Chapter 33

Buffy chuckles quietly as she chases Sasha up the stairs, her hand uncontrollably reaching out to caress teasingly up the slayer’s inner thigh, feeling Sasha jump in surprise.  Smirking at the low, rumbling growl working its way through Sasha’s chest, Buffy smacks her on the butt.  “Get your ass in gear.  We have some serious ‘talking’ to do.”

“Talking?”  Sasha chuckles as she turns into Buffy’s room, grunting in surprise as the door slams shut and she’s tackled onto the bed.

“Talking.”  Buffy wiggles her hands under the tall slayer’s top, pushing it upwards.  When Sasha pushes herself up on her arms, Buffy straddles the woman’s ass.  Buffy finally shoves the top the rest of the way up the woman’s body, letting her hands trail back down the strong back, strong and muscular but definitely all woman. 

Keeping her body propped up with one arm, Sasha finishes yanking the top over her head and free arm before swapping and pulling the top the rest of the way off before lying back down on the bed, not surprised to feel Buffy’s strong hands caressing slowly over her back, almost as if she’s learning the feel of her body.

“Your skin’s so soft, and yet the muscles and sinew underneath is like steel.”  Buffy whispers, her eyes and fingers trailing pale, barely there scars interspersed over the woman’s body.  Knowing them for what they are, wounds received in the middle of battle, her own body has its fair share of the same type scars, barely noticeable unless you look for them. 

Sasha groans as Buffy’s fingers dig firmly into her shoulders before dragging their way down the length of her back.  “Your skin is soft, also, ma petite.  Your strength is hidden just under the surface not unlike mine.”

Buffy allows a small smile to cross her face as she kneads her way around the broad shoulders, caressing her hands down to the slayer’s waist, her thumbs caressing over the matching dimples just above the slayer’s butt cheeks.  Quickly reaching up, Buffy tears off her own shirt before leaning forward and slowly dragging her breasts down the warm back below her, closing her eyes at the delicious feeling.  For one of the few times in her life, she’s leading in a physical encounter and she plans on enjoying it to the fullest. 

Sasha groans and buries her face in the pillow as Buffy teases her.  The feel of the woman’s breasts trailing down her back tantalizing in and of themselves, but when she feels a warm, wet tongue following the length of her spine, it makes her grind her body into the bed as the desire ratchets up to an exquisite painful throb. 

Exhaling softly as she reaches the edge of Sasha’s jeans, Buffy brushes her cheek over one muscular butt cheek, growling softly at the flinching muscles along with the smell of heavy musk of the woman’s arousal.  Skipping downwards, Buffy unties Sasha’s tennis shoes and slides them off, with the socks quickly following.  Kicking her own shoes off, and reaching down to yank the socks off, Buffy returns to Sasha’s body.  Trailing her fingers over the high arches of the slayer’s feet, Buffy grins as she hears a quiet giggle escape Sasha even as her feet jerk slightly.  The sound so alien to the tall slayer, that Buffy has to hear it again and trails a fingernail lightly over the same spot. 

“Buffy!”  Sasha squeals quietly, yanking her foot away from the slayer’s playful teasing.  Quickly turning over, she glares at the small slayer when she notices the playful grin on Buffy’s face. 

“Someone’s ticklish.”  Buffy works her way up Sasha’s body, her eyes slowly traversing the broad shoulders down to the firm, uplifted breasts that she already knows nestles perfectly in her hands.  The playful grin turns into a slow sensuous smile as she notices the slayer’s brown nipples hardening perceptibly under her gaze. 

Sasha groans and arches as Buffy’s hands glide up her abdomen towards her breasts, no hesitation this time in the slayer as they cup and gently squeeze her flesh.  “Ma petite…”  Sasha inhales sharply as Buffy’s fingers start to pinch and twist her nipples, her eyes closing involuntarily. 

Scooting her way upwards, Buffy settles her body on Sasha’s abdomen while continuing to torment the slayer’s breasts and nipples.  Feeling Sasha’s hands fluttering lightly over her knees almost as if she’s waiting for something, Buffy doesn’t think about it for a few minutes as she leans down, capturing the full lips in a heated, deeply exploratory kiss. 

Sasha groans deeply as she presses up into the kiss, wrapping her tongue around Buffy’s as the slayer turns from deep and exploratory to a heated battle of wills.  Clenching the comforter in her hands as she fights the desire to caress and touch the slayer, having promised not to push Buffy, but the slayer making it awfully damn hard to wait for permission. 

Nipping on Sasha’s lips as she pulls away, finally breaking the kiss, Buffy pants heavily as she continues to caress the woman’s breasts.  It takes a few moments for it to sink into her haze-filled brain that the black-haired slayer isn’t touching her, before begging softly.  “Touch me, Sasha.  You don’t have to ask permission, or wait for me to tell you, you can.”  Buffy finally drags her eyes open to look into passionate blue eyes.  Feeling the strong hands finally caress over her sides and upwards to knead her breasts. 

“Can I have permission to taste, also?”  Sasha questions hoarsely, her accent thicker as she starts to kiss and nibble her way across Buffy’s jaw, her fingers plucking at the slayer’s nipples, a smile crossing her face at the low groan she gets from Buffy in response.

“Any-anything.”  Buffy pants heavily, her body slowly rocking against Sasha’s abdomen, whimpering as the Russian licks and starts to suckle on the tender flesh just behind her ear. 

“Do what you want, ma petite.”  Sasha whispers hotly into the slayer’s ear, wanting the woman to be comfortable about exploring her body.  “Touch, kiss, nibble, whatever you want to do.”  Sasha presses up into the slayer’s body as she feels the dampness on her stomach as Buffy grinds firmly against her.  Dropping her hands to the slayer’s sweatpants, she tugs on them.  “You may wish to get rid of the rest of the items in the way first, though.”

Buffy nods her agreement as she swings her leg over Sasha to lie besides the slayer, pushing down and wiggling her way out of her sweats while Sasha rolls out of the bed and shoves her jeans and panties down off her body.  Buffy’s eyes catch on the strip of black curls at the slayer’s apex. 

Sasha exhales softly at the sight of the naked slayer, the firm lightly tanned body, the small, pert breasts and the absolutely smooth apex. 

Buffy darts a look upwards when she hears the soft exhale coming from the tall slayer, her eyes drooping half shut at the hungry look crossing Sasha’s face as she looks at her.  The desire obvious in the blue eyes and the flushed body.  Wanting to touch, stroke and taste the slayer, Buffy rolls over and up onto her knees in front of Sasha in a smooth move and wraps her arms around the woman’s neck, placing wet kisses slowly up the arching neck.  “I want to explore, but…  God I don’t think I’m patient enough for that right now.”  Buffy admits hoarsely, her aching body begging for release. 

“Tell me what you want.”  Sasha tilts her head down and nips on Buffy’s ear.  “Whatever you want, ma petite.  Just tell me.” 

Buffy pushes her body against Sasha’s.  “I want to feel you against me.”  Buffy whispers, squeaking slightly in surprise as Sasha picks her up in her arms before the slayer lays down in the bed with her above her. 

Sasha spreads her legs to let Buffy’s body slip between them, watching the surprise and slight confusion in Buffy’s hazel eyes.  Slowly trailing her hands over the blonde’s body, Sasha unconsciously closes her eyes at the feel of the soft, smooth skin before her fingers dip into the dampness between the slayer’s folds.  Feeling her heartbeat and desire both pick up, she slowly gathers the moisture and slides her finger over the slayer’s swollen clit growling softly as it hardens even more even as Buffy presses into her touch with a loud whimper. 

“Hey!”  Buffy shifts up and growls loudly as Sasha’s finger stops touching her.

“Patience, ma petite.”  Sasha drags her eyes open to look into hazel eyes, smiling at the look of disgruntlement on Buffy’s face.  Separating her own lips, Sasha strokes quickly and firmly over herself before pulling the hood of flesh completely away from her own distended clit.  “Lower your hips, Buffy.”  Sasha orders hoarsely, holding her body ready with her thumb even as with her fingers she guides Buffy down to her while carefully pulling the hood back from Buffy’s clit until she can pull her hand out from between them.  Reaching up, Sasha cups Buffy’s face and lifts her head to press a firm kiss against her lips.  “Rock back and forth, grind down into me… basically do what feels good.”  Sasha explains, letting her hips lift and rub gently back and forth so their clits slide against each other.

It takes Buffy a moment to realize what Sasha’s maneuvering is for, but when she feels her clit rubbing against the black-haired slayer’s, Buffy growls deeply after Sasha’s explanation, kissing her hard as she presses her lower body against Sasha’s and starts a fast, hard rocking motion, her body already pulsing uncontrollably with desire and needing the release.

Sasha groans loudly as Buffy’s teeth capture her bottom lip, biting firmly, but not hard enough to break the skin, the pleasurable pain enough to make her jerk up into the slayer’s hard thrusting as she climaxes, feeling an answering dampness coming from Buffy along with a quiet cry as Buffy releases her lip.

Resting her head against Sasha’s chin, Buffy pants heavily, her mind swimming with the delightful feelings flowing through her.  “I never even thought about that being possible.”  Buffy finally admits after getting control of her breathing, her body still rocking softly against Sasha’s.

Sasha chuckles softly.  “I do not think you have thought much about having sex with a woman, ma petite.”

“I’ve had my moments.”  Buffy admits quietly, shifting to nuzzle gently on Sasha’s neck.  “Though I tried to keep the thoughts from getting too detailed since it just seemed wrong somehow.  Not that I was always successful.”  Buffy slowly works her way further down Sasha’s body, now that the initial serious urge of lust was taken care of. 

“Having sex with a woman seemed wrong?”  Sasha frowns, confused.

