Chapter 25

Tara chuckles as she watches Buffy snarl her nose as she cleans up after Phoenix.  Shaking her head, she turns back to Anya who is making nachos for them to munch on.  “I’m going to have to get a pooper scooper for Buffy at the pet store.”

“She’s not having much luck with the shovel?”  Anya chuckles as Tara rolls her eyes. 

Tara groans as the phone rings.  “Hello, Summers’ residence.”  Tara smirks as Anya grates more cheese.

“Is Buffy there?”  Jonathan asks worriedly.

“She’s busy right now, can I help you?”  Tara frowns trying to place the voice.

“This is Jonathan.  I really have to speak with her.”  Jonathan quickly rattles off.  “It’s about Warren.”

“What about Warren?”  Tara hoarsely questions.  “I was hoping the police might have found him by now.”

“NO!  He’s still loose.  I just saw him buying a gun a short while ago.  I…”  Jonathan keeps talking unaware that Tara dropped the phone.

“BUFFY!”  Tara screams barreling through the back door towards the slayer, Phoenix running out behind her barking excitedly before growling deeply making a beeline towards the slayer. 

Buffy snaps her head up in surprise wondering what the hell is going on.

“OPEN YOURSELF, NOW!!!”  Tara screams running towards the slayer as she sees movement behind Buffy, watching as Phoenix runs towards the movement.  Everything seeming to move in slow motion as she feels the slayer opening herself at the same time Warren comes into view, a gun pointing straight towards Buffy.  “NOOOOOO!!”  Tara screams, using the slayer’s power to slam into Warren at the same time he pulls the trigger.

Buffy turns towards where Tara’s looking.  Unconsciously dropping her walls completely as she watches Phoenix launch her small body at Warren at the same time he pulls the trigger on the gun pointed towards her.  Trying to drop out of the way, Buffy cries out in pain as the bullet slams into her shoulder, spinning her around.

Anya screams as she comes out of the kitchen a few seconds behind Tara, watching everything happen.  Not able to do anything as she watches Buffy get shot and spin around to collapse on the ground at the same time Tara blasts Warren with magic as Phoenix clamps her jaw on Warren’s thigh, growling as she shakes her head viciously.

Tara runs towards Warren, readying a spell to knock the gun from his hand that he was somehow able to hold onto after she hit him with the first magic blast.  Eyes opening wide as he turns the gun on her Tara sends the spell at him at the same time he pulls the trigger, grunting as the bullet rips through her side, Tara forces herself to continue towards the man, unable to concentrate enough to do any more magic.  As she reaches him, Tara slams her foot between his legs as hard as she can, before collapsing grabbing her side. 

Anya cries out, looking from one woman to the other, seeing blue eyes begging her to check on Buffy, Anya stops at the slayer first, dropping down beside her.  “Buffy??!!”  Anya cries, gently turning her over, whimpering at the blood soaking the slayer’s shirt.  Pressing her hand against the wound, she reaches up with a shaking hand, feeling for a pulse, sighing quietly as she feels the slayer’s heartbeat.  “Buffy?  Please.”  Anya whispers, reaching up with a shaking hand, brushing the slayer’s hair from her face. 

Tara turns her snarling countenance back on Warren, who’s whimpering as he grabs his balls with both hands, unable to fend off Phoenix who’s snarling and growling at him.  “Good, girl.” Tara whispers, trying to stand.  Groaning at the pain in her side, she slowly crawls her way the couple yards to the gun, shoving it further away for the time being before working her way towards Anya and Buffy.  “Anya?”  Tara whispers worriedly.

“I don’t know.”  Anya whimpers.  “Can you heal her?”

“I’m too unfocused to be of any help.”  Tara admits hoarsely, the pain obvious in her voice.  “Get the phone.  Call the hospital and the cops.”  Tara shifts the last bit of distance, taking over for Anya by putting pressure on the unconscious slayer’s shoulder. 

