making Tara buck up into the touch.  Kissing and nipping at the witch’s soft stomach Faith huskily states.  “Want to spend hours here kissing your stomach.  I will one day, but not today.”  Shifting her body further down Faith looks upon the witch’s most intimate place. 

Inhaling deeply Faith moans silently.  Looking at the neatly trimmed mound Faith’s mouth waters at the thought of soon tasting the witch.  Seeing the swollen sex, the witch’s clit poking out insistently, begging for attention.  Blowing a warm breath of air across the muscle Faith smiles as she sees the slight spasm in response.

“Faith…”  Tara begs quietly looking down at Faith, rocking her hips against the fingertips just teasing her opening and the mouth blowing warm air across her. 

Looking up and seeing the desperate need in the witch’s eyes, Faith whispers.  “Okay.”  Before looking back down and running the flat of her tongue over the swollen muscle as she eases a finger gently in the witch’s opening.

“Yes!”  Tara hisses as Faith starts a slow easy pace inside her while running her tongue repeatedly over her clit.  Rocking her body against the slayer, Tara groans as her body quickly tightens, looking for release.

Faith, feeling Tara’s body tightening under her and the muscle she’s licking gently over and over again flex against her tongue realizes it won’t be long before the witch reaches orgasm.  Quickly adding a finger Faith moans as she feels the witch clenching down repeatedly on the fingers easing in and out of her.  Picking up the pace of her fingers, Faith sucks the swollen muscle in her mouth gently.  Keeping up a gentle sucking motion, Faith flicks the tip of her tongue against the muscle.  As the muscle starts to spasm continually, Faith hums into the witch and flicks her finger against the witch’s g-spot making her scream out as she comes in her mouth.

Rocking hard into Faith’s tender ministrations, Tara screams out Faith’s name loudly as she feels her body release.  Clenching the slayer’s fingers hard inside her Tara pushes hard against Faith before easing her hips back down against the bed, her legs shaking from her release and panting heavily. 

Faith releases Tara from her mouth and starts placing gentle kisses around the witch’s clit before gently easing her fingers out of her as Tara unclenches her muscles.  Leaning down further Faith gently licks up the witch, running her tongue repeated over the outer lips collecting all the stray juices before running her tongue between the lips and sucking on each inner lip alternately.   Feeling Tara grasp gently at her head, Faith smiles before swirling her tongue around her opening, tickling the sensitive nerve endings there.   As Tara starts rotating her hips, Faith slips her tongue deep inside the witch flicking with her strong slayer muscles.

“Oh, Goddess!”  Tara cries out quietly, rocking against the slayer’s tongue. 

Feeling the witch building up again and her clenching down on her tongue, Faith curls it up, hitting the pleasure spot within the witch.  Flicking over the spot repeatedly until Tara screams out her name, flooding her mouth with her juices. 

Collapsing from the strength of the orgasm, Tara grasps Faith’s head once more before dragging her hand up her own body and placing it upon her pounding heart.  Breathing hard, trying to catch her breath, she feels Faith easing up her body placing kisses here and there on her way up, licking up a pocket of salty goodness on her way to Tara’s breasts, flicking a strong tongue over one nipple then the other, alternating back and forth continuously until Tara grasps her head and pulls it to a stop between her two breasts, making Faith chuckle quietly. 

Still breathing heavy and not able to say anything just yet, Tara runs her hands over Faith’s shoulders and upper back.   Smiling as she feels Faith place tiny kisses between her breasts as she runs her hands up and down her sides. 

Pulling back slightly Faith places a hand on either side of the witch’s outer breasts and gently pushes them together.  Smiling Faith quickly sucks both nipples in her mouth at the same time, making Tara groan appreciatively. 

Hearing a knock on the bedroom door, Faith pulls her mouth away from the witch’s nipples.  “Who’s there?”  Faith calls out huskily and laughs when she hears Buffy’s quiet answer, which only slayer hearing picked up.  “Come on in.”

“What did she say?”  Tara croaks out.  Smiling as Buffy eases open the door and slips in the room, turning to lock the door behind her. 

Turning back after locking the door, Buffy grins at the sight before her.  Stripping the towel that she had wrapped around her after her shower, she throws it in the hamper before walking towards the bed.  “I said a horny slayer.”  Looking from Faith laying on top of Tara and the fact that she had obviously been enjoying the witch’s assets, Buffy’s eyes darken slightly, seeing Faith’s darkness contrasting so beautifully against Tara’s lightness.   “You two are beautiful.”  She whispers before kneeling on the floor by the bed, crossing her arms on top of the mattress and resting her chin on them.  

Inhaling deeply of the arousal coming from both women, Buffy smiles.  “Don’t stop on my account.”  She huskily states and chuckles as Faith squeezes Tara’s breasts back together and sucks both nipples into her mouth at once. 

“Faith!”  Tara exclaims quietly before lightly smacking her on the back of the head.  Looking over at Buffy, Tara .  “How was patrol tonight?”  Arching her back up into Faith’s mouth, Tara smacks her a little harder on the back of the head.  “Stop that!  We could at least talk to Buffy first.”

“You talk, I’ll play.”  Faith mumbles around the breasts in her mouth. 

“Do you want me to cut you off?”  Tara threatens and giggles as Faith quickly stops and pulls up slightly.

“So, how was patrol tonight?”  Faith asks with a fake smile on her face, making both women laugh at her. 

“It was fine.  Dusted four vamps and some demon munching on this poor dog that decided I might be a better dinner.”  Buffy snorts in disgust at that thought. 

Faith smiles.  “So not too bad of a night.”  Quickly turning and sucking Tara’s nipples back into her mouth.  Being smacked on the back of the head again Faith pulls away and loudly asks.  “What?  I talked, we discussed, we’re done!  It’s play time.”

“Enough play for the moment, let me check your leg.”  Tara states while rolling her eyes. 

Growling lightly Faith squeezes the breasts in her hands quickly before rolling off the witch and onto her back looking up at the ceiling. 

Shaking her head at the impossible slayer, Tara looks at Buffy and sees her smirking.  “Would you mind turning on the overhead light?”  Tara quietly asks Buffy.

Nodding her head, Buffy quickly hops up and turns on the light coming back and sitting on the edge of the bed looking with Tara at the healing wound.  “It’s looking good.”  Buffy comments quietly.  “You’ll be able to take the stitches out in the morning and probably by tomorrow night it’ll be like new.”

“Goody!”  Faith states sarcastically.  “Now can we please continue with play time?   I wasn’t done, you know.” 

“Did I interrupt before you guys actually did anything?”  Buffy questions looking from one woman to the next.  “I think she’s grumpier now than she was earlier.”

“Personally I think she’s perpetually horny.”  Tara smirks.  Running her eyes over Buffy’s body she sees a bruise on her ribs.  “What happened?”  She questions quickly leaning in lightly running her fingers over the bruise. 

“I’m okay.  One of the vamps got in a lucky shot, is all.”  Buffy dismisses Tara’s worry.  “So what are we going to do with horny slayer?” 

“You two do realize I’m lying right here and can hear everythin’ you two are saying, right?”  Faith growls quietly.  

Tara winks at Buffy and gets up and walks around the bed to the other side, easing her body close to Faith.  “Buffy, want to get the overhead light?  I appreciate it baby.”  Tara smiles as Buffy quickly turns the light off and climbs into the bed on the other side of Faith, mirroring Tara’s position. 

Leaning down and nibbling down the side of Faith’s neck to her shoulder and running her hand up to cup the breast nearest her, Tara looks over to see Buffy watching what she’s doing before repeating the caresses down Faith’s other side.  Looking up into Faith’s eyes Tara smiles before leaning in and kissing her deeply.  Pulling back she shifts her body down slightly to kiss around Faith’s breast watching Buffy lean in and kiss Faith more roughly and passionately.  

Groaning at the dual pleasure of having both women working over her body, Faith moans in approval as both women start suckling at her breasts.  Reaching a hand up to gently cup behind both heads she smiles.  “Oh, yeah.”  She groans loudly feeling one breast being sucked on strongly while the other one’s being nibbled on gently and tentatively.  Lifting her hips and rotating them around, Faith feels her arousal hitting a higher level. 

Glancing over at Buffy as she sucks strongly at Faith’s breast she catches her eye and pulls her hand up from where it was resting on Faith’s lower abdomen and wiggling it at Buffy.  Buffy frowns slightly in response before it hits her and she raises her hand to Tara, letting Tara intertwine their fingers together before easing both their hands down Faith’s body. 

Extending her index finger straight out, Buffy does the same, pressing the two fingers together.  Tara eases their hands between Faith’s thighs to run the extended fingers gently through the slayer’s wetness.  Watching the emotions crossing Buffy’s face, the surprise and then the desire Tara smiles softly before releasing the nipple she had been sucking on.  Easing her body slightly further down she kisses across the ribs and abdomen of Faith slowly while continuing the stroking between the slayer’s lower lips before gently easing past the lips to flick Buffy’s fingertip over Faith’s clit, making her hips buck up against the light, teasing flick.  

Leaning across Faith’s stomach Tara gently kisses Buffy on the lips before pressing in harder, flicking her tongue out to tangle with Buffy’s repeatedly.  Continuing the stroking up and down Faith’s lips to occasionally flick her clit.  Slowly easing down to Faith’s opening Tara pulls out of the kiss with Buffy, panting slightly before leaning back in to suck her bottom lip in her mouth and nibble on it lightly. 

“Man, that’s hot!”  Faith mumbles having been watching Buffy and Tara kiss as she was trying to buck her hips up to get more pressure against her clit. 

Looking up at Faith, Tara winks before whispering.  “You ain’t seen nothing yet!”  Making Faith strangle out a laugh.  Slowly easing both hers and Buffy’s index fingers into Faith, Tara looks back at Buffy smirking at her incredulous expression.  Feeling Faith clench and unclench repeatedly against their fingers.  Easing the two fingers back out Tara winks at Buffy as she extends out her middle finger, Buffy quickly following before slowly easing the four fingers into Faith.

“Yes!”  Faith hisses softly at the additional fingers and consequential fullness she’s feeling, rocking her hips against the invading fingers, trying to urge them to a fast rhythm. 

Sliding further down Faith’s body Tara whispers to Buffy.  “Do you want to taste?”  Hearing Faith groan and push up even harder at her suggestion she smirks slightly before shaking her head at the impatient slayer.  

“Oh, God, yes.”  Buffy murmurs quietly back. 

Easing their fingers out of Faith, to her vocal disapproval Tara states “Behave Faith.  You’ll get what you want and even more if you can be patient.” 

“Shit!”  Faith grumbles before shutting up.

Looking back at Buffy, Tara smiles encouragingly.  “Do you want to explore on your own, or do you want some visual aids?”  Faith groans loudly at that comment.

Buffy’s eyes open wide and she blushes deeply.  “I-I don’t know.”  Looking up and making eye contact with Faith she simply questions “Faith?”

Looking at the question in her eyes Faith shakes her head.  “It’s up to you, B.  Whatever you’re comfortable with doing.”  Faith states hoarsely.

Watching Buffy with soft gentle eyes Tara states quietly.  “Whatever you’re comfortable with.  You don’t have to do anything tonight, if you don’t want to.” 

“What do you suggest?”  Buffy looks to Tara for her honest opinion.

“Well, most people don’t get someone to show them the lay of the land as it were.  Part of the fun is figuring things out.  You might do something different than I do because of that.  Where as if I show you, you will subconsciously pick up and do things the same way.”  Tara shrugs her shoulders lightly.

“That is so not a bad thing, Blondie.”  Faith growls out.  “But whatever someone decides, will you please hurry up?  I’m ready to pop, here.”

“Really?”  Tara asks grinning wickedly as she runs her hand down between Faith’s thighs and quickly inserts three fingers, setting up a hard fast rhythm, curling her middle finger before pushing her thumb against her clit rubbing it almost in a punishing circular motion, bringing Faith quickly to the edge before stopping her motion with her fingers buried in the slayer.

Grunting out loudly Faith opens her eyes seeing the glint in Tara’s eyes and the surprise in Buffy’s.  “Tara!” Growling out in displeasure.  Then as Tara slams her fingers in and out quickly, pressing hard against her clit, making Faith come fast and hard screaming out her name, Tara smirks. 

Easing her fingers out of the dazed slayer’s body and unconsciously bringing them up to suck on them one after the other Tara turns to Buffy.  “Go ahead and explore to your heart’s content Buffy.” 

“Damn, Tara.”  Buffy mutters in shock and arousal.  “You definitely have butch in you.” 

Tara tilts her head considering the comment.  “You could be right.  Do you want to explore?  Or…”  Looking over the slayer’s body, Tara’s eyes darken considerably.  “Do you want to meet Butch Tara?”  She huskily asks. 

Faith raises her hand and mutters.  “Go for Butch tonight, B.”

Tara grins crawling over Faith and smiles as Faith shifts over to the edge of the bed, giving the two women more room.  “Guess you’re mine now, Buffy.”  Tara growls out lowly closing in pressing her lips forcefully against Buffy’s before exploring the inside of Buffy’s mouth.  Pushing gently against Buffy until she is lying down on her back, Tara contemplates a second and whispers.  “Turn over.” 

Buffy blinks a moment at the order and turns over, turning her head with a questioning look toward Faith.  Seeing Faith’s shrug and inquisitive look as she watches Tara, Buffy knows she isn’t going to get any help from there.  

Easing behind Buffy and straddling one of her legs, Tara reaches down to her hips, lifting gently to get Buffy to pull herself up onto her knees.   Reaching behind and down, Tara runs her fingers through Buffy’s wetness, groaning at the juices dripping from her lover before feeling for her clit moaning at how swollen it is and the heat coming off her.  

Reaching around with her left hand under the slayer’s waist and running her fingers through the slayer’s wetness, she uses her left hand to gently rub the slayer’s clit while with the right hand she quickly presses two fingers inside the slayer, moaning in pleasure at the slickness, Tara quickly adds a third finger and starts pounding into the slayer, at the same time pressing in hard against her clit. 

Not noticing that Faith has shifted her body behind her, she jumps and groans loudly as Faith quickly inserts two strong fingers inside her, starting a steady rhythm while kissing and licking her neck.   Realizing that she’s letting off the pressure on her own ministrations when Buffy whimpers, Tara quickly picks them up again putting a little more force behind her thrusts.  Feeling Buffy clenching around her fingers, Tara feels her own body clenching in response as they both come at the same time.  

Partially collapsing over top of Buffy, Tara kisses her back before easing her fingers out.  After a few moments, Tara rolls off Buffy.  Flopping onto her back beside Buffy, in the middle of the bed Tara closes her eyes, realizing the sweat is almost dripping from her.  “I think I need a shower.”  She mumbles out to no one in particular.

Faith chuckles as she curls up on the other side of Tara and watches as Buffy finally collapses on her stomach with her face buried in her pillow.  “You don’t need a shower, you smell of good clean sweat and hot sex.  In other words you smell absolutely wonderful and if we could bottle it we would make a fortune.”

“Faith, you are one sick puppy.”  Buffy mumbles from her pillow.  A few seconds later you can hear her giggling quietly.  “I still haven’t gotten a damn taste.”  Buffy bitches quietly.

 “Not my fault.”  Tara mumbles sleepily.  “Buffy, sweetie?”

“Yes.”  Buffy answers quietly, looking over at the blonde that was half asleep and sees Faith looking up smirking slightly, but with heavy eyes. 

“Can you turn the lamp off?”  Tara whispers and as Buffy turns the light off she smiles in thanks.  “I love you two.”

