Chapter 9

“Faith, I’m sorry you have to sleep on the couch.  We’ll try to figure something out to make you more comfortable.”  Tara apologetically tells the slayer, as she makes the couch up with sheets and getting a pillow and blanket for the Dark Slayer.

“I ain’t complainin’ Blondie.”  Faith grins at the Wiccan.  “So, I have to wear this thing all the time?”  She pulls the necklace up to look at it.

“Yes, please.  It’s the only think that repels Willow’s magic.   If you notice it getting worn or you break it, let me know right away so I can fix it, okay?”  Tara states softly.

“Sure thing.”  Faith nods.  “Hey, Blondie.  What’s to keep Red from just magicking herself into your room?  Shouldn’t someone be with you there, too?”

Tara snaps her head up looking at Faith.  “W-well, umm, Buffy is in the next room.  You’re h-here.  You b-both have the slayer hearing, so you should hear if anything happens.”   Tara stutters out.

Faith raises her hands.  “Hey, hear me out.  I’m kinda playin’ devil’s advocate here, ok?   What if we’re asleep, she pops into your bedroom, knocks you out, rips off your charm and whammy’s you?  I mean, I don’t think it’s gonna happen, but it’s a kind of what if, thing.  Personally, I would rather someone be with you 24/7.”  Looking down at her boots Faith grins slightly and looks back up with a flirty grin at the blonde.  “And it’s not like it would be a hardship or anything, I mean I did kinda spend the last coupla years in jail.  Sleep in the same space as a woman named Big Bertha, having you for a roomie?  Cake walk.”

Tara actually giggles slightly at the slayer, realizing that she’s more joking with her than anything about the Big Bertha thing.  But she was right about Willow.  “We’ll wait until Buffy gets home, and talk to her.  See what she thinks.  But, you do have a point, Faith.  Thanks for thinking of my safety.”

Plopping down on the couch, Faith pulls her boots off before propping her feet on the coffee table, grabbing the remote and turning the television on.  “I wonder if there’s anythin’ good on.  Been forever since I’ve actually been able to choose my own programs.”

Tara shakes her head smiling slightly.   “Are you hungry Faith?”

Faith looks up with a grin.  “Always.”

Tara laughs quietly.  “Let me see if I can get you something.  Anything you don’t like?”

“Tara, I’m a human garbage disposal.  You can grab everything out of the fridge, throw it in one huge pile on a plate and I’ll eat it.”  Faith smirks at the blonde.  “I’ll eat anything!” 

Blushing slightly at the flirting note in the slayer’s last comment Tara quickly heads to the kitchen and makes her a couple sandwiches, grabbing a bag of chips and a soda she quickly gives them to the slayer. 

“It’s not much…”  Tara trails off as Faith waves her hand at her, already grabbing a sandwich and chomping it.

“It’s great.”  Faith mumbles around a full mouth before quickly swallowing.  “I could probably eat a cow.  The pen wasn’t too good for feeding a hungry slayer.  They don’t understand our metabolism rate.”  Faith looks down at her loose tank top and baggy leather pants.

Faith quickly works her way through the sandwiches and the bag of chips.  Downing the soda she grins.  “Thanks Tare!  That’ll keep the hungers away for a little while.” 

“Do you want a couple more sandwiches?”  Tara asks in disbelief at how quickly Faith demolished the food. 

“Do you mind?”  Faith hesitantly questions. 

Shaking her head, Tara grabs the plate and empty containers, standing up to head into the kitchen. 

Faith watches her leave before standing up to follow her into the kitchen.  “You know you don’t have to wait on me, don’t ya?”

“I don’t mind.”  Tara softly replies pulling the ingredients out of the refrigerator. 

Faith sits down on a stool watching the blonde intently, like she’s trying to figure her out.  “You really are a genuinely nice person, ain’t cha?”  Faith finally blurts out. 

Looking up at the slayer with shocked blue eyes Tara stutters.  “E-excuse me?” 

Faith looks down, embarrassed.  “I said you’re an actually nice person.   Why would she treat you like that?  If I had someone that treated me like you do?  I’d worship the ground you walked on and do everything in my power to make ya’ happy.”  Faith mumbles. 

“Faith.”  Tara starts, not really knowing what to say to the other woman. 

“Don’t bother, I’m just running off at the mouth is all.”  Faith states roughly, already shutting herself off, before grabbing the plate and soda and taking it back into the living room, leaving a stunned Tara standing in the kitchen.

***

“Faith makes a good point.”  Buffy runs her hands through her hair, Faith explaining what had occurred to her after she got back home.  “Either myself or Faith should probably bunk down with you each night, just to be on the safe side.”  Buffy smiles slightly at Tara.  “Sorry about you not having much personal space.  But I can’t stand the idea of something bad happening to you.” 

Faith looks up watching Buffy, seeing the way she’s looking at Tara.  ‘Does B have a crush on Blondie?’  Faith wonders.  ‘Buffy got me out of jail to help protect the woman.  She‘s super protective of her, she sat down close to her.’  Faith starts to think looking over at the blonde Wiccan.  Shaking her head Faith realizes whether Buffy wants to admit it or not, she cares deeply for the other woman.  “I can crash on the floor in the room, if you want.  Ain’t that big a deal.”

Buffy glances from Faith to Tara.  “Tara, it’s up to you.  We can alternate out, take turns.  Whoever does the slaying gets the bedroom and the other can sleep on the floor in your room until we figure out something better.”

Tara nods at that idea.  “Actually, in case we go to bed early, the idea of whoever goes on patrol being able to sleep in a bed is a good idea.  But you, actually neither one of you should have to sleep on the floor.  If you don’t mind, the bed is big enough for two.  We could share.”  Tara shrugs slightly looking from one slayer to the other.  “Of c-course i-if you d-don’t w-want to share w-with m-me I’d understand.”  Tara stutters horribly, realizing with her being gay that they might think she was hitting on them.

Both slayers reach for the Wiccan, Buffy lightly wrapping her arm around her shoulder, Faith grasping her hand.  “Tara, I can’t speak for Faith, but I would feel honored to share your bed… ummm… that didn’t quite come out the way I meant it.”  Buffy looks at Faith for some help.

Faith shrugs her shoulders.  “Can’t help you there, B.”  Smiling widely at the slayer before looking at the blonde Wicca.  “I don‘t have a problem bunking down with ya’.”

Buffy narrows her eyes looking at Faith.  ‘Is Faith flirting with Tara?  And how do I feel about that?  And why would I feel anything about that?  I like men…’  Trailing off on those thoughts, Buffy starts thinking about her feelings for Tara.  Yes, she loves the blonde Wiccan.  Yes, the idea of harm coming to her makes her stomach clench up in knots.  Looking the blonde over Buffy realizes that she’s falling in love with Tara.  ‘My God.  When did this happen?’ 

“I need to get something to drink, do either of you need anything, while I’m up?”  Buffy asks, quickly standing and moving towards the kitchen.

“Nah, I’m okay B.”  Faith states, still lightly holding Tara’s hand, looking up at Buffy.

“No, thanks.”  Tara softly smiles her thanks at Buffy. 

Nodding her head Buffy quickly goes into the kitchen.  Standing in front of the refrigerator, thinking.  ‘I’m falling in love with my best friend’s ex-girlfriend.  I’m falling in love with a woman that is the kindest, most gentlest soul in the world.’  Leaning her head against the refrigerator door Buffy feels tears start to fall from her eyes.  ‘She’ll never want to have anything to do with me.  She would be crazy to think of me in that way.  I mean, who would want me after I fucked Spike?  Spike an evil undead creature, doesn’t even have his soul and I fucked him.  It wasn’t even love, at least that would make some sense.’

Thinking about the past couple months, the help the blonde had given her, the caring person she was Buffy shakes her head.  Would it be taking advantage of the blonde?  Would she even consider dating someone like her? 

***

Tara smiles softly at the Dark Slayer.  “I’m going to see what’s taking Buffy so long.” 

Faith nods her head.  “I’m gonna go ahead and sleep down here tonight, since you got it all fixed up for me.  We can decide tomorrow what cha’ want to do.” 

“Thank you, Faith.  I’m glad you decided to stay.”  Tara gets up to check on Buffy.   As she walks into the kitchen she sees Buffy leaning against the refrigerator door, her shoulders slightly shaking.

Quickly crossing the room, Tara gently lays her hand on Buffy’s shoulder.  “Buffy, are you okay?” 

Buffy stiffens slightly, not turning to look at the blonde.  Swallowing deeply, do I want to tell her?  Would it be wrong to put her on the spot?  What if she could care about me?  Would it be too soon after Willow?  God!

Faith had quietly followed the blonde into the kitchen.  Seeing Buffy, Faith smiles sadly.  ‘Yeah, guess she does like the witch.’  She can feel the turmoil coming from Buffy, so she decides to speak up for her sister slayer.  Hoping she’s doing the right thing.  “B, tell her already.”  She roughly growls out before turning back and going to the living room.

Turning to look towards Faith as she leaves the kitchen Tara looks back at Buffy confused.  “Buffy, what’s Faith talking about?” 

Buffy slumps her shoulders.  “You may not want to stay here after I tell you.”  Finally turning to face the witch Buffy looks into worried blue eyes, that she realizes she could spend eternity staring into. 

Seeing the tears that were still falling from Buffy’s eyes Tara reaches up to gently wipe them away.  “Why would I not want to stay here?”  She asks quietly. 

Buffy searches Tara’s eyes before glancing down at her lips.  Closing her eyes, she opens them again looking at Tara before whispering.  “Because of this.”  Buffy slowly closes the distance and brushes her lips across the blonde Wiccan’s before pulling back to see Tara’s reaction. 

Tara opens her eyes wide in shock as she feels Buffy’s lips press against hers.  As Buffy pulls away, Tara lifts her hand to gently press her fingertips against her lips that are tingling from the light caress.  Looking into Buffy’s eyes in stunned surprise.  “Buffy?”  She questions in a low voice.  

Looking down at the floor, not able to see the possible rejection that would be in Tara’s eyes Buffy haltingly explains.  “I just realized tonight that I’ve fallen in love with you.  When I made the comment about sharing your bed, I actually realized I wanted to, and not just as a friend.”  Feeling the witch’s fingers on her chin, she lets her raise her face so she can look in her eyes.

“Please look at me, Buffy.”  Tara states softly.  “Please continue.”  Tara watches the emotions crossing Buffy’s face. 

“I realized when I felt jealous of Faith what it was.  I don’t know how the hell Faith figured it out so quickly but… I guess it just boils down to this.  I love you.”  Buffy swallows looking into Tara’s beautiful blue eyes, praying silently that she hasn’t ruined their friendship.  She couldn’t stand it if she ran the witch off.  

“You love me?”  Tara questions softly.  Starting to feel a small smile cross her face she looks at Buffy, slowly letting the love seep into her own eyes for the slayer.  “Are you positive, Buffy?”  Tara whispers, her voice husky.

Looking at the love coming from the blonde witch, Buffy starts to smile, realizing that she could and did love her in return.  “Oh, yes.  I’m very, very sure.  You actually…”  Buffy trails off as Tara leans in, brushing her lips slowly and sensually over hers before easing back a hair’s breadth away.

“Oh, yes.  I love you too.  I realized it when you insisted I move back here with you and Dawnie.”  Tara softly smiles before leaning the short distance in for another gentle kiss.

Buffy groans lightly at the softness of the lips caressing hers.  Easing her body closer to the witch, Buffy gently embraces her, pulling her in before applying more pressure to the soft lips pressed against hers. 

“Mmm.  Buffy.”  Tara pulls away a short distance, smiling before opening her eyes, looking into the hazel eyes she has come to care so much for.  

Buffy smiles in return, seeing the love radiating from Tara.   Slowly reaching up with a hand, Buffy runs it softly down Tara’s cheek before leaning in for another soft brushing of lips. 

Tara giggles as Buffy pulls away after kissing her. 

“Why are you giggling?”  Buffy asks, smiling at the witch.

“I guess this means I won’t be sharing my bed with Faith?”  Tara smirks slightly at Buffy.

“Most definitely not.”  Buffy smiles back. 

Leaning in and kissing the slayer slightly harder than before, Tara eases her mouth open to ease her tongue out to gently trace the slayer’s lips, making Buffy moan in response. 

Dawn bounces down the stairs looking at Faith, crashed out on the couch, snoring away, shaking her head smiling.  Quickly heading to the kitchen to grab a midnight snack, she stops in surprise at the sight before her.  She starts to grin, watching the soft touching and kissing between her sister and Tara.  Nodding her head to herself, she had realized a long time ago that her life would be perfect if her sister and the witch would hook up.  She had seen the way they would look at each other when the other one wasn’t aware.  Good.

“About damn time.”  Dawn states before turning and heading back upstairs deciding she didn’t need anything to eat after all. 

Quickly breaking apart to turn and look at the quickly departing Dawn, they look back at each other and start giggling.  “I guess we don’t have to worry about Dawn being upset.”  Buffy smiles at Tara.

Tara shakes her head, blushing.  “How come I have this feeling everyone saw this coming?” 

Buffy smiles. “I just wish someone had hit me over the head and let me know before now.”

Covering a yawn, Tara grins at Buffy.  “I would prefer you to not be hit over the head.” 

“Tired?”  Buffy asks quietly, lightly running her fingers through the soft blonde hair. 

“Yes.”  Tara apologetically smiles at the slayer. 

“Come on, then.  Let’s get you into bed and asleep.”  Smiling slightly Buffy leans in.  “You don’t mind sharing your bed with me, do you?  I mean, I did warn you before about being a snuggler.”  Buffy grins raising her hands and wiggling her fingers.

“Oh, no.  I don’t mind at all.”  Tara softly comments before leaning in and placing a quick kiss on the end of Buffy’s nose.  “Come on, let’s go to bed, sweetie.”

***

Tara smiles as Buffy comes into the bedroom wearing her sheep covered pajamas.  Looking down at herself clad in a tank top and shorts she shakes her head.  Definitely not sexy sleepwear.  

“Why aren’t you already in bed?”  Buffy whispers shutting the door behind her. 

“I didn’t know which side of the bed you wanted to sleep on.”  Tara softly whispers back smiling slightly at the slayer. 

“Doesn’t matter.”  Buffy grins back at the thoughtfulness of the blonde.  “Go ahead and climb in, I’ll get the light.”

Watching Tara get into bed, Buffy appraises the long graceful legs and the shapely body of the blonde witch.  Closing her eyes slightly Buffy thinks to herself that soon, she can touch all she wants.  Tonight they’re just going to sleep.  Seeing Tara has settled herself in bed and is laying there watching her with a quirked eyebrow, Buffy smiles shyly before turning off the light and letting her eyes adjust to the darkness. 

Slowly climbing into bed beside the blonde, Buffy inches closer to the warm body until they’re only separated by an inch.  Lightly running her fingertips down the blonde’s soft neck, Buffy smiles.  “Can I have a goodnight kiss?”  She whispers quietly and as Tara nods her head, she leans in, pressing her lips to the blonde’s full lips, flicking her tongue out to gently caress Tara’s top lip.  Running her tongue first over Tara’s top lip then her bottom lip, hearing the blonde groan, lightly opening her mouth, Buffy gently runs her tongue between the Wiccan’s lips, groaning herself at the feel the blonde’s tongue coming out to gently stroke against hers.  A slow dance of tongues playing in first one mouth then the other, bodies easing closer to each other.

Moaning into the kiss, Tara wraps her arms around the slayer, pulling her tighter to her, easing onto her back so Buffy is lying half on top of her, making her groan in pleasure at the slight weight of the slayer.  

Pulling away slightly from the blonde’s lips, Buffy pants trying to catch her breath.  Leaning her head down to the blonde’s neck she smiles slightly, feeling Tara gently running her hands up and down her back.  Finally getting control of her breathing, Buffy leans back up, looking into Tara’s eyes.  “Now that’s what I call a goodnight kiss.” 

Tara laughs at the slayer’s comment before hugging her tightly.  “Good morning kisses can be nice, also.  So can afternoon, evening, before dinner, after dinner…”  Tara trails off laughing as Buffy quickly captures her lips again in a quick press of lips. 

“So, I can assume that I can get all the kisses I want?”  Buffy smiles down at the Wiccan.  

“Oh, yes.  All the kisses you want, anytime you want.”  Tara smiles.  “I mean, you are an excellent kisser, Buffy.  I can’t wait to see what else you’re good at!”  Tara states grinning before blushing at her forwardness.

“My, my, Tara the Blonde Wiccan.  So much for the shy witch.  I believe you’ve been holding out on me.  You’re actually a sex kitten in disguise, aren’t you?”  Buffy teases lightly. 

Blushing more profusely at the teasing, Tara grins slightly.  “Maybe.  But I’m not telling.”  Laughing slightly as the slayer pouts at her teasing.

Snuggling down into the crook of Tara’s neck, Buffy whispers. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”  Tara whispers back, running her hands gently through Buffy’s hair smiling as Buffy places a gentle kiss on the skin by her lips.   “Good night, my love.”

“Good night.”  Buffy whispers before falling asleep.

***

Chapter 10

Tara slowly gains consciousness feeling a weight across her stomach and thighs and a hand playing with her… Eyes opening wide she looks down at a sleeping slayer with her head on her left breast, snoring softly and her left hand lightly squeezing and releasing her right breast.  ‘Well, she wasn’t kidding when she said she liked to snuggle.’  Tara thinks to herself with a slight giggle. 

“Mmm.”  Buffy mumbles in her sleep, shifting her body closer and rubbing her face against… opening her eyes wide Buffy jumps back slightly.  “Tara, I’m so sorry.  I didn’t mean to…”

Tara softly places her finger on Buffy’s lips stilling her worried ranting.  “Buffy, it’s okay.”  Smiling lopsidedly at the slayer.  “I mean you probably don’t want to rush into anything, but I am SO not complaining.”  Tara replaces her finger with her lips and gently kisses the slayer.  “Good morning.”

Blushing lightly, Buffy grins and returns the kiss.  “Good morning.  So, good morning groping is allowed?”  Buffy smirks. 

Blushing herself, Tara smirks back. “Right up there with good morning kisses.  Want to lie back down?”  Tara asks glancing down to her breast and back at Buffy with an arched eyebrow. 

Grinning in appreciation Buffy nods her head before snuggling back down.  “Mmmm.  I can definitely get used to this.”  Pulling back slightly Buffy asks worriedly.  “I’m not hurting you, am I?”

Wrapping her arms around the slayer, Tara tugs her back down against her.  “No, you’re not hurting me Buffy.”  Tara smiles as she runs her fingers through Buffy’s hair.   “What time do you have to be at work today?”

Buffy groans loudly at being reminded about work and hears the slight inhale from Tara.  Pulling back she looks at Tara.  “Now I know I did something.”  Buffy looks worriedly at Tara.

Blushing a darker red, Tara lightly bites her bottom lip to keep from giggling.  “Buffy, it wasn’t a bad something.”  Hesitating trying to decide how to phrase it.  “When you groaned, it vibrated and…”  Trailing off she smiles at the slayer, reaching up to brush her thumb down the soft cheek.  “It felt good.”  She whispers.

Eyes opening wide in realization, Buffy smiles hugely.  “Good.  Ummm.  You know I’ve never…”

“I know, Buffy.  Just relax and when the time is right, it’ll be right.  And don’t be so worried about doing something wrong.”  Tara smiles before leaning up and kissing the tip of the slayer’s nose before tugging her back down to lay her head back on her breast.  

“What time is it?”  Buffy mumbles smiling slightly as she runs her hand over the blonde’s stomach where her shirt had ridden up. 

“Hmmm…”  Turning her head to look at the alarm clock Tara closes her eyes at the soft fingertips playing with her stomach.   “It’s 8 o’clock.”

“I have to be at work at 10:30 for the lunch crowd and I get off at 4:30 today.”  Buffy mumbles shifting her leg to run it over Tara’s.  

“Why don’t I get up and make some breakfast for everyone.  I’m sure Dawn wants to talk to us.  And I’m kind of curious as to how Faith figured out you liked me.”  Tara smiles slightly thinking the Dark Slayer was probably more aware of the people around her than she let on.  

“Not just like, but love you.”  Buffy whispers leaning up to place a gentle kiss on the soft, full lips that she was becoming quickly addicted to.  “I could spend all day kissing you.”  A light knocking came on the bedroom door followed by Dawn’s voice asking if they were up yet. 

“Well, maybe if annoying sisters weren’t in the house I could at least pretend I had all day to kiss you!”  Buffy grumbles lightly before smiling and yelling.  “We’re awake just not up yet.  Go ahead and head downstairs we’ll be down in a few minutes.”  

“Okay!”  Dawn chirps happily before heading downstairs.

“You go ahead and get ready for work and I’ll start fixing breakfast.”  Tara smiles as Buffy growls slightly, before easing away and smiling at the Wiccan. 

“You are beautiful.”  Buffy states smiling softly at the beautiful blue eyes looking back at her before leaning down and placing another light kiss on her lips and hopping out of bed to shower and get ready for work.

***

“So what does everyone have planned while I am getting all grease-a-fied at the DMP?”  Buffy asks after swallowing a mouthful of pancakes.