“No.”  Buffy growls, nipping on the starting swell of Sasha’s breast as she works her way across the small breast, capturing the large, hard nipple between her lips and suckling strongly, while groaning happily, before releasing the flesh.  “Thinking about having sex with the person I was thinking about.”  Buffy explains as she nips her way over to the other breast, leaving little red marks in her wake.

Sasha grunts loudly as sharp teeth gain purchase on her nipple and pull upwards before releasing the flesh to bathe the swollen flesh with a warm, wet tongue.  Having to admit to herself that Buffy definitely seems to be at home with the female body, and if she didn’t know better, she would think she may have been with women before.  “Are you going to tell me who this woman is?”

Buffy slowly works her way downwards, nuzzling against the tall slayer’s abdomen as she hesitates, her eyes slowly looking upwards into hazy, yet curious, blue eyes.  “Do you really want to know?”  Buffy blinks at the soft smile and nod she gets in response to her question.  Sighing heavily she drops her face and rubs it against the slayer’s flinching stomach, not believing that they’re in the middle of having sex and they’re talking about the fact she’s entertained some rather naughty thoughts about Tara. 

“If you do not wish to tell me, you do not have to.”  Sasha whispers, gently stroking her hand over Buffy’s head.

“It’s not like you don’t know pretty much everything else about me.”  Buffy slowly works her way back up the tall slayer’s body, pressing gentle kisses on each nipple before settling her body on top of Sasha’s and looks into understanding blue eyes.  Stroking her fingers gently over Sasha’s sharp cheekbones, Buffy presses a quick kiss to her lips, smiling at the feel of the slayer’s large hands stroking tenderly up and down her back.  “Tara.”  Buffy finally admits quietly.

Sasha blinks and shakes her head.  “Terror?  But…”  Sasha unconsciously stops her hands’ movements as she remembers the conversation with the blonde witch.  Something about the rogue slayer knew who Buffy was attracted to. 

“What’s wrong?  Is it that odd?”  Buffy frowns as she looks into confused blue eyes looking up at her.

“Rogue slayer knows that you are attracted to Terror?”  Sasha questions disbelievingly. 

“How did you…”  Buffy shakes her head as she searches blue eyes. 

“Tara.  When we went shopping, she said Faith had told her that she knew that you were attracted to a woman and who the woman is, but would not tell Tara who the woman is.”  Sasha explains softly.  “And the dark slayer did not rip you apart?”

Buffy lets a half-strangled laugh escape her throat as she shakes her head and buries her face in Sasha’s neck as she shifts slightly on the woman.  Slowly she explains the whole discussion she and Faith had after the Drusilla fiasco and Faith’s surprising acceptance, and even more shocking asking of her to take care of Tara if anything should happen to Faith.

“Tara is good for Faith.  Better even than either woman probably realize.”  Sasha hugs Buffy to her as she thinks about the slayer’s words.  “I know I have said before that they are good friends, but they are family and loved ones.  You are all blessed to have each other.”  Sasha reaches around to lift Buffy’s head and places a tender kiss on her lips. 

“Occasionally the PTB do something right.”  Buffy breathes the words over Sasha’s lips.  “Is it okay if we don’t talk about anyone else for a while?” 

“Oh, yes.  That is more than okay.”  Sasha smiles as she strokes her thumb over Buffy’s cheek.  “If you do not wish, we do not have to speak at all.”

“We’ll see how it goes.”  Buffy slowly grins and presses another kiss to Sasha’s lips, deepening it slowly as she wonders how long it would take to kiss every square inch of the slayer’s body, hoping that sometime in the future she has the time and ability to do it.

***

Chapter 34

“Get it taken care of, babe?”  Faith questions softly as she looks at her lover as Tara steps out on the porch.

“Yes.  We came across a relatively simple spell of sending a note and sent it to the Coven in Devon to let them know, along with the spell.  We figure it might come in handy if they need to reach us.”  Tara steps out, sighing quietly as she looks around. 

“It’s been kinda quiet.”  Faith runs her fingers through Tara’s hair as her lover steps up to hug her. 

“You haven’t been picking on Buffy and Sasha, have you?”  Tara grins at the low chuckle she gets from Faith.

“Nah.  I’ll save that for the next time.  I figger give ‘em this first time together without any shit from me.”  Faith presses her lips to Tara’s forehead as she closes her eyes. 

“Do you think we should all go on a sweep of Sunnydale?  I hate just sitting here and waiting for the other shoe to drop.”  Tara admits quietly as she thinks about the fact that’s exactly what they’re doing, sitting back and pretty much waiting for The First to make his move.

“The kids ain’t the strongest.”  Faith whispers, slowly dropping her hand to knead Tara’s back. 

“But we have three slayers, Faith.  And two strong witches, along with the four potentials.  Surely between the five of us, we can help protect the potentials.”  Tara shifts and buries her face in Faith’s neck.  “The more of the minions floating around that can be taken out before the whole big battle, the better off we’ll be.”

“I ain’t arguin’, babe.”  Faith hugs Tara tightly.  “We’ll see what B has to say tomorrow.  Tonight, I’m gonna be a good slayer and keep an eye out for evil goin’s on, while sneaking kisses with you for a while until I kick your ass upstairs and to bed.”

“Maybe I’ll want to stay up with you all night?”  Tara presses her lips to Faith’s neck, smiling at the soft groan she gets in response.

“Babe, I ain’t gonna let ya’ stay up all night with me.  I want ya’ all nice and comfy in bed when I crawl in beside ya’ in the morning, because I wanna wake you up in interestin’ and perverted ways.”  Faith smirks as Tara jerks into her body and let’s out a low, long whimper.

“I thought it was my turn to get to experiment on you.”  Tara huskily whispers as she nibbles her way up Faith’s neck, wanting to attack the slayer in all kinds of ways as she’d made some decidedly decadent thoughts cross her mind, but knowing she can’t since her lover is in charge of sentry duty for the night.

“Trust me, you’ll get ta’ experiment.”  Faith growls and arches her neck as Tara bites gently while growling. 

“We’re going to have to buy a new mattress for Dawn when we’re finished.”  Tara admits, the thought of the teenager sleeping on it after some of the things her and Faith has already done making her a bit off. 

“Figured as much.”  Faith snorts, wondering, not for the first time, how her lover’s mind works.  “You wanna walk around the area with me?”

“You know I do.”  Tara hugs Faith tightly before releasing her lover, smiling as they slowly make their way around the Summers’ residence before expanding their circle to the houses on either side to make sure there isn’t anything amiss, the two women walking in a comfortable silence.

***

“Is everyone positive this is what you want to do?”  Buffy questions, looking at the potentials, already knowing what Willow, Tara, Faith and Sasha think, but they can protect themselves, the potentials are the ones that can ultimately be harmed the easiest.

Justine steps up, for some reason the other potentials had nominated her as their leader and the one to speak for them all.  “We discussed it and believe it’s better to be doing something than sitting on our asses waiting to be picked off.  We’d rather go down fighting.”

Buffy takes a deep breath and nods.  “Gather up your weapons of choice, along with extra stakes and knives.” 

Sasha frowns as Buffy strides out of the house, having caught the quick look of sadness crossing the small slayer’s face.  Quickly reaching down for the two short swords she’s pretty much kept with her from day one, along with tucking a couple stakes away and an extra knife, she hurries after the petite blonde.  “Buffy?” 

Buffy sighs as she hears her name with the soft accent coming from the Russian slayer.  “They’re so eager to die, and they haven’t even lived yet.”

“They are not eager to die, they want to feel useful, and do what they have been trained to do.”  Sasha cautiously steps up behind Buffy, the slayer having argued with everyone about taking this chance and not knowing how Buffy will handle her touching her, because she was one of the supporters in them going out looking to demolish some of The First’s supporters. 

Buffy releases a tense breath as she feels Sasha’s hand cautiously come to rest on her shoulder.  “I’m not mad at you, Sasha, if that’s what you’re worried about.  I just hate to see girls that are barely teenagers possibly end up dead.”

“You cannot protect everyone, ma petite.  We are all responsible for ourselves, nyet?”  Sasha shifts fully behind Buffy and wraps her arms around the slayer, gently pulling her back against her body, happy when Buffy relaxes against her. 

“They’re children, they’re here and I’m supposed to protect them… this has a good chance of possibly getting them killed.”  Buffy hisses softly, rubbing a hand over her eyes as she fights the tears wanting to gather, refusing to let them fall. 

“They would probably already be dead, if not for you.  And you are not the only slayer, ma petite.  There are three of us now, two witches and the four potentials.  We will protect each other.”  Sasha hugs Buffy tightly and presses a firm kiss to the back of her head.  “Have faith, little one.”

Buffy has to chuckle.  “That’s Tara’s job.” 

Sasha grins at the joke.  “You are rotten, my lover.  Now, we need to go kick some ass so that we might be able to see what else your wicked mind can come up with.”

Buffy turns and smiles into Sasha’s blue eyes, before she leans up and presses her lips firmly to Sasha’s.  “I need to get my weapons.”

“I got ‘em, B.”  Faith finally steps out of the house, having held up the rest of the group until she saw how Buffy was going to react.  Handing the weapons to the smaller slayer, Faith looks at the group.  “One slayer in front, one behind and one on one side of the potentials the two witches on the other side.”  Faith looks curiously at Buffy.  “Wanna take the lead?”

“Bringers don’t show up as demons, we believe because they were former humans turned into demons by The First.  But we were able to come up with a different spell that we think will lead us to where they are if we can capture one of them to place it on.”  Willow offers, glancing at Tara briefly as the two of them had spent an hour on modifying one of the spells to hopefully work to locate more bringers.