“Love you too.”  Buffy smiles over at Faith.  “Love you Faith.”  Shifting her body down to burrow her face against the witch’s breast, Buffy reaches over to touch Faith as she snuggles up against the other side of Tara.

Throwing a leg over the witch and burying her face in her hair, Faith smiles reaching up to run her hand over Buffy’s arm.  Slowly the three women fall asleep.

***

Chapter 18

Faith stretches as she slowly wakes up and looks across a sleeping Tara into mischievous looking hazel eyes.  Raising her eyebrow slightly, she whispers.  “What ya up to B?”

Buffy had woken a few minutes earlier and was lightly running her fingertips over Tara’s body, debating on letting her and Faith sleep or waking them up for an early morning love fest.  Watching Faith wake up Buffy smirks slightly at the Dark Slayer’s question.

“I was thinking about possibly having an early morning snack.”  Buffy whispers so quietly that only Faith’s slayer hearing could pick it up so as not to disturb Tara yet.

Faith smirks at Buffy before looking at Tara, sleeping so peacefully.  “Thinking about maybe a little payback?”  Faith whispers back and at Buffy’s nod, she grins.  “Go for it, B.”

“I… Should I?”  Buffy hesitates slightly, looking at Faith.

“Hell, yeah.  You want to.  And if there’s something I know about Blondie here after the short time getting to know her, she’s happy making you happy.”  Faith grins hugely.  “And if that makes you happy…”  Faith trails off quietly.

Buffy smiles and leans over to give Faith a gentle kiss.  “Thank you.”  Eyes lighting up looking at the witch’s body, Buffy starts placing feather light touches across her breasts, gently working her way down between the witch’s thighs.  Hearing a slight moan, and feeling Tara shift slightly, Buffy stops looking up.  Seeing Tara is still asleep Buffy eases the witch’s legs further apart and settles her body between her thighs.  Looking for the first time upon this most intimate place, Buffy inhales deeply.  Smelling the witch’s rich, musky, earthy smell makes Buffy groan quietly.  Gently running her fingers over the witch’s lips, Buffy strokes and separates them. 

Seeing Tara in this way is a humbling experience and Buffy stops to thank God for letting her know this wonderful woman before slowly extending her tongue and easing it out to touch the witch gently.  Tentatively easing her tongue in to gather the juices that were already starting to ease from the witch, Buffy tastes Tara for the first time and groans in pleasure.  Not able to help herself, Buffy dives in licking more firmly up the witch, gathering more of the wonderful nectar, before running across the witch’s clit.  Hearing a loud groan come from the witch and her body starting to shift more, Buffy smiles.  Licking more firmly over the hardening muscle, starting to feel it spasm under her attentions, Buffy groans and sucks it into her mouth gently.

Slowly waking from what she believes is a very wonderful dream, Tara realizes that parts of it definitely are not a dream.  Feeling an insistent sucking motion on one of her breasts and a hand stroking her stomach she smiles recognizing Faith’s firm, confident touch.  Coming more awake she jerks her hips up in response to a persistent mouth sucking and licking her clit.

“Oh, Goddess.”  Tara whispers huskily.  Bucking her hips harder into Buffy’s mouth she closes her eyes as both women start a more thorough assault on her body.  Feeling Faith suck forcefully on her nipple while running her hand up to knead her other breast, Tara grasps the back of her head pulling her in tighter against her.  Rocking her body against Buffy’s increased sucking and firmer licking motion, Tara groans.  “Goddess, yes, Buffy!  Feels so good.”

Smiling to herself at hearing the witch, Buffy slowly eases a finger inside Tara’s needy center, feeling it clench against her finger.  Easing out, Buffy tries for a second finger, feeling how it slides in with no resistance she hesitates for a moment wondering if she could try for a third.  Remembering the women telling her to trust her instincts, Buffy eases a third finger in the witch and groans as Tara bucks hard against the hand, moaning loudly.  Quickly setting up a steady rhythm in the witch, Buffy licks persistently at the muscle that is so swollen and red, that Buffy knows it has to be aching for release.  Sucking firmly on the muscle, Buffy gently scrapes her teeth over it making Tara cry out in pleasure as she floods Buffy’s mouth with her juices.  Licking up the juices, Buffy extends Tara’s orgasm, before easing up and slowing down her hand motions, feeling the slowing of Tara’s aftershocks. 

Turning her head, Buffy kisses first one inner thigh then the other before gently easing her fingers out of Tara and slowly working her way up placing gentle loving kisses along her delectable stomach before flicking her tongue repeatedly against her belly button, making Tara giggle. 

Lying to the side of Tara, Buffy watches as Faith continues her assault on the witch’s breasts.  “Faith, I think you have a breast fetish.”  Buffy laughs quietly.  Then laughs even harder as Tara groans as Faith bites down on her nipple. 

Letting her teeth pull the breast up before releasing it, Faith smirks.  “It would be a shame not to with these delights.” 

Finally getting her breathing back under control, Tara looks from one slayer to the other then flopping her head back on the pillow before groaning out loud to the room in general.  “Good morning to me.”

Licking her lips to get more of Tara’s taste, Buffy grins.  “Nope.  Good morning to me.  Absolutely delicious breakfast you fixed Tara.” 

Faith chuckles in appreciation lying beside Tara, running her hand over the witch’s stomach. 

Tara blushes a dark red.  “That was so not fair.  Taking advantage of a poor sleeping woman like that.  How could you?”  Tara asks frowning at the two women before smirking.  “And when do you plan on doing it again?”

All three women crack up laughing until they hear a knock on the door and Dawn calling out to them. 

“Yes Dawnie?”  Tara answers.

“Just wanted to let you guys know that I’m heading to school.”  Dawn states loudly through the door before giggling.  “And can we sound proof my room?  You know, poor innocent ears hearing things that might damage me for the rest of my life.” 

The three women look at each other in shock at first and as they hear Dawn laughing loudly as she runs down the stairs they all shake their heads. 

“She’s getting to be a little too smart-alecky.”  Buffy growls out before smiling slightly. 

“Maybe.  But she does have a point.  We’re either going to have to be quieter or figure out a way so she doesn’t hear what’s going on.  Maturing or not, I’m sure some of the noises coming from this bedroom are not meant for young ears.”  Tara states seriously.

“I’ll talk with Xander and see if he has any suggestions.”  Buffy offers agreeing with the witch.

Faith nods in agreement.  “Yeah, don’t want to stunt Squirt’s emotional well-being.” 

“And I’ll stop at the store Faith mentioned and pick up some ball gags.”  Tara deadpans.

Buffy looks confused at Tara and Faith snorts out a laugh, quickly covering her mouth.  “I don’t know what’s worse, the fact that Tara knows what a ball gag is or the fact that Buffy doesn’t.”  

Tara smirks at Faith.  “You guys don’t know everything about me.  Got to keep you on your toes.” 

Buffy rolls her eyes and finally growls.  “What is a ball gag?”

“It’s what it sounds like, Buffy.  A gag with a ball.”  Tara grins.  Looking from one woman to the other she shrugs her shoulders.  “You’d be amazed at the things you learn over the years.  Especially at some of those on-campus meet and greets.”  Climbing over Buffy to get out of bed, Tara squeals as her butt is smacked firmly.  Turning around with narrowed eyes, she sees both women lying on the bed with their arms across their chests smiling innocently.  “Right.  Like I’m going to believe those looks.” 

Throwing on her robe, Tara heads to the bathroom and the first aid kit, grabbing out the small scissors.  Coming back into the bedroom she laughs at the two slayers arguing.  “What are you two arguing about?” 

“Nothing.”  Buffy sits up straight on the bed, putting her most innocent face on and looking out of the corner of her eye to Faith. 

“Uh huh.”  Tara nods her head and raises her eyebrow looking at Faith.

“Honestly, Blondie.  We weren’t arguing over nothin’.”  Faith grins at Tara.  Looking her up and down from where the robe was gaping open since the witch hadn’t tied it closed.  Licking her lips at the breasts that she’s getting a tantalizing glimpse of, she glances at Buffy.  “You had your breakfast, I want mine.”   Catching Tara’s eye she winks and nods her head almost imperceptibly towards Buffy.

“I’m not stopping you.”  Buffy smirks looking up at Tara seeing her breasts peeking out.  “She’s definitely… FAITH!”

Tara busts out laughing as Faith literally pounces on Buffy, unceremoniously pushing her legs apart and burying her face in her apex.  Knowing from personal experience what the long tongue of Faith is capable of Tara just shakes her head and heads downstairs to fix something for breakfast.

***

Tara smirks as the two women finally come down to eat breakfast.  “I know you’ve already eaten…”  Tara trails off looking knowingly at the women.  “But you might want to have something more substantial.”   Grabbing the plates she had left in the oven to keep warm, Tara sets them down in front of each slayer.  “I’m going to take a shower and get ready for school.  Faith, when you finish, come on upstairs so I can take the stitches out, okay?”

Nodding in acknowledgement as she shovels the food in her mouth, she winks at Tara.

“You two are impossible.”  Tara mumbles as she quickly heads upstairs to get ready.

***

Stepping in the shower, Tara groans at the heat, letting it seep into her bones before reaching for the shampoo, encountering a strong tanned hand instead of the shampoo Tara grins.  “Not enough that you watch me dry off, you want to watch me get wet?”

Faith chuckles.  “You look all sweet and innocent, but you like making suggestive comments don’t ya?”  Picking up the shampoo and putting a dollop in her palms, Faith works Tara’s hair into a rich lather. 

“Mmmm.  Feels good.”  Tara moans at the strong fingers working over her scalp. 

“Rinse, I need a shower also, so I figured you wouldn’t mind sharing.”  Faith smiles watching Tara lean back and rinse the shampoo out of her hair.  

“Go ahead.”  Tara murmurs to Faith as she switches places and starts lathering her body up quickly, watching Faith wash her hair, Tara smiles at the picture of a very sexy Faith soaking wet.  Grabbing the body wash, Tara fills her palm up with soap and rubbing her hands together before quickly running her hands over Faith’s shoulders and down her arms.  Washing Faith’s body, Tara wishes they had more time to do a thorough exploration and groans in displeasure at having to hurry. 

“We are going to have to do this again when we have more time.”  Tara states running her hands over Faith’s ass and between her cheeks to tease the rosebud there, giggling when Faith spreads her legs and pushes against her.  “Definitely deserves further exploration.”  Tara huskily groans.  Quickly rinsing off, Tara climbs out of the shower, chuckling at Faith’s bitching.  

“Tease.”  Faith grumbles as she climbs out behind Tara and grabbing a towel to quickly dry herself off before running another towel over her hair.  

“Sit.”  Tara motions to the toilet seat with the scissors in her hand.  Kneeling down beside Faith, Tara quickly snips the threads before taking a pair of tweezers and pulling the strings out.  Pleased with how well the wound is healing, Tara runs her fingers lightly over the scar before leaning down and placing a kiss on it.  Standing back up and putting the items away, Tara dresses quickly.

Faith watches as Tara takes care of her stitches quickly and efficiently, then softly caresses the scar.  Seeing the brief flash of pain cross Tara’s eyes as she stands up to finish getting ready, Faith watches her intently.  “It’s not your fault, Tara.”  Faith whispers quietly, watching Tara stiffen in response.

“Damn it, girl.  You got a guilt complex that rivals mine and B’s together!  Everything’s not your fault, so stop taking what happens so fuckin’ personal, okay?”  Faith stands up looking Tara in the eyes.  “I need to get my clothes.”  Faith grumbles heading towards the bathroom door, but is stopped by a soft hand on her arm.  Turning and looking into apologetic blue eyes, Faith waits.

“It’s just that if it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t have been hurt, Faith.”  Tara whispers quietly. 

“Yeah, and if it wasn’t for you I’d still be in fuckin’ jail.  For everything I’ve done, I should be buried six feet down, Tara.  Instead I’m pardoned from jail, and have the love of not one but two beautiful women.  I could die right now and I’d die happy.  And all because of you.  Take the blame for that instead.”  Faith states clearly and sincerely before turning around and quickly leaving the bathroom. 

Buffy leans against the doorway of the bathroom with her arms crossed looking at Tara’s shocked face.  “She’s right, Tara.  You’re helping me realize that I’m not to blame for every bad thing that happens.  Now, you need to realize you’re not to blame, either.  You’re teaching both of us about love.  I can’t speak for Faith, but I’m finding out I didn’t have a clue what love was.  Infatuation, yes.  Wanting a normal relationship I hooked up with Riley, and didn’t that just turn out wonderful?”  Buffy states the last sarcastically.  Looking into Tara’s eyes, Buffy whispers in a heartfelt tone.  “I love you.  I can say it and mean it with my whole heart.  And you’re the reason.”  Buffy quietly states before leaving to go back downstairs.

Leaning back against the sink, Tara stares at the doorway stunned, thinking over what both women had said to her.  “Surely I haven’t made that much of a difference in their lives.  I can’t have been the reason for it, could I?”  Tara whispers to herself wonderingly.  Honestly thinking about everything that happened with Buffy since that fateful day she knocked on her dorm room ‘til now, Tara starts believing that maybe her part in everything was a bigger part than she had ever realized.  Her portion in Faith’s life even more so.  Running her fingers over her eyebrows, Tara softly smiles.  Faith isn’t the only one lucky to have the love of two beautiful women.

“Time to get you to school.”  Faith growls out lowly, having been watching Tara for the last few moments, seeing the different emotions crossing the beautiful woman’s face.

Tara jerks her head up at Faith, seeing she’s already holding her book bag in one hand and the helmet in the other.  Walking quickly up to Faith, Tara grasps her shirt and yanks her in for a forceful kiss.  Pulling back seeing the surprise on Faith’s face, Tara states quietly.  “I’m going to need to take the blame for fucking you senseless tonight in apology also.” 

Watching the blonde head down the stairs with a stunned look on her face, Faith slowly smiles.  “Oh, yeah.  I can handle that kind of apology.”  Faith quickly heads after the blonde, whistling quietly.

Seeing Buffy folding up towels in the living room, Tara quickly walks to her and kisses her passionately.  “Thank you.”  She whispers before quickly heading out the front door to wait for Faith to take her to school.

Buffy looks up at a smiling and whistling Faith as she heads downstairs.  “I guess everything’s straightened out?”

Faith grins before walking over and kissing Buffy.  “Pretty much, she’s planning on fucking me senseless tonight in apology.” 

“Faith!  Did you have to phrase it that way?”  Buffy shakes her head in despair.

“Yep.  I’m just repeating what I was told word for word.”  Faith smirks at the shocked look on Buffy’s face.  “Got to take the potty mouthed witch to school.  See you tonight?”

“Yeah, I’ll do patrol on my way home, so don’t expect me ‘til 10:00 or later, okay?”  Buffy watches as Faith heads towards the door.

“If you’re gonna be much later than that, call.”  Faith states before heading out the door.

“Yes, mom.”  Buffy mutters to the empty room shaking her head at how much all of them had changed in such a short time.

***

“She was hitting on you.”  Faith argues.

“She was not, Faith.  She was just being friendly.”  Tara states exasperatedly.  “She always says hi to me either before or after class.  It’s nothing more than that.”

“Then tell me why she turned pale as a ghost when I wrapped my arm around you?”  Faith growls angrily.

“Maybe that’s why!”  Tara states with her hands on her hips looking at Faith.

“What is why?  My putting my arm around you?”  Faith asks confused.

“No, the fact that you growled at her and gave her your ‘I’m gonna stake your ass’ look!”  Tara waves her hands in the air.   “Personally when you growl, it turns me on.  But other people?  Not so much.”

Getting sidetracked Faith smirks.  “My growling turns you on?”