“Can I go to Janice’s today and spend the night?  She called while you were in the shower.”  Dawn hopefully asks. 

“Yes, you may.  AFTER you pick up your room, bring down your laundry and help with the dishes.”  Buffy states giving her a firm look.

“Ah, Buffy.”  Dawn whines briefly before smiling.  “Okay.  Thanks!”

Tara smiles gently looking from one sister to the other.  “Well, I do know I have to get some groceries.  We’re getting down to the bare bones here.  I guess we should get Faith set up in the bedroom…”  Hesitating Tara looks at Buffy with a questioning look before asking.  “Do you want us to move your stuff back?  I-I mean, I d-don’t want to assume anything.”

“Tara you aren’t assuming anything, and yes if you want me to move back into the bedroom with you, I would be ecstatic.”  Buffy smiles at the blonde.  “That reminds me, Faith, how in the world did you know that I cared for Tara?”

Faith rolls her eyes before gulping down some of her coffee.  “Wicked obvious, B.” 

Dawn giggles and covers her mouth when Buffy and Tara turn to look at her with a questioning look.  “Faith’s right.”

“Okay, will someone please explain to me how it was so obvious?”  Buffy pouts.

“I’ll go first Little D.”  Faith grins at the teenager.  “Let’s see big honkin’ sign - You get me out of jail.  The person that held a knife to your best friend’s throat, tried to kill Xander and Angel, three very important people in your life.  You’re willing to get me out to protect Blondie over here, didn’t take much more than that.”  Faith looks down and scoops up the last bite of scrambled eggs and bite of toast, finishing her breakfast.  “Thanks Blondie, that was good.” 

Dawn shrugs. “My turn?”  At Buffy and Tara’s nod she smirks.  “Buffy couldn’t keep her hands to herself.  She was always reaching out to touch Tara or sit beside her.  Buffy wasn’t that touchy-feely with Riley!   Plus the looks you two were always exchanging when the other wasn’t paying attention.  Come on.  Plus the pit bull mentality that Buffy has about Tara being protected.  As Faith said, ‘Wicked obvious’!” 

“Great, next you’re going to tell me Anya and Xander figured it out, too!”  Buffy states before finishing her juice.

“Anya figured it out.  Her and Xander were arguing about it the other day when I was in the Magic Box waiting for Tara pick me up after her classes.”  Dawn states smiling as she winks at Faith. 

“They were arguing?”  Tara asks with a frown.

“Yeah, but not bad.  Just Anya was stating how you two were orgasm buddies now and Xander swore up and down that you weren’t.  That you would tell him if you were seeing each other, even though he did say he had a feeling it was just a matter of time.”  Dawn states grinning broadly.

Buffy starts laughing and just lays her head down on the dining room table.  “Why couldn’t someone have told me?” 

Smiling softly at Buffy, Tara shakes her head.  “It’s always best to come to the conclusion yourself instead of someone else telling you, sweetie.  If someone were to tell you, you would always wonder if that influenced your decision.  And not just you and me way, but in anything in life.”

Frowning slightly at the time, Buffy stands up.  “I hate to say it, but I have to get to work.  I’ll see you guys later.”  Buffy smiles as Tara starts gathering up the dishes to take them in the kitchen before coming back out.  Blushing slightly Buffy walks up to her and gently kisses her.  “I’ll see you later.”  Buffy whispers hugging her tight.  Turning to Faith, Buffy growls. “Make sure you keep her in your eyesight.  She means the world to me.” 

Faith nods.  “You got it, B.”  Grinning wickedly she looks at Buffy. “So if I have to keep her in my eyesight…”

“Faith!  Don’t even get started!”  Buffy interrupts the Dark Slayer shaking her head.  “Faith can you come out here with me for a moment?”  Buffy asks seriously.

“What’s up B?”  Faith tucks her hands in her jeans pockets, wondering if she might have pushed too far already.

“I really appreciate you doing this.  I want you to know that.”  Buffy states before continuing.  “I’m glad to have you back.  And not just for this.”  Looking down kicking a stone Buffy looks back up with caring in her eyes.  “I miss having you around.  Now I got to go, see you tonight.”  Buffy takes off, leaving a stunned Faith standing on the sidewalk. 

***

“Well, that’s the last of the stuff.”  Faith states looking at the room.  “I feel weird having the big bedroom while you two take the smaller one.  You sure you don’t wanna switch?”

“NO!”  Tara states loudly before closing her eyes. 

Faith’s head jerks up at hearing the normally soft-spoken woman being so vocal.  “Whoa!  Sorry Blondie.  Didn’t mean to upset you.” 

“No, Faith.  I’m sorry.  It’s just that you probably don’t know that W-w-willow and I lived here together after Buffy died, to take care of Dawn.”   Tara whispers quietly. 

“Don’t need to say any more.  I’m sorry for treadin’ on your toes.”  Faith mumbles. 

Lightly laying her hand on Faith’s arm Tara shakes her head.  “You couldn’t know Faith.  You’ve been here for less than 24 hours and were kind of dropped in the middle of things. Things will come up.  Don’t take it personally, okay?”  Tara asks with a soft smile.

“’Kay.”  Faith smiles slightly, showing a hint of dimple. ‘Damn, B.  You sure are one lucky lady.’  She thinks to herself before shaking her head slightly.  “Well, since we got B’s gear situated and my stuff, what there is of it, is up here.  Why don’t we run to the grocery store?”

“We need to get you by the store and get you some more clothes, too.”  Tara points out. 

Shrugging her shoulders Faith grins slightly.  “We can run by the thrift store in town and see if they have some jeans and shirts that’ll fit.  Slaying is too rough on clothes for me to spend a lot of money on them, except my leathers.”  Looking down at her leather pants and smiling slightly.  “They hold up pretty good.  Anyway a lot of the clothes there are in pretty good shape most of the time.” 

***

As the two women come back into the house laughing, they stop in the doorway to see Willow standing there with her hands on her hips.  “So, what’s going on now?  Buffy not enough for you?”  She snarls looking at Faith.  “You went and got the slut from hell out of jail?  You must be desperate.”  Willow states scathingly looking over her ex-lover.

“Willow, please leave.”  Tara asks shakily. 

Moving to stand in front of Tara, Faith sets the bags she was carrying down gently on the floor, keeping her eyes on Willow the whole time.  ‘Boy, they were right about her.  She has gone off the deep end.’  

“Willow, I’d suggest you leave.”  Faith roughly growls the words, looking Willow in the eyes.  When Willow’s eyes seep from green to black, with no whites showing Faith’s eyes open in surprise 

“You don’t tell me what to do, bitch!”  Willow screams as she incants a spell in Latin before sending it at the Dark Slayer. 

Faith feels the charm warm slightly against her chest where it’s laying, feeling extremely thankful for it.  “Willow, I don’t know what’s happened to you, but take a suggestion from someone who‘s been there.  Get your act together before you lose everything.”  Faith states in a quiet, deadly voice as she strides toward the redhead. 

“You!”  Willow yells turning to look at Tara.  “Your magic won’t protect you guys forever!  It’s only a matter of time before I figure a way around it, then you’ll be mine.”  Willow starts to head towards Tara, to find her way blocked by Faith.

“You leave her alone.  She isn’t yours and will never be yours again.”  Faith growls low and rough. 

Sneering in disgust at Faith, Willow grins evilly while she teleports herself so she’s standing in front of Tara.  Reaching out with her hands she’s blocked by a shield Tara had quickly prepared while Faith was talking to Willow. 

Willow yells loudly.  “You fucking bitch!  I’ll be back!”  Willow disappears.

Tara swallows, letting the shield release before leaning against the wall, shaking slightly.

“Are you okay?”  Faith runs to her, gently turning her to look her over.

“Yes, she didn’t touch me.  When you were talking to her, I had time to get a shield in place.”  Tara frowns slightly.  “I don’t think any of us are going to be able to reach her.”  Tara states sadly, reaching down to grab a couple bags of groceries and shakily heading into the kitchen.

“I know you guys weren’t lyin’ about Red, but, I guess a part of me just couldn’t believe that she was actually like that.”  Faith mumbles following the blonde into the kitchen to help put away the groceries.  “It’s just kinda hard to accept, you know?”

Nodding her head Tara takes a slight breath.  “Unfortunately with great power comes the capability of great corruption or evil.  If you don’t have a good balance, it’s extremely easy to cross the line from good to evil.”  Realizing what she said she pales and looks at Faith with wide open eyes.  “I’m sorry, Faith I didn’t mean…”

Shaking her head and holding her hand up, Faith smiles sardonically “It’s the truth, Blondie.  That’s exactly what happened with me.  The sad fact was, I was offered friendship and I was too stupid to accept it.   I figured everybody had an ulterior motive, no one could like me for me.”  Shrugging Faith finishes putting the groceries away.  “I guess I should get the clothes we bought downstairs so I can do a couple loads of wash.  Got anything for me to add?” 

Shaking her head, Tara lets Faith change the subject for now.  “Yeah, I’ll go get the hampers.  I didn’t even realize that thrift store was there.  Most of the clothes still had price tags on them from the original stores!”

Nodding her head Faith grins.  “Yeah, that happens a lot.”

“Thanks for buying the groceries.”  Tara softly thanks Faith.

“No problem.  I tried to give the money to B last night, but she wouldn’t take it.  Figure it’s the least I can do since I’ll be eating here.  Maybe I can look for a part-time job, help out with the bills.  Don’t wanna be a drain on you guys.”  Faith states quietly before taking the bags of clothes down the stairs.

Tara stands there looking at the door to the basement ‘we need to help her find herself completely.  She’s got a start, but she still doesn’t believe someone could actually care for her, Faith, not the slayer.’  Frowning to herself, Tara goes to gather up the laundry and clean the house before Buffy gets home from work.

***

Faith and Tara both plop down on opposite ends of the couch.  They had finished running the vacuum cleaner and dusting.  There was a roast with vegetables baking in the oven for the slayers for dinner, and the house was cleaned from top to bottom with the last load of laundry in the dryer.

“Faith, I have to say a very huge thank you for helping with the household chores.”  Tara blows the hair off her forehead.

Laughing slightly Faith looks over at the blonde.  “What, did you expect I would just sit on my ass and lift my feet when you go by with the vacuum cleaner?  Plus it feels kind of nice to do the simple things like cleanin’ and laundry, ya know?”

“Yes.  Personally, it makes me feel good that I accomplished something.”  Tara turns her head smiling over at the brunette. 

“It does, doesn’t it?”  Faith states in realization.  “Feeling good from cleaning?  Who’da thunk?”  Faith grins hugely.  “And if you tell anyone, I’ll do somethin’ mean to you.”  Faith looks at her with a scowl on her face before laughing.

The front door opens and a disgruntled Buffy walks through, grumbling.  “I really have to get a new job.” 

“Rough day, sweetie?”  Tara asks smiling at Buffy.

“You have no idea.”  Buffy bends over to unlace her shoes before kicking them off and looking at the living room.  “Hey, the house looks good!”  Sniffing the air she grins.  “What’s for dinner?”

“Roast with vegetables and rolls.”  Tara grins thinking the two slayers think more with their stomach than anything. “And Faith and I thank you for the house compliment.”  Tara tilts her head slightly towards Faith.

“Thanks for helping, Faith.”  Buffy grins.  “It looks damn good.”

“Yeah, Faith moved stuff out of the way while I vacuumed, and she also dusted.  She’s a Tasmanian Devil with the dusting!”  Tara laughs, picking on the slayer.

Groaning Faith rolls her eyes and tilts her head back on the couch looking up at the ceiling.  “Great, now Blondie is gonna start calling me Taz!”

“Personally, I think it’s a fitting nickname for you Faith.”  Tara states tongue in cheek.  “Especially the way you were spinning around in the living room when I came down from cleaning the bathroom.”

Growling lightly at Tara, Faith shakes her head.

Laughing quietly Buffy walks up to Tara, leaning over her and giving her a brief kiss.  Pulling back slightly smiling.  “I kind of like being able to kiss you whenever I want.  But right now, I need to go scrape a few layers of grease off my stinky body.”

Tara smiles at Buffy.  “We got all your stuff in our room.  Dinner will probably be ready in about another hour.”

“Thanks.  I’ll be back down in a few.”  Buffy starts to head up the steps.

“B!”  Faith catches her while looking at Tara.  “We should probably tell her now, what happened.”

Buffy quickly turns around and walks over to sit on the table between the two women looking at both of them in turn.  “What happened?”  She asks tensely.

“When we came back from the stores, Red was in the house waiting on us.  She didn’t seem happy to see me here.  She made a few threats, tried to get to Tara, and then disappeared.”  Faith growled low and angrily.  “B, she was able to pop out of sight and right in front of Tara before I could do anything.”

Buffy looks quickly at Tara, running her eyes over her body.  “Are you okay?”  She asks worriedly.

“I’m fine.  Faith was able to distract her long enough for me to put a shield around myself.  It wasn’t Faith’s fault.  She went to stand in front of Willow, protecting me. Willow transported, it happened so quickly.  But Faith was right there, ready but Willow disappeared when she encountered the shield.”  Tara quickly states, hoping that Buffy wouldn’t be angry with Faith.

“That’s fine.  It’s a possibility I was thinking about.  With her popping in and out at will, even if we are with you 24/7 it’s a possibility something still might happen.  It’s too bad you can’t put a spell around the house to keep her out.”  Buffy half-heartedly smiles, running her fingers over Tara’s hand.   “Kind of a big talisman for the house.”  Buffy states, looking down at her necklace. 

Frowning slightly Tara thinks.  “It actually might be possible, to keep her from entering the house magically.  I don’t think it will do any good to keep her out if she physically walks in.”  Quickly getting up she runs up the stairs grabbing a book and coming back down.  Flipping through the book she frowns at one of the spells. 

“What did you find?”  Buffy asks seeing the frown. 

“This might work, but a couple of the ingredients are very expensive.  I’ll keep looking for other spells and see if I can come up with something that won’t cost as much.”  Tara states, marking the page just in case before continuing researching. 

“Maybe we could talk to Anya?  She would probably sell them to us at cost.”  Buffy quietly suggests.  “I would feel better if we could have the house protected, that way if Faith and I both needed to be out of the house, you would be safe here.  We would just have to change the locks on the doors.” 

Faith nods her head.  “I can change the locks.  I’m kinda handy with that sort of thing.  And I would feel better if we didn’t have any more surprise visits.”  Faith smirks slightly and sends a sideways glance at Buffy.  “And you wouldn’t have to share you room with B no more, so you would have your own space back.”

“HEY!”   Buffy yells out in displeasure.  “I do NOT like that idea at all.”  Feeling Tara put her hand on her arm she turns to see the blonde Wiccan laughing quietly.  

Winking at Buffy she turns to Faith.  “You’re just jealous because you’re not sharing our bed!”  

Buffy’s eyes open wide in surprise and Faith guffaws loudly.  “Damn, if that’s an offer I won’t turn it down!  Could definitely do a lot worse than you two!  Two hot babes?  I’d be there in a heartbeat.”

Buffy blushes and looks at Tara.  “See what you started?   We will NEVER hear the end of this now.”  

Giggling to herself Tara shrugs and grins lopsidedly.  “Oops.”

“I thought you were the shy witch?”  Faith laughs at them.  “I never would have expected you to say something like that!” 

Buffy grumbles.  “I’m starting to find out that she isn’t as shy as I thought she was.”  Eyeing Tara up and down before grinning.  “I like it!”   Making Tara blush slightly in response. 

“And on that note, I’m off to the shower.”  Buffy smiles, lightly running her hand over Tara’s before standing up and going upstairs.

“You know.  I never thought I’d see the day that B would be in love with a woman.”  Faith states sincerely.  “But you two work.  If you know what I mean.”

“Thanks Faith.  We do, don’t we?”  Tara smiles softly still staring at the stairs where Buffy had disappeared.  

“Yep.  Well, let me check on that load of towels in the dryer.”  Faith smiles sadly and heads down to check on the laundry.

***

Chapter 11

“Want me to do that for you?”  Tara asks coming into the bedroom, shutting the door behind her.  Buffy’s sitting on the edge of the bed brushing her hair.

Smiling up at Tara she holds out the brush.  Climbing up behind Buffy, Tara starts gently stroking the brush through Buffy’s hair.  “I want to talk to you about something.”  

“That feels good.”  Buffy moans slightly.  “Okay.”

“Faith isn’t going to hurt us.  I know this for a fact.  But she’s hurting inside.  Plus she doesn’t believe she’s worth people caring about.”  Tara states quietly and matter-of-factly.

“So, what brilliant ideas have you come up with to help her out?”  Buffy asks smiling.

“Are you picking on me?”  Tara asks before chuckling quietly at Buffy’s nod.  “I think she’s only ‘the slayer’, that she isn’t Faith.  We have to do whatever we can to make her feel that she’s a person first, a slayer second.”  Tara finishes brushing Buffy’s hair, before laying the brush down and wrapping her arms around Buffy’s waist. 

“So, person first, slayer second.  Check.  But how are we going to be able to do that when she’s going to need to go out slaying?”   Buffy asks slightly confused.

“She can still go slaying, but maybe for this first week, with her not being in the… groove?  Maybe we could all go together?”  Tara suggests.   “And we can talk about other stuff while we’re out.  She made the comment today that she could possibly find a part-time job so she wouldn’t be a drain on us.  Along with a lot of other comments that on their own don’t mean a lot, but added up paints the picture that she doesn’t believe anyone can care for her.” 

“You’re right.”  Buffy whispers, running her fingers over the arms wrapped around her.  “I think that she had a worse time of it growing up than you did.”  Buffy states in an even lower tone.  

Inhaling deeply, Tara questions.  “Has she ever talked about her life?  That would explain her deep seated feeling of worthlessness.”  

Shaking her head Buffy quietly states.  “She never really talked about herself before.  It took everything for her to just tell us about her watcher being murdered in front of her by Takitos or Kakistos or whatever that stupid vampire’s name was.”

“I want to make her an actual part of our family, Buffy.  Here for meals, someone to talk to, someone to yell at without it becoming a brawl.  She really truly needs to feel wanted and loved.”  Tara whispers quietly setting her chin on Buffy’s shoulder.   “I think that would make a world of difference to her.  If someone wanted to just love her for her.  Not for what they can get from her, or out of her.”  Tara’s voice breaks slightly on the last.

Turning around and taking the Wiccan in her arms Buffy hugs her tight.  “Are you okay?”

Nodding her head Tara sobs slightly.  “If it hadn’t been for my mom, and then W-willow, and in turn the rest of my adopted family, I could have had such a different and harsh life.”

“Shush.  It’s okay, baby.”  Buffy gently rocks Tara, helping her calm down.   “You’re with us now and no matter what, you are family.”  Pulling back to gently wipe the tears from Tara’s face Buffy grins mischievously.  “Now, as long as you don’t want to literally, physically, love Faith, I think I can deal.” 

Busting out with a loud laugh Tara shakes her head.  “Can you see it?  Sex Kitten extraordinaire, Tara Maclay, with two Slayers as lovers?  We could have our own little kinky sex triangle going on here!”  

“TARA!”  Buffy yells blushing deeply.  “Have you always been like this?  And where the hell was I when you made comments like this before?” 

“Actually, I feel freer making comments like that now.”  Tara shrugs grinning at Buffy.  “I think you bring it out in me.  I feel more comfortable with myself since you made me feel worthy of being cared for and loved for me.”   Looking down and frowning for a moment she looks back at Buffy with sad eyes.  “That’s something I didn’t have with Willow.  I felt more like a possession, than a person.   And now with everything happening, that’s the way she’s acting, like her prized possession was stolen and she has to get it back.”  Tara almost spits out the last in anger.

Shocked at the anger in the Wiccan’s voice, Buffy reaches up and runs her fingers down her cheek.  “It’s okay baby.  You’re not a possession and she’s not getting you back.  You offered her something precious and she took advantage of it and you.  That’s not love, and I’ll do everything in my power to make sure she doesn’t get a chance to hurt you again.”  Buffy kisses her lingeringly on the lips, not a deep kiss just a gentle pressure of her lips against the Wiccan’s.  “And if I ever start to treat you like a possession, instead of a person, you have my permission to turn me into a frog.” 

Laughing at the slayer Tara shakes her head.  “You’re impossible.”

“Hey, I wasn’t the one suggesting a three-way!  And can I make this comment?  DO NOT say that in front of Faith.  She would so be in the middle of this bed in a heartbeat.”  Buffy laughs slightly at the possibility.

With a raised eyebrow Tara smirks.  “And would that be so bad?”

Buffy blushes extremely red at Tara’s insinuation.  “TARA!  Enough!   You’re starting to scare me.” 

“Honestly, Buffy.  Think about it, she is extremely gorgeous, with the dark hair, the dark eyes.  Then there’s that sexual tension between you two.”  Tara brings up the facts as she sees them, her gut telling her that maybe she should continue with what she’s just started.  ‘And the fact that she’s in love with you.’  Tara thinks to herself.

Buffy squeaks, turning wide eyes on Tara.  “What?” 