Anya stands starting to run back to the house when she hears the sirens.  Turning surprised eyes back to Tara.  “Somebody else must have called them?”  Anya half-questions, half-states. 

“Go out front, flag them down.”  Tara swallows hard, trying to ignore the pain in her own body as she looks down at Buffy.  “Anya!! Get Phoenix in the house, I don’t want her to go after whoever might be coming to help.”

Anya nods, calling to the dog, quickly getting her to go in the house before shutting the door and running around the front to wave down the police cars and ambulance. 

Anya runs back towards Buffy and Tara, frowning as she notices the amount of blood coming from Tara’s wound.  “Lay down, Tara.”  Anya begs as she takes over putting the pressure on the slayer’s wound watching as Tara turns even paler, before slowly falling over.  “HURRY UP!!”  Anya screams at the paramedics and policemen running into the yard.

“We got it, ma’am.  Give us room.”  The first paramedic orders as he quickly inspects the wounds, putting a pressure bandage on Buffy’s wound as another paramedic works on Tara. 

“What happened?”  The Sergeant questions as he watches the woman shake, her scared eyes watching the paramedics work on the two women. 

Anya looks at the Sergeant with shell-shocked eyes.  She points towards Warren who’s still whimpering on the ground.  “He came out of nowhere with that gun.”  Anya shifts her hand to point towards the gun.  “He shot Buffy first, and as Tara tried to help, he shot her.  Tara kicked him in the balls.” 

The Sergeant tilts his head as he looks at the man, seeing what looks like a good bite on his thigh.  “The bite?”

Anya looks up at him, silently begging him even as she can hear Phoenix howling and barking in the house.

The Sergeant sighs looking from the man that obviously came in trying to kill these women to the house where a dog had tried to protect its family.  Nodding his head silently.  “I can’t blame him for protecting you.  I guess the perpetrator must have gotten bit before showing up here.”  He gives the woman the reassurance she needs.  With her two friends being shot she doesn’t need the added heartache of having the dog taken away for protecting them.

“Her.”  Anya whispers, the tears finally falling from her eyes.  “Just a puppy, roughly four or five months old.”  Anya admits quietly, her gaze back on the paramedics as they hook up IV’s and put the two women on stretchers. 

“The other ambulance should be here in a few minutes.  We’re going to go ahead and get this one to the hospital.”  One of the paramedics states hurriedly as they lift the stretcher, partly carrying, rolling the slayer towards the ambulance.  “Ma’am, it’s imperative that we get these women to the hospital as quickly as possible.  Can you get there by yourself?”

Anya nods her head as she watches another pair of paramedics run into the back yard, gathering Tara, taking both women towards the waiting ambulances. 

“Ma’am?”  The Sergeant watches his partner cuff the suspect after gathering the gun, placing it in an evidence bag. 

Anya turns haunted eyes towards the policeman.  “I’ve got to get to the hospital.  I have to contact Willow and Xander.” 

The Sergeant sighs quietly, looking at the other set of policemen looking for any other evidence.  “Jackson?”  He calls to one of the policemen.  As he looks towards him, he nods towards Anya.  “Can you make sure she gets a hold of the people she needs to call and makes it to the hospital while we take in the perp?”

“Yes, sir.”  The policeman walks towards Anya.  “Sir, there isn’t anything else that we can find.  Looks pretty cut and dried.  Plus the fact the perp fits the description of last night’s attempted robbery.”

“I noticed.”  The Sergeant nods his head in acknowledgement.  “Ma’am, Jackson will make sure you’re taken care of.  We‘ll have to get signed statements, but we‘ll do that later.”

Anya whimpers quietly as the policeman wraps a comforting arm around her shoulders, urging her towards the police car.

***

Anya shakes uncontrollably in the waiting room, one of the nurses having gotten her a blanket as she realized the woman was in shock, wrapping her up gently before going back to her duties.  Looking up every time someone walks by the door, Anya whimpers quietly at the thought of her two lovers in the operating room.