Rolling her eyes at her lover Tara turns to head towards her next class.  “You are a pain in my ass.  Why in the world I made Buffy own up to her feelings about you and then let myself love you I’ll never know.  Of course the fact that I didn’t have a choice in loving you has no bearing on this!”  Tara grumbles with a chuckling Faith following close behind.

“You know when you’re pissed you have this extra sway to your hips that is an absolute turn on?”  Faith growls her eyes on Tara’s behind.

“Stop staring at my ass, Faith.”  Tara growls loudly, not paying any attention that they had made it to her next class and were attracting the attention of the other students.

“But it’s such a great looking ass.”  Faith smirks before glancing up and seeing quite a few people were looking at them with varying expressions on their faces.  Throwing her hands up in the air Faith states to the whole class.  “Well it is a great looking ass - I mean look at it.”  Faith points to a now extremely red faced Tara.   “Of course when it’s clad in tight blue jeans… YUMMY!  Even better with noth…” 

Slamming her hand over Faith’s mouth Tara looks in her eyes and whispers. “Shut.  Up.”

“Don’t pay any attention to my friend.  She’s practicing for a play she’s in.”  Tara states quickly before heading to a chair in the back of the classroom amidst giggles and chuckles. 

One of the guys leans in as Faith walks by.  “Personally I like your ass.” 

Faith turns and looks him up and down and smirks.  “You may like it, but you ain’t gonna get it.  That blonde I followed in here does things to me you couldn’t even imagine, let alone hope to duplicate.  So go find some gullible co-ed that’ll fall for your cheesy lines.”

Chuckling quietly, Faith sits down beside Tara and scoots the chair closer to the blonde.  Seeing the guy looking at them with not a small degree of lust on his face.  

“What happened with drool boy?”  Tara whispers quietly as she grabs her book and notepad out of her book bag. 

“He made a comment about my ass and I set him straight.”  Faith grins at Tara. 

Tara looks up quickly searching Faith’s eyes.  “Exactly how did you set him straight?  You didn’t offer a threesome or something did you?”  Tara grins slightly. 

“Hell no.  Just explained to him that he couldn’t hope to ever do the things to me that you do.  It seemed to have the response I was looking for.”  Faith smirks slightly.

“What to make him drool and want you even more?”  Tara groans quietly and shakes her head.  Looking over at the guy in question seeing him still looking at Faith. 

Faith watches as Tara quickly stands up and heads over to the guy, frowning as Tara leans in close whispering something in the guy’s ear.  Seeing the man turn pale and quickly turn away Faith looks questioningly at Tara when she sits back down.

“What did you say to him?”  Faith asks in a worried tone.

“I just explained things to him.”  Tara states innocently flipping her notebook open and pulling the cap off her pen ready to take notes as the teacher walks in. 

“Tara?”  Faith questions quietly.

“Faith.”  Tara states with a raised eyebrow.

“You’re not gonna tell me, are you?”  Faith asks lowly.

“Nope.”  Tara smiles.  

***

Walking in the house Tara rolls her eyes as Faith is almost whining.  “I’m not going to tell you, Faith.  Give it up already.”

Dawn looks at the two women.  “What’s going on with you two?”

Faith groans loudly.  “Tara said something to this guy in one of her classes and she ain’t telling me what she said.”

“And I’m not going to.”  Tara states opening her book bag and spreading her books and notes out on the dining room table before heading to the kitchen to grab something to drink before doing her homework. 

“Got any homework Dawnie?”  Tara asks as she sits down looking over at Dawn.

“Did it in my free period.”  Dawn states changing the channel to Animal Planet.  “What’s for dinner?”

“I laid out chicken breasts for you guys, so I figured I’d make chicken alfredo.”  Tara states flipping to the chapter to start her assignment.

“What are you having?”  Faith questions quietly. 

Looking up and smiling Tara looks back down.  “I have some vegetables that I’m going to steam and have vegetable alfredo.  I’ll probably make some garlic bread to go with it.”

“Anything I can get ready or help with?”  Faith looks at the witch. 

“If you’re serious, you can get the broccoli and cauliflower heads out of the refrigerator and break off a couple sections of each and clean them and chop them in bite size pieces for me.  Throw them in a container back in the fridge.”   Tara suggests and smiles as Faith quickly heads to the kitchen.  “Thank you, Faith.”

“No problem.”  Faith mumbles before heading to the kitchen to keep busy while Tara does her homework and studying.

***

“Faith, will you stop pouting already.”  Dawn rolls her eyes at the slayer.  “You’re worse than me!”

Tara snorts silently agreeing with Dawn as she comes into the living room looking at Faith sitting in the corner of the couch pouting.   “I’ve made Buffy a bowl.  And I don’t know about you two, but I’m on the tired side.”

Dawn smirks at the witch.  “I wonder why that is?” 

Flopping down on the couch Tara leans her head back and closes her eyes.   “Be nice Dawnie, or the first time you bring a boy home I’ll tell him all kinds of mean things about you.”  

“That’s just wrong, Tara.”  Dawn whines, making Tara smile in response.

Faith watches Tara and looks carefully at the witch seeing the slight shadowing under her eyes.  Frowning in concern she moves to sit beside her.  “Are you okay?”  Faith whispers running her hand lightly through the honey blonde hair.

Smiling softly at the concern in Faith’s voice, Tara nods.  “Yeah, just a little tired is all.”

“Here, lay down.”  Faith encourages shifting her body to the other end of the couch and patting her thigh.  Smiling as the witch shifts and lies down with her head in her lap, Faith runs her hand down the witch’s shoulder and back.  Gently stroking Tara’s back, Faith watches her as she slowly relaxes rubbing her face against her thigh as she sighs and finally falls asleep. 

Dawn watches the two women and smiles seeing the love on Faith’s face for Tara.  As Tara falls asleep Dawn stands up.  “I’m going to bed.”  She whispers quietly to Faith and at Faith’s nod, quietly heads upstairs to bed.  

Running her fingers lightly through the soft silken hair Faith grins as Tara moans quietly and shifts her hand up, tucking it under Faith’s thigh.  “You are adorable Miss Tara Maclay.”  Faith murmurs.  “And you’re going to get a full night’s rest.”

Faith gently strokes Tara’s hair and back before slowly dozing off.

***

Quietly coming into the house, Buffy locks the door behind her before kicking off her shoes.  Looking in the living room, ready to turn the lights off and head upstairs she stops looking at Tara and Faith on the couch asleep.  

“Well, I guess there won’t be any celebrations for our windfall tonight, huh?”  Buffy states quietly more to herself than the two sleeping women.

Kneeling in front of both women, Buffy notices the shadows under Tara’s eyes.  Running her fingers gently down the witch’s cheek. 

Faith slowly wakes up noticing Buffy leaning down and gently caressing Tara.  “I think everything kind of caught up to her tonight, that and the lack of sleep the last few days, kind of made her crash.”  Faith whispers. 

Buffy looks up at Faith with concerned eyes.  “Is she okay?” 

Nodding her head Faith looks down at the witch.  “Yeah.  She’s okay, just tired.  I think a good night’s sleep without two horny slayers taking advantage of her will do a world of good for her.”  Faith smirks slightly.  “How was patrol tonight?  What time is it, anyway?”

Buffy grins at Faith.  “We do kinda need to remember she doesn’t have our stamina and strength, huh?  Even though she has a tendency to make me forget…”  Buffy trails off looking at the witch.  “She’s beautiful.  All this time she didn’t even realize.  Such a kind, giving spirit deserves the world, you know.” 

Looking back up at Faith, Buffy smiles.  “Umm I think it’s close to 10:30 now.  Patrol went great, actually one of the vampires had a good chunk of change on him.  Enough for me to get everything paid up and current with some left over.”  Smirking up at Faith she looks back down at Tara.  “I think we need to go shopping this weekend.”

“Good.”  Faith whispers.  “You didn’t get hurt or anything did you?”  Faith asks worriedly. 

“Nah, one of them was a scrapper, just felt good to stretch the muscles some, you know.  Think I should carry her upstairs?”  Buffy looks at Faith smiling softly.

“Yeah, we’ll get her all tucked in bed between two warm bodies and let her get some rest tonight.”  Grinning mischievously Faith looks from Tara up to Buffy.  “Then we’ll keep her up late tomorrow night.  She still owes me.”

Laughing at Faith, Buffy stands up and leans over to gently lift the Wiccan into her arms.  Smiling as Tara snuggles against her neck and wraps an arm around her.  Pressing a kiss to Tara’s head Buffy whispers.  “I love you.”

Faith smiles at the two women.  Following Buffy up the stairs, Faith whispers.  “We really need to get a bigger bed if all three of us are going to be sleeping together.”

“I know.  The only thing is my room isn’t big enough to have a much bigger bed in.”  Buffy whispers back as she gently lays Tara down on the bed.  Slowly disrobing the blonde, Buffy glances back to Faith who is quickly stripping off her clothes.  “Should we put on her night wear?”  Buffy asks quietly as she finishes stripping Tara.

“Nope.  I’ve decided bed is nowhere for clothes.”  Faith whispers huskily looking at the blonde.  “I like the feel of a soft warm body against me.”

Buffy smiles softly at Faith.  “I can’t argue with that.”  Watching as Faith climbs in the other side of the bed and Tara unconsciously rolling over and snuggling up against the Dark Slayer, Buffy giggles.  “She’s like a homing missile towards heat, isn’t she?  At least towards you.  Me, I’m usually snuggling up against her.  Weird.”  Shrugging her shoulders in dismissal, Buffy strips and climbs in bed pulling the covers up over the three women before snuggling up against Tara’s back and wrapping her arm around the blonde to rest her hand on Faith’s stomach. 

Running her fingers over Buffy’s hand, Faith smiles as she feels Tara’s hand easing up and cupping her breast.  “’Night.”  Faith whispers to the two women.

“Love you.”  Buffy murmurs plastering herself against Tara and burying her face in the blonde’s hair before drifting off to sleep.

***

Waking up slowly Tara nuzzles into Faith‘s neck.  Smiling at the perpetual spicy smell of the slayer Tara gently sucks at the skin humming in pleasure.  Coming more awake she realizes she’s in bed naked between the two slayers.  Lifting her head she looks at Faith and smiles before placing a gentle kiss on the slayer’s lips.  Easing over the slayer trying not to wake her, Tara smiles as Buffy scoots into the place she had just vacated.  “You two are too precious for words.”  Tara smiles lovingly at the women before grabbing her robe and heading to the bathroom. 

Singing quietly as she makes pancakes, biscuits, eggs and bacon, Tara feels rested and a hundred percent better.  Feeling a pair of strong arms wrap around her, pulling her back away from the stove and a face nuzzling into her neck, she giggles quietly.  As Faith eases in front of her wrapping her arms around both women and nuzzling into the other side of her neck she groans.

“We woke up and were missing someone.”  Faith whispers quietly before kissing Tara’s ear.  “So we came to find our missing lover.” 

“The eggs are going to burn if you don’t let me go.”  Tara whispers, not really knowing if she cares about the eggs or not.

“Personally I’m hungry, so if you two wouldn’t mind letting Tara finish fixing breakfast, I’d like to have something besides cereal this week.”  Dawn comments opening the refrigerator and pulling out juice, giggling as she hears the groans coming from her sister and Faith. 

Finishing breakfast and scooping it on the plates Tara winks at Dawn.   As all the women head to the dining room and sit down to eat, Tara laughs as Buffy and Faith both move the chairs to sit close to her.  “What is it with you two?”

“Are you feeling better?”  Buffy asks quietly looking into the blonde’s eyes, noticing that the slight darkening around her eyes was gone and the blues eyes were sparkling.

“Yes.  I just needed a good night’s rest.  Nothing more serious than that.”  Looking from Buffy to Faith, Tara smirks slightly. 

“What are we doing this weekend?”  Dawn asks as she finishes her breakfast.

“Well, I have a rare Saturday off, so we got a full weekend.”  Buffy grins looking at Faith and Tara.  “I think we need to go shopping.”

“Shopping?”  Tara questions.

“Yep.  Came across a vamp with a pocket full of cash.  I’ll be able to catch us up on bills and have money left over.  I figure we could all use some new outfits.”  Giving Tara an intent look, Buffy wiggles her eyebrows.  “Some of us more than others.”

“I love you two, but you’re going to drive me to drink.”  Tara exclaims gathering up the dirty dishes taking them to the kitchen before heading upstairs to get ready for school.

“What are you two up to?”  Dawn asks getting ready to head to school.

“Tara wore this pair of jeans the other night…”  Faith growls low and deep, her eyes hazing over slightly in remembrance.

Buffy giggles at Faith before turning to Dawn.  “Let’s just say that Tara has an extremely jeans worthy body and we’re going to update her wardrobe.  We aren‘t going to let her hide behind the skirts and ill fitting tops.”

“You two are sick puppies.”  Dawn smirks.  “I’m going to school.  You three try and behave.”

“’Bye, Dawn.  Have a good day.”  Buffy grabs her plate up to take to the kitchen.

“’Bye, Squirt.”  Faith winks at Dawn.  “See you tonight.”  Faith smiles as Dawn leaves, shutting the door behind her.  Shaking her head at the young girl, Faith grabs up her dirty dishes and follows Buffy into the kitchen. 

“What’cha gonna do today B?”  Faith asks quietly watching Buffy load the dishwasher.  “Do you want to take Tara to her classes?”

“No, you go ahead.  I’ll go pay off some of the bills then I think I’m gonna finish sorting out the stuff in the garage.  Put the trash out by the road since tomorrow’s pick up day.”  Buffy smiles as Faith leans in and kisses her briefly.  “I think you’re kind of having fun at college, aren’t you?”

“Yeah, actually I am.”  Faith grins at Buffy.  “Who woulda figured?  I guess I better go get ready or Blondie will have my hide.”

Buffy laughs as she watches as Faith hurries out of the kitchen.  It seems Tara has Faith wrapped around her little finger.  Buffy’s smirk turns into a laugh as she realizes she’d do absolutely anything for the blonde also. 

“Should I worry about you being in a room by yourself and laughing?”  Tara asks quietly watching Buffy with a small smile playing about her lips. 

“Nope.”  Buffy smiles before walking over to the blonde, giving her a firm kiss.  “Love you.” 

Wrapping her arms loosely around Buffy, Tara leans down placing a kiss on the side of her neck.  “I love you, too.  What are you going to do today?”

Giggling Buffy states.  “We should all get together to go over each other’s plans for the day, so we don’t have to repeat ourselves.  I’m going to go take care of some of the bills and then work on the garage some more.”

“Are we all going out on patrol together tonight?”  Tara murmurs becoming more interested in the skin beneath her lips, lightly kissing and licking between words. 

“You keep that up and you won’t be going to class today.”  Buffy groans, tilting her head to give the witch better access.

“Why did you remind me?”  Tara groans burying her face in the slayer’s neck.  “I need to work extra hard the next week to be ready for finals.  The professors are hitting on some of the more important information this week.  It’s amazing how they wait ‘til right before finals to get to the important stuff.” 

“You’re brilliant.  You’ll do great.”  Buffy states with conviction.  “Faith and I will do anything to help you.  Just let us know what we can do.”

“Thank you.”  Tara whispers before giving a quick kiss to Buffy’s lips before pulling back to reach for her book bag.  “I wonder where Faith is?” 

“Coming down the stairs!”  Faith states as she jumps down the last few steps to land in front of Tara.  “Want me?”  Faith smirks.

“You know the answer to that.”  Tara smirks back.  “Let’s head out.”  Reaching over and giving Buffy another kiss Tara whispers.  “Don’t work too hard, today.  Love you.”