“It’s there Buffy.  I can see it even without looking at your aura.  With my looking at Faith’s aura I saw a lot that she probably isn’t aware I saw.  She could very easily come to love you, if she ever opened herself to that possibility.  Actually, if she ever believed she was worth being loved, she would realize she loves you.” 

“Tara?”  Buffy questions sitting down beside her, shocked and unsettled at what she’s hearing. 

“Tell me honestly, Buffy.”  Tara looks her in the eyes with a serious expression on her face.  “Look deep inside yourself.  Think about the time before Faith ‘turned’ evil.  What did you feel for her?  What do you feel for her now?  You don’t have to say anything now.  But, keep those thoughts in the back of your mind.  I’m not necessarily suggesting a three way.  That would be kind of odd, even though it does work for some people.  It isn’t uncommon for covens to have a larger group of women, all loving each other.”  Reaching up and touching the slayer’s shoulder Tara leans in close.  “And I love you no matter what happens, but if you should find that you could love both of us, would it be so terrible?”

Buffy stares in stunned disbelief at Tara.  ‘Where did this come from?’  Thinking back briefly about Faith when they danced together, slayed together.  ‘Could she be right?  Is there something there?’  Buffy looks at Tara with a more wondering expression on her face.   “How do you do that?  I guess thinking back… but I wouldn’t even consider something like that then.”

Tara shakes her head before kissing Buffy on the lips, a quick hard press before pulling back.  “I haven’t freaked you out?”

Buffy smiles slightly.  “Maybe at first, but the more I think about it…”  Trailing off Buffy looks at her with searching eyes.  Starting to open her mouth to say something more, Tara places her finger over her lips.

“Nothing has to be decided this moment.  We don’t even need to discuss this any further if you don’t want to.  I love you.  I know you love me.  That’s wonderful and perfect in and of itself.  But both of our hearts are big and I believe it is possible to love more than one person.”  Smiling gently, Tara leans in and brushes her lips over Buffy’s cheek. 

“Okay, no more discussing this right now.”  Buffy smiles letting Tara know that everything’s okay.  “Now, I need to get some clothes on so we can have dinner.”  Buffy glances down at her robe smiling.

Standing up to get dressed, not thinking about it, she drops the robe to put on underwear when she hears a deep inhale behind her.  “Sorry!  I wasn’t thinking.”  Buffy quickly reaches back down to grasp the robe, when she feels a hand on her shoulder. 

Looking into Buffy’s hazel eyes, Tara smiles.  “It just surprised me, Buffy.”  Tara huskily states, closing her eyes for a moment before opening them with laughter shining in them.  “Of course, seeing your sexy firm body, better cause a reaction with me, if we’re girlfriends, don’t you think?”

Laughing self-consciously Buffy nods her head.  “Yes, the physical side is a definite plus.”  Buffy blushes darkly at imagining the blonde Wiccan naked.

“However, I’ll go ahead and check on dinner, while you get dressed.”  Tara smiles and kisses her deeply before quickly leaving the room, leaving an aroused slayer behind.

***

Laughing at the bones, that are the only things left from dinner, Tara looks from one slayer to the other.  “Maybe next time I should buy a bigger roast?”

“Hey, it’s not my fault!”  Buffy exclaims and points to Faith.  “Talk to Miss Piggy over there.  She’s the one that went back for FOURTHS!”  

Faith tries to look innocent.  “I don’t know what you’re talkin’ about.  I’m just doing my portion to not waste food.”  Smirking at the blonde slayer. 

“Sweetie, don’t pick on Faith too much.  She needs to build up her strength for patrol tonight.”  Tara grins at Buffy before smiling at Faith.

“Oooh.  Speaking about patrol tonight.”  Buffy pipes up smiling at Faith.  “If it’s okay with you, we kind of thought we would all go out together.  Give you a chance to get back in the swing of things.  If you don’t mind?   Plus, I was kind of looking forward to slaying with you again when I thought about it at work.”  Buffy looks down blushing slightly, remembering the conversation with Tara earlier and that Tara probably knew her better than she did herself.

“You want to slay together again?”  Faith asks in surprise, figuring she would be thrown out there on her own.

Nodding her head Buffy looks up, capturing Faith’s gaze.  “If you want.”

Smiling hugely Faith nods her head.  “I want.”  Turning to look at the blonde witch she sees a look she can’t quite decipher in her eyes when she looked back.   “Well, then.  I’m gonna gather up the plates and put them in the dishwasher, since Blondie over there made dinner.”  

As Faith grabs the dishes up and takes them into the kitchen Tara smiles and raises an eyebrow at Buffy.  “Thinking about slaying together at work, huh?”  She whispers quietly, making Buffy blush slightly. 

“Yeah, yeah.  So maybe you know more than I was letting on, Miss Smarty Pants.”  Buffy growls lowly before smiling at the blonde.  “Of course in the long run, this will depend on her, too, you know.” 

“Yes it does.  And it’s not something she’s ready for yet.  She needs our friendship just as much if not more before we bring that into it.”  Tara states softly before grabbing the glasses to take into the kitchen to add to the dishwasher. 

***

While Faith was taking out some much pent up frustrations, on the hapless vampire, Tara and Buffy looked on.  A neck chain the vampire was wearing being broken and fell to the ground before Faith finally staked him.  

Slowly walking over to the chain and kneeling on the ground, picking it up Tara looks at it with a thoughtful expression. 

“What’s the matter Tara?”  Buffy asks lightly placing her hand on Tara’s shoulder. 

Faith walks over beside the two women, kneeling beside Tara at the necklace she’s running through her fingers repeatedly.  “Blondie?” 

Looking up, as if just coming back to herself Tara smiles self-consciously.  “Sorry was just thinking about something.”  Standing up and brushing her skirt off, she looks back at the necklace again.  “This is a nice gold chain.”

“Yeah, some of the vamps actually have decent taste.”  Faith comments as they continue on patrol. 

“I have a really, really crazy idea.”  Tara states softly looking from Buffy to Faith and back again.

“What would be new about that today?”  Buffy grins as she teases her new girlfriend. 

Looking up and blushing slightly Tara shakes her head.  “Okay, this one isn’t so crazy as some of my other ones today.”

As they continued walking, both slayers wait for Tara to explain her idea and when after two blocks she still hadn’t said anything, Faith finally rolls her eyes.  “You know if you want to mention this crazy idea to the two of us, you have to say it out loud.”

Buffy snorts out a laugh as Tara blushes again.  “Sorry.  Everything turns to dust with the vampire when you stake him or take his head, right?”

“Yeah.  That’s generally what happens.”  Faith says slowly like she’s starting to wonder about Tara’s mental abilities.

“Don’t be a smart ass Faith.”  Tara states smiling and winking before continuing.  “Well, what harm would there be if you took whatever money or jewelry they have on them before dusting them?   I mean, it’s not like they’re going to need it.  Plus it’s going to turn to dust anyway, right?  So why shouldn’t you benefit from it?”

Buffy and Faith both stop dead in their tracks as Tara continues on two more steps before realizing the two slayers stopped walking.  Turning around she looks at them confused.

Faith turns to Buffy.  “It takes Miss Goody Too Shoes to figure out something we should have been doing all along?   I definitely don’t see anything wrong with this, do you B?”

Buffy frowns slightly.  “The only thing is, whatever money and jewelry the majority of vampires have on them is probably from their victims.”

“Well if the victim was still alive to give their property back to, that would be one thing.  However, most vampires don’t leave breathing victims.”  Tara states softly.  “Buffy it isn’t like they are burglars and break into people’s homes stealing their stuff to fence.  They kill people.  Most cases there isn’t anyone to return the stuff to.  I know this seems to fall in a gray area, but is there any harm in this?  Goddess, Buffy.  You’ve died twice doing this job - a job you don’t even get paid for.  Is it so wrong to make your life a little easier?  How many times have either one of you been hurt?  That’s not counting the clothes and first aid supplies you guys go through.  All of that comes out of your pocket.  It’s not like you can register as a charity and take in donations.  Personally you two put your lives on the line day after day after day.  And you don’t see anything for it.” 

Tara looks into the slayer’s hazel eyes, knowing Buffy is the one that would have the most problem with it. 

“You don’t think it’s wrong?”  Buffy questions almost silently looking into lovely blue eyes.  At the shake of Tara’s head, Buffy has to admit that it doesn’t make any sense to turn perfectly good money to dust.  Nodding her head Buffy smiles slightly.  “We’ll see.  I say we don’t take any chances, but if an opportunity presents itself to check their pockets or take their jewelry, why not?”  

Smiling at Buffy, Tara pulls her in close and gives her a nice, long kiss.  “I love you.”  She whispers quietly as she pulls away, making Buffy smile.

“I love you, too.”  Buffy states back.  “Okay, so do we look for another vamp and see what’s the what?”  She asks looking at Faith.

“Sounds like a plan to me.”  Faith almost growls out with a predatory smile on her face.  “Here vampy, vampy, vampy.  Fresh meat here.  Three beautiful young women walkin’ alone just waitin’ to become a meal.”

Tara and Buffy both laugh at Faith’s shenanigans.  “Do you think she’s being a little obvious?”  Buffy asks Tara.

“Maybe just a little.”  Just then a vampire jumps out from behind a bush in front of the three women.  “Or maybe not.”  Tara smirks looking at Buffy.

Rolling her eyes Buffy looks at the vamp, doesn’t look newly risen, maybe he did have something on him.  “Faith, you want him?”

“Oh, yeah.”  Faith grunts out as she does a quick roundhouse kick, knocking the vampire down to the ground. 

“She’s always been very quick and strong with the leg work.”  Buffy conversationally states watching Faith wait for the vampire to get up to go after him again. 

“I see that.”  Tara comments watching Faith jump up and kick the vampire hard in the solar plexus.  Hearing a loud crack, Tara winces.  “That hurt me, and I wasn’t the one being kicked!”   Watching the vampire hit the ground and not move, Faith slowly walks up to it. 

“Hey B?  You wanna come over here to make sure he doesn’t get any funny ideas while I frisk him down?”  Faith asks.

“Sure Faith.”  Buffy strolls over, before placing her boot down on the vampire’s chest making sure he doesn’t go anywhere, while Faith rifles through his pockets quickly. 

“Jackpot!”  Faith smiles slightly.  “It’s not a lot, but it looks like there’s roughly $75 here and a pack of smokes.”  

“No smoking.  Your job is dangerous enough, you don’t need to try and kill yourself with cancer!”  Tara states firmly, grasping the cigarettes out of Faith’s hand throwing them on the ground and crushing them under her shoe.

“Okay, smoking is a no, no.”  Faith states quietly.  Looking over at Buffy who shrugs her shoulders.   “Hey, Blond… Tara, what’s up with the attitude about cigarettes?”  Faith asks gently.

Looking up with a far away look in her eyes Tara’s shoulder slump slightly, before she whispers.  “My Mom died of cancer.  She didn’t even smoke, but Dad did.  She’s the one that died of lung cancer.”  

“Oh, shit.  I’m sorry.”  Faith gently reaches out and places a hand on Tara’s slumped shoulder.  Looking at Buffy silently asking her what to do. 

Buffy, seeing the pleading look in Faith’s eyes, slowly walked up to both women before pulling Tara into a gentle embrace.  “I’m sorry, babe.”  Buffy whispers gently pressing a kiss to Tara’s temple. 

Shaking her head Tara tries to smile.  “No, I’m sorry.  Everything happening lately has got me a little on edge.”  Tara rubs her head lightly.

“No need to say you’re sorry.  Personally, I think you’ve done pretty well considering everything.”  Buffy catches Tara’s eyes and smiles gently.  “Come on, let’s see if we can scare up a couple more vampires, save some lives and possibly see if they have any extra cash that needs to be saved from being dusted.” 

Giving a real smile Tara nods her head.  “Okay.  Let’s get cracking.  Faith and I bought a pie, and personally it’s sounding real good right now.” 

“You heard the boss.  Time to get crackin’.”  Faith smirks looking at Buffy.

“Yeah, she’s the boss of this family.”  Buffy smiles.  “Just don’t piss her off.  She’s hell on wheels if you get her going.”  Buffy winks at Faith.  “Come on, time to finish patrol.”

***

“Well, that was a pretty good night, if I say so myself.”  Faith snorts out a little laugh.  “We killed six vamps, that four horned purple demon, and saved that woman from a mugger.”  Grinning hugely.  “I don’t think he’ll be mugging anybody again.”

Tara giggles and looks at Faith grinning.  “Of course, you picking him up over your head and threatening to rip his arms off if you caught him again wouldn’t have anything to do with it!” 

“Idiot.  Like there isn’t enough shit going on with the demons, we got to deal with human assholes.”  Shaking her head in disgust Faith puts her weapons up. 

Buffy rolls her eyes before lightly kissing Tara’s cheek.  “And let’s not forget the $400 we actually saved from a dusting tonight.  And you…”  Buffy winks at Tara.  “Came up with the idea.  I still feel a little weird, but I guess…”  Buffy trails off shrugging her shoulders.

“Personally, I’m with Blondie.  It’s gonna turn to dust, if we don’t grab it.  And B, you more than anyone deserves something good happenin’ to ya’.”   Faith shrugs slightly.  “I’m gonna get a piece of that pie, anyone else want one?”

“I do.”  Buffy speaks up before turning to Tara, from putting her weapons away.  “You better get a piece before the bottomless pit eats it all.”  Buffy smirks at Faith.

“HH factor B.  Since I can only take care of one of them…”  Faith smirks slightly.

Tara looks from a smirking Faith to a slightly blushing Buffy and raises her eyebrow in question.  “HH?”

Faith laughs as Buffy blushes even more.  “Yeah.  The Hungry and Horny factor.  After slaying, you know.  You mean to tell me B hasn’t told you yet?”

“No… but it might explain the yogurts that disappear at an alarming rate.”  Tara smirks at Buffy. 

“Okay, okay.  Please, let’s have pie.”  Buffy mumbles heading into the kitchen, followed by a laughing slayer and witch.

***

Chapter 12

“What are the plans for tomorrow?”  Tara questions softly as she climbs in bed before turning on her side and watching Buffy hang her robe up and climb into bed beside her smiling slightly.

“Hopefully sleeping in, maybe waking up with a little morning groping.”  Buffy smirks.

“You know…”  Tara trails off blushing.

“Know what?”  Buffy asks huskily easing closer to Tara and reaching out to brush the hair behind the blonde’s ear.

Searching Buffy’s hazel eyes, Tara smiles softly.  “You know you don’t have to wait ‘til morning, right?” 

“Are you saying?”  Buffy whispers looking at Tara. 

Smiling before running her finger down Buffy’s cheek Tara nods her head.  “Only as far or as quickly as you want to go.  Tonight with the mugger made me realize life is so short and could easily come to an end, and not just by a demon, it could be anything.  That young woman could have been shot and for what?  A few bucks?” Looking down, plucking at the comforter, Tara sighs quietly.  “Any night you go out, there’s a very real possibility that you won’t make it back.”  Tara whispers.  

Buffy leans in and gently kisses Tara.  “I realized something tonight, also.  I know you, the person you are.  The most important part.  But I don’t know a lot about your past life, before Sunnydale.  Maybe, sometime, we could discuss it?”  Buffy asks with a questioning look. 

“It’s not a pretty story.”  Tara states sadly. 

Running her hand down Tara’s arm and clasping the fingers Buffy nods her head.  “I kind of didn’t think it would be.  I met your family.”  Buffy whispers before lying back on the bed gently tugging Tara to snuggle against her. 

“You realize this conversation is not conducive to groping, right?”  Tara states quietly. 

“I didn’t mean that we had to discuss it tonight.”  Buffy quickly states.  “Not that we have to do the groping, either… ARRGHH!  Not that I don’t want to discuss it… How come I feel like I’m saying everything wrong?”  Buffy mumbles. 

Giggling softly Tara shakes her head against Buffy’s shoulder.   “You’re not saying it wrong.  I could discuss some of it tonight, if you want.”  Tara lightly runs her finger down the side of the slayer’s neck.  

“Do you feel talkative?”  Buffy hugs her against her side.

“Honestly, Buffy.  I don’t ever really feel talkative about that.”  Tara states quietly, running her finger up over Buffy’s ear and through her hair.  “My mom was the best.  She taught me magic from the time I turned four until she was too sick to teach me anymore.  Of course, you know Dad made me believe that the magic came from my demon side.  He and Donnie…”  Hesitating momentarily Tara frowns remembering that time.  “They used to hit me, saying it was to control the demon.”  Buffy hugs Tara a little tighter here, making her smile sadly.  “After Mom died, I kind of ran away one night.  There was a bar on the outside of town and it wasn’t the kind of place that asked for ID’s anyone and everyone was served there.  Needless to say I got totally trashed.  When I finally came stumbling home in the early morning hours, Dad and Donnie were waiting up for me.  That night they didn’t hit me.  They beat the hell out of me…”  Shaking in remembered pain Tara inhales deeply before continuing.  “I was in the hospital for three weeks from that.” 

Unable to keep silent anymore Buffy whimpers slightly, before asking in a hoarse voice.  “How did you come out being the loving, kind person you are, with those two and what they did?”

“My mom.  She helped guide me as much as she could.  She loved me with everything she had.”  Tara states softly, rubbing her face against Buffy’s shoulder before easing into the side of the slayer’s neck. 

“She raised a very wonderful daughter.   And I’m extremely grateful.”  Buffy kisses Tara’s forehead before smiling slightly.  “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”  Tara whispers kissing the skin of the slayer’s neck, before yawning.  “Sorry.”  Tara sheepishly apologizes.

“No.  It’s late and you’re tired.  Let’s go to sleep and see what we can get up to tomorrow, okay?”  Buffy smiles slightly at Tara’s nod and reaches over to turn off the light.  “Good night, sweetheart.”

“’Night, sweetie.”  Tara whispers as she falls asleep. 

***

As Tara wakes up, she realizes that she has a pair of strong arms wrapped around her stomach, actually a slayer completely wrapped around her from behind and a face buried in her hair.  ‘Okay, when did we shift to this position?’  Tara wonders smiling slightly as she feels fingers lightly flexing into her stomach.  Running her hand along Buffy’s forearm, Tara thinks about the previous night.  The quiet support and love Buffy gave her, the understanding, just being there for her not trying to take control or ignore what happened.

“Mornin’.”  Buffy mumbles against Tara’s neck, hugging her tightly before placing a light kiss on Tara’s shoulder.  “When did we end up in this position?”  Buffy smiles as she places another kiss on the skin in front of her.  “And can I say, I like your tank tops.  Skin is good.”  Buffy starts kissing the skin of Tara’s neck and upper back humming quietly.

Giggling at the tickling sensation of Buffy’s humming Tara shakes her head.  “So, are you suggesting I wear them all the time?” 

Buffy grins.  “Hmmm.  I wouldn’t complain.  Tank top and shorts 24/7, the lovely long legs, all that delectable skin showing?  I just might make all the rest of your clothes disappear.” 

Chuckling quietly, Tara slowly turns around and quirks an eyebrow at Buffy.  “Lovely long legs?  Delectable skin?  I think you may need to have your head examined.” 

“Nope.  I know a lovely woman when I see one.”  Buffy lightly licks the blonde’s neck.  “And I definitely know delectable skin when I taste it.”  Placing a gentle kiss on the lips she had finally worked her way up to, Buffy pulls back and smiles.  Getting serious for a second Buffy searches Tara’s eyes.  “How are you doing this morning?”

“I’m okay.  I hadn’t really planned on telling you the whole sorry story of my life last night.”  Shrugging slightly and looking down.

“Hey, hey.  None of that.”  Buffy whispers, reaching up to tilt Tara’s face back up to look in her eyes.  “No hiding.  You had a rough life and you deserve much better.  I feel honored that you love me.”

“Oh, Buffy.”  Tara whispers, smiling gently.  “I do love you.”  Kissing Buffy lightly, Tara slowly deepens the kiss, gently running her tongue over Buffy’s lips and groans as Buffy opens her mouth accepting her questing tongue to gently battle against each other.  Pulling back panting slightly Tara leans her forehead against Buffy’s smiling happily.

“Well, there’s the good morning kiss.  But what happened to the morning groping?”  Buffy smirks, pulling back to look at Tara.  Seeing an absolutely wicked look come over the Wiccan’s face Buffy’s eyes widen.

Tara smirks as she lets her hand run up the slayer’s stomach to gently cup the slayer’s breast.   “A little morning groping coming up.”  Squeezing lightly before running a thumb over the quickly hardening nipple, hearing Buffy moan in response makes Tara smile.

“I was kinda planning being the one to do the groping, here.”  Buffy moans louder as Tara lightly pinches her nipple through her top. 

“Who’s stopping…”  Tara starts before she’s interrupted by a knock on the door.

“Mornin’ ladies.  I’m gonna make that egg sausage bake thing that was on that mix we bought yesterday for breakfast.  It looks easy enough that I shouldn’t mess it up too bad.  Just letting you know if you want any, it’ll probably only take about 30-45 minutes.”  Faith states through the door before heading down the stairs.

Flopping onto her back growling slightly Buffy shakes her head.  “She has got to have the worst timing ever.”