“Does he need to be alive?”  Buffy questions curiously and as Willow and Tara both shake their head, she grunts quietly.  “Good, let’s go, I’ll lead for now, Faith bring up the rear.”  Buffy squeezes Sasha’s upper arm as she walks by her new lover.  “Everyone keep their eyes and ears open, be prepared for anything.”

Tara leans into Faith for an extra moment, soaking up her lover’s strength before she steps away with a quick smile into loving brown eyes. 

“You heard the boss, get your scrawny asses moving.”  Faith orders loudly, bringing up the rear, winking as Tara grins at her. 

***

Buffy paces back and forth chewing lightly on her bottom lip in consideration, occasionally looking over at Giles as the Watcher finally showed up the day before in Sunnydale.  “I want to put it to a vote.  We’ve already gone out on three forays through town, killed multiple Bringers, Uber Vamps and a few straggling demons.  We have no way right now of actually defeating The First.  We can continue going out on a daily or even every other day basis searching for demons to take out, or we can try and find whatever it is that we overheard Caleb talking about before we disrupted his little session with the Bringers today.”

“Can we trust ‘im to not have known we were there and be settin’ up a trap?”  Faith questions curiously, slowly looking around the room.  “I mean, I’m all willin’ to go looking for this thing that’ll supposedly help in the fight, but how can it help us if the bastard ain’t got a fuckin’ body to kill?”

“It could be magical.”  Tara finally speaks up, the meeting having been going on for over an hour, having listened to everyone’s comments and now they’re starting to re-hash everything that’s already been said.  “The way Caleb sounded, it’s something that’s keyed into the slayer, and say it’s the proverbial ‘Sword in the Stone’, like in Camelot… who’s to say if it’s wielded by a slayer that it can’t take out The First?”  Tara finally offers, shifting slightly as everyone’s eyes are on her. 

Sasha quirks an eyebrow at that thought, rubbing her chin in contemplation as she tries to remember something her Watcher had previously told her.  Turning her gaze on Giles, she sees a frown crossing his face, as if he’s trying to remember something, also.  “Giles, there is something I remember about my Watcher mentioning an… Axe or something with magical properties that was lost eons ago.  But he thought it was a myth.”  Sasha turns her gaze to quirk her lip up at Tara.  “Not unlike Excalibur.”

“And, of course, it’s just gonna happen to be here on the Hellmouth.”  Faith rolls her eyes, her tones sarcastic.

“The Hellmouth seems to have items gravitate towards it.”  Giles points out unnecessarily.  “And if what was overheard, Caleb knows for a fact it is here and where it’s at.  That means The First knows and they’re probably protecting it to the best of their ability.”

“It has to be below where the Bringers were gathered.”  Buffy starts to pace again, frowning heavily as she thinks.  “We don’t have enough power for a frontal assault on their stronghold, if that’s where it is.  We either need to find another way in, or continue to chip away at them day after day until we can break through their defenses.”

“How about we get more power?”  Faith questions, her eyebrow quirked.  Seeing the confused looks coming her way, she shrugs.  “Bringers are easy ta’ fuckin’ kill.  We got an empty town with Pawnshops with a shit load of guns and ammo.  Load up with shotguns and shells and blast our way through.”

“Bloody hell.”  Giles leans back in the chair, nodding his head.  “That’s actually a brilliant idea.  We don’t need to get personal with the Bringers, we can kill them from a distance without anyone getting hurt.  That’s the majority of The First’s defense, except for Caleb and the Uber Vamps, though I don’t know how many more of those he can make.”

“There’s no more in town right now.”  Willow speaks up, having kept up with checking and casting the spells to make sure.  “You figure we only came across three of them…”

“Only three?”  Buffy rolls her eyes as she looks at Sasha and Faith both of who grunt and glare at Willow.

“Sorry!”  Willow apologizes, remembering how it had taken all three of the slayers fighting in concert with each other against each vampire separately until they were able to kill it, thankful they didn’t come upon all three together.  “Anyway, there were three and so far he hasn’t been able to get another one.  Not that we want anymore of those showing up.” 

“Goddess, no.  We can all do without anymore of those.”  Tara comments softly, unconsciously shifting closer to Faith.  The slayer had taken a nasty cut from one of the Uber Vamp’s long nails that took a little longer than normal to heal. 

Faith wraps her arm around Tara’s waist and hugs her to her.  “All of us go, or just a couple of us go and grab what we need and haul ass back here?”

“I volunteer.”  Sasha stands quickly already reaching for her weapons, all of the group having gotten into the habit of having them within reaching distance. 

Buffy starts to open her mouth, before slamming it shut, seeing the understanding look coming from Sasha, the other slayer seeming to know what she’s going to say before she says it.  Looking towards Faith and Tara, she sighs quietly.  “A witch definitely should go as magical back-up, along with a second slayer playing pack mule, leaving one slayer to fight anything off that might physically come after the group.”

Tara and Faith look at each other and nod. 

Faith stands up, grasping Tara’s hand.  “We’ll go with Russky.  Red and Tweed can be your backup here along with the baby wannabes.”

“Just one question, does anyone know enough about guns to get the right ammunition for them?”  Justine speaks up quietly, looking at the group, seeing them looking at each other.  “I grew up on a ranch, and we shot everything from Berettas, .22’s, rifles and shotguns. I know my way around them and can make sure we get the proper ammunition to go with the guns we pick up.” 

“She should go, also.  I can shoot a gun, but I wouldn’t consider myself proficient about firearms.”  Giles looks at Buffy, seeing her waver on the thought of sending Justine out, knowing better than to butt heads with the slayer again.  Buffy had ripped into him not long after he got there when he’d made a few disparaging remarks about how they were handling things, then when Sasha and everyone else had taken him aside and gave him what-for, he’d learned they were all behind the slayer a hundred percent and weren’t about to budge.  Of course by the time he figured out that not only were Faith and Tara a couple, but it looked like Buffy and the new Russian slayer, Sasha were… seeing each other, he’d known better than to say anything. 

“We’ll protect her, B.”  Faith offers quietly as she gathers her weapons, tucking them away even as Tara grabs a couple spare weapons and puts them in different pockets of her cargo pants. 

“Take my car, there’s no sense in it sitting there not being used.”  Giles stands and digs the keys out of his pocket, holding them out as he looks at the women. 

“Damn, been a while since I drove a car.  As a matter of fact, I think the last time was when I hotwired that Buick in Boston…”  Faith snorts as she grabs the keys and strides out of the house, ignoring the stuttered comments coming from Giles as the rest of the merry band going on a gun grabbing spree follow her out of the house. 

Sasha laughs softly before grabbing the keys out of Faith’s hand.  “I will drive.  I do not trust you, if it has been that long.  At least I have a license.”

“Oh, great.  Don’t all you foreign people drive on the wrong side of the road?”  Faith growls playfully at the taller slayer. 

“Bite me, Rogue Slayer.”  Sasha growls back at the dark-haired slayer.

“Where?”  Faith grins, before yelping as she feels a strong pinch on her ass.

“Get in the car, before you get into more trouble than you are already in.”  Tara orders loudly, waving Faith into the back seat before climbing in beside her to let Justine sit up front with Sasha.  “Damn slayers, can’t take them anywhere.”

“Ya’ love me, and you know it.”  Faith snags Tara and pulls her into her lap, nuzzling into her neck as Sasha and Justine climb in the vehicle. 

“I do, for some strange, unexplainable reason.”  Tara starts to giggle as Faith nips playfully up her neck, Justine starting to laugh as she looks back at them and Sasha just grunts, shaking her head as she starts the rental car and pulls away from the house. 

“You are oversexed, Rogue.”  Sasha comments as she drives quickly through town, remembering where there are three pawn shops in Sunnydale, heading for the closest one first. 

“Uh, uh.  There is no such thing as being oversexed.  Though I have found out that there is such a thing as being tired from being sexed…”  Faith smirks as Tara whimpers and buries her face in her neck.  “Didn’t think that was possible until recently, ya’ know?”

Sasha can’t help the burst of laughter coming from her at Faith’s comment before reaching up and adjusting the rearview mirror to look back at Faith and Tara.  “You will pay for that, Faith.  Terror will make sure you never become tired again if you keep that up.”

“Nah, she won’t.  She’ll threaten to cut me off, but unless I do somethin’ real bad, I think it’s just a threat.”  Faith hugs Tara tightly to her, brushing a kiss over Tara’s temple before whispering for her lover’s ears only.  “I love ya’, babe.  We’ll beat this thing and then figure out what we wanna do afterwards.  Like after a month of nothing but eating, sleeping and having mad passionate lovemaking.”

“I’m holding you to that, Slayer.”  Tara murmurs, lifting her head and pressing a kiss firmly to her lover’s lips before shifting from Faith’s lap as Sasha pulls the vehicle in front of the first pawnshop.  “Shopping trip, ladies.  Let’s see what we can get that can help us out.”

“Goody, goody.  I like ta’ shop for fun stuff.”  Faith smirks as she climbs out of the vehicle behind Tara, her eyes already darting to look inside the shop.

“Goddess help us.”  Tara murmurs under her breath before she checks the door, quickly murmuring the unlock spell she’d memorized, following her lover into the store with Justine and Sasha bringing up the rear.  “Justine, start seeing what they have ammunition wise that will work with whatever guns they have and we’ll go from there, I guess.”

“On it.”  Justine steps behind the counter and starts looking for where the ammunition is kept while the rest of the group sorts through the rest of the store for other weapons that they can use.

***

Chapter 35

“Ma petite, you need to rest.”  Sasha leans on her elbow and looks at Buffy pacing back and forth across the floor.  She had taken the first watch, with Buffy taking the second, now Faith was outside keeping an eye out while they were supposed to be sleeping.  She was able to get a few hours sleep in while Buffy was on sentry duty, but since the slayer had come in, she hadn’t been able to get back to sleep because of her mumbling and pacing.