“Love you, too.”  Buffy murmurs.  Reaching over and pulling Faith in for a quick hard kiss, Buffy pulls back.  “I love you.”

Looking down briefly Faith mumbles “Me, too” before quickly heading out the front door, leaving Tara and Buffy looking after her in surprise. 

“She’s getting close to opening up completely.”  Tara whispers quietly.  “She’s come a long way in a short period of time.”

“It’s amazing that all this time all she really needed was someone to love and to love her.”  Buffy murmurs quietly.  “How could things have been different if we had seen this when she originally came here?”

Tara shakes her head before running her hand softly down Buffy’s shoulder.  “Don’t dwell on that, Buffy.  Unfortunately there’s nothing we can do to change the past.  All we can do is be here for her now.  And, just to be selfish, I’m glad we have now, together.”  Kissing Buffy quickly, Tara turns around and leaves to go to school.

“Oh, yeah.  Definitely enjoying the here and now.”  Buffy smiles at the empty room before starting on her day.

***

Chapter 19

“You can’t be serious?”  Tara asks aghast.

“Yes, we are.”  Buffy smirks making eye contact with Faith.  “We discussed and decided.  So it’s going to happen.”

Tara pales slightly.  “But, but we’re talking about me, here.  Don’t I get a say in the matter?”  Tara looks from one woman to the next.

“Okay, you vote no.  Buffy votes yes and I vote yes.  It’s gonna happen.  Democracy in action.”  Faith smirks at Buffy.  “Gotta love it.”

“Definitely working in our favor.”  Buffy nods her head smiling hugely.  “We’ll let you pick.”  Buffy offers magnanimously. 

“Why me?”  Tara whispers.  “Is it too late to decide to run away to Alaska or somewhere?” 

“No can do.  We’ll follow you to the ends of the earth.”  Buffy states crossing her arms over her chest. 

“Yep.  No way you’ll escape us.  You’re ours now.  We plan on being there for you and spoilin’ you until the ends of our days.”   Faith grins, crossing her arms in a mimic of Buffy’s stance.

“Oh, all right.  Like I have a choice in the matter.”  Tara mumbles. 

“What colors do you like?”  Buffy asks, reaching for a pair of white, black and tan pants.  “I definitely believe a white pair would look great.  Faith thinks black.  I grabbed the tan pair for you to try on also.”  

Tara reaches for the leather pants shaking her head.  “I can’t believe I’m letting you two talk me into this.”  

Buffy grins at Faith.  “Want to follow her in and check out how they fit?  I don’t want her trying to get ones too big.  That would defeat the purpose.” 

“Okay, what are you gonna do?”  Faith smirks heading towards the changing room Tara had went into. 

“I’m heading to the shop across the way and look at shirts.”  Buffy wiggles her eyebrows.  “Any requests?”

“Get blue to match her eyes.”  Faith smiles before lightly knocking on the changing room door.  “It’s me.  I just wanna check up on how they fit.”  Watching Buffy walk away, Faith grins.

“Come on!  Don’t you trust me?”  Tara whines slightly. 

“Nope.  You’ll get pants three times too big and then you’ll have two very upset slayers on your hands.  You don’t have a choice, Witch.  So let me in.”  Faith states lowly with a hint of laughter in her voice.  Seeing the salesperson watching her with a questioning look, Faith smiles reassuringly. 

“Oh, all right.”  Tara mumbles unlocking the door.  “Come on in, Faith.”  Turning back to the mirror Tara shakes her head looking at the form-fitting black leather pants. 

“Wow.”  Faith whispers at the blonde.   Raking her eyes over the tight-fitting pants, hugging the blonde’s form in an absolutely drool-worthy way.  Highlighting her hips and ass so enticingly, that Faith can’t help but reach out and run her hands over the blonde’s ass.  “Oh, yeah.  Gonna buy these.”

“Faith, I can’t wear underwear with these.”  Tara hisses out quietly.

“Definitely gotta buy them now.”  Faith unconsciously licks her lips.  “Try on the other pants.”  Faith gets out huskily.

As Tara eases the pants down her body and carefully hangs them back up and sliding into another pair, Faith shoves her hands in her pockets to keep from reaching out for the blonde.  Nodding in approval to the white leather pants, Faith can’t decide what pair looks better on the blonde.  When Tara tries on the tan ones, Faith grins hugely. 

“Definitely gonna get all three.”  Faith growls out lowly.  Reaching out and pulling the witch in for a rough, seeking kiss, Faith finally pulls away whispering.  “You are hot.  Definitely not gonna let you hide that body of yours anymore, okay?”

As Tara starts to take the pants off, Faith shakes her head.  “Wait a minute, let me talk to the manager.”

Quickly heading out to find the manager, Faith asks him if it would be okay for Tara to wear one of the pairs of pants out. 

Appraising the woman with a raised eyebrow, Faith rolls her eyes at the manager.  Pulling out $500 in cash she hands it to him.  “This will cover all three pairs.  I just want to enjoy the view the rest of the afternoon.”  Looking over at another sales rack, Faith grins grabbing a top.  “I want her to try this on, also.  Do you have one of those things I can take the ink tags off with?  I’ll leave the price tags on them so you guys can remove ‘em when we come back out, okay?”

The manager looks at the woman and finally smiles slightly.  “Okay, let me get the tag remover.”  The man hands the cash back to Faith.  “You can pay when you’re done.”

Faith grins in appreciation.  Reaching for the tag remover she looks at it briefly, realizing there shouldn’t be any questions on using it before heading back to the changing room. 

“It’s me.”  Faith grins as she hears Tara’s grumbling to come in.  “Here, I want you to try this top on.”  Faith hands the top to Tara, smiling as Tara quickly changes. 

“Yep, taking that too.”  Faith appraises the snug white top, hugging the witch’s breasts tantalizingly.  “Come here.”  Faith quietly states, reaching for the ink tags, removing them from the shirt and leather pants.  Grabbing the witch’s panties and shoving them in her pants pocket, Faith grins.  “Souvenir.”  Picking up the skirt and shirt, she throws them in the trashcan before grabbing the other two pairs of leather pants.

Tara blushes at the Dark Slayer.  “Faith!” 

“Come on, Blondie.”  Faith smirks heading out of the dressing room with Tara following subconsciously tugging on the bottom of the shirt that ends just below her breasts. 

Faith shakes her head and reaches out for the hand.  “Stop that.  You look gorgeous.”

“Faith!  I don’t like showing my stomach.”  Tara whispers to the slayer in a low embarrassed voice. 

“Tara, you have an absolutely gorgeous, sexy body.  And Buffy and I are gonna make you believe that.  This is how we’re starting.  I want you to watch other people’s reactions to you when we’re out shopping in the mall.  If we can’t make you believe, then maybe other people will.”  With a serious look in her eyes, Faith smiles softly.  “Trust me.”  Faith whispers quietly.

Sighing quietly Tara consciously straightens her back, throwing her shoulders back and walking proudly.

“Now, that’s my lover.”  Faith states with an appreciative grin. 

“Don’t you mean our lover?”  Buffy comes up to the women looking Tara up and down.  “Oh, yeah.  Absolutely edible.”  Buffy licks her chops, making Tara blush. 

The manager has quietly been standing there as the women talk and hearing them mentioning being lovers, he groans low in his throat, looking at the three beautiful women.  When the blonde had come out of the changing room, he was surprised at how gorgeous the woman actually was.  Feeling his body tightening in response to the women he moves to stand behind the service desk. 

As the beauties bring the clothes to be rung up, the manager smiles.  “Did you find everything you needed?”

“Yes, we did.”  Buffy smiles at the manager.  “If you’ll hand me a pair of scissors, I’ll cut these tags off.”  Quickly cutting the tags off and hand them along with the scissors back to the manager, Buffy grins in appreciation at Tara.  Wrapping her arm around the witch’s waist, she watches as Faith pays for the clothes. 

“Didn’t you buy anything for yourself, Faith?”  Buffy questions realizing the clothes were for Tara.

“Nah.  Figured we would get Blondie here situated first.  Later on I can get more clothes.”  Faith states shaking her head and smiling.  Accepting her change she thanks the manager as he hands the bag of clothes to her. 

“Here’s a discount for the next time you visit our shop.  We appreciate your business and hope to see you again.”  He smiles as the pretty brunette, Faith, wraps her arm around the blonde’s shoulders.  

“We’ll be back.”  Buffy smiles as they leave the store. 

“So, what did you get, B?”  Faith asks looking pointedly at the bag in Buffy’s hand. 

Pulling her arm from around Tara’s waist she smiles.  “Come over here.”  Buffy leads them to an empty table in the food court.  Pulling out five different tops in varying shades of blue she grins at Tara.  “Your eyes change color so much, depending on the situation I had to get all the different colors they had.” 

Tara looks at the varying shades of lycra tops up to Buffy’s eyes and shakes her head.  “Please tell me we aren’t going to be spending all the extra money you have on clothes just for me.”

“Oh, no.  I picked something up for Faith while I was in there, also.”  Buffy grins as she pulls out a black t-shirt, handing it to Tara.

Tara unfolds the t-shirt and starts laughing.  “This is great.”

Faith leans over to see what the t-shirt has on it when Tara hands it to her.  Seeing the Tasmanian Devil pictured on a black Harley, Faith rolls her eyes.  “Great now you two are going to gang up on me.”

“Personally, I think that’s fair.”  Tara smirks slightly.   “After all, you two have been ganging up on me frequently.”

Throwing the t-shirt back in the bag Faith growls lightly.  “I’m getting hungry.  You two want anything?”  Faith stands looking at the food court trying to decide on what to get. 

Tara shakes her head.  “You think with your stomach, Faith.”

Turning to look at Tara and letting her eyes roam over the blonde’s body Faith smirks.  “That’s not entirely true.”  She murmurs before leaning down and placing a quick, firm kiss on Tara’s lips.  “I do think with other body parts occasionally.”

Giggling Tara quietly murmurs.  “That’s a given.”  Shaking her head Tara glances down at the food court.  “I wouldn’t mind having one of those huge pretzels with nacho cheese and a soda.”

“Jumbo pretzel for the beautiful witch.  What do you want B?”  Faith looks to Buffy questioningly. 

“Whatever you’re having will be good.”  Buffy looks up smiling at Faith.  “Thanks Faith.”

Waving at Buffy, Faith leaves to prowl around the food court deciding on what to eat, seeing the steak and cheese sub place Faith heads over.

***

“So, it looks like there’s something else in that bag, there Buffy.”  Tara murmurs scooting her chair closer to the slayer, reaching out to run her hand over Buffy’s arm. 

Smiling and winking at Tara, Buffy pulls out another Taz shirt handing it to the witch. 

Unfolding the shirt Tara busts out in laughter.  “I didn’t even realize that they made shirts like this.”

Buffy smirks.  “They made it for me.  I picked out the Taz iron-on and had them add the wording.”

Looking down at the t-shirt with an absolutely mischievous looking Taz on the front, arms crossed pointing to the left and right, with the wording  ‘Sorry World’ above him and the wording ‘I’m with her and her’ underneath. 

“Knowing Faith, this’ll probably end up being one of her favorite shirts.”  Tara smirks at Buffy.  “Even with Taz on it!”

Nodding in agreement Buffy looks to where Faith had disappeared and seeing her heading back towards them she starts laughing. 

Looking up to see what Buffy’s laughing at, Tara smirks.  “Told you she thinks with her stomach.”  Looking at the tray with three large drinks and what looks like eight or more subs piled on it and her pretzel sitting atop the subs. 

“And a hundred dollars later she comes back with lunch.”  Buffy smirks at Faith and the food.  Taking the pretzel off the top and handing it to Tara, Buffy grasps the sodas setting one down in front of each woman.  Smiling as Faith sits down, grabbing one of the sandwiches and attacking. 

Tara tears off a piece of her pretzel, dipping it in the cheese and popping it in her mouth, chewing slowly, watching Faith chomping on the sandwich.  Looking over at Buffy who was eating enthusiastically, but not as quickly as Faith, Tara smiles. 

Resting her chin on her hand Tara looks from one woman to the other.  “I love you, two.”  Tara whispers quietly, making both women look up at her.  Faith smiles gently before leaning over and kissing Tara on the temple.

Buffy whispers.  “I love you, too.”  Before reaching out and running her hand down Tara’s arm. 

“Should have figured you three would be at the food court.  With Faith you can’t help but eat every hour or so.”  Dawn smirks plopping her bag down by the table, before flopping in the empty chair.  Looking at the pile of sandwiches Dawn grabs one quickly before sticking her tongue out at Faith.

“Well that’s real grown up, Squirt.”  Faith looks at her with narrowed eyes before sticking her tongue out in retaliation at the teen.

“Way to show her how to be a grown-up, Faith.”  Buffy grins before grabbing another sandwich.  “You have any money leftover?  Or are you looking for some more?”

Dawn shakes her head.  “I‘m fine.  Thought I’d see what you guys were up to.”  Dawn states around a mouth full of food.  Actually looking at the three women she glances over at Tara and her eyes widen.  “Whoa!  Tara, stand up, let me see what you got on.”

Blushing Tara looks to the other two women who grin at her.  Sighing in resignation Tara stands up and slowly turns around and hears Dawn stating wow four or five times.   Quickly sitting back down Tara starts eating the rest of her pretzel, blushing.

“You guys are doing well, I see.”  Dawn smiles at the two slayers before looking back at Tara.  “And I must say, you look gorgeous in that outfit, Tara.” 

“Thanks Dawnie.”  Tara smiles softly at the teen.  “What have you gotten?”

“I bought a couple pairs of jeans and a shirt I’ve been wanting.”  Dawn smiles happily at the witch before eating more of her sandwich.

“Yeah, that’s where we’re heading next.  Jeans for the witch.  Then we’re going to visit the body piercing store and get that belly button done.”  Faith states matter-of-factly. 

“We are not!”  Tara hisses out in shock.

“Vote.”  Faith smirks raising her hand.  “Raise your hand for everyone that says Tara gets her belly button pierced.”  Buffy quickly raises her hand grinning.  “That’s two Blondie.”

“Dawn.”  Tara pleads looking at the teen.  “You’ll vote on my side, right?”

Dawn shakes her head.  “Sorry, Tara.  I love you, but I am NOT getting in the middle of this.”  Dawn finishes her sandwich and grabs her bag.  “We still meeting here in…”  She trails off looking at her watch.  “Another two hours?”  Dawn looks up and at the nods she grins.  “See you guys then.”

Watching the teen quickly head away from the table Tara shakes her head.  “See if I make that girl any more pancakes.”  She mumbles, making the two slayers laugh. 

“Can we get your belly button pierced?”  Faith asks quietly with a hopeful look on her face. 

“I thought we already voted on it, and it was decided.”  Tara murmurs, sipping on her soda, looking questioningly at Faith.

“Nah.  We wouldn’t do that to ya’.”  Faith mumbles into her sandwich.  “I just think you’re sexy and a belly button ring would look good on ya’.” 

Buffy nods her head in agreement watching Tara curiously.  “We wouldn’t make you do something like that.  The clothes thing is different, nothing that’ll harm you.  We just want you to realize you look good and should flaunt it.”

Tara looks from Buffy to Faith thinking.  “What about you two?”  Tara asks grabbing the last of her pretzel dipping it in the cheese and nibbling on it.

“What about us two?”  Faith questions jerking her head up quickly. 

“Well, I was just thinking.”  Tara sips at her soda before continuing.  “Why don’t we all get our belly buttons pierced?” 

“You’d get yours done?”  Faith whispers with a smile starting to ease onto her face. 