Tara giggles.  “Yes, she does.  But she’s trying real hard.  I think she really does want to fit in and be helpful.”

“Yeah, she is trying hard.”  Buffy nods her head smiling in agreement. 

“Yes she is.  She can be a wonderful, caring person, if she lets herself.  We just need to be there for her.”  Tara quietly states playing with the bottom of Buffy’s shirt.  “And on that note, I think we should go down and see what kind of damage she’s done to the kitchen.”

Laughing out loud, Buffy gets out of bed before turning to look at Tara with a raised eyebrow.  “So, can I talk you into keeping those on?” 

Blushing slightly at her tank top and shorts Tara shakes her head.  “I don’t think so.”  Tara looks down in embarrassment.

“Tara, you are an absolutely lovely woman, inside and out.”  Buffy smiles genuinely.  “Don’t ever doubt that.”  Leaning in and gently placing a kiss on the Wiccan’s cheek she turns around to go to the bathroom.  “I’m going to the bathroom.  I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

Watching Buffy head to the bathroom Tara shakes her head.  Changing quickly Tara heads to the bathroom as Buffy comes back pouting at the clothes Tara put on.  “No fun at all.”  Making Tara laugh as she shuts the door.

***

“Faith, this is great.”  Buffy garbles around a mouthful of food.

“Very good, Faith.”  Tara smiles thankfully at the brunette.  “Anytime you want to cook, feel free.”

Faith mumbles, looking down almost in embarrassment.  “Wasn’t too hard to follow the recipe.”

“HEY!”  Buffy grumbles loudly.  “I try to follow recipes and I end up with mush.  So, it isn’t that easy.” 

Tara snickers quietly before winking at Faith.  “That’s true.  She tried to fix herself bacon sandwiches for lunch one day - half the bacon was burnt the other half raw.”

Laughing slightly, Faith actually smiles.  “I can try.  Never much got a chance to.  Living in motel rooms a good amount of the time, then the pen…”  Faith frowns slightly.

“Faith.”  Buffy starts softly looking first at Faith then Tara and back again.  “I don’t know if you’ll believe me, or not.  But I am really, really sorry for the way I treated you in the past.  You… you needed a friend, someone to be there for you.  I never was what you needed.  The things I did.  I’m not proud of the way I acted.  I realize now I was a spoiled brat and…”

Faith sits there shaking her head.  “B, don’t.  It ain’t your fault that I did the things I did.  It’s my fault and no one else’s.  You gave me chance after chance and I threw them back in your face.  So don’t go all self-righteous and blame yourself for my fuck ups, okay?”

Tara holds her hands up getting both women’s attention.  “Okay, I know I wasn’t here when all this happened.  I also know that I heard this from a source that wasn’t exactly unbiased in what happened.”

Faith snorts out sarcastic laugh.  “Yeah, you could say that.  I held a fuckin’ knife to her throat.  She never much liked me to begin with, after that she hated my guts.  Not that I blame her.”  Faith trails off rubbing her forehead.  “I’ve done so much shit.  I deserve to be in jail.  Hell, I deserve to be buried in the biggest pit you can find.”

“NO!”  Both Buffy and Tara exclaim loudly. 

Faith jerks her head up in shock, looking from Buffy to Tara and back again.  “Blondie over there don’t know personally what I did.  She just knows me being an inconsiderate bitch to her.  B, you know what I did and what I’m capable of.  I ain’t no Brownie.  I’m a cold blooded killer.”  Faith quickly stands up walking to the kitchen with her plate and glass.

“This is going to be harder than I had hoped.”  Tara states before quickly following Faith with Buffy nodding her head following Tara.

Tara comes up behind the slumped shoulders of Faith, standing at the kitchen sink.  Placing a gentle hand on her shoulder she feels Faith stiffen slightly.  “Faith, I think we all need to sit down and talk.  You may not want to, but it would probably be for the best.”  Turning and looking at Buffy with a pleading look, Tara nods her head towards Faith.

“Faith, come on.  Let’s go sit down in the living room and talk.  She is very, very stubborn.  When she gets something in her head it’s best to just give in and do what she wants.”  Buffy states smiling sadly at Faith, who had turned to look at her when she started talking.  “Come on Faith.  Please?”

“What are you two trying to do to me?”  Faith mumbles under her breath. 

“Trying to be your friends, right now.”  Tara states gently, as they head into the living room. 

“Why?”  Faith asks questioningly. 

“Because you’re a good person, Faith.  You lost your way for a while, but you are a good, caring person.”  Tara states sitting on one side of Faith, while Buffy sits down on the other, each grasping a hand.  

“Yeah, right.”  Faith sarcastically states. 

Taking a deep steadying breath, Tara shakes her head before capturing Faith’s brown eyes with her blue ones.  “I think this would be a good time for all of us to have a serious getting to know you.  Dawn won’t be home ‘til around 5:00.”  Before looking at Buffy with sad eyes before saying.  “I guess I can go first and let you know something a little more about me and my life.”

Buffy looks at Tara questioningly.  Seeing her smile sadly, she reaches over with her other hand, grasping Tara’s free hand over Faith’s lap.  

Tara goes on to explain her home life, going into more detail than she had done the previous night.  Explaining more what had happened to her, explaining all the way through meeting Willow, falling in love with the redhead, the problems, the memory wipes, everything.  

As Tara was explaining about her home life, Faith frowns hard.  Remembering her own home life.  The abuse, being left to fend for herself since she was old enough to remember while her mom spent all the money on booze and later drugs.  How one of her mom’s boyfriends tried to rape her, that was the night she left home and didn’t look back.  She had realized nobody would look after her but herself.  Living on the streets, doing whatever she had to, to survive.  

Turning to Tara, Faith without even thinking wraps her arms around her burying her own face in the blonde witch’s neck and starts crying, haltingly telling of her life, no father, abusive alcoholic and drug addicted mother, about almost being raped, later on selling her body for money to buy food and some place to stay, being found by her Watcher, the Watcher being literally tortured and finally torn apart by Kakistos, coming to Sunnydale, afraid to let anyone too close.  On through the accidental staking of Finch, working for the Mayor, poisoning Angel, how she knowingly goaded Buffy into stabbing her, hating herself for forcing Buffy to do that, afraid it would make Buffy like she herself was.

Buffy and Tara quietly listened to the heartbreaking story, Tara holding her tight the tears falling from her eyes as Buffy rubs Faith’s back.   Buffy, tears falling also, wraps her arms around both women.

Faith continues her story from waking up from the coma, the gift from the Mayor, switching bodies, escaping the Council’s goon squad, heading to L.A. wanting Angel to kill her, instead he forgave her and wanted to help her, the showdown in the hotel, where Buffy had actually tried to help her, even after everything she did to her, escaping and finally turning herself in to the police.  Her time in the pen, how after a couple of the head bitches tried to make her their toy and she beat the hell out of them, everyone left her alone, and she got her GED while in jail.  Finally winding down, it took her a few minutes to realize that Tara and Buffy were both holding her sandwiched in a tight embrace.

Tara realized that Faith had finally calmed down and was just holding her while they had her sandwiched in the embrace.  Looking at Buffy, Tara smiles a sad smile.  “Buffy, would you mind maybe getting something to drink for everyone?”

Buffy nods her head and quickly runs to the kitchen grabbing waters for all three women, coming in and handing one to Faith, who had finally pulled out of Tara’s arms, even though Tara wasn’t letting her get completely away and had one arm wrapped around her shoulders, keeping her close.  

Tara takes the water offered her by Buffy. “Thank you.”

Downing half her water, Faith finally makes eye contact with Tara and then Buffy.  She had expected to see disgust and hatred on their faces.  She had never expected to see what she did.  Sorrow, caring and compassion from the blonde witch.  In Buffy’s eyes she sees caring, pain, and… shaking her head at her wishful thinking she looks back down before finishing off the water.  

Easing her arm from Faith’s shoulders, Tara scoots so she’s sitting sideways, her knee touching Faith’s thigh while running her hand lightly through Faith’s hair, gently pushing it off the side of her face. 

“How are you feeling?”  Tara whispers quietly, continuing stroking the dark brown hair.

“Totally fucked up.”  Faith snorts before looking up and taking a deep breath, looking into blue eyes that seem to see into her soul.  “I ain’t never told nobody that before.  And I feel slightly better.  Everythin’ ain’t right in my world, but you two don’t seem to hate me for what I am, so that’s a plus.”

“No, Faith.  We don’t hate you.”  Buffy whispers.  “I never hated you Faith.  Never.”  Buffy reiterated. 

“Faith, you will always be the hardest on yourself.  You need to learn to forgive yourself for something that you really didn’t have much choice over.  Personally, I’m glad you did what you had to, to survive.”  Tara softly states.  “Because you’re here now, I get the chance to know a kind, caring, beautiful woman.”

Faith starts feeling a little better and smirks.  “B, you better get a grip on your girlfriend.  Sounds almost like she’s hittin’ on me.”

Buffy looks at Tara making eye contact with her, seeing the choice is up to her Buffy takes a breath wondering.  Knowing they made a huge break through with Faith, but is it too soon?  Would it possibly send her spiraling backwards?  Deciding it would be best to wait, Buffy decides to joke it away. 

“Yeah, well, I’m not her boss.  Could you imagine her turning me into a toad?  A toad with super strength.  Not a pretty sight.  Able to jump 20 feet in a single bound.  Nope, not going to get jealous or tell her what to do.”  Buffy smirks at Tara before winking at Faith.

Smiling at Buffy, Tara shakes her head with a smirk herself.  “No, not a toad.  I don’t picture you as green.  Maybe a ferret, a beautiful white ferret, slinky, likes to wrap itself around things.  Yep, I can see you as a ferret.”  Tara grins winking at Buffy letting her know that she’s kidding.

Laughing heartily Faith looks at Buffy.  “You as a ferret.  Damn B.  I’d hate to see what she would turn me into.”

Tilting her head appraisingly at the Dark Slayer, Tara furrows her brows in contemplation.  “You would be harder, Faith.  But thinking about it I believe you would be a Rottweiler.  A loving animal, that would do everything to protect its family.  A very smart, caring animal.   Often misunderstood, that often with the right care and treatment would die to protect the people it loves.”  Tara states all this quietly and sincerely.

Buffy nods her head in agreement.  “I think that nails her to a T.”  Buffy smiles slightly.  “Of course, you’re already stroking her head like a good puppy.”

Faith narrows her eyes turning to Buffy growling low in her throat. 

Laughing loudly Tara comments.  “Be careful Buffy, she’s showing her protective side.  Maybe she considers me family and you’re threatening what’s hers.”  Tara’s shoulders are shaking, trying to hold back the laughter as Faith finally rolls her eyes and laughs with the other two. 

“What am I doing here?   You two are gonna drive me nuts.”  Faith grumbles good-naturedly. 

“Yeah, but at least it will be a good kind of nuts.”  Tara states smiling at Faith. 

“Maybe.”  Faith smirks slightly.  Looking at Buffy, she narrows her eyes slightly.  “You going to tell your story too?” 

Paling slightly and closing her eyes Buffy nods her head.  “Yeah, I should.”  Feeling Tara grab her hand squeezing gently Buffy half smiles.  “I love you.”  

“I love you too, sweetie.”  Tara whispers.  “Take your time.”  

Faith frowns wondering exactly what was going on.  “If you don’t wanna…”

Buffy interrupts.  “No, I need to do this.  Tara’s aware of the more recent stuff, but not the earlier stuff, you’re aware of some of the earlier stuff but not the newer.  This is best to get everything laid out in the open that way there’s nothing to come back and haunt us.”  Buffy states looking down at her hand clasped in Tara’s. 

Quietly Buffy explains being called as a Slayer, the pain, and heartache of hiding what she was from her Mom.  Becoming friends with Willow and Xander, hitting lightly on fighting the Master, other big demons, Kendra and how she felt to blame for Drusilla killing her.  Faith showing up on the scene, how she held back from the Dark Slayer, not ever really offering her the friendship she so deserved, because in a way she was jealous of her, how everyone thought she was so cool, how she should have handled things, but instead screwed things up.  Coming after Faith and stabbing her, how she was planning on feeding her to Angel to make him well, continuing on explaining how when their bodies were switched and the Watcher Council’s guys came after her, she realized how bad things were, what the Council was really capable of.  How she felt glad when Faith escaped, the self-hatred she felt when she realized that Angel could reach Faith, where she had never even tried, on to Glory and jumping to save Dawn, being brought back, the lack of feeling or caring about anything. 

Here Buffy stops and looks away.  Almost scared of what the Dark Slayer will think of her. 

“Buffy.”  That one word, coming from Tara conveys her love and support.  

Smiling at the loving woman, realizing that yes, there was enough love in her heart for more than one person.  She showed it with the caring she showed to all the Scoobies, especially Dawn.  Buffy wonders quietly to herself if her own heart was big enough to love two women at the same time, deciding it might be the smartest thing she had ever done in her life.  That these three women, hurt and damaged over the years, coming to care for each other and love each other may make more sense than anything else in this world. 

Finally continuing the story, Buffy explains everything about Spike, what happened, how things were from her point of view and raised a hand to Tara as she was about to interrupt, explaining how that with Tara’s help she came to realize that she needed something and didn’t know what it was at the time and how Tara offered friendship, a shoulder to cry on and just a soft smile when needed.   How Tara saved her soul by giving her what she needed with tenderness and caring.   Finally trailing off as she finishes the whole story.  Buffy smiles at the love shining from the blonde’s eyes before looking with scared eyes towards Faith. 

Faith sits there in shock, realizing that all three of them had been through their own abusive relationships.  Differing degrees, but something that tied them all together.  Realizing that Buffy is looking at her, she makes eye contact with her and sees the scared look in her eyes.  Confused for a moment, it takes Faith a minute to realize that Buffy is scared of what she thinks.  Faith, the woman that had done so many things, she was afraid of her rejection.  Allowing caring to seep into her eyes Faith reaches out and sets a hand on Buffy’s shoulder and is surprised to find herself in a bone crushing hug from the blonde slayer.  

“Thank you.”  Buffy whispers quietly to Faith.  Happy to see caring for her in Faith’s eyes and not hatred or disgust.  

After a few moments Buffy pulls back and laughs quietly.  “We are a bunch of sad sacks today.”  Looking first at Tara and then at Faith, she smiles “But I’m very, very glad to get this out in the open. I’m happy that we’re all on the same playing field and know what each other has gone through.  Maybe together we can help each other through this.”

Tara smiles, running her hands through both women’s hair.  “That’s the smartest thing I’ve heard.  Nobody.”  Stopping to look at both women in turn.  “And I mean nobody, can be their own island.  The only way we can make it is to do this together.  Be there for each other and let the others be there for us.” 

Faith shakes her head smiling slightly.  “So, are we like being best buds here, or what?”

“To start with, best buds works.”  Tara states with a smirk at Buffy, making her blush.

Frowning slightly Faith looks from Tara to Buffy and back.  “How come I feel like I’m missing something here?”

Rolling her eyes Buffy shakes her head.  “Right now, with everything that we discussed today?   I definitely don’t want to scare you off with what that evil blonde Wiccan has going through her mind.”

“Hey!”  Tara states in an outraged voice.  “I am not evil.  Wicked, I’ll give you.  But not evil!”

Faith shakes her head smiling slightly.  “I have this feeling that either I’m gonna love what’s going through her mind or run in the opposite direction.”

Tara and Buffy both state.  “Hopefully the first.”  At the same time then look at each other, busting up laughing. 

“Okay guys, if you ain’t gonna tell me, we need to change the subject before I get a complex or something.”  Faith mutters before smiling at both of them to let them know she’s kidding.

“Personally, I’m getting hungry.”  Buffy comments just as Faith’s stomach growls loudly, making them laugh. 

“Well, how about we order Chinese with some of the money we liberated last night?”  Faith suggests, to everyone else’s agreement. 

After placing the order Buffy and Faith argue good-naturedly about who is going to go pick it up.  Rolling her eyes at the childish display Tara whistles loudly.  “How about we all go and pick it up?”

“That’s no fun, Blondie.”  Faith smirks.  “B, she’s taking all the fun out of things.  If we can’t argue, what’s the use?”

Tara shakes her head.  “If you two keep arguing the food will be cold!  Personally, I think Chinese food is better hot not cold.”

“I got my bike.  I could ride and pick it up.”  Faith offers.

“Yeah, but you can’t carry the two or three bags of food and drive that thing at the same time.”  Tara points out. 

“Okay, okay.  Let’s get going and pick up the food.”  Faith gives in.  

***

Dawn bops into the house as they are finishing eating the Chinese food, laughing and joking.  Rolling her eyes at the three women, she plops down looking through what’s left. 

Tara smirks at Dawn.  “What are you looking for Dawnie?  I would have thought you ate dinner over at Janice’s”

“I did.  But I was just seeing what you have left.”  Dawn whines slightly not seeing much of anything. 

“It’s on the counter in the kitchen.”  Tara rolls her eyes and Dawn screeches before heading into the kitchen.

“I have never known a child to be so happy over lo mein.”  Buffy mumbles before laughing.  

“I like lo mein.  What can I say.”  Dawn mumbles around a mouth full of noodles.

“Hey, brat!  Finish the food in your mouth before you talk.”  Buffy admonishes lightly.

“Okay.”  Dawn pouts lightly before seeing an egg roll on the table, reaching for it, she gets smacked in the hand lightly by Faith.

“That’s mine twerp.”  Faith growls playfully.

“Faith!  Come on!”  Dawn pouts.

“Well, what you got in trade?”  Faith teases the teenager.

“Oh, man.  Faith.  Please?”  Dawn begs and bats her eyelashes at the slayer, making her laugh.

“Okay, twerp.  But you’re gonna owe me.”  Faith smiles as she slides the egg roll to the teenager.

“Thanks Faith!”  Dawn states before taking a bite out of the egg roll.

Gathering her dirty dishes Buffy whispers loudly to Dawn as she walks by.  “She so owns you now.”

“What?”  Dawn asks questioningly.

Tara shakes her head sadly to Dawn.  “You never make a trade with someone without knowing what your portion of the trade is.   Live and learn.”  Tara sighs dramatically before following Buffy into the kitchen with her dirty dishes.

Smirking as Buffy and Tara now have Little D scared stiff, Faith raises her eyebrow and leans back on the two back legs of the chair.   “Hmm, what do I want?”  Faith eyes Dawn speculatively, making her squirm in her seat.

“Come on, Faith.  It was only a measly egg roll.”  Dawn whines loudly.

“Yeah, but the thing is, it was mine.  And you wanted it.  Makes it a valuable commodity.”  Faith nods her head up and down thinking and trying not to laugh out loud at the scared look coming up on Dawn’s face.

“Let me see here.  Do my chores around the house for a month don’t sound bad.  But then again, we haven’t discussed how we split the chores up yet, so you might be getting off light.”  Faith smirks slightly.   “Wash and wax the bike once a week for the next two months, don’t sound bad.”  

Faith grabs her dirty dishes and heads to the kitchen, lightly tapping Dawn on the head with her plate.  “I’m pickin’ on ya squirt.  You don’t owe me nothin’.”  Faith states grinning before heading on into the kitchen.

“Thanks, Faith.”  Dawn calls happily after the slayer, before continuing to eat her Lo Mein and egg roll.  ‘Faith seems to be happier and more relaxed than before - good.’  Dawn thinks to herself as she eats. 

***

Chapter 13

Buffy stops and grins at the picture of Tara bending over to put her dirty dishes in the dishwasher.  It takes her a few moments to realize that blue eyes are laughing at her, from where Tara’s looking over her shoulder at her.

Blushing at having been caught, Buffy looks down and whispers.  “I was just bringing my dirty dishes in to the kitchen.”  Looking up seeing that Tara is no longer bending over and is standing up looking at her with her arms crossed across her chest, and an eyebrow raised.

“Okay, okay, you caught me.  But do you blame me?”  Buffy smirks slightly.  “Beautiful blonde, bending over, extremely nice… attributes?”  Smiling, realizing Faith was standing behind her, she can’t resist.  “What do you think, Faith?  Do you agree?”

Faith eyes widen in surprise looking from Buffy to Tara and back.  “Well, unfortunately I came in after she stood up.   But beautiful blonde is definitely a given.”  Faith appraises the blonde witch.  Smiling and nodding her head.  “Yep, beautiful is a given.”

Rolling her eyes Tara looks at the two women.  “You two are calling me beautiful.  Look in the mirror sometime.  That’s beautiful.  Not me.”  Shaking her head she starts to get out the ingredients to make brownies.

“B, I want to do something, follow my lead?”  Faith asks quietly so only Buffy can hear. 

Looking at Faith with a furrowed brow, Buffy wonders what she’s up to.  “Okay.”

Running up the stairs, Faith grabs the free-standing mirror in her bedroom and carries it back downstairs, setting it up in the living room. 

Dawn looks at Faith.  “What are you doing?”

Faith smiles slightly “I’m just tryin’ to prove something to Blondie in there.”  Heading into the kitchen, she walks up to Tara, taking the mixing bowl out of her hands and tugging her slightly.  “Come here, I want to show you something.”  Nodding her head to Buffy for her to follow. 