“I should go downstairs so you can rest.”  Buffy shakes her head at her own inconsideration as she steps towards the door, sighing quietly as Sasha quickly intercepts her.

“No, ma petite.  Come to bed, if you will allow me, I will help you burn off your excess energy.”  Sasha offers softly, the two women sleeping together for almost a week now.    “We will go in first thing tomorrow, and you need to get at least a couple hours of sleep.” 

Buffy looks up into worried blue eyes.  “Are we crazy?  Should we just pack up and let him have the Hellmouth?”

“Nyet.  No!  We will win.  We will get this… weapon and destroy him.  Good triumphs over evil.”  Sasha cups Buffy’s face in between her hands and leans down to kiss her softly, groaning as Buffy increases the pressure until they’re battling hard against each other, realizing she should have known that soft and gentle isn’t something Buffy’s wanting or needing right now.  “Come to bed, ma petite, bitte?” 

Buffy nods and let’s Sasha strip her of her clothes before the tall slayer takes off her own tank top and shorts.  Climbing into the bed, Buffy has to smile at the sight of the beautiful slayer, loving the high, small firm breasts and the strong, long body of the slayer.  “I want you inside me, Sasha.  And I want to be inside you.” 

Sasha climbs into the bed, quickly stretching out above Buffy as she leans down, just before her lips touch Buffy’s, she whispers softly.  “Then that is what you shall have, for as long as you want it.” 

Buffy buries her left hand in Sasha’s hair as they battle for dominance, the kiss being all teeth, tongues and lips, no gentleness involved.  Growling deeply as Sasha’s thigh slips between her legs and rocks hard against her, Buffy drags her other hand down the slayer’s back until she digs her fingers into the flexing ass cheek of the tall Russian as they rock and grind hard against each other even as their teeth nip sharply on lips and tongues.

As the first tremors of release work through their bodies, both women reach for each other, slipping fingers into each other’s depths, knowing what the other needs without having to speak as they work inside each other’s bodies, stroking faster and harder bringing each other to climax after climax even as the desire seems to burn brighter and hotter between them.

Buffy, unaware of how she came to be above the other slayer, just knowing somehow in their machinations and battle for dominance she’d come out on top this time, works a fourth finger inside the slayer, her eyes keeping contact with feverish blue eyes looking back into hers, knowing that her own eyes probably look the same as she rocks fast and hard into the hand pounding into her even as she works at the same pace Sasha is. 

Sasha pants heavily as she feels the orgasm coalescing hot and heavy in her lower abdomen.  Reaching up to cup Buffy behind the head, she growls deeply.  “Now, ma petite… now!” 

Buffy crashes her lips down onto Sasha’s as she pushes upwards with her fingertips, partially curling her fingers, jumping uncontrollably as Sasha does the same for her, the climax literally pouring from her as she feels the wet warmth splashing out around her own hand as they climax together.

Breathing heavily into the blonde slayer’s mouth, Sasha gently eases her hand out from between their bodies and wraps the sweat soaked slayer in her arms, urging Buffy to lay on top of her, feeling the slight shaking of Buffy’s body, before she finally collapses on her.  Pressing a gentle kiss on her forehead, Sasha closes her eyes as she slowly gets control of her breathing even as Buffy finally relaxes and sighs quietly.  “Sleep now?”

Buffy closes her eyes and a small smile crosses her lips at the hopeful tone in Sasha’s voice, coming to care for the slayer deeply, though afraid to admit it.  “Yes.  Thank you, Sasha.”  Chuckling softly at the snort coming from the Russian, Buffy rubs her cheek over her shoulder before maneuvering a little further down, resting her head on Sasha’s breast as the taller slayer flips the sheet over them, falling asleep even as Sasha whispers something she doesn’t understand.

“’Night, ma petite.  Ich liebe dich.”  Sasha whispers, pressing another kiss to the slayer’s forehead, closing her eyes as a sad smile crosses her lips.

****

“No, let him go.”  Buffy hisses softly as Faith starts to jump up and follow Caleb, The First’s right hand man striding away with about ten Bringers flanking him. 

“B…”  Faith growls, wanting to take the bastard out once and for all.

“We’re here for the weapon.  After we have it, we’ll go from there.”  Buffy waits until Caleb and his group are out of sight, before motioning to the group.  “Everyone with the shotguns, shoot the bad guys and not us.”

As Giles, Justine and surprisingly enough, Lisa ease up to the entrance, the remaining potentials surrounded by the two witches and the slayers enter the building, spreading out immediately.

Buffy silently prays as they fan out of the building, watching Lisa intently, the youngest potential offering to take one of the shotguns so they’d have another shooter that was familiar with weapons.  Having been somewhat appeased as she’d seemed to know what she was doing when she loaded it and chambered the first round, but still worried that the gun that was almost as tall as she was would end up knocking her on her ass. 

“Trust her, Buffy.”  Tara murmurs, having followed to the right, keeping to the wall and preparing their magical defense, if it’s needed.

“How do you know what I’m thinking?”  Buffy grumbles softly.

“It’s written all over your face.”  Tara smiles softly at the grunt she gets in response, watching as Buffy shifts forward as they slowly make their way through the building.  Catching Faith darting a glance at her, she smiles at her lover before looking at the rest of the group as they all quietly sneak through the building.  When Giles, Justine and Lisa hesitate at the stairs leading down to the basement of the building, she makes her way forward. 

“It’s dark, we can’t see but halfway down the stairs.”  Giles admits softly, trying to keep his voice as quiet as possible.

“I can take care of that.”  Willow steps up.  “I can do the big ball of light and send it quickly down into the room, so everyone might want to stand back away from the opening until it’s down there and illuminating the room.”

“Everyone back up.”  Buffy orders, glancing towards Sasha and Faith who were both standing guard behind everyone else, but their backs to them to make sure nobody sneaks up behind them, smiling at the thought of how the two slayers automatically do what needs to be done without much extra talking.  “You make sure you’re out of the way, too.”  Buffy narrows her eyes on Willow as the redhead nods even as she starts the spell.

Faith shifts closer to the door, glancing out from the shadows, making sure nobody’s coming up on them, as she listens to anything that might be said behind her. 

“That’s it, go.”  Willow whispers, watching as Giles quickly steps up and clambers down the steps quickly, the need for quietness at an end since the light would give them away. 

“Go, go!”  Buffy orders, as she hears the shotgun blasts going off.  “And for God’s sake, don’t shoot Giles!”

Justine and Lisa quickly follow the Watcher down the stairs, the two women fanning out beside the Watcher who had stopped a couple yards from the stairs, five Bringers already dead around him as he chambers another round and pulls the trigger, the two girls following suit quickly.

Buffy unconsciously steps up behind the small potential, Lisa, as the recoil from the shotgun pushes her back but a Bringer hits the floor dead. 

“I’m okay.”  Lisa chambers another round, kicking out the used one as she points and pulls the trigger again.  “Recoil’s a bitch, though.”

“The damn thing’s bigger than you are.”  Buffy watches another Bringer drop, keeping a hand as support on the girl’s back as she looks around, her ears echoing with the shotgun blasts going off.  “Faith, everything okay up there?”

“Yeah, nothin’ comin’ this way.”  Faith yells back from the entrance to the building, keeping her eyes open. 

Giles steps back, letting the two girls continue to shoot the Bringers that are advancing, thankfully there seems to only be a few left.  Quickly reloading the shotgun, he glances around, looking for anything out of the ordinary, frowning at the sight of the huge caskets of wine spread out around the room, but not seeing any door or opening.

“Check them, make sure they’re dead.”  Buffy orders as the last Bringer drops.  “Keep your eyes open, but look for anything out of the ordinary.  There has to be something down here, they didn’t all just appear out of nowhere.” 

The group spreads out, Sasha waving off the potentials that she’ll check each Bringer.  Working her way through them, the couple that are still breathing, she quickly breaks their neck, finishing them off as she piles them over into the corner out of the way.

“Would it be better if one of us were upstairs keeping an eye out, instead of Faith?”  Justine looks over at Buffy as they search the area, pointing to the shotgun she has slung over her shoulder.  “I know it probably won’t do any good against Caleb, but it will do well against anymore Bringers, and probably quite a few demons if need be.”

“Are you volunteering?”  Buffy sighs as Justine nods.  “Keep an eye out and at the first sign of ANYTHING, yell for us, understood?  We’ll leave someone else in here when we come across the hidden opening to act as a go between.”

“Gotcha.”  Justine trots away and up the stairs quickly. 

“Buffy!  Over here.”  Tara calls out, seeing a slight irregularity in the stone, but not able to move it on her own. 

Buffy runs a finger around the slightly off kilter stone, experimentally pushing and pulling lightly, feeling it finally give as she pulls.  “Got it, move back.”

“Mr. Giles, get over here.”  Tara orders, wanting the Watcher there in case there’re more Bringers behind the false wall.

Sasha finishes with the last Bringer and steps up to the group, pulling her swords to be prepared, just in case as Lisa and Giles both come up to the door, pointing their guns at the ground ready to be pulled up at a moment’s notice. 

Buffy catches the cold blue eyes, sighing quietly at the thought of what the youngest slayer has already seen and has to do now.  When the cold blue slowly turns warm as they look at her, Buffy briefly smiles in response.  The realization that though Sasha has seen and done things that most people couldn’t imagine, she was still human and by the sadness flashing through blue eyes, she isn’t untouched by what she’s done. 

“It appears to be clear.”  Giles throws over his shoulder before stepping down the stairs into the cave like area, looking around the candlelit area, eyes opening wide as he sees the weapon imbedded in stone.  “Tara, I think you are a lot closer to the truth than you thought you were.” 