“If you two get yours done, I’ll get mine done.  Maybe we can get matching ones or see if they have something that would mean something personal to each of us.”  Tara shrugs her shoulders before smiling hugely at the two women.  “I don’t have a problem with it, it wasn’t the piercing I had a problem with, just showing my stomach.  But it looks like my stomach is going to be on show, so I better get used to it.”

Faith jumps up and grabs Tara up swinging her around, making the witch laugh.  “Thank you!!”  Faith yells, burying her face in the witch’s breasts while spinning her around. 

“FAITH!”  Tara loudly calls her name.  “Put me down, you’re causing a spectacle.”

Easing Tara’s body down hers, Faith smirks before kissing her firmly.  “Well, then let’s give them a spectacle worth watching.”  Wrapping her arms around the witch, holding her tight Faith leans in and gives her a long, languorous kiss, making both of them moan before pulling away, panting slightly. 

Buffy watches the display, wondering if she should be embarrassed or turned on.  Since she was definitely turned on, she just smirks before grabbing her third sandwich and eating it.  “Faith, there’s one sandwich left.  If you want it, you better grab it.”

“Go ahead, B.  I got more important things to do.”  Faith murmurs before placing a quick kiss on Tara’s lips. 

“Faith, we’re in a public place.”  Tara pants quietly between the quick kisses Faith keeps placing on her lips. 

“Your point being?”  Faith grumbles nibbling on the witch’s ear. 

“Meaning, there are kids around that most parents don’t want them to see this kind of public display between two people of different sexes, let alone the same sex.”  Tara groans softly when Faith sucks her earlobe into her mouth.  “Plus the fact that I’m wearing leather pants with no underwear and if you keep this up, they’re going to need to be dropped off at the cleaners.”

“Small price to pay.”  Faith mutters nibbling her way down Tara’s neck. 

Tara growls and grabs Faith by the hair at the back of her head, firmly pulling her away.  “Behave, Faith.” 

“Oh, that is NOT the way to get me to behave.”  Faith grins wickedly.  “That’ll just make me worse.  Remember?  I like Butch Tara.”

“If you two don’t behave the security guards are going to break you up.”  Buffy murmurs quietly reaching for the last sandwich.  “They still give me dirty looks when I come in here from when I blew part of the mall up my Junior year.”

Faith starts laughing, quickly followed by Tara.  Both women sit down and Faith looks at Buffy frowning.  “You ate it!” 

“You told me to.”  Buffy defends herself.

“Yeah, I know I did.  But I didn’t think you’d eat it!”  Faith pouts.  Turning and looking longingly at the food stalls. 

“Faith, you ate five subs!  I had four and Dawn ate one.  I think you can live on five large subs for a couple hours.”  Buffy grumbles. 

Grabbing the bags and looking at the two women grumbling at each other Tara shakes her head muttering.  “I’m going to go look at jeans.  Stay, eat or come with.  Your decision.” 

As the two women look up Tara turns and heads in the direction of one of the clothing stores.  Both slayers jump up and quickly chase after Tara, each one grabbing a bag from her hand to carry, making her smirk. 

“Anyone else going to be buying jeans?”  Tara asks looking through the jeans, grabbing some dark blue, black and light blue low riders.

Faith hands her some button-fly hip huggers and smiles.  “Try these on, while you’re at it.  Do I need to follow you in there and make sure you aren’t getting loose fitting jeans?”

“No, Faith.  You don’t have to follow me into the dressing room.”  Tara rolls her eyes.  “I’m done arguing with you two.  Can we get me some button-down shirts, also?  Maybe some camisoles or tank tops to go under them?”

Buffy’s eyes widen and she grins.  “I’m on it!  Crop tops, also?”  At Tara’s nod she takes off searching.

Faith watches as Buffy goes looking for the tops and chuckles.  “She’s easily pleased.”

“I think she lives to shop.”  Tara murmurs before heading off to try on the jeans.

“No, Tara.  I think she lives for us, making us happy.”  Faith softly states to herself before smiling and looking through more clothes. 

After they pay for their purchases Tara shakes her head slightly.  “Do we even have any money left over, now?”

“Oh, there’s plenty of money left.”  Buffy grins at Tara, wrapping her arm around her waist and kissing her on the cheek before whispering in her ear.  “Is there anything else your heart desires, love?”

“Besides you and Faith in bed naked?”  Tara smirks slightly whispering in Buffy’s ear.  “No, I have everything.”

Faith leans in asking.  “Are you going to be in bed naked also?”  Making Tara giggle.

“No, I figured I’d just watch.”  Tara snorted out a laugh.  “Yes, I was planning on being in there naked with you.”

“That reminds me.”  Buffy starts as they walk down the mall heading to get the piercing.  “Tara, if we re-did the bigger bedroom and bought a king size bed, would you be okay in Mom’s old room?  I mean, completely re-painted, wall papered, re-arranged, the whole thing.”  Looking down at the floor as they walked Buffy quietly states.  “I just thought it would be more comfortable and we’d have more room for all three of us.”

Frowning slightly, thinking about what Buffy’s saying, Tara realizes she has a valid point.  While the three women were sleeping together okay in the bed they’re in, it isn’t all that comfortable when they’re all making love together.  Purely from a logistical standpoint it made a lot of sense.  The only problem was hers.  She and Willow had lived in that room, made love in that room and she had been betrayed by Willow in that room.

Looking over at Buffy, Tara asks quietly.  “Can I think about it?”

Stopping and looking at Tara, Buffy drops the bags and puts a hand on either side of the blonde’s face.  “You can take all the time you want.  We’re fine now.  It was just a suggestion to give us more room, that’s all.  And it’s only if you are completely comfortable with it.  Otherwise we won’t, okay?”  As Tara nods looking at her with serious blue eyes, Buffy smiles softly.  “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”  Tara smiles back before leaning down and brushing her lips lightly over Buffy’s.  “Now, let’s go get pierced together.”

“Hey!  Can I get a new tat?”  Faith asks smiling, happy that the suggestion didn’t seem to upset the witch too badly. 

“Since when did you need our permission to get a tattoo?”  Tara questions with a raised eyebrow before glancing questioningly at Buffy.

Buffy shrugs her shoulders looking inquiringly at Faith.  “I would prefer you not get your face tattooed, but it’s your body, Faith.”

“No way in hell am I gonna tattoo my face, B!”  Faith smirks at the thought.  “I was just kinda thinking about a new tattoo, and wanted to make sure you two were okay with it.” 

“Do what you want, Faith.  Just make sure either myself or Tara are with you.  That’s still in effect until we figure out something about Willow.”  Buffy states quietly, running her hand down the brunette’s neck. 

Closing her eyes briefly at the caress, Faith smiles murmuring.  “Feels good.”

Chuckling at the two women Tara nudges Buffy into Faith.  “Jeeze, go ahead and kiss already.  You know you want to.”

“Yeah, but when we kiss it isn’t usually just a kiss, it’s a tonsil hockey match.” Buffy jokes.

“Oh, like what Faith and I were doing at the food court was just a kiss.”  Tara states with a roll of the eyes.  “Damn, I had Faith’s face buried between my breasts.  A tonsil hockey match would be mild.” 

Faith waggles her eyebrows before grabbing Buffy in for a brief but passionate kiss.  “Small hockey match.”  She whispers.  “Gotta save the good stuff for later.”

“What kind of good stuff you got planned?”  Buffy whispers back smiling.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?”  Faith smirks.  “Come on, I want to get Blondie a cool belly button ring.”

“What?  I don’t even get to choose my own?”  Tara asks in mock outrage. 

“Sure you can.  We don’t have to get just one kind - we can buy all different kinds you know.”  Faith states with a cocky grin.  “And I can’t wait to see what they have.”  Faith grabs the bags and heads toward the store grinning as she feels Tara hook her arm through her own. 

“Women.”  Buffy mutters loudly following behind the two.  Looking at the view, deciding this is definitely the place to be. 

“She’s ogling our asses.”  Tara stage whispers.

“Yep.  She picks on my breast fetish, but I think she has an ass fetish.”  Faith smirks at the blonde.

“Actually I think we all have ass fetishes to a certain degree.”  Buffy states watching how the leather showed off the blonde’s ass and muscular thighs.  Who knew Tara had such a great body hiding under those frumpy outfits?  Willow had this wonderful, kind, gorgeous woman and screwed it up.  Buffy shakes her head at the stupidity.  Nothing was worth losing Tara.  “You know, Faith, I was thinking.”

“Yeah B?”  Faith answers as they head into the shop. 

“It may not have been a good idea to buy all these tight fitting clothes.  I mean I enjoy the view.  I mean I really, really enjoy the view.”  Buffy smirks.  “But if she ends up getting all these people hitting on her all the time, which I know she will, I’m going to be knocking heads together.”

Faith growls out.  “They can look, they can want, but they will not have and they will not touch.  Simple as that.  I want everyone to know that we three are together and that we don’t share.” 

“Sounding kind of possessive there, Faith.”  Tara states quietly, trying to keep a straight face.

“I-I didn’t mean it like you belong to me, Tara.  I meant it more like we belong to each other… I mean we ain’t interested in anybody else and I wanted to make sure that other people know it kind of thing.”  Faith hurriedly tries to straighten up her mess.  “I mean I care for you a lot and would do anything for ya’!  I didn’t mean it in a possession kind a way you understand?”  Faith almost begs.  “I love ya’ too much for me to think of you as a possession, you mean the world to me…”  

Tara slams her lips into Faith’s, forcefully shoving her tongue into the slayer’s mouth, stroking her tongue repeatedly over Faith’s before battling her for dominance.  Pulling Faith in hard against her body, Tara grabs her behind the head, deepening the angle of the kiss before nipping then sucking hard at the tongue invading her mouth. 

“Whoa!  Who ordered Hot Babes-R-Us to come to the store?” 

Buffy had been trying not to laugh as Faith tried to extract her foot from her mouth, heard when she said she loved Tara, and saw how it affected the blonde.  Watching Tara attack Faith made Buffy groan internally.  Don’t think there’s going to be much sleeping the rest of this weekend.  Buffy smirks as she hears the comment from the employee at the register.  Glancing around she sees that Tara and Faith have pretty much garnered the interest of the whole store, and from the looks of it, none of them were going to complain.  Seeing Faith’s hands start to slide down to cup Tara’s ass, Buffy closes in quickly, grabbing and pulling them and Faith away.

Growling in displeasure when she feels her hands being pulled away from the body she found literally plastered against hers, Faith whimpers as Buffy separates them.  Opening her eyes, trying to make sense of what happened, Faith looks at Buffy.  “What the fuck, B!  Why’d ya separate us for?”

Tara, finally regaining a little bit of control, looks around the store and blushes whispering.  “Oh, Goddess.”  Turning even a darker red as a scattering of applause comes from customers and employees alike. 

“I don’t think you two wanted to give everyone in the store a free show.  Hence my separating you.”  Buffy mutters quietly.

Faith’s staring at the witch with not a small degree of lust in her eyes and growls.  “She attacked me.  Not that I’m complainin’ or anything but why?”

“Because of what you said.”  Tara whispers her eyes full of love for the Dark Slayer.

“What I said?  I put my foot in my mouth.  Why would you attack me like that when I was being stupid?”  Faith shakes her head trying to figure out what was going on.

“Because you said you love her.”  Buffy whispers quietly in Faith’s ear.  “Amidst your backpedaling to apologize for putting your foot in your mouth, you said you love her too much to treat her like a possession.”  Buffy explains quietly.

Eyes widening, Faith replays the words she had stated earlier in her mind.  “I did, didn’t I?”  She whispers quietly looking in stunned surprise at first Buffy and then Tara.  “I said it.”  Looking at the smile coming from both women Faith grins.  “I do, you know.  Both of you.”  Faith looks down for a moment before looking back up.  “I still don’ think I’ll ever be able to say it easily.  It’s just not something I think I can do.”  Giving first Buffy then Tara a firm kiss Faith grins. 

“So, you’re not really mad at me?”  Faith asks hopefully.  At Tara’s shake of the head Faith smirks.  “Damn, I was kinda hoping you being mad at me brought out your rough and tumble side.  I was gonna make you mad as hell this evening!” 

“Umm, Faith?”  Tara states looking around seeing that most of the people were still paying a little too much attention to them.  “Can we discuss this later?” 

“What?”  Faith looks around at the people watching them and smirks.  “Blondie, from the looks of it, these guys don’t care.”  At the narrowed eyes looking her way, Faith throws her hands up in defeat.  “But you do, and we won’t be havin’ this convo here.  This is a place for piercing, not talking about sex.  Got it.”

Snickering at her two lovers, before whispering “whipped” at Faith, Buffy heads over to look at the different body jewelry.  Seeing the small Celtic Cross that’s identical except for size to the one Tara had given her, Buffy smiles.  Looking up to the salesperson Buffy points it out.  “I want to get that one.” 

“You’re looking at jewelry for pierced belly buttons, you are aware, right?”  The salesperson smiles encouragingly at the tiny blonde woman.

“Oh, yeah.  Gonna get that done today!”  Buffy grins up at the sales clerk.  Looking back down, she smirks seeing a Tasmanian Devil.  Pointing that one out to the clerk, Buffy continues perusing the rest of the items.  Feeling a pair of arms wrap around her from behind and a chin resting on her shoulder, Buffy smiles.  “I found one for you and another one for Faith, already.  I haven’t found one that talks to me yet.” 

“Hmm.  And what have you found?”  Tara asks quietly in Buffy’s ear, glancing over the jewelry.  “Hey, look over there on the back row in the corner, is that a stake?” 

Buffy looks over to the area that Tara is talking about.  “Damn.  Looks like it.  Hey, do you have two of those?”  Buffy asks looking up at the clerk. 

The clerk looks at the item they are pointing at, frowning slightly he opens the section below to look for another one.  “It looks like we have a silver one identical to that one, but not another gold one.”   He states pulling it up and setting it on the counter. 

Buffy partially turns in Tara’s arms looking at her with a raised eyebrow.  “Doesn’t matter to me, what do you think?”

Tara grins, picking the item up and looking it over closely.  “Get them both.  One for you and one for Faith.  You two can fight over who gets the silver and who gets the gold.  I’ll just watch.”

“What are you two goin’ on about?”  Faith mutters coming up behind the two women.  “You know they do tongue piercing here, too?”

“NO!”  Tara almost yells out.  “I will NOT get my tongue pierced.  I’m drawing the line, there.  I can just see me teaching class and my students saying ‘Look at Old lady Maclay, she thinks she’s young and sexy, with her tongue piercing.’”

“YO!  I wasn’t talking about you!”  Faith smirks.  “I was kind of thinking I could get it done, they have some real interesting jewelry for it.”  Faith waggles her eyebrows looking Tara up and down.  “Could be interesting.  Anyway, you ain‘t old.  You‘re young and hot.”

Rolling her eyes Tara leans in ‘til she’s nose to nose with Faith.  “That’s what you think.  In another two years when I’m teaching the kids, they’ll look at me like I’m a fossil.  I’ll be like six or more years older than most of them.”

“If only I had a teacher that looked like you when I was in school, I wouldn’t have dropped out.”  The clerk states with a grin, looking the blonde up and down.

Faith and Buffy both turn with frowns on their faces looking at the guy.  “She’s ours.”  Comes out of both of their mouths in a growl at the same time.

The guy pales suddenly, swallowing hard.  “I-I didn’t m-mean anything, honest.”

“Leave the poor guy alone.  You’re scaring him.”  Tara states quietly, running her hand over both women’s shoulders.   “Sorry, they’re kind of protective.”

“She’s calling us dogs, ain’t she?”  Faith growls out.