“So, you think B’s beautiful.  You think I’m beautiful.”  Giving a snort at that Faith rolls her eyes.  “And you think that you’re NOT beautiful, right?” 

“Where are you going with this, Faith?”  Tara states in an exasperated tone.  “I know I’m not beautiful.”  Looking down at herself and shaking her head.  

“Personally, I think you’re absolutely gorgeous.”  Buffy states looking at her. 

Dawn coming in to see what the three women were doing grins.  “You are beautiful Tara.”

“Okay, all of us know Tara is beautiful, except for Tara herself.  Now, look at Buffy.  What do you see that makes you think she’s beautiful?”  Faith asks quietly.

“Her kind and caring heart.  Her unselfishness in helping those in need.  Ummm…” Looking at Dawn she raises her eyebrows.  “I would feel better saying this if you weren’t here, Dawn.  Would you mind?  Please?”

Dawn smirks looking at Buffy.  “So, she’s gonna talk about your bod now and doesn’t want me to hear what she thinks about my sister.  I guess I can handle that.  I need to work on a project that’s due next week, anyway.”  

Shaking her head at the precocious teen Tara smiles as she heads to her bedroom.  “Okay, in no uncertain terms, beautiful eyes, firm athletic body.”  Here her eyes inadvertently stray to Buffy’s breasts and Tara grins slightly.  “Definitely firm assets.  That’s some of the physical portion.”

“Okay, I agree with all of the above.”  Faith states smirking slightly winking at Buffy.  “Now, what is the most important thing that you think makes Buffy, Buffy?”

“Her heart.”  Tara states without any hesitation.

Nodding her head Faith smiles hugely.  “Now, I want you to look in this mirror at yourself…”

Buffy interrupts.  “Wait a minute.  I want to hear what she thinks is beautiful about you, Faith.  I had to stand here and listen to her talk about me.  It’s your turn.”

“Ah, man.  We don’t need to hear this.”  Faith mumbles in embarrassment.

“I think we do.”  Tara states nodding her head.  Eyeing Faith up and down, Tara smirks slightly.  Turning to look at Buffy she shakes her head.  “Some things just kind of jump out at you, don’t they?”

Buffy giggles slightly and seeing the slight flush working it’s way up the Dark Slayer’s face, she laughs loudly.  “Oh, yeah.” 

“I’m sorry, Faith.  I couldn’t resist.”  Tara grins unrepentantly at the slayer.  “Okay, seriously.  I see a woman that wants to do good.  Has an extremely good heart, that unfortunately has been abused.  I see a caring woman that given time will learn what love is, and is capable of loving with her whole heart.”  Reaching up to gently run one finger down the slayer’s cheek, Tara smirks.  “Then we have the deep soulful brown eyes and the sexy body.”  Smiling over at Buffy, hoping she said what the Dark Slayer needed to hear, she whispers.  “Your heart is also the most important part of you that makes you beautiful.  It’s what’s inside a person that’s important, not the outside trappings.  That’s just a bonus.”

Buffy crosses to Tara and looks her in the eye.  “You can say that what’s inside the person is important, and not see the beauty that shines from your eyes?  Your sweet, caring nature.  Your heart that is so big that you can love without reservation, even with what has happened to you, you still open yourself up to love.”

Faith nods her head in agreement.  “Your eyes are the windows to your soul, Tara.  And you have an absolutely beautiful soul.”  Turning her to make her face the mirror with Buffy and herself bracketing the blonde witch, Faith whispers.  “See what we see when we look at you Tara.  See those beautiful blue eyes, the lovely honey blonde hair.”

Buffy takes over.  “The classic features, the soft womanly curves that I just want to bury myself in and stay there forever.”

Faith nods and swallows slightly.  “Tara, you are gorgeous inside and out.” 

Looking at herself in the mirror as the two slayers discuss her.  At first, she feels uncomfortable, but slowly she starts seeing through their eyes, seeing what they see when they look at her.   Realizing that in their eyes she is beautiful. 

Starting with a small smile that grows larger looking at both women’s eyes she shrugs her shoulders.  “I guess we just need to admit that we’re all beautiful and not argue about it.”  Tara smiles turning to hug Buffy tightly first, then turning and hugging Faith tightly too.  “Thank you both.”

“Now, can I go back to the kitchen and make a double batch of brownies?”  Tara smiles looking at both women with a raised eyebrow.

“Only a double batch?”  Faith queries winking.  “Two slayers in the house, a teenager and a witch.  All these women and you’re only making a double batch?”

Tara rolls her eyes as both slayers start laughing.  “Okay, I’ll make two double batches - one regular and one with walnuts, that sound okay?” 

“Sounds good to me.”  Buffy smiles before coming up to the slightly taller blonde, pulling her into her body lightly before kissing her softly on the lips.  “I love you.” 

“I love you, too.  Now, let me get to baking.”  Tara smiles before heading into the kitchen. 

Buffy follows her with her eyes smiling softly.

“You’re one lucky lady, B.”  Faith softly notes.

Turning to Faith, Buffy shakes her head.  “We’re lucky Faith.  Her heart really is big enough for both of us.”  Buffy states quietly before grabbing the mirror and taking it back upstairs, leaving a confused Faith standing in the living room.

Shaking her head at the blonde slayer, Faith looks up the stairs before looking towards the kitchen and shrugging her shoulders, heads into the kitchen.

“Need any help?”  Faith asks quietly watching the blonde mix up the batter.

Looking up, Tara smiles.  “If you want to chop up the walnuts, I’d appreciate it.” 

Grabbing a cutting board and knife, Faith opens the bag of walnuts.  “How much do you want me to chop?” 

Smirking slightly Tara states.  “Depends on how much you like walnuts in your brownies.”

“I like nuts.”  Faith smirks slightly.  “I also like ‘em without nuts.”

Shaking her head at Faith she smiles.  “Personally, I’m not much of a nut person myself.  I prefer mine without.”

Walking into the kitchen Buffy smirks before stating.  “And can I say how much I appreciate that fact?   Hopefully, here soon, I’ll have more of a reason to appreciate it!”  Buffy growls lowly before pulling Tara to her and giving her a firm kiss on the lips. 

Faith looks in surprise at both women.  “You mean you two ain’t gotten down and dirty with each other yet?” 

“Well, that’s a nice way to put it, Faith.”  Tara shakes her head at the slayer.  “No, we haven’t made love yet.”

“No, we haven’t.”  Buffy grumbles.  “It was looking promising this morning until somebody banged on our bedroom door.”

“Buffy!  And who was all for having breakfast?”  Tara raises an eyebrow looking at Buffy and then makes a show of poking her in the stomach.  “Someone likes to eat.”

“Yeah, but I did try to talk you into staying in the clothes you were wearing.”  Buffy pouts.  “You had to go and put these on instead.”

“I wasn’t going to run around the house in my sleep wear!”  Tara states blushing slightly. 

“Okay, hold up here.  What exactly is her sleep wear and… Sorry for this morning.”  Faith whispers the last, feeling bad.

“Faith, don’t worry about this morning.  As for her sleep wear…” Buffy winks.  “It really isn’t the sleep wear - it’s the person wearing it.  Tank top and shorts.”  Looking at the blushing blonde Buffy eyes her up and down.  “Tight tank top, showing a lot of skin and shorts showcasing those sexy legs.  Strip of belly showing. Mmmm, mmmm.”  Buffy states smiling. 

Faith’s eyes unfocus slightly imagining the blonde…  Shaking her head Faith holds up her hands.  “Okay, on that note, I’m leavin’.  You two are trying to kill me here.”  Faith states huskily in her smoky voice before heading out of the kitchen.

Wrapping her arms around Buffy’s waist, from behind her Tara watches Faith leave the kitchen.  “We need to either stop teasing her, or let her know what we’re thinking about, our possible relationship, Buffy.”  Tara states quietly.

“I know.  But it’s fun.  I haven’t ever seen Faith so off-centered, not knowing what to say or do.  It’s kind of an interesting thing to see.”  Buffy smiles slightly, before frowning.  Turning around in Tara’s arms she asks in a scared tone.  “What about Dawn?  She was okay about me and you.  But…”  Trailing off she shakes her head.  “I don’t know what this could possibly make her think, let alone Xander and Anya.”

Tara frowns wondering about Dawn before thinking about Xander and Anya, that thought makes her grin wickedly.  “This will give Xander enough fuel for fantasies for the rest of his life.  Anya, I don’t think anything can shock her.”  Frowning again she searches Buffy’s eyes.  “The main one I see us having a problem with is Dawn.”

Dawn pops into the kitchen at that moment, just catching the tail end of the conversation.  “What will you have a problem with me about?”  Dawn questions with a worried tone in her voice. 

“Goddess.”  Tara quietly states lightly running her fingers over her temple.  “Buffy, let me talk to her.  Why don’t you go and keep Faith company.  I don’t want her to show up during this conversation.”

Buffy looks at Tara with shocked eyes.  “Tara?  Are you sure, I mean, we haven’t really decided…”

Raising her eyebrow Tara states.  “We haven’t?”  

“Well…”  Buffy looks into Tara’s eyes.  “I guess it has more or less been decided.  But talking to Dawn?  I mean, we don’t have any idea if this is even going to happen.”

Dawn just looks from her sister to Tara and back trying to follow the conversation.  “You two are really confusing me.” 

“I’m sorry, Dawnie.  We don’t mean to.  But, Buffy, Dawn’s 15 almost 16.  She’s becoming a young woman.  I honestly believe it’s best to let her know what could possibly happen.  She’s matured a lot over the last few months.  I say we be honest and up front with her.  I… hope that she doesn’t end up hating us or thinking we’re…”  Tara raises her eyes to the ceiling trying to think of a word for what she’s trying to say.

“Sick puppies?”  Buffy asks with a small smile. 

“Well, that wasn’t the wording I was going to use, but for lack of something better, yes.”  Tara smiles back softly at Buffy.  “Let me talk to her.  It might be easier for me to discuss this with her than it would be for you.”  Nodding her head in agreement Buffy kisses Tara lightly on the cheek before heading into the living room.

“Dawnie, please sit down.  Do you want anything to drink?”  Tara asks at Dawn’s shake of her head, she quickly pours the brownie mixture into the two pans and scoops up the walnuts, pouring them into one of the pans, lightly swirling them around until they work their way into the batter.  Putting both pans in the oven and setting the timer, Tara sits down across the island from Dawn.

“Tara, come on.  What’s going on here?”  Dawn asks in a worried tone.

“Dawn, it isn’t anything bad.  At least I don’t think it is.”  Tara looks Dawn in the eye trying to figure out how to bring this up to the teenager.   “Dawn, you know that Buffy and I love you, right?”  At Dawn’s quick nod Tara smiles slightly.  “You know that we love each other also, right?”  Dawn grins at that and then nods her head.  “Okay, well I believe that a person’s heart is big enough to love everyone.  Different love for different people.”

Dawn smiles.  “I understand that.  I love you, Buffy, Xander, Anya, even Faith.  I love you all differently, but I do love you.” 

“That’s good Dawnie.  Well, I also know that you can be in love with more than one person.  That there is possibly dozens or hundreds of people you can be in love with, and care for in a more intimate way.”  Tara states watching as Dawn thinks about what Tara is saying.

“I guess that makes sense.  I mean, if there was only one person in the world for you, what is the likelihood you will ever find that person?”  Dawn nods her head accepting what the blonde was saying.  “But why are you talking about this.  I mean, I know you loved Willow, and now you love Buffy.  You don’t have to explain this to me.”

Tara takes a deep breath, reaching over for Dawn’s hand, she clasps it gently.  “This conversation doesn’t really have anything to do with Willow.  Dawn, I’m going to ask a really big favor of you.  I want to explain a few things to you and I need you to try and keep an open mind about it, and to please let me finish before interrupting.  Can you do that for me?”  Tara asks her softly.

Dawn sees the serious look in Tara’s eyes and the quiet pleading.  Nodding her head she smiles slightly.  “I’ll try and keep an open mind.  I promise I’ll also try not to interrupt.”

“Thanks Dawn.”  Tara slowly explains without going into detail about her life previously, then hitting lightly on some of Faith’s life, without any details just that she had a hard time growing up, a mother that was abusive, nothing else, just letting her know that life had been extremely hard on the Dark Slayer.  Finally working over to her sister, not saying anything about Spike but hitting on Buffy’s reaction when Faith came on the scene originally, her feelings, the antagonism between the two, continuing through, setting up the background of the two women. 

Taking a slight breather looking at Dawn, Tara watches the emotions crossing the teen’s face, the confusion trying to figure out where Tara is going with this conversation.  Finally just looking back at Tara, waiting for her to continue.  

“Your sister has always cared for Faith.  She wouldn’t allow herself to acknowledge those feelings.”  Seeing Dawn about ready to interrupt, Tara raises her hand.  “Let me finish Dawn, please.  Your sister loves me, I love her.  That hasn’t changed and won’t change.  But Buffy has finally realized that she loves Faith and has more or less loved her since high school.  And, though I don’t know her that well, I’m coming to care for Faith deeply.  Both Buffy and I have touched on this subject, it’s something that would be unconventional, but these feelings are there.  Faith doesn’t know any of this, so I ask you, please don’t say anything to her. She may not even be interested in a relationship with us.”

Dawn snorts at that thought.  “I’ve got to interrupt, sorry.  But, Faith would jump at the chance to have either one of you, let alone both.  I-I always thought that there might have been something between Buffy and Faith, but I never knew for sure.  Heck, I wasn’t even really here when that happened.”  Dawn frowns at that.  “Tara I don’t know what to say, here.”  Dawn looks up with confusion filling her eyes.  “Are you saying that you each want to date Faith separately?  Won’t that put a strain on your relationship with each other?”

Tara closes her eyes, opening them she looks at Dawn smiling slightly.  “First off, if this were to happen, it will take some work from all three of us.  However, I love your sister, and am coming to love Faith.  I know your sister loves Faith and myself.   As for Faith, I got the sense from her that she cares deeply for Buffy, but I don’t even know if she knows what love is.  I know she likes me.”  Shrugging slightly Tara smiles lopsidedly.  “And we would probably see each other separately, but we would also all three of us be together, Dawnie.”

Still frowning in confusion Dawn looks at Tara shaking her head.  “But… all three of…”  Opening eyes wide Dawn blushes a dark red.  “You mean… all three of you together, together.”

Blushing slightly herself Tara nods her head anxiously watching the teenager to see how she reacted to this news.

“You… three… wow… I…”  Shaking her head in disbelief Dawn just stares back at the blonde.  “Is it okay if I kind of let this sink in some?  Let me sort it all out?”  Dawn questions.

“Please, take all the time you need, Dawn.”  Tara states quietly watching her intently.  “Do you hate us?”  Tara whispers, afraid what she had said may have been too much for the teenager.

Seeing the worry in the blonde’s eyes, Dawn quickly walks around the island to lightly hug the Wiccan.  “No, I could never hate you.  It’s just a lot to take in.  I kind of want to think things through and sort it all out in my head.”  Pulling back out of the hug she makes eye contact with Tara smiling slightly.  “Can I talk to you, if I have any questions?”

Smiling back Tara’s smile turns into a grin.  “As long as you aren’t going to ask any intimate details, I don’t see why not.”

Dawn rolls her eyes.  “That I am NOT going to do.”  Just then the timer on the stove goes off.  “And it looks like we’re going to be having brownies, chocolate is our friend.”

Laughing at the teenager Tara pulls the brownies out, checking to make sure they’re done before agreeing.  “Yes, chocolate is our friend.  Thank you Dawnie.”  Tara quietly adds. 

“I love you guys.  You’re my family.  We support our family, right?”  Dawn smiles slightly before saying with a grin.  “Even if they are sick puppies.”

Rolling her eyes at the teenager, Tara shakes her head.  “Yeah, yeah.  I have this feeling your sister’s comment is going to haunt us for a long time to come.” 

“How long before the brownies cool enough to eat?”  Dawn asks looking at the brownies almost salivating. 

“Probably need to give them about 15 minutes to cool decently.  What kind do you want?  With nuts or without?”  Tara asks.

“One of each?”  Dawn asks hopefully. 

Laughing Tara nods her head.  “Okay, one of each it is.  Would you mind checking with the other two ladies to see what kind they would like?”

Walking out to the living room Dawn giggles.  The two slayers had moved all the furniture out of the way and were doing Tai Chi.  “You know maybe you should clean out the garage and make it a work out room for you two.  Wouldn’t that be easier?”

Buffy sticks her tongue out at her sister as she and Faith finish.  “Everything okay?”  Buffy asks quietly, breathing a sigh of relief as Dawn nods her head smirking lightly.  

“She makes sense, B.”  Faith smirks at the teen.  “What all you got in the garage, anyway?”

“Pretty much a lot of junk, wood to cover the front window that has a tendency to get smashed in at least three times a year and tools that Xander keeps here.”  Shrugging her shoulders she smiles. 

“Well, we can move the tools and wood down to the basement, right?”  Faith asks thinking about the basement that only has Buffy’s kick bag hanging in it along with the washer and dryer leaving a lot of extra space left over.

“Yeah, that would work.”  Buffy states thinking about it.   “We could bring some of the equipment from the Magic Box here to use.  Put some mats down for us to spar.”  Buffy smiles.  “Dawn, you’re a genius.” 

“Of course I am.  We know I’m the smart one in this family.”  Dawn laughs when Buffy growls at her.  

Tara comes into the living room.  “Dawn, did you bother asking these ladies which kind of brownies they want?  You’ve been out here long enough that I can cut them, now.” 

“Really!”  Dawn yelps before heading back to the kitchen followed by two slayers and a witch that quickly dodges the herd. 

“I hope they’re good enough to make my almost being stampeded into the ground worth it.”  Tara states following the other three into the kitchen.  Seeing Dawn already munching down on a brownie with a big glass of milk in front of her, Tara laughs. 

Looking at the two slayers who are jostling each other good-naturedly to get at the brownies Tara rolls her eyes mumbling loudly.  “I’m starting to think you two are the teenagers here.” 

Faith raises an eyebrow.  “Actually, I still am a teenager.”  Before turning to grab her plate piled high with brownies and a glass of milk to sit at the island in the kitchen, already shoving a brownie in her mouth.

“I thought you were the same age as Buffy.  I just assumed…”  Tara looks from Faith to Buffy.

Shrugging Buffy looks at Faith. “How old are you Faith?”

“I’ll turn 19 in a couple months.”  She mumbles around a mouth full of brownie.  “These brownies are great Blondie.”  Faith smiles up at Tara showing her dimples to the fullest, something she hadn’t done before.

Sitting down hard in the chair across from Faith, Tara looks at Faith.  “Thanks Faith.”  Tara states quietly.  “Faith, can I ask you a question?”  Faith nods as she chews another brownie.  “You said you got your GED in prison.  Would you be interested in taking college courses?  Is there anything you are interested in further exploring?”

Faith stops chewing, looking with surprise at the blonde.  She quickly finishes the brownie in her mouth and gulps down some milk.  “Yeah, I kind of liked history and poetry.”  She kind of mumbled the last word, but Buffy caught it. 

“You’re taking some advanced poetry classes this year for your degree, aren’t you Tara?”  Buffy asks looking at the blonde.

“Yes, I am.”   Looking over at Faith she expands on the statement.  “I’m going to become a teacher.  In particular, an English teacher.  Of course, I’ve taken a lot of different courses that help towards my credit certification, that includes poetry, history, of course English courses along with a lot of others.  I should have been able to graduate this year, however because of the Glory situation, I’m still a semester behind even after loading myself up as much as possible and will need to take more classes next year to make up.”  

Faith’s eyes light up with interest.  “I can see you being a teacher.”  Smirking slightly before glancing sideways at Buffy she follows up with “If I had a teacher that looked like you when I was a kid, I mighta been more interested in goin’ to school.”

Narrowing her eyes slightly, Buffy looks at Faith.  “You hitting on my girlfriend Faith?”

“What if she is?”  Tara interrupts trying to keep a straight face.  “What you going to do about it?”  

Still staring down Faith, Buffy finally smirks.  “Tell her she’s got good taste.”

Breathing a sigh of relief, afraid she might have gone too far, Faith finally smiles.  “Don’t scare me like that, B.  I thought you were gonna nail me to the wall.” 

“She still might.”  Tara whispers quietly with a knowing smile. 

Not sure she head Tara right, Faith gives Tara a questioning look “What was that Blondie?”

Buffy, who was closer to Tara had heard her and blushed lightly, making Tara giggle.

“Nothing, Faith.  Just kind of thinking out loud.  Since you’re going to be my bodyguard, you’ll be in the classrooms with me, get an idea what it’s like.  See if you’re interested.”  Tara smiles encouragingly at the Dark Slayer.  “Most of my professors are interesting, only one of them is a bit of an ass.”

“Can’t be no worse than Professor Walsh.”  Buffy grouches.

“No, but I have already talked with all my professors about the fact that I was going to have someone with me in the classes.  They didn’t have a problem with it.  Professor Gulden was a bit of a smart ass and never really okay’d my having someone with me.”  Tara grumbles quietly.