“Excuse me?”  Tara frowns as she starts to follow Giles down the stairs before Faith growls softly at her and steps in front of her.  “Go then.”  Tara smirks as Faith narrows her eyes on her. 

“Gotta watch you every minute or ya’ll walk right into something.”  Faith carefully steps down the stone stairs into the cavern, intently searching the area with her eyes and body even as Giles works his way around from the other side of the room before they come to a stop by the stone altar with the Scythe imbedded in it.  “It seems ta’ be clear, come on down.”

“Go ahead.”  Giles nods towards the Scythe as he sees Faith waver as she reaches for the weapon.  “I’m going to act as go between for Justine to let you know if anything happens.”  Giles finally offers as he heads back towards the stairs.

Tucking away the weapons, she glances up as the majority of everyone else hurries into the room unconsciously looking at Tara as her lover steps up to the stone.  “Feel anything weird about it, babe?”

Tara slowly shakes her head.  “Not bad weird.”  Tara admits softly.  “But something different.  Go ahead and try.”  Tara kneels down by the stone, slowly running her hands around it.  Looking up as she hears Faith grunt then a sharp expletive escapes her lips. 

“Shit!”  Faith snarls after pulling with everything in her to try and dislodge the weapon.  “Ain’t budging.  Next.”  She steps back and looks from Buffy to Sasha.

Buffy looks at Sasha and shrugs before stepping up to the stone not having any better luck than Faith did before allowing the taller slayer in to take her turn.

“Well, maybe it isn’t the slayer’s weapon after all.”  Buffy crosses her arms over her chest as she glares at the weapon.  “Excalibur it isn’t.  At least not to us three.”

“Maybe together?”  Willow shrugs looking at the slayers before turning back to the stone, as she kneels beside Tara, seeing what the other witch was uncovering.  Trying to help decipher what is etched into the stone.

“Won’t hurt.”  Faith grasps one of the handles while Buffy grabs the other, the slayers taking turns trying to pull the Scythe from the stone in tandem as they work on it in teams of two as the Scythe has two handles. 

“FUCK!  It ain’t moving, no matter how we pair up or grip the damn thing.”  Faith growls loudly, kicking the stone before grunting quietly at her now aching foot.

Tara looks up, contemplating the weapon for a moment as she looks at Buffy.  “Maybe that’s it.  You three need to pull it out together instead of in pairs?”

“But it ain’t got three places for us to grip it.”  Faith points out, looking at the odd weapon stuck in the stone.

“Maybe.”  Buffy circles it.  “One handle above the actual blade.”

Sasha steps up and points at the grip under the stake looking part.  “That is another grip.”

“Exactly, it’s only got two, and we all three tried it alternating out, so what now?”  Faith growls angrily.

“I don’t know but you better do something.  Justine just said they’re coming back.”  Giles hisses, as he looks back into the room. 

“Get her down here with us.”  Buffy orders.  “You, Justine, Lisa be the first line of defense and blast anyone that comes through that opening.  We’ll keep trying to get this out and go from there.”

Willow looks at Tara.  “Can you figure out what this means?” 

Tara shifts around and wiggles her way between the slayers and kneels on the ground beside the redhead.  “I’m not sure.”  Tara pulls her top away from her and rubs the dirt away from the engraving, leaning in with the flashlight to illuminate it better.  “I think…  See not with your eyes, but with your sight?” 

“What the fuck does that mean?”  Faith growls from behind her lover. 

“Hell, we all know Tara can see auras but she doesn’t use her eyes.”  Buffy looks exasperatedly as Faith, snorting at the growl she gets in response.  “Can you see an aura on an inanimate object?”  Buffy turns and looks at Tara, ignoring Giles who is mumbling incoherently at the doorway.

“I’ve never tried.”  Tara admits, standing up as she looks at the Scythe.  Taking a deep, calming breath, she centers herself and focuses in on the item.

Faith steps up and gently rests her hand on Tara’s back in silent support as the other two slayers unconsciously shift around her in a semi-circle of support. 

Tara arches uncontrollably as the power and mystical strength of the three women seem to coalesce around her, her mind’s eye seeing what they can’t.  “Faith, grasp the actual stake end.  Buffy, grasp the handle to what you think is the stake, and Sasha, grasp the handle above the axe head.”

All the people in the small cavern unconsciously snap their heads around to look at Tara, her voice coming out with a heavy accent, a couple of the people unconsciously stepping back as they see a wavering entity surrounding Tara, a golden glow emanating from the witch.

Swallowing hard, the three slayers look at each other and nod, stepping up and grasping the weapon, looking back at Tara as the witch whispers something in some strange language, the golden glow and entity surrounding and speaking through her, seeming to seep into the weapon as they pull it out of the stone, it separating into three distinct weapons, metamorphosing as they step back.

“They’re coming!”  Giles steps back hurriedly, silently praying that this doesn’t become a massacre because there’s nowhere for them to go in the closed off cavern, and having previously used up over half of their ammunition just making it down to the cavern.

“Get behind something and stay protected, and for God’s sake, don’t shoot each other!”  Buffy orders, as she looks at the weapon in her hand, if her eyes aren’t deceiving her it almost looks scalpel sharp along both edges, the blade having to be almost four feet long.

Willow tugs on Tara’s sleeve, the two witches crouching down behind the rock the weapon had been imbedded in as the three slayers step out into the middle of the cavern waiting.  She looks around the edge nearest her as Tara leans around the other edge, watching as Faith looks at the long wooden staff with very sharp, pointed ends, unconsciously weighing the balance in her hands, before her eyes turn to Sasha who is holding what used to be the axe head and now seems to have enlarged to three times the size it was before as the slayer easily spins it around in her hands as she does some kind of complicated move with it that makes it look like a shiny blur. 

“Don’t think, just be.”  Tara intones softly, a hint of the accent still left in her words.  Watching with glowing blue eyes as the three slayers step up as The First appears in front of them even as Caleb leads what’s left of the Bringers into the cavern.  “Take out the Bringers, my children.  Leave Caleb and The First for the slayers to demolish.”

“Slayers?  You don’t have three slayers to…”  The First unconsciously looks towards the rock that had held the weapon of his destruction before turning back to the three women he’s just now noticing are spinning three unique weapons around in front, beside and behind them as they encircle him, the power of the slayer line engulfing him and holding him captive with their maneuvers.  “This can’t be happening!!  I WILL NOT ALLOW IT!”  He screams at the top of his lungs as he feels the weight pressing in on him from every direction.

“The slayers are and always will be.  You shall never be on this plane or any other again.  Die a million deaths, to only die a million more.  Time has no meaning, as I will always be here to help the righteous triumph over evil.”  Tara stands, a light gold shimmer around her as her body is hijacked once more by the Goddess of Slayers, the true power behind the slayer line.  “Now, my daughters!”  She calls to her three slayers, the time to bring The First Evil to an end once and for all, having been waiting for this moment since the beginning of time, despairing of her line ever being split. 

As shotguns blast, taking out the Bringers coming into the cavern, everyone can’t say how it happened, as a flash of warm golden light appears in the cavern, followed by a dying scream as Caleb crumples, his life being forfeit as it was tied to The First’s. 

“What the bloody hell?”  Giles turns and looks over to the three slayers, staring at the statue that has replaced The First. 

All three slayers now look down at their weapons in their hands, honestly at a loss as to what had happened.  One moment they were trying to pull the weapon from the stone the next the fight is over. 

Buffy shakes her head and looks around at all the dumbfounded and lost expressions of everyone around them.  “Does anyone have any idea what just happened?”

“Not really.”  Sasha admits, looking at the sharp axe head in her hands. 

“Don’t look at me, I’m about as fuckin’ lost as everybody else is.”  Faith leans on her weapon as she looks towards Tara, searching the witch’s eyes, silently asking her if she knows what happened.

“I can guess, but I don’t know how correct it’ll be.”  Tara shrugs, smiling softly at her lover.  

“The Goddess actually took out The First, but she needed three slayers to spread her power between them without killing them to do it.”  Willow pipes up finally, having turned back to the stone as there was nothing left for her to do, the fight basically over before it even began.  “If I’m deciphering these symbols right, each weapon is keyed into the slayer it was meant for and though what happened doesn’t take all demons from the world, it does help cleanse the Hellmouth and the rest of the world so they can’t make anymore.” 

“No more making new demons?”  Buffy blinks and hurries around to kneel beside Willow, though not knowing what she’s looking at. 

“If I’m reading it right.”  Willow looks up at Tara and then Giles as they step closer.  “We need someone to come here that can read this properly, Giles.  If vampires and the like can’t make new vampires, that’ll make our lives so much easier.” 

As the whole group starts talking excitedly, Giles whips off his glasses and rubs his eyes before finally yelling and interrupting their impromptu partying.  “We don’t know for a fact, that this is what it says.  Don’t assume anything right now, until we can decipher it properly.”  Ignoring the groans and the girls grumbling about his pessimistic attitude, he looks down at the hieroglyphics and symbols, able to make out a few of them here and there, but other ones he’s at a loss as to what they mean.  “I’ll contact the Council and the Coven after taking rubbings of everything on the stone.  I’ll drive to Los Angeles and use Angel’s hotel to fax everything from.”

“Fine.  Come on, ladies.  I think it’s time ta’ party, but don’t become complacent.  Just because we took out The First, don’t mean some of his boys ain’t still around here, got it?”  Faith orders, nodding towards Justine and Lisa for them to lead the way out. 

“We’ll come back tomorrow for your rubbings, we need to get the paper and charcoal to do it properly.”  Willow stands, brushing her jeans off as she sighs, looking at the group, most of the group excited and charged with adrenalin though a few are obviously worried and waiting to see if the other shoe is going to drop. 

Sasha hesitantly steps up to Buffy, sighing in relief as the slayer smiles at her and steps into her personal space after setting the weapon down and wrapping her arms around her neck.  “I feel like I am at a loss?”