Laughing Buffy nods her head.  “Listen to yourself growl, Faith.  Figure it out.”

“I’m not the only one she was talking about, B.”  Faith smirks as Buffy frowns slightly.

“Don’t argue, you two.  So we have the two stakes, the Taz and what was the other one you got, Buffy?”  Tara asks turning her head smiling at Buffy.

“I got a Celtic Cross that looks just like the one you gave me.”  Buffy smiles almost shyly.  “I thought if I was wearing the one your mother gave you, it would be nice for you to have one yourself.”

“Thank you.”  Tara whispers placing a kiss on her forehead.  “Now, were there any other ones that piqued your guys’ interest?” 

Faith shrugs her shoulders.  “Haven’t actually looked at them, was looking at other items.  You know besides tongue and belly button piercing they also pierce cli….” 

Buffy quickly covers Faith’s mouth, knowing exactly what the other slayer was going to say and only slayer speed stopped it.  “We know, Faith.  And no, I’m not going to have that pierced.”

Tara smirks.  “Why not?  It would heal quickly on you and it wouldn’t be like you’d have to wait THAT long before…”  Trailing off Tara laughs at the look she’s getting from Buffy.  “Okay, we won’t discuss other body piercing.  With you two, it is kind of a moot point.  I would be the one it would take forever to heal.”

“How about getting your nipples pierced?  Wanna, huh, huh?”  Faith smirks looking down at Tara’s breasts before looking back up grinning. 

“I think my letting you two talk me into the belly button piercing is all the piercing we’re going to do today.”  Tara states in a no nonsense tone before walking over to look at the other jewelry.

Faith leans over to whisper in Buffy’s ear.  “She said today.  She didn’t say a flat out no.  Nipples might be a possibility.”

“And what if she wants us to have ours done at the same time?”  Buffy asks grinning, already knowing the answer to the question.

“Hell, yeah I’d do it.”  Faith grins as she whispers back.

“If she asked you to put a nose ring in so she could lead you around by it, you’d do it!”  Buffy whispers exasperatedly. 

“And you wouldn’t?”  Faith smirks at Buffy when she didn’t come back with an answer.  “She has got us both so whipped.  What the hell happened to us?” 

Buffy shakes her head watching Tara.  “We fell completely and irrevocably in love.  That’s what happened.  And, I don’t know about you, but I’m happier than I have ever been before.”

“You and me both, B.  You and me both.”   Faith states sincerely, with all her heart.  Watching as Tara looks at other items.  “If we don’t get the piercing done here soon, we’re going to be late meeting Squirt.”  Faith states looking up at the clock on the wall.

“I’ll go get her if it gets to be close time-wise.”  Buffy states smiling as Tara leans over looking in another case.  “The view is too nice to hurry along.” 

“Are you two ogling my ass again?”  Tara whispers so only they can hear. 

Grinning at each other they both state “Busted.” loudly before looking back at Tara. 

“Let’s get this done.”  Tara states shaking her head at the two women.  “You two are going to drive me crazy.  That’s all I have to say.”

“Okay, who goes first?”  Faith asks walking up to the counter looking from Buffy to Tara.  “Or do we want to draw straws?” 

“Well, we need to see if they can get us in now or if it might be a while.”  Tara looks askance at the clerk. 

“We actually have two different people here working right now that do the piercing and they’re both free.  So?”  He looks at the women.

“How about you two go ahead and I’ll run down to see if Dawn’s waiting for us.  If she is I’ll have her come back with me.”  Buffy suggests.

“’Kay.”  Faith smirks slightly.  “You gonna let her get her belly-button done also?”

Buffy’s eyes widen slightly.  “I don’t… she’s only 15 years old…  She’s too young, isn’t she?”  Buffy trails off looking to Tara for help and guidance.

“Buffy, I can’t make this decision for you.  It’s something you and Dawn would need to discuss.”  Tara states softly looking into the slayer’s hazel eyes.  “Has she ever asked?”

“No.”  Buffy looks down and then back up again.  “Tara, she considers you like a surrogate mother.  I love you and trust your judgment.  Can’t you help me out a little?” 

“Buffy, you want me to tell you yes or no.  I can’t do that.  Just wait and see if Dawnie asks.  If she doesn’t ask, don’t worry about it.  If she does, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”  Tara states quietly running her hand down the slayer’s neck.  “I love you, too.  Now go get Dawnie while Faith and I get pierced.  Do you prefer the gold or silver stake, in case Faith decides to have it put in?” 

“I don’t really mind either way.”  Buffy half smiles.  “I’ll be back in a little while.”  Giving the blonde a quick kiss on the cheek before turning to Faith who’s looking at the jewelry, pulls her around and places a quick, hard kiss on her lips before heading out of the store.

“Do you see anything you like?”  Tara asks quietly placing her hand on the slayer’s hip as she was leaning back over the glass case. 

“I think you two already picked the ones I would have.”  Faith looks up grinning, showing her dimples to the fullest.  “What about you?”

Reaching down with her other hand, Tara lightly runs a fingertip over the slayer’s dimple.  “Hmmm.  I think I got everything I need.” 

Looking questioningly at the witch, it takes Faith a moment to realize she isn’t talking about body jewelry.  Quickly bringing her body up straight, Faith turns to face Tara.  “Do you?”  Faith whispers quietly and as Tara nods, she smiles leaning in and placing a gentle kiss on the witch’s lips. 

Faith grabs the Taz jewelry piece, handing it to the clerk behind the counter.  “I’d like this one put in.”

Tara grins before picking up the Celtic Cross for herself.  “This one for me, please.”

Faith looks confused for a moment.  “Am I the only one that has two?”

“Yes, for now.”  Tara grins.  “We’ll keep looking and checking them out for future reference.  I wouldn’t mind getting a Pentagram if they make one.  I would still kind of like to get matching ones eventually.”

“This way, ladies.”  One of the ladies doing the piercing states looking at the two women. 

Sitting down in chairs across from each other, Faith grins at Tara.  When the person adjusts the chair raising it up slightly, Faith starts laughing.  “Hey, Tara.  You know these could be…”

“Faith.”  Tara states her name in a warning tone.

“You don’t let me have any fun at all.”  Faith mutters quietly.

“I’ll remind you of that later tonight.”  Tara smirks, then blushes realizing the two employees were silently laughing.  “Great.  The people that work here in this store aren’t ever going to forget us.”  Tara groans, closing her eyes.

“I hate to tell you, but even without the displays and the comments, we probably still would remember you.”  The lady rubbing the solution on Tara’s stomach states grinning. 

“Why is that?”  Faith asks watching the woman intently.

“No growling.”  Tara whispers quietly. 

“Excuse me.  What did you say?  I didn’t quite hear you.”  The lady asks Tara questioningly. 

“Nothing, just making a comment to myself more or less.”  Tara states looking over at Faith with a raised eyebrow.  “So, why would you remember us?”

“Well, it isn’t that often we get three beautiful women coming in here at the same time to get pierced.”  The guy getting ready to put Faith’s piercing in, smirks. 

“There all done.”  The lady smiles as she pulls off her surgical gloves looking at the piercing.  “I don’t want to piss off the other lady or anything, but I do have to say that you definitely have the figure for this.” 

Faith rolls her eyes.  “I don’t wanna piss off my girlfriend again.  So, I’m just gonna say thank you for confirming what we’ve been trying to tell her.  You wouldn’t believe what she usually wears, long flowing skirts, baggy tops.  You would never know what kind of body she has. Of course, we’re changing that!  Damn shame it was too, covering it up.”

Tara’s eyes widen as she blushes.  “Faith, that’s enough!”  Tara hisses out.

“Sorry, I gotta agree with the woman, you got it.  Might as well flaunt it.”  The guy smirks as he finishes Faith’s piercing.  “And you are done.  Here’s the instructions on keeping them clean and taking care of the piercing.  It’ll be tender for a couple weeks and will take up to six or eight weeks to heal completely.”

“At least for some of us, it’ll take that long.”  Tara mutters looking down at the piercing before smiling slightly. 

“Here, we got a mirror over here, if you’d like to look?”  The woman smiles at Tara pointing towards the mirror.

Hopping off the chair Tara walks over to the mirror and grins hugely.  “It actually does look good, doesn’t it?”

“Told you.”  Faith murmurs wrapping her arms low around Tara’s abdomen from behind, looking in the mirror with her.  Lightly running a finger around the outside of the piercing. 

“No fondling in public, Faith.”  Buffy reprimands as she comes in the back with the gold stake.  “I’m taking the gold one.  If you wanted it, too bad.”

“Where’s Dawnie?”  Tara asks turning around kissing Faith lightly on the cheek before going to Buffy. 

“She’s outside looking at everything.”  Buffy smirks slightly.

“And?”  Tara asks with a quirked eyebrow.

“She didn’t ask.”  Buffy shrugs.  “I guess I might have been freaking out for nothing, huh?” 

“Maybe.”  Tara smirks slightly.  “But I figure it’s only a matter of time.  It’s kind of the thing for kids to do.  I saw one with a tiny key dangling from it.”  Tara wiggles her eyebrows before heading out the door, laughing.

“Don’t even!”  Buffy yells after her, with Faith chuckling behind Tara. 

“Don’t worry B.  I’ll make sure to keep Squirt outta the wicked witch’s hands.”  Faith smirks before leaving the back room.

“Oh, yeah.  That makes me feel relieved.  NOT!”  Buffy shakes her head before smiling as the woman shifts her shirt up, rubbing the antiseptic around her stomach.  “Do you guys do a lot of piercing in this store?”

“Oh, yeah.  We probably do a couple hundred a week.  We get a lot of repeat customers.  They start off with a belly button piercing, graduate up to tongue piercing, eyebrow, nose, nipples, genitalia.  You wouldn’t believe some of the places people want to be pierced.”  The woman shakes her head smiling.  “You two like picking on the blonde, don’t you?”

“Tara?  Yeah, we do.  She’s such an easy going, even tempered woman that we like to see how far we can push her before she pushes back.”  Stopping and thinking for a moment, Buffy smiles.  “She used to not stand up for herself.  She’s getting better.  She picks on us about being protective, I’m sure you heard her?”  Buffy asks it almost questioningly and at the woman’s grin and nod Buffy chuckles.  “She’s even worse.  Anything threatens us…”  Buffy shakes her head frowning slightly. 

“She obviously loves you both very much.”  The woman looks at Buffy consideringly.  “It’s not something you see every day.  Grab onto it with both hands and hold on tightly.  I‘m finished.”

Buffy smiles softly.  “Believe me, we are.”  Buffy stands up walking over to the mirror grinning. 

“Thanks.”  Buffy smiles as she heads out to the front of the store.   “So, what are you guys up to?”   Buffy looks at Dawn who’s grinning and holding an item in her hand.  Walking towards Dawn, seeing what she’s holding her eyes widen and she looks up at Tara, who’s looking back innocently at her.

“I think this would be cool, don’t you?”  Dawn grins at Buffy holding up the dangling key.  Seeing Buffy starting to pale, Dawn starts giggling.  Quickly the rest of the group is laughing.  “I’m just kidding, Buffy.”  Dawn finally gets out. 

Turning with narrowed eyes and looking at Tara, Buffy starts to growl lowly, starting to hunt the witch.

Laughing as Buffy starts to chase her slowly around the store, Tara holds up her hands.  “Come on, Buffy.”  Tara tries cajoling the slayer.  “All in good fun.”  Walking backwards around the shop.  Giggling slightly, Tara smiles crookedly at the slayer.  “Aren’t you happy?  I mean Dawnie doesn’t want her belly button pierced.” 

“You put her up to it.”  Buffy mutters, prowling after the witch. 

“Well, yes I did.”  Tara grins.  “But, you should know she’s in the back getting her tongue pierced while you’re out here ready to pounce on me.”

“DAWN!”  Buffy yells before turning, ready to run into the back of the shop when she sees Faith and Dawn covering their mouths trying not to laugh.  When she sees the employees behind them, laughing also, Buffy throws her hands up in the air exclaiming.  “What is this?  Pick on Buffy day?”  Turning and looking at Tara who’s biting her lip to keep from laughing, she walks up ‘til she’s standing toe to toe with the witch and hisses quietly.  “You are so going to pay for this tonight.  I mean, really, really pay.  We are going to the Bronze, then we’re coming back home to have hot and heavy sex all over the house.  You aren’t going to be able to sit without your body twitching in response for a week after.” 

“Oh, Goddess.”  Tara murmurs, her eyes widening at first before closing as her body tightens in response. 

Smirking as she smells the arousal coming off the witch, Buffy turns, still smirking towards Faith and Dawn.  “Are we done here?  Did you pay, Faith?”

“Oh, yeah.  We’re all paid up.”  Faith smirks at Buffy, having caught the majority of what she said to Tara.  “Hey, Squirt you still staying at your friend’s house tonight?”

Dawn looks from one woman to the next and shakes her head.  “Yeah.  I am most definitely not going to be in the house tonight.  And hopefully the majority of tomorrow, also.”

“That’s probably a good thing.”  Faith murmurs quietly.  “I say we head home, ladies.” 

***

Chapter 20

“Well, she couldn’t get out of the house fast enough.”  Faith smirks towards Buffy and Tara. 

“What?  We didn’t do anything.”  Buffy looks at the smirking Faith.  “We behaved ourselves the whole ride home.”

“That’s because Dawn sat between you two while I sat in the front seat!”  Faith grins.  “I don’t think Squirt trusts us in public together.” 

Tara smirks at Faith.  “That’s because you two are always horny.” 

“Am not!”  Buffy grumbles.  “I’ve just got two hot girlfriends that know all kinds of interesting things to do to me and show me.  Plus the fact I have a lot of time to make up for.” 

“Horny.”  Tara states grinning.

“Well, that explains B.  What about me?”  Faith grins from ear to ear.

“So, you don’t have two hot girlfriends that do all kinds of interesting things to you?  That don’t make you pant and squirm when they kiss, touch and nibble all over your body?”  Tara whispers walking slowly around Faith. 

Buffy grins watching the wicked look crossing Tara’s face.  “Oh, you are so in trouble.”  Buffy taunts Faith.

Faith smirks.  “I like being in this kind of trouble.”  Faith groans as Tara pulls her tight against her, attacking the back of her neck.  Reaching up to cup her breasts and firmly squeezing them Tara grins as she hears the low guttural moan coming from Faith.

“Do you like that?”  Tara murmurs nibbling on the slayer’s ear.  “You said something about rough and tumble earlier?  I would think you two…” Tara grins at Buffy.  “Would have enough rough and tumble between you.”

Buffy smirks easing up in front of Faith, wrapping her arms around both women, keeping eye contact with Tara.  “That may be the case, however there’s something about sweet, soft, innocent Tara going all Alpha Female that does something extra for me.”

Faith nods her head.  “Couldn’t have said it better myself.”  Faith growls out.  “Of course we are coming to realize she ain’t quite as innocent as we thought, huh, B?”

“What are you trying to say, Faith?”  Tara murmurs in the Dark Slayer’s ear before biting down on the slayer’s shoulder.  Hearing Faith groan loudly, Tara grins before licking the area gently. 

Buffy chuckles.  “Be careful Faith.  You’re gonna end up getting yourself in serious trouble if you’re not careful.”

“No, no.  I’m just sayin’ that with her beautiful blue eyes, the innocent look she always seems to have about her…”  Faith trails off as Tara pinches her nipples roughly through her clothes.  “Feels so good.”  Faith groans low and deep.  “She does an excellent job of pleasing us and has a wicked sense of humor no one else would believe.”