Faith growls deep and low.  “He better not give you a problem, or I’ll set him straight.” 

“Rottweiler.”  Buffy nods her head smirking at the other slayer.

“Buffy, be nice.  Next thing you know she’ll think we’re going to get her a spiked collar to wear around.”  Tara grins at Buffy.

Faith chuckles.  “I might like that.”

“Okay, you guys are getting just a little too weird for me.  I’m going to work some more on my project.  If I’m in bed when you get back from patrol, have a good night.”  Dawn grins before heading upstairs.

“’Night, Dawnie.”  Tara smiles gently at the teen.

“’Night, Squirt.”  Faith winks.

Getting up from her seat and quickly placing her plate and glass in the sink Buffy goes to follow Dawn.  “I’m going to talk to Dawn for a few minutes, okay?”  Buffy looks to Tara briefly and smiles at her nod. 

***

Chapter 14

Smiling at the papers strewn across her sister’s bed and floor Buffy knocks on the door before stepping in.

Looking up at the knock Dawn smiles.  “What’s up?”

Taking a deep breath Buffy sits down beside Dawn.  “I’m just checking in with you, see how you’re doing.”

“I’m fine.”  Dawn grins to herself, not giving Buffy anything extra to work with, knowing what she’s wanting.

“Dawn!”  Buffy states exasperatedly.  “How do you feel about what might be happening here?”  Buffy finally states bluntly.

Surprised that Buffy actually came out and asked, Dawn smiles.  “Honestly, Buffy, it’s weird.  Tara explained things and I can see how this could and probably will happen.  It’s just a little strange, you know?”   Watching Buffy look down at her hands, that’s clenching tightly in her lap, Dawn reaches over and lays her hand overtop Buffy’s.  “Not bad strange Buffy.  Just different strange.  I asked Tara for time to kind of think things over and try and figure it out in my head.  So far that’s what I’ve come up with.  I… I don’t think I have a problem with it.  Honestly, I think you all deserve whatever happiness you can get.”  Smirking suddenly as Buffy makes eye contact with her she continues.  “And if that’s getting into a freaky relationship?   What the hell.  More power to you!” 

“DAWN!”  Buffy loudly exclaims before her sister’s snickering turns to laughter and giving in, Buffy starts laughing too.  “You know, this has been the weirdest few days in my life.  First I figure out I’m in love with Tara and she returns the feelings.  Then Tara brings up the fact that she knows I care about Faith, making me face up to my feelings about her, now a possible threesome?  This is absolutely the be all, end all.”  Buffy shakes her head in disbelief.

“Tara was the one that brought this up?”  Dawn asks incredulously, before thinking it through.  After thinking about it, Dawn giggles.  “My sweet, shy, Wiccan, mother wanna-be is a little, no make that a lot more adventurous than I ever thought she would be.”

“Personally, I’ve come to find out recently, that Tara isn’t as shy as we thought she was.  Or maybe it’s more of a case that she’s becoming more comfortable being herself.”  Buffy states quietly before smiling.  “It makes me feel good that we’re helping her become the person she should have been all along, you know?”

Dawn nods her head and wraps her arms around Buffy.  “Make sure that she’s happy.  Actually that you’re all happy, that’s what’s important.  If you’re happy, I’m happy.” 

Hugging her sister back tightly Buffy smiles through tear filled eyes.  “I love you.  Tara was right, you are maturing and becoming a young lady.”

“I love you too, Buffy.”  Dawn whispers back.  “Now, why don’t you go back downstairs and see what your girlfriend and possible future girlfriend are up to.”

Laughing at her sister, Buffy ruffles her hair before heading downstairs.

***

Buffy comes to a stop as she hits the bottom of the stairs, sitting down she just watches as Faith, standing behind Tara helps the witch through the Tai Chi movements.  Her body lightly pressed against Tara’s back, her arms under Tara’s working the witch gently through each move.  Faith being gentle wasn’t something Buffy had ever imagined the woman being.  But seeing her with Tara, she realizes that Faith was never given that opportunity. 

“Ready to try on your own?  I’ll be in front of and to the side of you so you can follow my movements, ‘kay?”  Faith asks quietly as she eases away from the witch to move in front, taking a breath to relax Faith starts the Tai-Chi movements, sensing as Tara matches her movements. 

Smiling, Buffy watches as Tara matches Faith’s moves perfectly, realizing that though the witch didn’t have the strength of a slayer, it doesn’t mean that she can’t be part of the training.  Nodding her head at Faith showing Tara the form, Buffy smiles realizing that between the three of them, they are what each other needs.  They both need Tara in their lives.  The calming, stabilizing influence of the witch is something neither slayer should be without. 

“Hey, B.  Are you gonna join us or just sit there and watch us?”  Faith asks as she continues in the slow deliberate movements.

Watching as the sweat was starting to gather on the witch, Buffy grins.  “Personally, I’m enjoying the view right now.  You know, Tara, we really need to buy you some jeans to wear, possibly some sweat pants for when you continue training with us.” 

Tara stumbles over the movements stopping at Buffy’s words.  “I wasn’t planning on training with you, I mean, witch here.  Not slayer.” 

Faith chuckles quietly.  “The Tai Chi you were doing with me is one of the things we do for training.  Not everything is about strength and speed you know.  You should train with us.  It would be good for you to learn basic defense skills first then we can work on offensive moves.”  Making eye contact with Buffy she smiles self-consciously.  “It probably wouldn’t hurt for Squirt to learn, too.”

“Great idea, Faith.”  Buffy nods her agreement.  “My schedule at work is the only thing that really changes.  Dawn with her schooling is the same every day, and Tara’s schedule is the same from week to week for the rest of the semester.”

“We can get together some kind of schedule.  Personally, I enjoyed the Tai Chi.  I don’t get as much physical exercise as I should, that would help me get rid of these.”  Tara states, while running her hands down her hips, frowning slightly. 

“Don’t you dare!”  Buffy jumps up growling slightly.  “Don’t you change anything!  I like you just the way you are!”

“Come on, Faith help me out here, my hips could use some slimming down.”  Tara pleads.

“Nope.  Not going there Blondie.  Personally I’m on board with B in this department.  You’re perfect the way you are, I wouldn’t want you to change either.”  Faith states shaking her head.  “I’ll help out with teaching you the moves, but it won’t be because you need to lose weight.  I just want you to have skills where you can protect yourself somewhat.”

Literally collapsing into a lotus position on the floor Tara looks from Buffy to Faith.  “You’re both going to be a pain in my ass.  Leave me alone.”  Tara pouts.

“Sorry, not going to happen.”  Buffy states trying not to laugh at the witch’s pouting lip.  “Your lips are absolutely the most tantalizing lips in the world, your pouting makes it worse.  So please stop before I attack.”  Buffy grumbles lowly as she heads towards the witch.  

Faith looks in surprise at Buffy then turns to see Tara’s pout and silently agrees with the other slayer’s assessment. 

Tara just continues to pout, daring the slayer to make good on her words.  As Buffy drops down in front of her and sucks her bottom lip in her mouth, Tara giggles.  

Sucking firmly on the lip she captured Buffy grins when Tara’s giggles turn to a low moan.  Finally releasing the lip Buffy grins at the witch.  “I love you.  You, not your body.”  

Mock scowling at the slayer Tara growls in a low voice.  “You better be loving my body.  You will have a very unhappy girlfriend on your hands if you don’t.”  Seeing the look crossing Buffy’s face, Tara chuckles and finally laughs loudly.  Winking at Buffy she looks over to Faith, who’s trying to ignore the two women.  “Of course, if you aren’t willing to love my body, I’ll look around and see if there’s anyone else that would be up for the job.” 

Looking in shock at the Wiccan, Faith raises her hands backing up slightly.  “I ain’t getting in the middle of this fight.  This is between you two.”  

Buffy frowns, stands and puts her hands on her hips, eyeing Faith up and down while Tara stands looking at Faith with a grin on her face.  “What do you mean you ain’t getting in the middle?  We ain’t pretty enough for you?”  Buffy growls.

“Yo, wait a minute.  I didn’t mean anythin’.”  Faith starts back pedaling away from an advancing, she thinks, angry slayer.  “B!  Come on!  I didn’t mean nothin’.”  Faith, keeping an eye on the advancing Buffy says.  “Blondie, a little help here!”  Hearing the blonde bust up laughing makes Faith look to Tara in confusion.  “Your girlfriend is about to fry my ass and I don’t even know why!!”

“Faith, you aren’t dense.  Figure it out.”  Tara states shaking her head.  “I’m going to go change for patrol.  You two get the living room straightened out.”

Looking at Buffy who’s standing there looking at her with her hands on her hips, just watching, Faith yells.  “What the fuck am I missing here?   Obviously I’m missing somethin’ but what?”

“Come on.  Let’s get the furniture back where it belongs before Tara lays into us when she gets back.”  Buffy sighs quietly, picking up the coffee table to set back in front of the couch.

Both women quickly get the living room set to rights and grab weapons, the whole time Faith keeps looking at Buffy, trying to figure out what was going on.  Replaying what happened in her mind over again, Faith shakes her head.  Blondie looking at her when saying that she would find someone else to love her body, B getting upset (? Did she) and coming at her questioning that they weren’t pretty enough for her.  Faith shakes her head thinking about past comments made. 

Sitting down heavily on the end of the couch Faith looks with stunned eyes at Buffy who’s strapping her sword against her back and tucking a stake into the back of her pants.  Hearing Tara come down the stairs Faith’s eyes open wide.  Tara’s wearing tight blue jeans with Doc Martins and a tank top that didn’t quite reach the waist band of the jeans.  Feeling her body tighten at the sight of the curvaceous blond, Faith closes her eyes tight. 

Seeing Faith looking at Buffy with the stunned look on her face, Tara thinks that maybe, finally Faith might realize what’s going on.  As Faith’s eyes turn on her and she can actually see the desire crossing the Dark Slayer’s face as she looks over her body, Tara feels her body flush with the obvious appraisal. 

Buffy turns around as she hears Tara on the stairs.  “Oh, my God.”  Buffy whispers looking over Tara’s body.  Glancing to see what Faith’s reaction is Buffy nods her head.  ‘Definitely interested.’  She thinks to herself, seeing the emotions on Faith’s face.  Looking back at Tara Buffy swallows hard.  “Tara, not to be a girlfriend that orders you around or anything, but I’m going to burn your skirts.  You will be wearing jeans from now on.” 

Faith opens her eyes at Buffy talking to Tara.  Nodding her head in agreement Faith huskily whispers.  “B, might want to get her a pair of leather pants, she would really be hot in black leather pants.” 

“Faith, we’re gonna have a hard enough time keeping men away from her, you want to put her in leather?  We’ll have to blind every man and woman in Sunnydale.  They’ll all be after her.”  Looking Tara up and down Buffy’s eyes darken slightly.  “Yeah, black leather would look good.  But I think white leather would be the color for her to wear.  Black’s more your trademark, Faith.  I like wearing brown or red.   Get her some tight crop tops to wear with tight white leather pants.”  Panting slightly at the thought Buffy walks slowly up to the witch who’s eyes are wide in shock at the conversation going on around her.  “My God.  Look at this.”  Buffy whispers looking at the strip of stomach showing.  The softness, the slight roundness poking out.  Looking at the belly button, Buffy groans.  Running her fingers lightly over the exposed skin, unable to keep from touching Buffy turns to look at Faith.  “What do you think?”  Buffy asks, lightly running her fingers around Tara’s belly button.

“Before I say anything else…”  Faith starts in an extremely low, hoarse voice.  “I gotta know, are you two offerin’ what I think you’re offerin’?”  

Tara places her hand on Buffy’s arm whispering.  “Let me.”  At Buffy’s nod, Tara gently kisses her lips before turning to face Faith.  “I guess it depends on what you think we’re offering Faith.”  Sitting down in front of the slayer, Tara looks her in the eyes.  “I’ll tell you what we’re not offering.  We’re not offering a one night stand.  We’re not offering the get some get gone mentality.  What we are offering is friendship, caring, family and most importantly, love.  The decision is yours.  We won’t force you, we won’t be mad at you if this isn’t what you want, just know that no matter what you still have all that we are offering.”  Here Tara smiles gently at the slayer.  “It just won’t be in a more physical sense.  It will be just in a family way.”  Leaning in to where there’s just a breath separating her lips from Faith’s, Tara whispers.  “Just know that Buffy loves you and actually has loved you since you first came to Sunnydale.  And I am coming to love you as much as she does.”  Searching the slayer’s eyes seeing the battle going on inside Tara gently places her lips against Faith’s, before pulling away and standing up to walk back over to Buffy. 

“If you have anything you want to add, Buffy, you might want to say it now.”  Tara quietly states looking at Faith sitting on the couch.  

Slowly walking to stand in front of Faith, before kneeling Buffy looks her in the eye, seeing the same struggle Tara had seen.  Seeing the love fighting against the thought that no one could love her.  “Everything she told you is true, Faith.  Just one more thing, you do deserve to be loved.  We all do.”  Buffy leans in and places a firm, hard kiss to Faith’s mouth before pulling away.  “We all do.”  She states again as a tear slips down Faith’s face.

Slowly standing Buffy looks back and sees Tara approaching quietly.  Offering her hand to Faith, Tara gently states.  “Let’s go on patrol, Faith.   We need to save the world from the demons.”  Faith gently takes the hand looking searchingly in deep blue eyes, Faith stands and looks down, not believing what these two beautiful women are offering her. 

Buffy smirks slightly at Tara before looking her outfit up and down.  “I just want to know where you’re gonna put a stake in that outfit.”

Turning to look at Buffy with a raised eyebrow Tara states in a slightly mocking tone.  “Why, my dear, I don’t need to have a stake I have two slayers to protect me from the evils of Sunnydale.”  Rolling her eyes Tara walks over to the wall and grabs her leather jacket “Plus I’m wearing my jacket, it has three stakes sewn into hidden pockets inside it along with the holy water and cross that I carry.”

Realizing that neither Buffy nor Tara are going to push her for a decision.  Faith looks up from one woman to the other.  “Why?”  She questions softly.

“Why, what, Faith?”  Tara answers just as softly. 

“Why are you offering me a place in your hearts, why are you offering to let me be a part of your relationship?”  Faith asks in a strained voice.

“We aren’t offering you a place in our hearts, Faith.  You already are in our hearts.”  Tara states firmly. 

“And because we love you, we don’t want it to be our relationship.”  Buffy states emphasizing ‘our’ with a gesture between herself and Tara.  “We want it to be our relationship.”  This time gesturing to include Faith.  

“Let’s patrol and talk.”  Faith states slowly, thinking about what was being offered. 

As they are walking down the road heading towards the first cemetery, Faith glances occasionally from one woman to the other.   “Are we talking about all three of us together at the same time here, or just as couples, like Buffy and Tara one night, me and Buffy another night and Tara and me the next?”  Faith asks as they get to the first cemetery, cruising around looking for fresh graves and making sure there weren’t any older vampires in the vicinity.  

“Well, we haven’t really discussed things that far.”  Buffy states looking questioningly at Tara.  “You’re the one that brought all this up originally, which way were your thoughts on this?”

Faith speaks up, loudly.  “WHAT?”  Turning to the witch with a raised eyebrow. “This is all happening because of you?”

Buffy nods her head.  “Yep.  If she hadn’t brought it up, I never would have acknowledged my feelings for you.” 

Tara grins her lopsided grin looking at Faith.  “I guess that you can blame me for your confusion.”  Shrugging her shoulders slightly Tara continues.  “I’m not sorry for bringing it up.  I know Buffy loves you, she loves me it went from there.”

“Actually I think when she made the comment about herself being a Sex Kitten with two slayers for lovers, it got her thinking.”  Buffy smirks over at Tara. 

Eyeing Tara up and down Faith smirks.  “Oh, yeah.  I can see sex kitten.” 

Just then a vampire breaks through the fresh grave they had been standing by, unconsciously waiting for him to rise.  “Play or stake?”  Faith asks Buffy.

“Stake him, he’s new and he isn’t going to have any money on him.”  Buffy smiles as Faith stakes the vampire right after she gets out the words ‘stake him’. 

Twirling the stake between her fingers, Faith prowls around the cemetery.   “Do you feel anything else, B?”

Shaking her head Buffy glances around.  “No, I don’t.  Kind of unusual, most vamps check on their progeny.  Maybe Daddy was one of the vamps we staked last night.” 

“Let’s head on out, then.”  Faith states before putting her stake away.   “So, how was this possibly going to work, if this does come into being.”

“Actually, I kind of figured we would be doing things as a threesome and as individual couples.  As long as everybody knows what the other two are doing, we’d more or less play it by ear.   We just need to make sure to keep an open communication between all of us.  I don’t want one person to feel left out or anything.  Jealousy between the three of us needs to be non-existent for this relationship to work.”   Tara states calmly as she had been thinking about this, trying to figure it out in her own mind.

“And we would be in a relationship, the three of us.  No other people will be invited into our beds.  No more get some get gone, Faith.”  Buffy states quietly, not accusingly. 

Faith thinks about that.  ‘Can I give up the one night stands?  Yes.  That wouldn’t be anything to give up, especially if I had these two in my life.  Can I allow myself to love?  To love these two women?’  As they walked Faith thought about what she was being offered, what she had compared to this.  Realizing she had nothing.  She had always had nothing, because she wasn’t willing to open herself up, to allow herself to love.  These two women knew her darkest secrets, and were still willing to love her.  No, not willing to love her, they did love her and they would no matter what her decision was.  Finally deciding, Faith walks ahead of the two women and turns, facing them. 

“Well, as I see it, there’s only two more things that I need to know before my final decision is made.”  Faith states seriously looking from one woman to the other.

“What two things do you need to know?”  Tara asks quietly, and just as she finishes asking the question, Faith’s lips are pressing insistently against hers, strong arms pulling her into a gentle embrace as a questing tongue gently flicks out across her lips, making Tara moan in pleasure and then groan as the tongue gently strokes hers, enticing it into Faith’s mouth, where Faith gently sucks and nibbles before releasing and following it back into Tara’s mouth to gently duel for long moments, finally pulling away when the need to breathe became a necessity. 

Slowly turning with passion-filled eyes, Faith grins wickedly, pulling Buffy into a rough embrace, plundering her mouth roughly.  Where her kiss with Tara had been gentle and teasing, this one was rough and taking.  Violent battling for dominance between the two slayers, first battling in Buffy’s mouth before Buffy chases Faith’s tongue back into her own mouth, growling as Faith sucks roughly on her tongue before forcing her tongue back into Buffy’s mouth, searching out all the nooks and cranny’s before finally pulling back panting heavily. 

Tara starts giggling and finally laughing loudly.  “Well, Faith.  What’s your decision?”  Realizing what Faith had needed to know.

“Oh, yeah.”  Faith growls lowly before grinning at the blonde.  Turning with a lighter step the three women continue on patrol. 

“You mean to tell me, she wanted to know how good of a kisser we were before she made her decision?”  Buffy asks exasperatedly. 

“Yep.  If I’m going to spend the rest of my life with you two, I want to make sure you’re good kissers.  Can’t abide a terrible kisser.”  Faith states seriously.  “If a person can’t kiss, how can they do other things right?”

At that Buffy stops, looking in stunned disbelief at Faith.  “Why the fuck didn’t you let me in on that before I met Riley!  That damn boy couldn’t kiss to save his life.  He was all open mouth as wide as it will go and slobbering all over me.  Damn!”  Buffy continues griping as the other two women laugh at her.

“I don’t know about that, but I can honestly say I want Faith to give me a kiss like she did you, Buffy.”  Tara grins evilly at Faith.  “Just because I’m the only true lesbian out of this threesome, it doesn’t mean I want it all soft, sweet and gentle all the time, you know.”

Faith’s eyes light up and she grins ear to ear.  “Oh, yeah.”  Quickly reaching in and treating the blonde to a rough, searching kiss Buffy shakes her head at the two women. 

“How come I have this feeling that things are going to get hot and heavy quick?”  Buffy states rolling her eyes before feeling lips pressing hard and insistent against hers, quickly opening her mouth to the persistent tongue Buffy groans loudly at the quick flicking of a tongue against hers before the tongue retreats quickly followed by the lips.  Opening haze filled eyes she opens to see laughing blue eyes looking back at her. 

“Because you may be right.”  Tara smirks before heading off to continue patrol with Buffy and Faith grinning at each other and turning to watch the swaying of the blonde’s hips. 

“Definitely can’t let her try to get rid of them.”  Faith whispers quietly to Buffy as they start following Tara.

“You got that right.”  Buffy growls enjoying the view.  

“If you two are finished ogling my ass, would you like to come up here and join me?”  Tara calls out shaking her head at the two slayers. 

“We weren’t ogling.  We were….”  Buffy looks to Faith for help.

“We were appreciating the gentle swaying of your derriere.”  Faith grins at her eloquence.

“In other words you were ogling my ass.”  Tara states with her hands on hips looking at the two women.

Looking at each other, Buffy and Faith look back at Tara and grin.  “Yeah, we were ogling your ass.”  They both admit.