Buffy snorts and rubs her face against Sasha’s chest.  “Being hijacked by more powerful beings has a tendency to make you feel insignificant and useless.  Happened before when my friends invoked the Spirit of the First Slayer.  I didn’t really have control of my body then, either though I was more aware of what was happening at the time unlike this time.”

“Come on, you two.  We gotta get back ta the house.  Don’t wanna take no chances.”  Faith gruffly comments as she wraps her arm around Tara’s waist.  “Ya’ okay, babe?”

“Tired.  I really, really don’t like these other beings using me to talk through.”  Tara grumbles, rubbing a hand over her eyes.

“Happen often, does it?”  Faith smirks at her lover as Tara growls at her.

“Second time it’s happened since being here on the Hellmouth.  Last time I was the voice for The First Slayer when she decided she wanted to be bitchy to Buffy.”  Tara waves a hand toward Buffy, watching as Buffy snatches her head around quick to look at her. 

“I didn’t know you were actually aware of The First Slayer using you.  It was like all a dream state thing.  I thought she just used your likeness or something.”  Buffy looks curiously at Tara.

“Oh, no.  She actually used me, though it was in a dreamscape type arena, using our subconscious.”  Tara grins crookedly at the surprise on Buffy’s face.

“Come on, ya’ guys can yack all ya’ want when we get home.  Right now, Tare is tired and almost everybody else has already headed out.”  Faith urges the group out.  “Come on, Red.  Ya’ can check out those things tomorrow when we come back.”

“Okay, okay.”  Willow sighs as she stands as she makes her way out to the stairs, really wishing she could decipher more of the writings on the stone.  A quick smile crossing her lips as she realizes if what she deciphered was correct, eventually there may be an end to the demons on Earth, and that is no small feat.

***

Chapter 36

“Shhh, babe.  Go back to sleep.”  Faith whispers as she climbs in the bed, having taken first watch, the slayers deciding to go ahead and split the watches up for a few more nights, everyone planning on going back tomorrow to the cavern so Giles could copy the information from the stone.  Tara having been more drained than she’d admitted and curled up asleep on her on the couch before she’d carried the witch up the stairs and put her to bed.

“Want you.”  Tara looks sleepily at Faith, feeling the tension in her lover’s body knowing what she’s like after a busy slay night and not willing for her to go to sleep strung tighter than a bow string. 

“You’re tired.”  Faith argues softly, gently running her fingers through Tara’s hair, seeing the tiredness but also the stubbornness looking back at her from Tara’s blue depths. 

“And you’re ready to burst.”  Tara reaches out to Faith, her hand stroking firmly down the slayer’s stomach to cup Faith’s mound, feeling the dampness already gathered there. 

Faith groans loudly, her hips arching uncontrollably as Tara’s fingers slip between her folds and stroke unerringly over her aching clit.  “Babe…”  Faith whimpers.

“Climb up here, slayer.”  Tara rolls onto her back from where she had been lying on her side, shifting down in the bed.  Seeing the somewhat confused brown eyes looking at her, the desire and lust making Faith’s high functioning capabilities leave completely, Tara tugs on her lover’s waist.  “Climb above me and straddle my head.” 

Faith shakes her head in the negative even as she maneuvers and swings her leg over Tara’s head, closing her eyes as Tara’s hands grasp her hips and pull her down onto her lover’s waiting mouth, whimpering and rocking as Tara’s tongue glides over her body, flicking gently at first over her aching clit.  Grasping the headboard to steady herself as Tara’s lips wrap around her and she starts to suck strongly, Faith calls out Tara’s name loudly as she climaxes almost instantly with the strong suction.

Tara pants heavily at the quickness Faith climaxed, though she’s honestly not surprised, getting to know her lover and the different signs she gives off, having to as Faith would keep things inside instead of letting them out.  Slowly sliding two fingers within Faith’s center, Tara slowly drags her tongue over Faith’s clit, flicking it strongly with the tip as she starts to stroke in and out of her lover gradually building up the power of her thrusts.  Alternating quick flicks with long strokes of her tongue over Faith’s quivering clitoris as she feels the next orgasm working its way through her lover’s body, licking strongly and quickly over the flinching muscle as she buries her fingers deep inside Faith as her lover’s strong muscles clench convulsively around her as another flood of liquid eases from Faith.

“Tare…”  Faith jumps convulsively as she feels her lover’s tongue ever so softly flutter over her rosebud, her lover testing the waters as she’d never had the chance to experiment with everything that had happened after getting the go ahead from her. 

Tara blows a cool breath of air over Faith’s sphincter muscle, before placing soft kisses around her lover’s butt as she slowly shifts out from under Faith, keeping her fingers buried in her center as she maneuvers behind her lover and starts to stroke in and out of her again while pressing gently against her back, wrapping her free arm around Faith’s waist and hugging her.  “I’ll never do anything you don’t want, or that scares you, love.”  Tara whispers hoarsely into Faith’s ear, nuzzling gently on the lobe as she inhales deeply of her lover’s scent. 

“It…”  Faith groans as Tara’s arm slips down and her hand caresses lovingly over her mound, occasionally a finger gliding over her clit even as Tara keeps up the stroking of her fingers from behind.  “It felt good.”  Faith finally admits, leaning her forehead against the wall, her body jumping uncontrollably as Tara’s fingers turn inside her and curl, hitting her sweet spot. 

Tara relaxes and brushes her lips over Faith’s shaking shoulders as her lover draws closer and closer to a larger orgasm, the sweat covered slayer emitting a low, continuous growl that’s almost impossible to hear.  Gathering some of the escaping liquid onto her thumb, Tara slowly circles Faith’s sphincter muscle, alternately pressing gently against the muscle and just stroking it softly deciding this will be enough for her lover this time, wanting Faith to be completely comfortable with their foray’s into anal play.  Tara having enjoyed it more than she thought possible when Faith had lovingly and gently played over her body.  “I love you, Faith.  I love your stubbornness, your pigheadedness, and everything about you, my beautiful slayer.  Being loved by you has made me happier than I’ve ever been in my life, and I wouldn’t change a single moment of it.”  Tara whispers.

Faith cries out louder than she meant too as she climaxes, the release continuing for long moments as her body quivers and shakes as her lover’s words imbed themselves for eternity in her heart and mind.  Collapsing fully against the wall, Faith just groans quietly, feeling completely limp as Tara gently lowers her hand so her fingers slip from inside her.

Tara presses one more firm kiss to Faith’s neck as she gently maneuvers her half comatose lover down under the covers, lying down and pulling the unresisting slayer over onto her.  Slowly stroking her hands up and down Faith’s sweaty back as the slayer burrows in closer against her even as she slowly falls asleep.  Closing her eyes, it doesn’t take Tara long before she follows her lover into the land of dreams, feeling happy and content.

***

“Mr. Giles?”  Tara calls out softly to the Watcher as she, Willow and Giles compare the symbols and hieroglyphics with the books they’d grabbed from the Magic Box.  When she has his attention, she smiles quickly.  “I don’t think we’ll need to send these to be deciphered.”  Standing up, she moves to the large dry erase board Faith had appropriated from the art store in town along with a bunch of pens to use on it.  Quickly copying down certain items onto the board, Tara puts the word and/or words that it could mean beside it.  “The majority of the symbols and hieroglyphics we’ve already deciphered.  We just need to get what they actually are meant to say, not the literal translation.”  Pointing to certain hieroglyphics after looking at her notepad again, she smiles.  “A lot of the glyphs and symbols are repeated throughout, so it shouldn’t be hard.”

Giles nods his head in agreement as he stands up with his notepad that he’d transferred the glyphs onto to work with after checking the rubbings.  Standing up, he hurriedly writes down what’s on his pad in a neat row with the corresponding word or words beneath.  Silently working on what he has until he feels that he has the best words in place with a line drawn through the words that didn’t make much sense, stepping back to look at the end product carefully. 

“The three, the one that was, the one that is, and the one that shouldn’t be, shall bring the downfall of The First and bring light to the world.”  Giles taps his chin in consideration.  “Light, meaning the end of the evil and darkness from demons?”

“I believe so.”  Willow pipes up, hurrying up to the board with what she’d been working on.  Quickly scribbling her items onto the board with the corresponding words, having already been working on it and discarding the ones she didn’t think worked, stepping back smiling. 

“To one day end the overcast darkness on the world.”  Willow looks at what she’s written.  “From what I can gather, The First was actually feeding the demons with his power through all the Hellmouths.  Not unlike what he was doing with Caleb, just not to the same degree.  As long as he kept feeding them, they could turn more demons or release demons through the Hellmouth.  Now that he’s gone, his shadow over the world is gone and in turn all the demons eventually will be phased out by the slayers.”

Buffy listens to the group as they talk, a slow smile crossing her face at the thought.  “So, basically what you guys are telling us, is that all we have to worry about is the demons already here, there won’t be anymore newly risen vampires, right?  It was like all of a sudden the evil daddy became sterile and can’t have anymore babies?”

Faith smirks at Buffy’s phrasing, chuckling at the glare she gets from Giles.  “She coulda said he got it lopped off and ain’t gonna be able to get it up no more instead, Tweed!!”

“I have a question.”  Sasha speaks up hesitantly, looking at the group.  “The Hellmouth, will it still emanate vibes to attract demons, or will it no longer be a draw to them?  You said it would cleanse the Hellmouth.”

“I think I was a little off with my word of cleanse in that respect.”  Willow winces, as she remembers what she’d said in the cavern.  “The Hellmouth is still here and probably will still attract demons, but not to the degree it was before.  This will always be more of a hot spot, since it was an active Hellmouth, but now without The First Evil feeding it it’ll be in like a stasis state.” 