“And let’s not forget the absolutely scrumptious body that she has kept hidden away all these years.”  Buffy runs her hands down Tara’s back to cup her ass, squeezing gently.

Faith growls wrapping a hand around Buffy’s neck pulling her in for a deep, searching kiss.  Feeling Tara run her hands down and cup her intimately, Faith groans into the kiss. 

Tara grins as she moves her other hand to cup Buffy through her clothes at the same time, making both women push against her hands and each other. 

“You know with you two, I really wish I had more hands.”  Tara whispers, running one hand up Buffy’s body to tweak a nipple, while using the other hand to press hard against Faith’s clit through her jeans.

Buffy pulls back out of the kiss, panting hard.  “I believe I promised you something in the store.”

Tara smirks at Buffy.  “Yes, you did.  However I believe it was after we went to The Bronze tonight was your phrasing.  So you two are mine this afternoon and evening.”

“That is so not fair.”  Buffy grumps easing out of Faith’s arms looking at the two women.  “How about you use and abuse devil child here.”  Buffy smirks at Faith.  “And I can do all kinds of wicked things to you at the same time?”

“Who are you calling devil child?”  Faith growls out, pulling Buffy back in to her body, turning her around so Buffy’s back is pressed tight against her front.  “I think we need to teach little miss perfect here a lesson, Blondie.  What do you think?”

“Hmmm.  A - teach Buffy a lesson.  B - completely drive Faith to a big soppy mess.  Decisions, decisions.”  Tara murmurs out loud. 

Just then the phone rings and all three women groan at the interruption.  “I’ll get it.”  Buffy growls lowly. 

“Hello?…  Hi Anya…  You did?…  I thought the blood thing was going to be extremely hard to get?…  Anya, you are wonderful.  I’ll be there to pick up the ingredients…  How much was it?…  Damn that was expensive, but if it works it’ll be well worth it…  I’ll be there in a little while… Thanks again.”  Buffy hangs up grinning ear to ear before turning to her lovers.  “Anya has come through.  And you weren’t kidding when you said the ingredients would be expensive, I didn’t expect them to cost $300!!”

“Unfortunately they’re extremely rare, hence the price.  I need another ingredient for that also, but she should have it in stock, let me get the list.”  Tara runs upstairs quickly grabbing the list and double-checking to make sure she has all the other ingredients before writing down dried horned toad. 

Tara quickly descends the staircase smirking at her two lovers making out on the couch.  Sitting down in the chair across from them, she shakes her head slightly.  ‘Goddess, they are beautiful.’  Tara thinks to herself.

Faith pushes Buffy onto her back on the couch and settles her body on top of the other slayer kissing her deeply while pushing up Buffy’s shirt to pinch her nipple roughly.

“Faith…”  Buffy groans arching into the Dark Slayer.  “Feels good.” 

“You are beautiful.”  Faith mutters as she works her way down Buffy’s neck before licking across a hard nipple.  Running her hands down Buffy’s sides Faith quickly unbuttons and unzips her pants.  Wiggling her fingers inside the jeans, Faith groans loudly at the wetness she finds.  “Want you.”

“Have me.”  Buffy huskily offers arching into Faith’s hand.  Reaching down to help Faith shove her clothes the rest of the way off her body, Buffy moans loudly as Faith nips lightly up the inside of her thighs.

Faith growls low in her throat seeing the juices gathered on Buffy’s outer lips.  Leaning in lapping up the overflowing nectar Faith can’t hold back and dives in, quickly licking up Buffy’s slit to flick her tongue over her clit, making Buffy’s hips jump up into her.  “Oh, yeah.”  Faith moans before sucking her clit roughly in her mouth and inserting two fingers into Buffy’s center, setting up a quick, fast paced, rhythm. 

Buffy rocks her hips hard against Faith’s thrusting.  Groaning, she opens her eyes and sees Tara watching them from the chair.  Catching the witch’s eyes Buffy whispers.  “Come here.”

Quickly standing up and walking over to the couch, Tara kneels down pulling Buffy’s head up and kissing her thoroughly.  “Goddess, I love you.”  Tara whispers before hungrily attacking her mouth again.  Licking and nipping at the slayer’s lips, Tara moans in pleasure as Buffy tugs her nipple through her clothes.  Kissing her way down Buffy’s neck to her breasts, Tara gently bites down on her nipple.

“FAITH!”  Buffy screams as she climaxes, arching up hard.  After a few moments, her body crashes back onto the couch, her legs shaking and panting heavily. 

Faith eases away from Buffy, barely having time to lift up from the blonde slayer before she’s attacked by Tara’s lips and tongue.

Tara groans at the taste of Buffy on Faith.  Pulling away after thoroughly cleaning Faith’s lips and chin she looks deeply in Faith’s eyes.  “I love you.”  Tara whispers before gently kissing the Dark Slayer.

Buffy groans watching the soft kiss between the two women.  “You know there is something seriously wrong with this picture.”  Buffy murmurs looking down at her shirt that’s shoved up to her neck and nothing else on while both her lovers are still fully dressed. 

Tara giggles as she pulls away from Faith.  “Is she upset that we aren’t naked also?”

Faith chuckles looking at Buffy.  “I’m not sure.  What’s so wrong about this picture?”

“Well you two being naked would be a good start.  But the fact that I still have my top on - or at least partially on and nothing else!  It’s just wrong, somehow.”  Buffy grumbles. 

Tara smiles at Faith before leaning down and placing a kiss on Buffy’s tanned muscular stomach.  “But there’s just something decadent about being half dressed and being taken.  Don’t you think, Faith?”

Faith smirks as she watches Tara kiss and lick across Buffy’s stomach.  “Oh, yeah.  Definitely a turn on.”  Running her hand up the witch’s leg before cupping her butt cheek in her hand.  “I’m gonna throw away the rest of your clothes.”  Faith growls lowly.

Moaning at the strong hand firmly clasping her ass Tara licks around Buffy’s belly button.  “Can I at least keep a few - I can’t live in jeans and leathers all the time.”  Tara inhales deeply as Buffy reaches down pushing her shirt and bra up to pinch her nipple. 

“Damn.”  Buffy frowns.  “I need to go and get the ingredients for the spell.  The sooner it’s done the better.”  Smiling at the sight of Tara with her shirt pushed up and one breast uncovered with Faith nipping at her neck from behind.  “I see what you mean.  It is sexy.  Very, very sexy.” 

Blushing slightly Tara shakes her head.  “I don’t know about you two.” 

Buffy smirks and leans up kissing her tenderly before standing and grabbing her clothes.  “I’m going to go get the ingredients.  You two try and not break anything, okay?” 

“Hey!  I don’t break things, that’s usually you two.”  Tara smiles watching Buffy get dressed. 

“It didn’t happen on purpose.”  Faith mutters distractedly.  “That dresser looked sturdier than it was.”   Faith works the witch’s shirt all the way off before unhooking her bra and easing it down off her arms. 

Buffy’s eyes darken with desire watching as Faith gently disrobes the witch.  “I have got to go.  If not, we won’t get the ingredients.” 

Faith just nods her head as she lightly runs her fingertips over the blonde’s back, making Tara arch into the feather-light caress. 

Tara looks up with dark blue eyes at Buffy before groaning at the gentle touches.  “Be careful.”  

“I will.  Love you, two.”  Buffy smiles softly before heading to the Magic Box.

“Faith?”  Tara groans the slayer’s name lowly at the soft tender touches of the Dark Slayer.  Usually the woman wasn’t this soft and tender.  There’s a forcefulness to her touches, nothing that was in the slightest bit painful, it’s just the way the beautiful woman is. 

Faith quickly stands up and pulls Tara into a soft embrace, kissing her gently before picking her up and quickly carrying her to their bedroom.  Setting her on her feet by the bed, Faith kneels down sliding off her boots and socks before reaching up unbuttoning and unzipping the leather pants to ease them over the blonde’s hips and down the beautiful silken legs.  

“Faith, what are you doing?”  Tara whispers and closes her eyes as the Dark Slayer places a gentle kiss on her mound.

Standing ‘til she’s looking into the lovely blue eyes of the witch, Faith smiles the softest, gentlest smile and kisses her gently on the lips.  “I’m gonna make sweet, slow, gentle love to you.  That’s what I’m doin’.”

Feeling her knees give out, Tara falls back on the bed at the depth of emotion showing in the Dark Slayer’s eyes.  “Oh, Goddess.”

Faith quickly disrobes before easing Tara to the middle of the bed, gently settling her body on top of the beautiful blonde.  Kissing the Wiccan softly, gently stroking her tongue over the blonde’s lips.  Easing her tongue in to stroke softly over the witch’s, making both women moan into each other’s mouths.  Faith slowly kisses her way along the blonde’s jaw line to her ear, sucking on the soft sensitive skin behind her ear that literally melts the witch.  Smiling to herself at the moans and whimpers coming from Tara, Faith works her way down her neck, lightly kissing and licking before reaching the tender skin where it meets her shoulder. 

“This spot right here draws me.  I could spend hours kissing, licking, sucking and nibbling this spot.”  Faith huskily groans the words before gently sucking the skin in her mouth.  Releasing it before leaving a mark, Faith continues.  “Of course, there are other places that I can enjoy for hours.  Do you realize how much you have changed my life?  Changed the way I look at the world in such a short period of time?”  Faith looks up, a tear slipping from her eye as she looks into the blue depths.  Smiling softly as Tara reaches up and tenderly wipes the tear away.  “I don’t know how or why, but I know you mean the world to me and Buffy both.  I want to show you how much.”

Tara cups the slayer behind the head, tugging her down for a passionate kiss.  “I love you.  I love both you and Buffy with my whole heart.”  Tara sucks gently on the slayer’s full bottom lip before releasing it and placing a kiss on the cleft of her chin.  “And I personally don’t know what I have done to deserve your love, but I thank whatever deity for giving me this precious gift.”  Tara whispers hoarsely before kissing Faith strongly, rolling her tongue round the slayer’s, battling gently against each other as she reaches down and cups the muscular cheeks of Faith’s ass, kneading them firmly. 

Faith growls as she pulls back, letting the witch breathe.  “You deserve the very best.  You make me feel like I deserve to be loved.  Between you and Buffy…”   Faith smiles.  “You’ve given me something I never thought I would have.  Thank you.” 

Tara groans loudly as Faith quickly shifts down placing soft, butterfly kisses down her neck.  Running her hands up to thread them gently in the dark curls, Tara arches into the slayer’s touch as she lightly runs her fingers under her breasts, lightly tickling the sensitive skin.  “Goddess, Faith.”  Tara moans as Faith finally kisses her way down to her breasts, flicking her tongue gently over her nipples, before trailing wet, loving kisses down her ribs to her belly button, gently kissing around the new piercing.

“You are absolutely gorgeous.”  Faith murmurs, wanting so much to flick her tongue in the witch’s belly button, but knowing right now, that she has to refrain.  

Bucking her hips up into Faith, Tara growls.  “Please, Faith.”

Smiling at the witch’s reactions, Faith lightly licks across her lower abdomen.  “Uh, uh.  I‘m in charge.”  Faith mutters as she kisses the slight indention where Tara’s legs and hip join, making Tara jerk hard.  Smelling the arousal, so strong and mouth watering, Faith growls loudly as she shifts down, seeing the nectar oozing from the witch.  “Do you have any idea how amazing you are?”  Faith groans, running a finger along the damp lips, collecting the overflowing juices, chuckling as the witch tries to push against her fingers.  “Stop that, or I’ll make you wait even longer.”

“Faith!”  Tara groans loudly, her body wound tight from the gentle touches and kisses.  Her body rocking of it’s own accord looking for release.  Grasping the slayer’s head tightly with one hand and gripping the covers in the other hand, Tara grunts as Faith lightly runs her fingers over her swollen clit.

“You are so mine.”  Faith whispers as she quickly leans in sucking the swollen muscle into her mouth gently, while easing two fingers into the witch’s center.  Groaning into the witch’s body, Faith isn’t surprised that that is all it takes for the witch to climax.  Continuing the sucking and searching out the witch’s g-spot, Faith grins to herself as Tara arches hard into her, oh, yeah, got it.   Rubbing gently in a circle over the spot, Faith releases the witch from her mouth before gently running her tongue up and over the muscle.

Tara feels the orgasm building in her body, realizing Faith is going to get drenched, trying to form a coherent sentence, Tara pants out “going… come… FAITH!”  Tara screams out Faith’s name as the orgasm rips through her body, bowing up and lifting the slayer with her, Tara feels her world explode in a multitude of colors, before collapsing back on the bed.

Faith growls as she quickly starts licking up the sweet juices coming from the witch as she explodes.  Easing her fingers out, Faith licks up her thighs, and her lover’s lips, collecting all the sweet nectar she can.  “God you taste so good.”  Faith hoarsely gets out as she finishes licking up all the juices she can find before easing her way back up the witch’s body, still twitching with the after shocks of her climax.   Leaving her lower body nestled between the witch’s thighs Faith lays her upper body gently over the witch and rests her head on her breasts.  Running her hands up the sides of Tara, to play with the gentle swells.

Panting heavily, Tara finally has enough strength to wrap her arms around Faith, squeezing her tightly.  “Goddess, the things you do to me, Faith.”  Tara chuckles lowly, then groans as another aftershock works its way through her body, making her hips push up slightly. 

Faith places a kiss on first one breast, then the other.  “I’ll be happy to do things to you all the time, if you want.” Faith smirks looking up at her lover.

Tara smiles at Faith and shakes her head.  “No, we can’t have that.  If you’re always doing things to me, Buffy might get upset.  Then there’s the fact that I want to do all kinds of things to both of you.”  Leaning down and kissing the slayer’s forehead she smiles softly.  “Now, do you want to come up here?  Or do you want to roll over?”  Tara smirks at the wording, so close to what the slayer had said to her such a short time ago. 

Faith grins as she places kisses along the witch’s chest.  Slowly working her way up her neck and running her tongue between the blonde’s lips to slowly twine their tongues together.  Finally pulling away, panting slightly, Faith growls as Tara pinches her nipples firmly between her thumb and forefingers before twisting sharply. 

“Yes!”  Faith hisses out in pleasure at the rough treatment. 

“Is this what you want?”  Tara growls out.  “Do you want me to take you?”  Pulling the slayer down so that she can whisper in her ear.  “Do you want me to fuck you?”

Faith cries out “Fuck yes!” as she feels her sex clenching in response to that soft, honey voice saying such words.

Tara smirks as she runs a hand down the slayer’s stomach to run her hand through the wetness literally dripping from the slayer.  Bringing her coated fingers up, she covers the slayer’s breast with the spicy goodness before shifting her body down to suck as much of the breast as she can in her mouth.  Growling low in her throat as Faith pushes into her, Tara pulls back ‘til she captures the Dark Slayer’s nipple between her teeth and bites down firmly at the same time quickly sliding three fingers deep in the slayer, starting a fast punishing rhythm.

Faith groans at the double pleasure, rocking her body into the hard thrusts of the witch.  Faith arches her body, burying her head in the pillow, muttering.  “Oh, fuck yeah.  Just like that.”

Tara grins before nipping her way to the slayer’s other nipple, scraping her teeth across it before sucking it into her mouth, flicking her tongue repeatedly over the hardened nub.   Quickly adding her pinky to the other three fingers and circling her thumb firmly over the slayer’s swollen clit.

Feeling the added fullness and then the firm pressure rubbing over her clit, it’s too much for the slayer and she screams out the witch’s name as she climaxes hard.  Clenching down on the fingers inside her, Faith partially collapses on top of the witch.  Her arms no longer able to support her.  Her body trembling with the pleasure shooting through her, Faith groans low in her throat as Tara eases her fingers out from inside her.  Gathering enough strength, Faith pushes herself off the witch to lie beside her, trying to catch her breath.