As Tara turns around and continues walking, Faith and Buffy smile at each other.  Buffy leans towards Faith, whispering.  “We are definitely burning her skirts and buying her nothing but jeans and leather pants, you with me?”

“Oh, yeah.”  Faith whispers back, quickly pulling away as Tara stops and turns to look at both of them with a frown on her face.

“Are we actually going to do a patrol tonight?”  Tara asks in exasperation at the two slayers.

“Yes, ma’am.”  Faith states quickly walking up beside the witch with Buffy following quickly to stand on the other side of Tara.  Both women wait for Tara to start walking again. 

Tara looks from Faith to Buffy.  “What are you two doing now?”

“We’re waiting for you.”  Faith answers.

“Goddess save me from slayers trying to drive me insane.”  Tara mumbles before turning around to continue walking, both women walking with her.

“So, what’s the plan for tomorrow?”  Faith asks as they head into the next cemetery, not noticing any new graves before continuing on patrol.

“Well, my first class is at 9:00 am and I have classes all day tomorrow until 3:00 with a break from 12:30 - 1:00 for lunch.”   Tara states continuing walking.  “I usually take a piece of fruit for lunch.”

Faith frowns slightly at the blonde when she admits she usually only eats a piece of fruit for lunch.  Turning to look at Buffy, she sees Buffy frowning also.  “Okay, B.  We’ll take care of that.  What’s your schedule for tomorrow?”

“DMP arrive at 5:00 for breakfast and work through lunch, I should be home by 2:00.”  Buffy gives a quick run down.   “When I get home, I might get started on the garage and move the wood and tools downstairs.  The rest of the stuff we need to go through, see if there’s anything worth keeping.”  Hesitating slightly, Buffy feels a tear sliding down her cheek.  “Mom put a lot of stuff out there that she was going to go through, but never got the chance.”

“Oh, Buffy.”  Tara quickly gathers Buffy in a tight embrace, rocking her gently. 

“I miss her, you know?  Most of the time I’m okay, but occasionally it sneaks up on me.”  Buffy quietly states into the witch’s neck. 

“Your mom was the best, B.”  Faith states, her voice slightly rougher than normal.  “She always treated me right.  I was sorry when I found out.” 

“She always liked you, Faith.”  Buffy sniffs, lifting her head looking at Faith over Tara’s shoulder.  “She once told me that she should have insisted on you coming to live with us, instead of staying in the motels.” 

“She was a class act.”  Faith smiles sadly.  Watching as Buffy finally pulls herself together gently kissing the witch’s cheek before reaching out and clasping Faith’s forearm, giving it a gentle squeeze. 

“Let’s continue.  Tonight’s been a slow night so far.”  Buffy states looking around.

“We’re only a few blocks away from the Bronze, wanna make a run by there and see if there’s any action?”  Faith offers.

“Sure.  It’s usually good for a vamp or two.  After that we can make a run around the college campus and see if we can find any trying to have a late night co-ed snack.”  Buffy suggests.

“Okay, let’s get going.”  Faith states heading towards the Bronze at a good clip, quickly followed by the other two.

“I think she just wants to dance.”  Buffy whispers loudly towards Tara smirking slightly.

“If we have time for one or two dances while scoping out the place, I say we go for it!”  Faith whispers loudly back.  “I want to see Blondie there shaking that ass.”

Tara’s eyes open wide and her head starts shaking quickly.  “No.  No.  I don’t dance.  Not going to happen, I’ll watch.”

Faith smirks at the witch.  “You’ll dance.”  Turning and grinning at Buffy.  “What do you think?  She needs to have the fun, right?”

Buffy grins in return.  “Oh, yeah.  She needs to have the fun.  You going to give her the treatment, Faith?”

Tara turns pale. “Please you two, come on, I really can’t dance.  You’re not going to make me, are you?”

“Okay, you don’t have to dance.”  Faith gives in quickly, hearing Tara breathe a sigh of relief, she lets her get a step ahead of her and Buffy before winking at Buffy.  “Nope, you don’t have to dance at all, we’ll do all the dancing.”  Faith whispers so low only Buffy could hear her, making Buffy smirk.

Faith pays their cover charge.  “You want to hit the upstairs while Blondie and I check out down here?”  Faith asks quietly.

“Meet you on the dance floor.”  Buffy grins, heading upstairs. 

Grasping Tara’s hand, Faith leads them around the main floor of the Bronze.  Letting go of her hand, Faith quietly states.  “Stay close, but not real close, okay?”  Getting a nod in answer, Faith quickly walks up to a guy that has a woman pressed against the dark corner by the bathrooms.  Quickly staking the vampire, Faith checks the woman, seeing she’s still conscious, she tells her to get out of here and be more careful in the future.

Walking back over to the witch, Faith takes her hand, lacing her fingers with Tara’s and smiling gently.  “Well, that makes the tally so far, Slayers two, vamps zero.  Do you want a soda?”  Faith asks as they continue to walk around the outer edges of the dance floor, seeing if there are any more vampires. 

“A coke would be nice.”  Tara smiles at Faith, feeling the slayer gently squeezing her fingers.  

Walking up to the bar she sees Buffy coming down the stairs, brushing at her pants.  “B must have got one.”  Buffy quickly walks toward the two women just as Faith is paying for the three cokes she ordered.  Handing one to Buffy and then one to Tara, she quickly grabs hers, heading towards an empty table at the edge of the dance floor.

Sitting down at the table and sipping her drink Tara glances around.  Watching Faith head out onto the dance floor, eyes opening wide as she sees her start dancing a couple feet from the table. 

Buffy tries not to smirk as Faith starts her sensual rhythm that usually has every male at her side within seconds.  Looking over at Tara and seeing her eyes open wide, Buffy grins before looking back out onto the dance floor.  Seeing a couple guys easing up to the Dark Slayer, Buffy growls lowly.  Watching Faith shake her head and push them away, but continue dancing, Buffy smiles at Faith in appreciation.  Catching Buffy’s smile Faith grins back.  Glancing over to Tara she raises an eyebrow. 

Buffy looks at Tara and sees that she’s watching Faith intently.  Slowly easing off the seat and towards Tara, Buffy whispers in her ear.  “Come on, let’s go dance with Faith and let all these guys know she’s taken.” 

Tara, not even thinking nods her head, in a complete daze.  She had never seen anyone dance so blatantly sexy in her life.  Those moves were putting all kinds of ideas in Tara’s head.  Letting Buffy lead her out on the dance floor it takes her a few minutes to realize that she was dancing, following the Dark Slayer’s moves, not unlike how she had followed her Tai Chi movements earlier that evening.  Stiffening slightly she feels Buffy ease up behind her.  “Oh, no you don’t.  You were doing absolutely wonderful.  Don’t think, just flow with the music.”  She whispers in Tara’s ear, gently resting her hands on the blonde’s hip smiling as she feels Tara relax as Faith eases in closer against her body literally slithering up and down Tara’s body, making her groan at the pure sexual display. 

Faith smiles into Tara’s dark blue eyes.  “Seems to me you can dance.  I don’t ever want to hear you say you can’t dance again, okay?” 

Swallowing and nodding her head in acceptance, Tara can’t say a word as she feels Buffy pressing against her back and Faith against her front. 

“I think you broke her, Faith.”  Buffy huskily comments.  “And if we continue on with this, we’re not going to make it to the campus tonight.  So I say let’s finish our sodas and head out.”  Pulling away from Tara to turn towards the table, she hears a whimper come from the blonde.  Turning back she looks at Tara, realizing both Faith and herself had pulled away at the same time.  “Faith, might want to keep some contact going here for a few moments.”

“I am so not complainin’.”  Faith growls lightly, easing back into Tara’s body hearing Tara sigh quietly, she grins.  Putting Tara’s hands on her waist and gently grasping the blonde’s hips, Faith gently guides Tara back to the table.   Handing Tara a drink, which she finally has enough cognizance to take and sip, Faith smiles at Buffy.  “We need to do this again, preferably after patrol and when we don’t have to get up early in the morning.”

“We certainly will.”  Buffy murmurs watching as the dazed look in the blonde’s eyes slowly dissipates. 

“What the hell just happened?”  Tara mumbles blushing deeply. 

“You showed you can definitely dance, and you promised to come dancing with us again.”  Faith chuckles.

“Please tell me we weren’t practically having sex out there on the dance floor.”  Tara begs.

“Nope, we weren’t.”  Buffy grins.  “All clothes stayed on.  No inappropriate hand placement.”  Giggling at Faith, Buffy continues.  “I mean other than the fact that Faith was practically rubbing herself all over you and you were doing a damn fine job of returning the favor, no, there wasn’t any sex on the dance floor.”

“Oh, Goddess.”  Tara cries out quietly before burying her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking.

Buffy and Faith hop of their chairs, Buffy putting an arm around the Wiccan’s shaking shoulders and Faith rubbing her hands up and down Tara’s arms. 

“Tara, I’m sorry.  I won’t ever do that again, I promise.  Please don’t be upset.”  Faith quietly but urgently pleads.

Finally a small laugh followed by more laughs escape the witch, shocking the two slayers.  Before finally pulling her hands away from her face, they realize her shoulders were shaking from laughter, not tears. 

“You two are going to turn me into one big puddle.”  Tara laughs as she shakes her head at the two slayers.  “I need some fresh air, let’s head out.”

“I need to visit the bathroom real quick.  If you two want to go ahead and head out, I’ll catch up to you.”  Buffy states quickly before heading to the bathroom.

“Let’s go, Blondie.”  Faith grins watching Buffy leave.

“Okay.  Are you okay with this, Faith?”  Tara asks seriously as they leave the Bronze, walking towards the campus.

“You mean all of us together?”  Faith asks quietly.

“Yes.  I don’t want you to feel like you’re being pressured into anything here, because you really aren’t.”  Tara explains.

“I know I’m not.  You two are actually offering me the world on a platter, you know?”  Faith grins.  “B ain’t been with a woman before, has she?”

“No, she hasn’t.  I’m taking it you have?”  Tara smirks slightly.

“Oh, yeah.  Guys are easier, but I actually prefer women.”  Faith shrugs looking at the blonde.  “I think you two should get together before bringing me into the mix, okay?”

“Why?”  Tara wonders.

“Because with B not having experience, I just kind of figured her first time should be with you, not a combination to confuse matters.”  Faith smiles.  “No splitting of time between us, if you know what I mean.” 

“Faith, you are a very considerate woman, you know that?”  Tara smiles softly, wrapping her arm around the waist of the slayer as they continue their walk towards the college campus. 

“Hey, there my two lovelies, what are you two doing?”  Buffy comes up on the other side of Tara, wrapping her arm around the witch’s waist.  

“Heading towards campus tryin’ to find some action, you?”  Faith smirks over at the slayer. 

“I go where the hot babes go.”  Buffy smirks back. 

“Yeah, she was following us for the last two blocks ogling our butts Faith.”  Tara stage whispers.  

“Well, I know yours is ogle worthy, but mine is a little lacking right now.”  Faith states trying to look at her own ass. 

Running her hand from Faith’s waist down to her butt, Tara grabs a cheek before lightly smacking it.  “We’ll get you fed and filling out these pants properly in no time.” 

“Tara can definitely cook.”  Buffy grins patting her stomach lightly.  “I’ve gained three pounds since she came to live with us.  I’m going to have to start watching what I eat or my clothes won’t be fitting me much longer.” 

“Nah, you can use a few pounds on ya’ there B.”  Faith nods looking her up and down.  “Watch the hands, missy.  There’ll be consequences for that kind of thing.”  Faith leers at Tara.

“What kind of consequences?”  Tara leers right back before blushing and giggling lightly.  “Goddess, what is going on with me?  I’ve never been this forward in my life before.”

“Personally, it looks good on you.”  Buffy grins.  “I just think you’re feeling freer, not afraid of what people think.  That’s of the good.”  Buffy nods her head.

“Oooh, looks like we got a live one here, B.”  Faith growls lowly, coming up on a vampire following a young co-ed.  “You want him?”

“Go ahead, Faith.  You need help, let me know.”  Buffy smiles as she watches the feral grin cross Faith’s face.

“Thanks, B.  I can definitely use a work out.”  Faith quickly runs up to the vampire, tackling him over into the grass before popping up quickly waiting for him to attack. 

“Come on, blood breath.  Let’s see what you got.”  Faith taunts the vampire, making him take a swing which she ducks and rams a fist in his stomach.  Bouncing back on the balls of her feet she shakes her head.  “Come on, fang boy.  You gonna let little ol’ me get by with that?”   As the vampire runs and lunges for the slayer, Faith spins out of his grasp and kicks him hard in the back, making him land face first.  “B, this guy just ain’t no fun.”

As the vampire turns and snarls at her, Faith lets loose and pounds him literally into the ground, as the vampire is laying there dazed she quickly checks his pockets pulling out a few bills before staking the vamp.  Walking towards Buffy and Tara, Faith looks down at the money and raises her eyebrows.  “Not bad, little boy there had $300 on him.”  

“We keep this up, I might be able to catch up on some of the past due bills at the house.”  Buffy smiles happily.

“Okay.  First things first, we get Buffy’s bills caught up, of course keep the kitchen stocked with food and all other essentials we need in the house.  After that I guess we can maybe go shopping?”  Faith passes the idea onto the other women.

“That sounds good.  Buffy, how much do you owe?”  Tara questions.

“I don’t even want to think about it, honestly.”  Buffy frowns slightly.  “A few things I’ve been floating with partial payments, like the phone and electric bill.  The house payment is about two payments behind.   I guess roughly a couple thousand dollars should catch me up.” 

“The bike is in my name, I could sell it and easily get the money to catch up everything and have some left over.”  Faith suggests.

“No.  Keep the bike, Faith.  It might come in handy.  Eventually I wouldn’t mind getting a vehicle, but that’s just more bills, plus the fact me and vehicles don’t get along too well.”  Buffy smirks slightly, remembering when she had driven her mom’s Jeep and it getting clobbered in the side. 

“Plus, we can always borrow Xander’s if we need a vehicle.”  Tara suggests.  “I have a license, so I can drive it.”

Looking around the campus, Faith shakes her head.  “Damn, B.  I figured this place would be hopping with vamps, what’s going on?”

“It’s pretty slow tonight, isn’t it?”  Buffy looks around.  “Maybe the demon population found out there are two slayers in town and are laying low?” 

“Could be.  Well, I guess we can head home.  Actually a halfway early night of it.”  Faith states looking at the witch’s watch seeing it’s only a little after 10:00.  “Is that okay, B?”

“Yep.  An early night sounds good.  Plus four vampires not bad, but still a little slow.  Let’s head to the house.”  Buffy smiles, reaching down to grasp Tara’s hand.

Faith leads the way home, followed by Buffy and Tara. 

***

Chapter 15

As the three women walk into the house, Faith splits off mentioning something about brownies and milk. 

Laughing at the slayer, Tara turns to look at Buffy.  “I love you.”  Leaning in, she kisses Buffy on the lips gently.  “Do you want some brownies too?  Or could I interest you in something a little different?”  Tara smiles at the slayer with a glint in her eye. 

Wrapping her arms around Tara‘s neck, Buffy grins.  “Oh, I think you can definitely interest me in something different.”  Starting off with a gentle kiss, Buffy slowly deepens it into an exploring kiss.  Gently mapping the inside of the witch’s mouth making Tara groan lightly before pulling back.  “Upstairs?”  Buffy whispers before placing gentle kisses down the side of Tara’s neck. 

“Oh, yes.  Most definitely upstairs.”  Tara whispers hoarsely.  “Let me go talk to Faith, okay?”   Smiling at Buffy’s nod, Tara presses a quick, firm kiss on her mouth.  “I’ll be up in a few minutes.”

“Okay.”  Buffy smiles before trotting up the stairs, whistling lightly. 

Shaking her head at her girlfriend, Tara quickly heads to the kitchen and laughs at the site of Faith sitting there with what had to be most of the brownies on a plate in front of her and a huge glass of milk.   “Are you going to leave any of those?”  Tara winks.

“Hey, you snooze, you lose.”  Faith answers after finishing off a bite of brownie.  “Heading upstairs?”

“Yes.  I just wanted to make sure you were okay and hadn’t changed your mind.”  Tara questions quietly.

“Nope.  I think this would definitely be best for all of us.  Go ahead.”   Smirking, Faith walks over to the blonde pulling her in for a hungry kiss.  “I’ll get mine soon.  Patience is something I sort of learned in jail.  Of course, I wasn’t getting any in there, so the quicker you two get it on, the happier I’ll be.”  Faith jokes and winks before sitting back down to eat the brownies.  

Walking over to the refrigerator, Tara pulls out a bottle of water before stopping beside the slayer and kissing her on top of the head.  “I love you, Faith.”  Tara whispers so low, that Faith almost didn’t hear it, before quickly heading out of the kitchen and upstairs.  

Faith sits there looking to where the witch had disappeared.  The quiet, heart felt statement warming her inside like nothing had before.  With a shaking hand, she sets the brownie back down on the plate, it really hitting her for the first time that they love her.  And, yes, she loves both women back.  Feeling a tear come to her eye, Faith swallows realizing what it means to love someone.  Putting their needs and wants ahead of yours, taking care of them…  Smiling Faith looks at the clock, realizing it’s too early yet for her to go to bed so she vacillates between going in to watch something on the television or maybe seeing if she can take some of the stuff from the garage to the basement.  Deciding to get a start on the garage, Faith heads for the door.

***

Easing into the bedroom, Tara stops, watching Buffy as she stands in front of the window brushing her hair, wearing her pajamas.  Closing and locking the door behind her, Tara sets the water on the nightstand, and slowly starts unbuttoning and unzipping her jeans.

Hearing the door click shut behind her, Buffy turns to watch Tara.  Inhaling sharply as Tara starts to slowly undress.  Watching the blonde ease the jeans down her legs, leaving her wearing the tank top and a skimpy pair of blue panties, Buffy feels her heart start to pound in her chest.  As Tara lifts the tank top over her head, showing that the bra matched the panties, Buffy drops the hairbrush on the floor. 

Smiling at Buffy’s reaction, Tara reaches behind her back to unhook her bra before easing it down off her shoulders and down her arms before putting it with the rest of the clothes she had thrown in the hamper.   Hearing a strangled whimper come from Buffy, Tara turns to watch the slayer, seeing the flush of her skin, not in embarrassment, but in need.  Placing her hands on the edge of the waist band of her panties, Tara whispers.  “Do you want?”

Buffy moves her eyes from Tara’s breasts up to look in the blue depths staring at her.  Taking a moment to remember that Tara had asked her a question and what it is, Buffy’s eyes widen. “Oh, God yes.”  Buffy breathes out, looking back as Tara slowly eases the panties down off her hips past her knees to gently kick them off and pick them up to place in the hamper. 

Walking slowly towards Buffy, Tara can’t help but grin.  “Do you like what you see?”  As Buffy’s head nods up and down enthusiastically, Tara chuckles quietly.  “Would you like to touch?”

“Please.”  Buffy whispers gently, eyeing the blonde witch, feeling the desire coursing through her body, aching for this beautiful woman.

“What are you waiting for?  You don’t need permission, Buffy.”  Tara whispers and groans as Buffy quickly presses herself into her body, kissing her hungrily and deeply, her hands running down Tara’s back to gently cup her ass and pull her tighter into her body.

Buffy moans at the warmth of the witch’s skin against her hands, enjoying the sensation of the softness of the woman she loves. 

Pulling back slightly, Tara pants out quickly.  “I think someone is a little overdressed for this, don’t you?” 

Buffy nods her head, starting to unbutton her top before she’s stopped by Tara’s hands on hers.  “Please, let me.”  Tara whispers and unbuttons the slayer’s top as Buffy raises her hands to run them through the blonde hair.  Leaning in and placing a kiss on full lips Buffy smiles as she feels a hand reach in her unbuttoned top and gently cup her breast.  

Easing her hands over the slayer’s shoulders to push the top off Tara inhales a deep breath at the firm pert breasts staring at her, with hardened nipples begging to be explored.  Unable to resist Tara leans down quickly sucking one nipple in her mouth and gently laving it with her tongue, making Buffy groan loudly in response.  Slowly easing away Tara smiles as Buffy tries to push her breast back towards her.  Placing her hands on the pajama bottoms, Tara checks with Buffy to make sure it’s still what she wants and kisses her lightly as she feels Buffy’s hands gently helping her push the pajamas down her legs, kneeling in front of the slayer, smelling the arousal coming from her, Tara’s head lightens at the musky smell.  Closing her eyes and slowly getting control of herself, Tara eases first one foot then the other out of the pajamas, before standing back up and gently running her hands up the outside of the slayer’s legs to place her hands at Buffy’s waist. 

“Buffy, I want to make love to you.”  Tara whispers raising one hand to run it through Buffy’s hair. 

“Yes, please.”  Buffy huskily states before kissing Tara gently, but deeply, both tongues moving languorously against each other.   Pressing her body against Tara’s, Buffy groans loudly at the pleasure of her breasts, stomach and thighs pressing against the blonde’s.   Feeling her body start to shake with want Buffy pulls back from the kiss breathing heavily.  “Can we lie down?”