“And there is something else to take into consideration.”  Giles speaks up as he looks at the board for another moment before turning back to the slayers.  “All demons draw… or drew power from the Hellmouth to a certain degree.  They shouldn’t be near as strong as they were before and over time will even become weaker.  Without the Hellmouth being active it’s only a matter of time before they start losing their powers and strength.”

“So, what?  Does this mean the demons will just set up shop wherever the fuck they are?  I mean, if they ain’t feeling the urge ta come here to the Hellmouth no more, what’s gonna happen?  Are we gonna go out on the road lookin’ for ‘em?”  Faith blinks at the thought, her eyes unconsciously going to Tara, watching as her lover quirks an eyebrow in thought. 

“I dare say that might end up being what needs to happen.”  Giles admits quietly.  “I’ll have to get with the Council and see what they think is the best course of action, but personally if the demons aren’t as strong, the potentials that have training along with Watchers being there would have a very good chance of taking out a lot of the demons themselves.”

“Write up a note, Giles, we’ll send it to the Council… Heck we can even copy all this information down onto a couple sheets and send it with it, if you want.”  Willow admits, rolling her eyes as she thinks about the Watcher talking about going to LA to use a fax machine, all of them forgetting in the interim about how they could magically send the information where they needed it to go.

“Bloody hell!”  Giles groans as it hits him, nodding his head excitedly, he gathers the information up from the two witches and settles in his chair with a large book on his lap and quickly starts working transcribing everything onto another notepad.

Faith stands and walks towards Tara, grasping her lover’s hand, she gently tugs, silently urging her to follow her.

Tara unresistingly follows Faith out of the house and down the street as the dark-haired slayer seems lost in thought, giving her lover a chance to get whatever’s going through her mind straight before saying anything. 

“Can I ask ya’ somethin’?”  Faith finally questions, stopping to turn and look at Tara.

“You can ask me anything, Faith.”  Tara reaches up to cup her lover’s face seeing the hesitancy and worry in warm brown eyes. 

“Do ya’ wanna stay here in Sunnydale, or would you like to maybe see the country?”  Faith’s voice is hoarse and low as she silently waits for Tara’s answer. 

Tara tilts her head as she considers her lover, seeing the slightly hopeful look in brown eyes that Faith’s trying to keep hidden.  “I consider Sunnydale my home.”  Tara starts softly, seeing the hope slowly flicker in Faith’s eyes.  “And I wouldn’t want to leave it forever, but I wouldn’t mind seeing the country, or even Canada and Mexico along with a few other countries eventually.  But I do think I would want to come back to visit here as this group has become my family over the years.”  Tara smiles softly as the light flickers back brightly in Faith’s eyes and a slow, happy smile crosses Faith’s face. 

“Would ya’ mind living in hotel and motel rooms for an indeterminable amount of time?  Probably living off take out and shit as we play roving good guys and deal with demons wherever we go?”  Faith hurriedly questions, searching her lover’s blue eyes, really wanting a chance to see the country.  Things she didn’t think she’d ever get the chance to see, like the Grand Canyon, Times Square, even Disney Land if given the time. 

“As long as I’m with you, I’ll be happy to live out of a cardboard box, Faith.”  Tara admits seriously, cupping her lover’s face and gently stroking her thumbs by the slayer’s full lips.  “And if everything goes the way I think it will, The Council will be more than happy to fund us on our travels.  As for the take-out and fast food, we’ll discuss it.  Some places have kitchenettes, and we can look for those instead of always just a plain hotel or motel room, that way we can eat properly most of the time.”

“Thank you.”  Faith whispers, her tones heartfelt as she leans in and kisses Tara lovingly, her heart light and happy at the thought of Tara willing to follow her around the country… hell even the world.  “Shit, what about school?”

“I’ve earned enough credits to graduate from college, I was just wanting to take a few more courses that would help with my teaching career, so it isn’t that big a deal.”  Tara explains softly.  “When we settle down again, I can always take extra classes in the evenings while teaching during the day.”

“I love you, Tare.  I never woulda thought someone would be willing to put their own dreams and stuff on hold for what I wanted, but…”  Faith feels the tears come to her eyes at the realization that this woman has already given her so much.

“Shhh.  I want what you want.  I want you to be happy.  Plus, it isn’t like I’ll enjoy seeing the sights and different parts of the world, also, you know!”  Tara grins crookedly at her lover, trying to get Faith to lighten up.  “I have a feeling it’s going to happen quickly, once Mr. Giles gets the ball rolling.  I want to wait and tell Willow later.”  Tara admits softly, her eyes dropping.  “I don’t think she’ll be happy about this, and want to keep the interaction down to a minimum.”

Faith pulls Tara tightly against her.  “I’ll talk to Tweed and tell him to keep it quiet.  I’ll also pull B aside and let her know what’s up, she deserves to know.”

Tara nods, not arguing the fact as she buries her face in her lover’s neck, sighing in contentment at the comfort being offered to her from her lover.  Willow having gotten better as the time went by, but knowing in her heart that Willow still believes that if she waits long enough and is there, Faith will screw up and she’ll come running back to the redhead.  And that couldn’t be further from the truth.  No matter what happens, she would never be willing to put herself in that position again, even though a part of her still loves Willow, she isn’t in love with the redhead any longer. 

***

Buffy smiles as Sasha’s arms wrap around her, pulling her tighter to her body as she slowly wakens, the time of them being together slowly coming to an end as she feels the cloud of Sasha flying back with Giles looming closer and closer.  Wanting to ask the slayer to stay with her, but knowing she can’t.  Even Faith and Tara were planning on leaving and being demon hunters out on the road for who knows how long, though both women had promised they would definitely keep in touch and eventually planned on coming back to Sunnydale. 

Sasha rubs her face against the back of Buffy’s head, sighing in contentment of the small slayer’s body pressing back against her.  “The Council called last night with confirmation of our flight.”  Sasha finally whispers, clenching her jaw as she feels Buffy stiffen before finally relaxing again. 

“When?”  Buffy asks simply, not wanting to know the answer, wishing she could live in denial but short of all demons spontaneously combusting, she knows she has no right to beg the slayer to stay with her.  Not that Sasha would, since they had more or less come together out of convenience and a physical attraction to each other.  Knowing in her heart that she’s fallen in love with the slayer but not anything she can really do about it. 

“Saturday afternoon out of LAX.”  Sasha sighs quietly at the thought that in three days she’ll be in Los Angeles and boarding a plane to go halfway around the world away from the one person she wants to stay beside forever. 

Buffy’s eyes close, realizing Sasha is leaving out the day after Faith and Tara plan on starting their journey.  Lifting one of the slayer’s large hands, she gently places a kiss in the heart of her palm and tucks the hand against her upper chest even as a lone tear escapes her eye and trails down the side of her face to get lost in her hair. 

Hugging the small slayer tightly against her, Sasha answers the unspoken plea to just hold Buffy without saying anything else.  Knowing her lover doesn’t want to speak anymore about leaving and just wants to enjoy what time they have left together.

***

Chapter 37

“B, keep an eye on the place for us?  We’ll be back, don’t know when, but we figured we’d take off and work our way around the country just seeing the sights and taking out demons.  Tare’s already got a pile of shit to use to help us find ‘em.”  Faith hands an extra set of keys to Buffy.  “I got all the bills automatically comin’ outta my account, so you ain’t gotta worry about anything like that.”

“Are you sure you two want to do this?”  Buffy unconsciously looks out the window of the Espresso Pump and looks at the bright red Jetta already packed with Tara and Faith’s stuff, the two women planning on heading out after Tara finishes talking with Willow, having not told the redhead what they were planning on doing.  Though they had let her know in advance when they started making the arrangements, having contacted the Watcher’s Council to get an idea of where a lot of the hot spots were for demon activity to make sure they hit them while going from town to town and double-checking to make sure there aren’t any other demons around.

“Go, B.  I know you wanna have this last full day and night with the Russky before she heads back across the ocean.”  Faith gruffly comments, looking down knowing that the slayer was ambivalent about the Russian leaving, on top of their leaving.

“Take care of each other.  Give Tara a hug for me, okay?”  Buffy finally smiles sadly at the dark-haired slayer, surprised when Faith hugs her tightly. 

“I will, B.  Ya’ take care of yourself, and we’ll call frequently.  Ya’ got our cell number, right?”  Faith releases Buffy as they move closer to the exit of the shop, her eyes unconsciously going to Tara seeing the tension in her lover’s body. 

“Yeah, I got it.  I want you to check in at least once a week.”  Buffy sighs before shaking her head.  “I’m no good with goodbyes.  Just love each other and take care of each other.”

Faith blinks as Buffy quickly disappears out the door with those words, sighing softly at the sight of the slayer jogging down the street away from them.  Turning around as she hears the exasperation in her lover’s voice, almost being bowled over by Willow striding by her and out the door, the anger almost a physical entity coming from the witch.

Tara smiles apologetically at her lover as she hurries after Willow, not surprised when Faith follows closely behind her as she steps out of the coffee shop.  Tara frowns heavily as she watches her hurt and angry ex-lover stride away.  Her chin dropping to her chest as her mind trips back to roughly a year earlier and the things that had happened that culminated in this moment.  Smiling softly as she feels the strong, warm body of her lover brush gently against her back and two strong arms wrap around her middle to comfort her.

“Everything’ll be okay, Tare.  She came to more or less become okay with us being a couple she’ll get over being pissed at us for leavin’.”  Faith presses her lips to the back of Tara’s head, smiling as she feels Tara slowly relax back into her.

“I know.  It’s just in the last year so many things have changed in her life that she barely recuperates from one when she gets slammed with another.”  Tara admits, slowly turning in Faith’s arms, reaching up to thread her fingers gently through her lover’s wavy locks. 