Tara shifts her body up to lay beside the slayer, running her fingertips down the slayer’s neck before leaning in and licking the salty skin behind the her ear.  Smiling slightly as Faith shivers at the caress.  Flicking the earlobe with her tongue before sucking it into her mouth, Tara moans as she releases the lobe.  “I love you.  And you know what?”  Tara asks as she licks down the slayer’s neck, running her tongue around a swiftly hardening nipple before shifting further down.  Easing her body between Faith’s thighs, Tara growls playfully.  “I haven’t gotten my fill yet!”  Before diving in.

***

Buffy whistles as she walks to the Magic Box.  Smiling to herself, she thinks about Tara and Faith. Those two are absolutely gorgeous.  Seeing the way Faith was acting, she figures Tara is in for some very thorough loving.  It’s amazing how much Faith has come out of her shell.  Occasionally she’ll notice the brunette trying to close herself off, as she thinks about her past but Tara always seems to be aware when it’s happening and with just a look or a touch she’s able to bring Faith out.

Realizing that Tara does the same thing for her, Buffy shakes her head in wonder. She’s their light in this world of darkness and evil. 

Walking into the Magic Box, she smiles at Anya.  “Hello, Anya.  How are you doing on this wonderful afternoon?”

Anya tilts her head looking at the extremely happy Buffy.  “Gay love seems to agree with you.  I am happy for you.”

Buffy rolls her eyes but smiles.  “Yes, it does.  Thank you Anya.”  Walking up to the counter, she sees the small package.  “This the ingredients?”

Anya nods her head.  “Yes.  Did you need anything else?”

“Hmmm.  Yes, Tara gave me a note with something toad on it.”  Buffy reaches into her pocket pulling out the note.  “Dried horned toad.”

Anya nods her head turning around and getting the jar down.  “Have you heard any more from Willow?”

“No.  Have you or Xander talked with her?”  Buffy asks curiously. 

“Xander finally got her to answer her door yesterday.  She wouldn’t talk to him.  He said she looked…”  Anya tilts her head trying to remember the word he used.  “She looked insane.  He said her eyes were solid black.  He’s scared of her.”  Anya looks at the slayer with sad eyes.  “I think he finally realizes in his heart that she isn’t his best friend anymore.  The magic has become her life.”

Shaking her head sadly Buffy reaches for the money.  “I just don’t understand how she had Tara’s love and she chose magic over her.”  Looking up at Anya, Buffy smiles softly.  “Tara is the most caring, understanding and loving person in the world.  She balances us, makes us whole.” 

Anya nods her head.  “She has the gift.  She’s a rare witch that actually calms and helps people just by being around them.  Makes me wonder when Willow would have gone completely crazy, if she hadn’t been around. The total is $315.75.”

Buffy looks at the demon in shock.  “You mean she helps everyone by just being around them?”

“Yes.  Her natural calm, the fact that she is obviously a very strong witch and that she is balanced so well in the side of good.  I wouldn’t be surprised if she was touched by the Goddess herself.”  Anya nods her head in agreement with herself.  “It hasn’t happened in the last 400 years, but it is always a possibility.”

“Anya, what the hell are you talking about?”  Buffy questions heatedly. 

“Rarely a White witch will be touched at birth by the Goddess.  She fights on the side of good, and if she aligns herself with other forces of good, she can become the vessel for the Goddess.”  Anya accepts the money from Buffy’s slack hand.

“What does it mean to become the vessel of the Goddess?”  Buffy asks in a scared tone.  “And what happened to the last witch that was touched by the Goddess?”

“The vessel becomes the living embodiment of the Goddess.  Whatever the will of the Goddess is, that is what is done.”  Shrugging her shoulders at Buffy.  “The last witch was murdered before becoming the embodiment.  So who knows what exactly can happen.  I don‘t think anyone knows what she is capable of.  Being the embodiment of the Goddess means having her powers and strength.  What they are, only the Goddess herself knows.”

Buffy moves to the table and sits down hard on a chair.  “Anya, is there any way to tell for sure if…”  Buffy trails off making eye contact with the ex-vengeance demon.

“There are signs, but nothing before she becomes the full embodiment, or dies - there‘s something about the Goddess taking her chosen one with her in that case.  Tara does have the signs.”  Anya looks at the slayer with a considering glance.  “Buffy, there is nothing you can do if she is the vessel.”

“What are the signs?”  Buffy asks quietly. 

“It won’t change who she is, Buffy.  She’ll just be more… Goddess like.”  Anya smirks slightly.  “You can say you’ve been given orgasms by an actual Goddess, not many people can say that.”

“Anya, please.”  Buffy blushes lightly.  “Tell me what the signs are.”

“A good heart, takes other people’s feelings above her own, very self effacing, won’t hurt another, unless someone she considers family, or loves is in danger.  Extremely powerful, forgiving and loving, but also can exact vengeance.  Everything you would expect a Goddess to be.  A hereditary witch, which is extremely hard to find after the witch trials. That is what I know.  I’m sure there are other things, but that’s what I remember.”  Anya looks at Buffy appraisingly.  “It doesn’t mean she is, Buffy.”

“Yes, but I have this deep seeded feeling in my gut that you’re going to be right, Anya.”  Buffy whispers quietly. 

“You should talk to Giles.  He might have more information.  How did he react when you told him about your new orgasm buddies?”  Anya smiles.

Turning pale and her eyes widening, Buffy just opens her mouth and closes it a couple times.  Looking away she mutters.  “I haven’t told him yet.  Kind of a hard thing to explain over the phone.”

“Personally I think it would be easier telling him over the phone instead of waiting until you’re face to face.  After all if he says ‘Dear Lord’ too many times, you can always hang up on him.”  Anya seriously states.

Chuckling at the ex-vengeance demon, Buffy finally smiles.  “You may have a point, Anya.”

Anya smiles happily before walking over to the phone and brining it back to hand to the slayer.  “No time like the present.”

Buffy takes a deep breath looking at the phone before dialing the number to Giles in England. 

“Giles, I’m sorry, did I wake you?… Yes, I kind of got to talk to you about something, but I can call back at a better time if you want me to…  If you’re sure…  Yes I understand, since you’re awake now.”  Buffy rolls her eyes.  “Umm, actually I have a couple things I need to talk to you about…  Okay I’ll get on with it.  Anya and I were talking about a vessel of the Goddess.  Do you have any information for me on this?…  Giles please, for once can you give me the information without playing twenty questions?…”  Buffy listens as Giles tells her what he knows.  “Is that all the information you have?… Well that’s pretty much what Anya said, I was hoping you might know what happens when the witch becomes the embodiment of the Goddess… Can you maybe look into it for me?… I would definitely appreciate it.  Have you found anything else out that can help us with Willow?… Yes I know you were going to call if you got any information, but I was kind of hoping…  No, that wasn’t the other thing I want to talk to you about…. Ummm.”  Buffy hesitates taking a deep breath.  “Are you sitting down?…  I know, it just isn’t something I can blurt out, Giles!…  Damn it Giles!  I’m in love.  That’s what I want to tell you…  Ummm, no not so much…  It’s kind of unconventional, actually very unconventional.  Giles…  Okay, I’ll just say it.  I’m in love with Tara and Faith…”  Buffy closes her eyes waiting for Giles to blast her.  When all she hears is silence on the other end she waits a few more moments.  “Giles?”  Buffy asks questioningly.  Her eyes widen as she hears his response.  “What the hell?…  What do you mean you had a feeling?…  Not another damn prophecy!!…  No I don’t want to hear about it!  All the prophecies say I’m going to die. I’ve died twice and I am so not going to do it again!  Well that’s a change.... WHAT???  Not while I’m alive it isn’t!!… Like the prophecies ever come true the way you think they will… I don’t know, but I need to head home so we can go out on patrol… Thanks for not freaking out… Yes you did surprise me… I’ve got to get home.  Thank you Giles, be sure to call me when you get more information.”  Buffy disconnects the phone, contemplating the conversation she just had with Giles.

Anya looks at Buffy.  “So, things basically went well?  What was the prophecy about?”

Buffy looks up from her thoughts.  “I’ll tell you later.  I need to get home, God, I have this feeling that something big is going to happen soon and I just can‘t shake it.  Thanks Anya.”  Buffy quickly hangs up the phone and strides out of the shop.

***

Chapter 21

Both women finally collapse on the bed, covered in sweat and panting heavily. 

“Fuck, me.”  Faith pants out in a whisper, her eyes closed and her body shaking.

Chuckling quietly Tara opens one eye to look at the Dark Slayer.  “I think I just did.”

Faith nods her head slowly.  “Oh, yeah.  And a damn good job you did of it, too.  Too fucking good.  If Red popped in right now, I probably wouldn’t be able to lift a finger against her.”  Faith pants out the words slowly.

“Don’t jinx us, Faith.”  Tara groans out rolling over and throwing an arm across the slayer’s rib cage and burying her face in her sweat soaked hair.  Inhaling deeply, Tara smiles.  “You smell good.”

Faith chuckles.  “I smell like sweat and sex.”

“Exactly.”  Tara whispers leaning in and licking up her neck before rubbing her face against her neck, feeling her limbs getting heavy with sleep.  “Nap time.”  Tara murmurs quietly.

“Yeah.  Sounds good.”  Faith whispers feeling her eyes getting heavy. 

***

Buffy lets herself in the house and smirks seeing Tara’s shirt and bra still lying on the carpet by the couch.  Listening intently, she hears the heavy breathing of the two women upstairs in the bedroom.  Quickly walking up the stairs, she shakes her head at the sight of the two sweat soaked women lying in bed asleep.  Obviously they haven’t been finished for long, since they literally still have sweat running off their bodies. 

Inhaling deeply of the smell of sex, Buffy groans.  Realizing the two women probably really need the nap, she eases out of the bedroom and quickly heads back downstairs.

Sitting down on the couch, Buffy pulls her shoes off and props her feet up on the coffee table, frowning.  Replaying the conversation with Giles over in her head, Buffy feels her heart constrict in pain.  How am I going to tell them?  Can I tell them about the prophecy?  Rubbing her hands over her face, Buffy feels the tears start to slide down her cheeks.  

Realizing she’s been sitting there thinking and crying for over an hour, Buffy stands up to walk into the kitchen to get something to drink.  The phone rings as she’s walking by and she jumps slightly before picking it up. 

“Hello?”  Buffy listens as she hears Giles on the other end.  “What do you want, Giles?”  She asks with a sad note in her voice.  “No, nothing’s happened except for the shit prophecy you told me about.”  Sitting down at the island Buffy rests her head on her hand, listening to Giles.  “So you found out the Goddess’ Vessel has a unique birth mark.  That birthmark wouldn’t by chance be in the shape of a bird, would it?”  Buffy closes her eyes.  “Yes, she does.”  Blushing slightly Buffy coughs into her hand.  “Umm, does it matter where it’s located at, or are you just asking for the record?  Jeeze Giles, it’s located on her left breast underneath.”  Rolling her eyes she blurts.  “Under her nipple, you know the area before it reaches the ribs?…  Yeah there.  Damn Giles, anything else you want to know, like how good she is in bed?  Whether or not she rocks our world?”  Buffy groans and shakes her head in disgust.  “I‘m sorry Giles, I know that wasn‘t called for, I‘m just kind of knocked for a loop…  So, she’s definitely the Vessel.  Thanks for clearing that up, how did you come up with that information so quickly?…  Oh, isn’t that just wonderful the prophecy and the information on the Goddess is in the same book… Strange things like that happen all the time, great.  Might as well tell me all about this prophecy while you’re at it.”  Buffy listens quietly frowning as Giles runs down what the prophecy says, and how it ties into the Goddess.  “I can’t understand how the Goddess would insist on her dying.  It just doesn’t make any sense to me…  Offering?  Screw that.”  Buffy roughly wipes the tear that was running down her face away.  “Well, I’ll be damned if it’s going to happen.  She’ll have to go through me…  I don’t care, Giles.  How many times have I thwarted a supposed prophecy before?  I can do it again.  Just continue researching and get me any information you can regarding all this.  Is there anything else?… Thanks Giles.”  Buffy slowly disconnects the phone and sets it down on the counter, staring out at nothing, thinking deeply.

***

Smiling as she slowly wakes up from her catnap, Tara looks at the softly snoring slayer and places a kiss on her shoulder as she eases out of bed.  Shaking her head at her crumpled up tan leather pants on the floor, she picks them up and places them on the chair to take to the cleaners.  Grabbing a pair of hip huggers and one of the blue crop tops they had bought, along with underwear, she heads to the bathroom. 

Peeking in the bedroom, seeing Faith still sleeping, Tara grins before heading downstairs.  Seeing her shirt and bra picked up and placed on the coffee table she heads to the kitchen, looking for Buffy. 

Stopping at the entrance to the kitchen, Tara frowns watching Buffy.  Seeing the despair and heartache written in the way the slayer’s sitting there Tara quietly walks up and places a hand on her shoulder.

Buffy jumps, not aware that Tara’s awake.  Trying to smile, she looks up into the concerned blue eyes and she feels the tears welling up in her eyes again and just turns and wraps her arms around the witch burying her face against her chest.

“Buffy?”  Tara questions worriedly, wrapping her arms around Buffy, holding the crying slayer tightly.  Feeling Buffy shake her head and not say anything, Tara gently runs a hand through Buffy’s hair and leans down kissing the top of her head.  Gently swaying back and forth, Tara sings softly, trying to calm the slayer’s inner soul. 

Slowly calming down, but still holding on desperately to the witch, Buffy rubs her face lightly over the breast under her cheek.  Listening as Tara finishes the lovely song, Buffy starts talking.  “At the Magic Box, Anya mentioned something about the Vessel of the Goddess.  That a hereditary white witch, with a caring heart, soul and very powerful is touched by the Goddess at birth to become the Embodiment of the Goddess.  I called Giles trying to get more information, but he told me practically the same thing Anya did during that call.  But then he mentioned a prophecy, how a Warrior of Light, recently returned from darkness must die, for the Goddess’ will to be done.”  Stopping here and swallowing hard Buffy forces herself to continue.  “I just got off the phone with him a little bit ago again, it seems the Vessel has a birth mark.”  Pulling away, to finally make eye contact with Tara, she sees Faith standing behind Tara with a shocked look on her face.  Tears starting to fall from her eyes again, Buffy stutters out.  “It’s in the shape of a bird, placed close to the heart.”    Reaching out towards Faith, Buffy begs her to come to her with her eyes and then softly smiles as she walks towards them to take her hand.  “It would seem that the Goddess is going to be showing up sometime to make you, Tara, her Living Embodiment.  And in payment, supposedly, Faith must die.  But I’ll be damned if she’s going to die.  I’ve fought and beaten other prophecies and we’re going to beat this one.”

“But, I don’t have a birthmark…”  Tara trails off looking in confusion at both women.

Faith swallows then smirks softly.  “Yeah, you do.”  Reaching out, cupping the underneath of the witch’s left breast, running her fingers lightly over the spot.  “It’s right here and it’s just a lighter area that’s shaped like a bird.”

Looking into Faith’s sad brown eyes, Tara shakes her head.  “You aren’t going to die.  No matter what, if it comes down to it, I’ll die first.”  Tara states in a very serious tone.

“No one’s going to die.”  Buffy growls out looking at the two women.  “End of story.”  Buffy stands up and walks over to the refrigerator, finally grabbing a bottle of water out and ripping the lid off before downing it and throwing the empty container in the trash.