Smiling at the slayer, Tara reaches to pull the covers back on the bed, easing down to lay on it, before gently tugging at Buffy’s hand to urge her in beside her.  As they face each other, Tara leans in to suck Buffy’s bottom lip gently in to her mouth before releasing it and slowly twirling her tongue around Buffy’s stroking gently at first, but with more pressure as the kiss progresses.  Running her hand down Buffy’s side to cup the slayer’s hip before squeezing gently.  Easing from the kiss, Tara starts placing gentle kisses along Buffy’s cheek and jaw line before nibbling lightly on Buffy’s ear lobe.  Easing Buffy onto her back, Tara groans as she feels the slayer’s hands cupping her breasts and thumbs gently caressing her nipples into hardened peaks. 

Hearing Tara groan, Buffy smiles slightly before flicking her thumbnail across the hardened nub feeling Tara press hard into her hand, Buffy repeats the gesture on the other nipple and moans as she feels Tara suck on her pulse point. 

Easing down Buffy’s body, Tara gently places kisses across the breastbone of the slayer, lightly licking up the stray sweat that was starting to gather on the slayer’s body.  Placing a kiss between the slayer’s breasts Tara groans as Buffy gently pinches both nipples, making her arch into the slayer.  “Goddess that feels so good, Buffy.”  Tara hoarsely states before leaning down to suck one breast into her mouth while lightly flicking the other nipple with her fingertips. 

Reaching behind Tara’s head with both hands, Buffy presses the witch against her aching breast, arching up hard into the caresses.  Groaning loudly in pleasure as Tara gently scrapes her teeth over the nipple before sucking hard.  Feeling her juices easing out of her body, Buffy arches her hips up looking for something to ease the pressure building inside her.

Feeling Buffy arch her hips Tara eases her body between the slayer’s legs, gently pressing her stomach into the slayer’s wet center, hissing out in pleasure at the wetness coming from Buffy.  Feeling Buffy press up hard against her, Tara presses back down, giving her the contact she needs.  Licking up over the slayer’s breast and nipple, Tara switches to the other breast gently kissing and nibbling, making Buffy squirm and buck under her.  

“I love you, Buffy Summers.”  Tara whispers as she eases down kissing and licking the slayer’s tight abdomen and stomach, gently nipping at the lower abdomen before placing a kiss on the neatly trimmed mound of the slayer.  

“I love you, too.”  Buffy groans, bucking up into the witch as she feels her place a kiss so close to where she needs her, feeling fingers gently separating her lips and a warm breath blow across her most intimate area.  Panting heavily, Buffy gets out.  “No one’s ever done this… OH GOD!”  Buffy stops and exclaims loudly as Tara gently sucks the slayer’s nub into her mouth, flicking her tongue gently over the swollen muscle.  Feeling her body tightening at the immense pleasure rocketing through her, Buffy can’t believe the feelings coursing through her. 

Hearing Buffy try to say no one had ever given her this pleasure before, Tara smiles gently before sucking the slayer’s clit in her mouth, so hot so swollen.  Tara gently sucks the clit and starts flicking the tip of her tongue repeatedly over the muscle, knowing that if Buffy had never had this pleasure it probably wouldn’t take long and might come in a serious flood.  Easing her finger up, to gently run it through the slayer’s juices, Tara places it over the muscle to gently rub, keeping her on edge.  “Buffy?”  Tara states her name questioning.

“Yes.”  Buffy finally gets out a minute later, rocking her body against the pleasure Tara is giving her. 

“Have you ever had an orgasm?”  Tara asks quietly.  She had wondered previously about it, with Angel, it wasn’t likely since it was just the one night.  Riley, probably not, if the conversation earlier tonight was any indication and Tara didn’t even want to think about Spike.

“I…  God!”  Buffy whispers at the pleasure that was unknown to her shifts through her body.  “This is the most… yes, harder, please!  Most pleasure I’ve ever had…”  Buffy finally gets out in between pants and moans.

Hearing Buffy’s answer and her pleading for more pressure, Tara presses harder into the slayer’s clit, rubbing in a circular motion briefly before quickly replacing her finger with her mouth, sucking and licking hard and furious, quickly bringing the muscle to one continuous quivering exploding mass.   ‘Oh Goddess, this has been building up forever.’  Tara thinks as the slayer keeps coming.  Tara keeps up her continuous licking motion while swallowing the slayer’s juices.  As the juices stop flowing, Tara eases up on her licking, knowing the slayer is probably getting tender.  Shifting her body slightly further down, Tara kisses first one quivering thigh and then the other before gently separating the slayer’s outer lips with her fingers and lapping at the slayer before stiffening her tongue to a point and quickly inserting it into the slayer, setting up a quick in and out rhythm, making Buffy buck into her tongue and mouth.

Feeling her body explode, Buffy screams silently at the pleasure coursing through her as she comes continuously.  Finally collapsing back down and panting heavily, Buffy goes to reach for Tara when she feels her separate her lips and a warm wet tongue inserts itself in her body before coming in and out, making the tension in her body ratchet up again.

Feeling Buffy building, Tara buries her tongue as deep as she can inside the slayer, flicking it up trying to reach the elusive sweet spot, feeling Buffy buck harder against her, Tara lays her hand across the slayer’s abdomen, pressing down gently while stroking her tongue over the spot again and again, feeling the slayer’s muscles clenching around her tongue, Tara groans loudly into the slayer’s body as Buffy releases into a mind blowing orgasm.  Quickly lapping up the overflowing juices while inserting a finger, to continue the stroking over the slayer’s sweet spot to extend her pleasure as long as possible, Tara lays her head on Buffy’s thigh, keeping up the stroking in the slayer’s body, until Buffy has given her everything she has.  Looking up at the glistening mound and the still swollen, red clitoris Tara growls low in her throat, wanting more, loving the musky sweet taste of the slayer.  Leaning in, Tara gently licks across the slayer’s clit, making her body jump up hard into her mouth.

“Oh, God TARA!!”  Buffy screams out Tara’s name as she comes again arching hard before collapsing on the bed, her body shaking from the pleasure.  

Slowly kissing her way up the slayer’s body, Tara shifts so one thigh stays between the slayer’s legs, gently pressing against her apex, while her own wet swollen sex gently presses against Buffy’s thigh.  Kissing the slayer’s neck, Tara starts a slow rocking motion, unable to ignore her body any longer.  As her body slides easier on Buffy’s thigh as it gets wetter from the juices flowing from her, Tara picks up the speed and presses down harder.

Buffy, feeling Tara rock against her leg is surprised to begin with, but feeling the dampness easing out of the witch, she realizes what she’s doing.  As Tara starts rocking faster and pressing down, Buffy stiffens her thigh and presses up, giving Tara more pressure to rock against. 

Groaning loudly in pleasure Tara bites down gently on the slayer’s shoulder as she feels her body coiling up, ready to release.   As Buffy presses up even harder into her, Tara pushes down hard yelling out Buffy’s name as she climaxes.  Still rocking against the slayer’s thigh Tara finally eases down from the climax slowing the rocking motion of her body until she finally lays there, lower body tight against Buffy, her upper body being held aloft by her arms, a thin sheen of sweat covering her body as she pants heavily, trying to get control of her breathing. 

Wrapping her arms around Tara, Buffy gently tugs on the witch, until Tara collapses on top of her.  “Much, much better.”  Buffy murmurs at the weight.  Running her hands up and down Tara’s back Buffy kisses the top of her head.  

Finally getting her breathing under control, Tara kisses the slayer’s neck before easing her head away and smiling gently at the slayer.  “So, was it worth waiting for?”

Buffy’s eyes widen at the witch.  “I never… my God, woman.  What did you do to me?”  Buffy blushes deeply.  “I’ve never felt that before… I mean, I enjoyed, but I never… GOD!”  Buffy finally explains before closing her eyes and pulling Tara down so she can bury her face in her hair.  Finally mumbling.  “Yes it was worth waiting for, and how soon can we do it again?”

Laughing heartily at the slayer, Tara shakes her head, running her hand down the slayer’s side, playing with her hip.   “We can do it again right now, if you’re serious.”  Tara whispers, shifting her thigh back a little to gently ease her hand between their bodies, cupping the slayer’s mound.

Bucking up at the hand pressing against her, Buffy moans rocking slightly.

“Of course, you need to be at work in roughly four hours, so you may want to get some sleep.”  Tara states quietly, leaning down and kissing Buffy’s shoulder. 

“Damn early shift.”  Buffy grumbles before jerking up as Tara flicks a fingertip over her clit.  

“I mean, it’s up to you.”  Tara smirks as she eases a finger down and gently inside the slayer, starting a slow steady rhythm, that’s quickly matched by the slayer’s hips.  Feeling the wetness and ease of the in and out motion, Tara quickly adds a second finger, moaning as she feels Buffy’s muscles clenching at her.  Laying her head on the pillow beside Buffy, Tara whispers huskily.  “Do you want me to stop?”  Tara brings her thumb up to gently circle the slayer’s clit, pressing lightly, keeping up the circular motion while pumping in and out of the slayer gradually picking up the motions of her fingers, using her thigh to give her extra force. 

“Don’t… you… dare!”  Buffy growls out between pants rocking up harder and harder against the Wiccan’s hand before feeling her body start shaking as the orgasm works through her, making her groan loudly and grasp the witch’s waist, pulling her body in tight against her as she arches hard, burying Tara’s fingers deep inside her as she comes.  Pushing down and grinding her hips in a circular motion, Buffy grunts out in pleasure, before easing back down on the bed. 

Holding her fingers still inside the slayer, Tara waits until Buffy finishes clenching and unclenching before easing out and shifting her body to lie beside her lover, gently stroking fingers over the slayer’s stomach.  Leaning in and kissing Buffy on the temple she smiles at the look of utter happiness and completion on the slayer’s face.  

“I brought water up with me, would you like some?”  Tara whispers gently, running her fingers down Buffy’s neck. 

“Please.”  Buffy hoarsely gets out.  Feeling Tara shift as she reaches for the water Buffy smiles. 

“Here, baby.”  Tara whispers handing her the opened bottle, helping her sit up so she can drink it. 

Sipping half the water down, Buffy smiles in thanks at Tara and hands her the water back.  “You finish it.”  Watching as Tara accepts the water and tilts the bottle up to swallow, Buffy’s eyes watch as her throat moves as she swallows, never realizing how sexy that simple action could be.  Leaning in, Buffy kisses Tara’s throat lightly, kissing down between her clavicles before easing over to her pulse point, lightly sucking on it, hearing Tara moan in pleasure. 

“Buffy, honey.  You have to get up in a few hours.”  Tara groans, shakily setting the water back on the nightstand.  

“Mmmmhmmm.”  Buffy hums in to the side of Tara’s neck.  Lightly licking up the side of her neck to suck on the tender skin behind her ear, growling lightly Buffy pulls away.  “But I haven’t had a chance to explore all this delectable skin that is exposed to my hungry eyes, mouth and hands.”

“Goddess, Buffy.”  Tara swallows hard.  “But you need to get up early and I would really prefer you not hurt yourself at work tomorrow.  I have a full load of classes tomorrow, also.”  Tara loses her concentration as Buffy works her way down to gently suckle on one nipple before nibbling lightly.  Breathing heavily, Tara knows if she doesn’t stop Buffy soon, she won’t be able to, and she really does need to concentrate in class tomorrow with Finals coming up.  “Buffy, please?”  Tara begs.

Buffy growls deep in her throat, hearing that note in the witch’s voice, knowing she’s right, they should really sleep.  Pulling away from the nipple she was enjoying Buffy looks in Tara’s eyes.  “One night, real soon, you are mine completely so I can learn and enjoy all your delights, understood?”  At Tara’s nod Buffy smiles.  “I have a lot to learn and you’re going to be busy teaching me.  I might have to do things for hours and repeatedly to make sure I’m doing them right, you know.”

“Goddess!”  Tara hoarsely states. “You keep this up and we won’t get any sleep tonight.”   

Buffy frowns.  “And you have finals coming up soon.”  Buffy shakes her head before gently kissing Tara on the lips.  “You need your rest and I’m being all selfish wanting to…”  Trailing off Buffy scoots down to lay on the bed, gently tugging Tara to lie down.  Reaching down for the covers, Buffy pulls them up before snuggling in against the blonde, resting her head on the blonde’s breast and whispering.  “I love you.” 

“I love you too, Buffy.”  Tara whispers back kissing Buffy on the head.  “And you weren’t being selfish, if it wasn’t for finals coming up, I would definitely be taking you up on your offer.”  Running her hand through Buffy’s hair, Tara feels her eyes getting heavy.

“’Night, love.”  Buffy whispers as she feels Tara’s hand slow with the stroking before stopping heavily resting on her back as she falls asleep.  Smiling slightly, Buffy gives in and falls asleep, also.

***

Chapter 16

As the alarm goes off, Tara groans looking over before reaching to turn it off.  Smiling as she hears Buffy mumble ten more minutes into her breast.  Resetting the alarm to wake herself up in a couple more hours Tara gently shakes Buffy’s shoulder.  “Honey, wake up, you need to get ready for work.”

“Don’t wanna.”  Buffy grumbles realizing what she’s burrowing into Buffy opens one eye seeing a nipple looking back at her and smiles.  “Mine.”  She whispers before sucking the nipple in her mouth.  Gently suckling on it, Buffy closes her eye back and almost falls asleep again.

“Buffy!”  Tara cries out quietly in pleasure.  

Realizing what she’s doing, Buffy finally releases Tara’s breast looking up at the dark blue eyes looking back at her.  “I’m not helping matters, am I?”  Buffy questions quietly.

Shaking her head, Tara smiles lopsidedly at the slayer.  “No, and if you keep it up, you’re going to be really late for work.  And I’ll be sleeping through a couple of my classes.”

“Okay, I’m going.  I’m going to have Faith come in, okay?”  Buffy asks quietly before gently kissing the witch before climbing out of bed.

Tara smiles at the slayer, before snuggling back under the covers, “Okay.”  Tara mumbles already falling back asleep.

“I love you.”  Buffy lightly kisses Tara on the temple before putting on a robe and grabbing her clothes, heading into Faith’s room.

“Faith?”  Buffy quietly calls the slayer’s name.  “Faith?”  She calls out a little louder.

“What?”  Faith’s gravelly voice asks as she sits up in bed blinking away the sleep in her eyes. 

“Can you go in with Tara?  I’m getting ready for work.”  Buffy asks quietly. 

“’Kay.”  Faith states standing up wearing a tank top and panties before walking towards the door, stopping when she reaches Buffy.  Kissing her lightly on the lips she smirks.  “Sounds like you had a good night, B.”

“Faith!”  Buffy hisses quietly.  Starting to smile Buffy lets it turn into a full fledged grin.  “I had no idea how good it could be.  I mean, damn!”  Buffy whispers to Faith.  “I need to get ready.  I’ll pop in before I leave, okay?” 

“Sure B.”  Faith yawns, heading toward the other bedroom.  Quietly opening the door she smiles at the sleeping Wiccan before gently easing the covers back getting ready to climb in bed beside the witch when she sees naked breasts staring back at her.  “Ah man!  She couldn’t get her to at least put a shirt on before telling me to come in here.”  Faith growls out quietly.  Taking a deep breath, Faith eases in beside the witch, pulling the covers up to cover the breasts that were peeking at her. 

“Shut up Faith.”  Tara mumbles half asleep before rolling over to bury her face in Faith’s neck, laying her arm across the slayer’s stomach, mumbling about clothes before reaching under the shirt to reach up and cup Faith’s breast while easing her leg over Faith’s.  “Hmm.  Better.”  Burrowing in, Tara falls back asleep. 

Looking up at the ceiling, Faith shakes her head.  ‘You’re tryin’ to kill me.  I know you are.’  Faith thinks to herself before wrapping her arm around the witch’s back, hugging her gently to her body, while running the other hand over her arm.  Hearing the door open she sees Buffy come in quickly and smile down at them.  “Is she always like this?”  Faith asks quietly.

Chuckling quietly Buffy answers.  “No, that’s usually my position against her.  Though my face is usually buried against her breast.  Take care of her, if you need me, call me on the cell.”  Leaning down and pressing a firm kiss to Faith’s lips, she turns and places a gentle kiss against Tara’s temple.  “Love you two.”  Buffy states before heading towards the door.

“B?”  Faith questions quietly. 

“Yeah?”  Buffy answers.

“I…”  Hesitating, not able to say it Faith looks at Buffy hoping she understands.

“I know.”  Buffy smiles gently at the brunette before leaving the bedroom, gently shutting the door behind her and heading to work.

“Thanks B.”  Faith quietly says to the closed door, wishing she could tell the slayer she loved her.  But knowing that she understood why she couldn’t.

***

Hearing the alarm go off for the second time that morning, Tara reaches out to shut it off before realizing her hand is caught in a top.  The next thing she realizes is that her hand is cupping a full, warm breast. 

“What the fuck?”  Faith growls, half asleep.  Reaching with a hand, Faith slams it around on the nightstand before finally giving the thing making the noise a violent death.  “Teach you.”  She grumbles before reaching back, running her hand back over the arm across her body.

Chuckling quietly at the slayer Tara buries her face in Faith’s neck, gently squeezing the breast in her hand before pulling her hand out from under the tank top the slayer is wearing.  “Morning, sunshine.”  Tara grins pulling away looking at Faith.

“Bite me.”  Faith grumbles before yelping when she feels teeth bite down on her shoulder.

“I’m going to take a shower and get ready for school.”  Tara grins at the look she’s getting from Faith.

“So, you’re just gonna bite and run?  Isn’t that, like against the rules or something?”  Faith asks in her rough voice.  “I mean, if you were a vampire, you’d stick around to suck the life from me.”  Faith smirks as she comes fully awake.  “I’m all for you sucking the life out of me.  From what I heard, you’re pretty good at that.”

“Damn!”  Tara groans loudly.  “Between you and Buffy, I have a feeling I’m not going to get much sleep around here.”  Grinning wickedly Tara continues.  “Death by orgasm.  I like the idea.”

Laughing in appreciation Faith gives her a quick kiss.  “Go on, get ready for school, I’ll be right behind ya’.”  Faith watches as the blonde climbs out of bed, walking over to the closet to grab a robe to wear.  Giving a low wolf whistle, Faith grins as she sees the blonde blush.  “Come on, Blondie.  You’re hot.  If you didn’t have to go to school I’d have you back in bed showing you how hot you are.”

“Shower time.”  Tara states quickly, running out the door hearing Faith’s chuckles behind her as she slams the bathroom door. 

Grinning, Faith swings her legs around the edge of the bed.  Stretching and yawning Faith’s eyes open wide.  Getting a good whiff, she can still smell the sex from last night, how she didn’t smell it before now, she didn’t know.  Inhaling deeply, Faith grins.  “Oh, yeah.  She definitely had a good time last night.”  Faith growls before deciding to head to her bedroom to get ready to play bodyguard.  Opening the bedroom door, she steps into the hallway and almost runs into Dawn. 

“Morning, Faith.  I trust you had a good night?”  Dawn smirks at the slayer before heading downstairs. 

Faith stands there confused, wondering what the hell was going on.  Shaking her head she goes to her bedroom, grabbing clothes to wear for the day before heading back towards the bathroom.  Hearing the shower shut off, Faith grins evilly.  Reaching down, gently turning the doorknob, Faith realizes Tara didn’t lock it.  Poking her head around the door she grins, watching the witch dry herself off. 

“Faith, if you’re coming in, get in here and shut the door.  It’s one thing for Dawn to know what’s going on, another to see you poking your head in here for a free show.”  Tara smirks as she looks up, catching Faith’s eyes. 

“Squirt knows?”  Faith’s eyes open wide at the thought.  “I mean… when, how?”   Faith mumbles, temporarily distracted from watching the blonde dry her body, coming into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her.

“Yes she knows.  Last night.  I talked to her.”  Tara answers the questions, seeing the confusion on Faith’s face as she tries to figure out what she’s saying.  Finishing drying her body, she tosses the towel in the hamper. Grabbing the other towel, Tara gently rubs her head, drying her hair.

Faith gives up on trying to figure out what’s going on.  Deciding it’s not something to worry about if Tara isn’t worried.  Focusing back in on the blonde, Faith’s eyes are drawn to her breasts, which are jiggling tantalizingly as she rubs the towel over her head.  Unconsciously licking her lips, she steps closer to the blonde her eyes not straying from the sight before her.

“Faith, take a shower.  There isn’t time for anything else.”  Tara grins, enjoying the effect she seems to have on both slayers.  Figuring her hair is dry enough, Tara throws that towel in the hamper before turning to the mirror, brushing the knots out of her hair until it’s smooth.  Reaching over for her clothes on the chair she pulls her panties on and reaches for the bra when a hand intercepts her. 

Faith growls lightly.  “Let me just do this then I’ll behave.”  Leaning down, Faith gently sucks Tara’s nipple in her mouth, while reaching with her hand, lightly pinching the other nipple, making Tara groan quietly.  Pulling away Faith takes a deep breath looking into the blonde’s blue eyes, she smiles.  “Yummy,”  Before quickly turning to jump in the shower turning the water on full blast cold, to the laughter of the witch.