“Babe, she ain’t the only one.  We’ve all been through some shit in the last few years that no one else would believe.  We’re taking something of a mini-vacation while doing our demon hunt gig on the Council’s dime.  And it ain’t like we won’t be back, I figure we’ll do this for six months to a year and make our way back here to give B a break so she can do something she wants to do.”  Faith rests her forehead against Tara’s, smiling at the sight of her lover’s crooked grin. 

“Do you think those two will ever come to their senses?”  Tara questions softly, thinking about Buffy and Sasha and how the two women were so obviously in love with each other, but both of them being too stubborn to admit it to the other. 

“I hope so.  They deserve to be as happy as we are.”  Faith shifts and brushes her lips over Tara’s forehead.  “Come on, babe.  Let’s head outta this town and head down south, gotta couple places in California we need to hit before we make our way eastward.”

“I love you, Faith.”  Tara hugs Faith tightly.

“I love you, too, Tare.”  Faith whispers hoarsely, closing her eyes and soaking up the warmth and love coming from her lover, promising them both silently that she’ll never do anything to jeopardize that love for however long they both live.

***

Buffy leans against Sasha as the tall slayer stands beside her at the luggage check-in, the slayer ready to fly back to Europe and work on that continent to help with the fight against what demons are left. 

Anya and Xander are waiting a short-distance away, planning on giving her a ride back to Sunnydale as Giles returns his rental car and plans on flying back with the youngest slayer.  Sighing quietly at the thought of how she’d come to care so much for the tall slayer in such a short time.  The two of them had talked about everything under the sun, past loves, heartaches and everything else… everything but their feelings for each other. 

“I want you to be careful, Sasha.  Don’t take any unnecessary chances with your life, understand?”  Buffy nibbles on her bottom lip after the slayer had checked her luggage and stepped aside, waiting at the entrance gate, where no one else can follow, waiting for the Watcher to meet up with her. 

“I will, ma petite.  I do not wish for you to become angry with me.”  Sasha smiles sadly down at the slayer, seeing the worry and caring in hazel eyes looking back at her.  Not caring of the people around them, Sasha cups Buffy’s cheeks in her hands and leans down to brush her lips lovingly over the smaller woman’s. 

Buffy whimpers as the soft lips caress hers already missing the slayer even as she’s kissing her, reaching up behind Sasha’s neck, she steps into the taller woman’s body, pressing against her firmly as she deepens the kiss, wanting the flavor of the slayer to stay with her for as long as possible. 

Sasha growls as she plunders Buffy’s mouth, pulling her up hard against her body, the feel of the slayer’s body against hers imbedding itself in her brain, having lost her heart to the woman but knowing that she doesn’t have a chance for anything more with the small slayer, and happy for the time they’d had together.

“Holy, Frijoles.”  Xander blinks in shock and surprise at Buffy and the newest slayer in a serious full-bodied lip-lock, having thought in his wildest imagination that there might be something between the two women as they had practically stayed glue to each other, but not really thinking seriously about it.

Anya smiles slowly at the sight of Buffy and Sasha, the way the two slayers feel for each other obvious in their desperation.  Slowly the smile drops from her face as she remembers why they’re here.  Not looking forward to spending hours in the car with an angry slayer in the back seat.

Giles sighs quietly as he checks in his one bag and steps up to the two slayers as they finally break the kiss, but not their embrace.  “Sasha, we really need to check in and get to our gate.”

Buffy growls softly at Giles, but doesn’t take her eyes off Sasha.  “Take care of yourself, Sasha.”

“I will, ma petite.”  Sasha brushes Buffy’s lips once more before releasing her and stepping back, swallowing as Anya and Xander step up behind the slayer in silent support. 

“Sasha…”  Giles looks at the time, knowing they’re going to be pushing it to make it through the check-in and screening procedure then to their gate. 

“I know.”  Sasha takes a deep breath and slowly backs her way towards the line.  “Ich liebe dich, ma petite.”  Sasha smiles softly as she finally turns and strides away, refusing to look back, knowing that the tears will fall if she looks at the sad face of the woman she’s fallen in love with.

Anya’s mouth drops open with the slayer’s words as Sasha and Giles work their way quickly to the proper line, slowly being engulfed by the large groups of people flying out of LAX. 

“Let’s get out of here.”  Buffy hoarsely whispers, the tears hovering in her eyes, ready to drop and not willing for all these strangers to see her heart breaking. 

Anya nods to Xander as they follow Buffy out of the airport and to the vehicle.  As they make their way slowly back to Sunnydale, Anya finally can’t be quiet any longer and turns around to look at Buffy who’s staring unseeingly out the vehicle’s window.  “Why didn’t you tell her you loved her back?  I mean, it’s obvious you do, right?”

Buffy snatches her head to stare at Anya.  “What do you mean tell her I loved her back?”

“She told you she loved you before she left.”  Anya states exasperatedly.  Seeing the confusion crossing Buffy’s face along with the anger slowly replacing the confusion, she hurriedly explains.  “Ich liebe dich means I love you in German, Buffy.”

Buffy jerks and clenches her jaw as she searches Anya’s eyes for the truth, seeing nothing but openness and honesty in the ex-demon’s eyes.  “I didn’t know that’s what it meant.”  Buffy finally whispers, dropping her eyes down to her hands clenched tightly into fists on her lap, silently wondering if she had told Sasha that she cared for her and was in love with her if it might have made a difference to the slayer staying with her instead of going halfway around the world.  “She couldn’t have stayed anyway, she’s needed overseas.”  Buffy whispers to herself, her head slowly turning as she leans her forehead against the glass, tears slowly and silently streaming from her eyes as she refuses to say anything else on the way home.

***

Epilogue (10 Months Later)

Sasha slowly stops and looks to the east as she wipes a thin trail of blood from her cheek, watching the sun rise.  Having found the last hiding spot of the group of vampires she’d been hunting for a couple weeks.  Finally relaxing as she thinks about finally getting out of Tirana, Albania and moving on, having spent time in more countries than she can name since leaving Sunnydale and the blonde slayer, tilting her head back as she closes her eyes as she thinks about the petite blonde, the hesitant smile, the determination and heated look in hazel eyes as they filled with desire.  A soft smile crossing her lips at the remembrances, Sasha finally heads towards the small hotel she’s been staying in for the last two weeks while she cleansed the city of demons.  

Sliding the key home into the lock and twisting, she slowly stiffens and blinks at a voice from the past, that she’s heard in her dreams and knows she’ll never forget, whispers softly in her ear. 

“If I was a demon, you would be dinner.”  Buffy whispers softly, her body just a hair’s breadth away from Sasha’s, having rented the room across from the slayer and waited for her to come back.  Thankful for the help of the Watcher’s Council in making it possible for her to be here. 

“I am dreaming, because that is the only time I hear your voice with such clarity.”  Sasha pushes open her door, not daring to believe that Buffy is actually behind her. 

Buffy hesitates at the Russian’s words, the longing so obvious in her tones it makes her stop in her tracks before she steps in the room before Sasha has a chance to shut the door and lock her out.  “Can a dream touch you like this?”  Buffy settles her hands on the broad shoulders, slowly trailing down the slayer’s strong back, kneading and caressing alternately. 

“Sometimes…”  Sasha whimpers, arching as small, strong hands stroke around from her back to front and pull her back into Buffy’s smaller stature. 

“Sometimes?”  Buffy questions curiously, wiggling her hands beneath Sasha’s shirt and stroking over the warm abdomen as she presses kisses along the shoulders and neck of the taller slayer.

“Yes, sometimes, when they are teasing me with what I can never have.”  Sasha closes her eyes, refusing to believe that Buffy is here, and in her room with her. 

“Sasha?”  Buffy whispers the slayer’s name like a question, finally urging the tall woman around, smiling sadly at the refusal of the slayer to open her eyes.  “I know this is almost a year late, but I love you, too.  I would have said it ten months ago, but I didn’t know what Ich liebe dich meant until halfway back to Sunnydale.”  Buffy cups the slayer’s cheek as Sasha’s eyes finally open, the pain and heartache so visible it makes her own heart hurt before the love pushes the other emotions aside, as there’s no room but it in her Russian. 

“Ich liebe dich, I love you, too, ma petite.”  Sasha swallows, finally reaching around and lifting Buffy in her arms as she hugs her tightly.  “You are real.”

“Yes, I am real, and I am here… with you if you want me to be.”  Buffy answers softly, feeling the tears from Sasha hitting and soaking her neck from where the slayer has her face buried against her. 

“Forever, my love.  I want you with me forever.”  Sasha hugs Buffy tighter against her, knowing she’ll never willingly walk away from the woman again, it had almost killed her the first time and she knows it will if she does it again.

Buffy laughs softly at the slayer’s words, hugging her lover tightly.  “Forever, Sasha, my crazy Russian Slayer.  Forever.”  Deciding they have time to talk about the happenings with the rest of the group, how Faith and Tara had finally made it back to Sunnydale and offered to take over watching it to let Buffy do whatever her heart desired while Willow had gone to LA to help them with a big bad and deciding to stay, having fallen for a Physicist the group had saved from another world.  Even the twin boys Xander and Anya had, smiling softly at the thought of the two babies that looked so much like Xander. 

“Will you stay with me?”  Sasha whispers hoarsely, finally setting Buffy down on her feet and stepping back while holding the small woman loosely in her arms, searching hazel eyes, almost afraid to believe that this is for real. 

“Try to keep me away.”  Buffy finally pulls the slayer down into a long overdue, heartfelt kiss, the two women melting against each other as they’re finally where they want to be.

***

The End

Ich liebe dich – I love you in German

Bitte – Please in German

Danke – Thank you German

Mit Vergnugen – With Pleasure German

Ficken – Fuck in German

 
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