***

Willow almost crushes Christina’s hands as they run into the hospital.  “Buffy Summers, Tara Maclay!  Anything on them?”  Willow almost screams at the nurse, her eyes filled with tears ready to drop at a second’s notice.

“Are you family?”  The nurse question as she pulls up the names on the computer.

“They don’t have any family.  They only have us, their friends and loved ones.”  Willow snarls looking at the woman.  “What’s their condition?”

The nurse unconsciously shifts away from the redhead before looking back at the computer, punching up the other name.  “It looks like they’re both still in surgery, I don’t have any other information at this time.” 

“I want to know as soon as you hear anything, ANYTHING, understand?”  Willow narrows her gaze on the nurse, before practically dragging Christina behind her as she heads towards the waiting room.  “Anya?”  Willow hesitantly questions the ex-vengeance demon, dropping Christina’s hand as Anya’s haunted eyes look up at her, silently begging for everything to be put to rights.  Willow whimpers before running towards the shopkeeper, sitting down beside her to wrap the unresisting woman in her arms.

“He, he just showed up.  We got a call, Tara ran out the door screaming for Buffy, and he shot them.”  Anya whimpers, crying brokenheartedly.  “He shot both of them.”  She keeps repeating over and over again, shaking uncontrollably.

“I’ll see if I can’t get more information.”  Christina whispers softly, catching Willow’s eyes for a brief moment, nodding silently at the thanks she sees reflected there. 

“They’re strong, Anya.  They’ll make it.”  Willow whispers rocking the distraught woman, silently praying that they will be alright.  Closing her eyes Willow tilts her head against Anya, surprised at how small the woman seems at this moment.

“I can’t lose them, Willow.”  Anya whimpers.  “Can’t.”  Anya curls up into a small ball, pressing herself against the redhead as she shakes uncontrollably.

Xander comes skidding to a halt outside the waiting room.  Sliding in, he watches as Willow cries silently while trying to comfort Anya.  “Anything?”  He hoarsely questions as he walks towards the two women, kneeling in front of them gathering them both in his arms as all three Scoobies cry. 

***

Xander paces nervously, looking occasionally over at his ex-fiancée as she finally fell asleep from pure exhaustion with a healthy dose of shock leaning against, of all people, Willow.  Biting his lip, he allows a small smile to cross his face at Willow’s new girlfriend Christina as she glances at him with concern as she holds Willow gently against her side.  “I’m going to get some more coffee and snacks.”  Xander finally whispers before turning and striding out of the waiting room.

Christina glances down at the table that already has quite a few snacks, sodas and partially drank coffee on it, shaking her head. 

“It’s what he does in times like this.”  Willow whispers, rubbing her cheek against Christina.  “He does food runs to try and keep busy, to keep his mind off what’s happening.” 

“I be a wishin’ there was somethin’ more I could be a doin‘.”  Christina softly whispers, her accent extra heavy with the emotion coursing through her.

“Goddess, why can’t they at least tell us if the surgeries are going well?”  Willow whispers looking up at the clock for probably the hundredth time.  “We’ve been here for hours.”

“Want me to be a seein’ if I cain shake somethin’ loose?”  Christina offers hoarsely. 

Willow smiles softly at the woman.  “I don’t want you to leave me.”  Willow finally whispers after a few moments, smiling as Christina wraps her up more firmly in her arms.

“Then I be a stayin’.”  Christina places a kiss on top of Willow’s head. 

“Excuse me?  Are the family for either Buffy Summers or Tara Maclay here?”  A nurse questions quietly from the doorway.

“Both.”  Willow answers, looking down as Anya wakes up, looking at the woman with swollen, red eyes and a tear-stained face.

“What is it?”  Anya questions, uncurling herself to stand shakily, walking towards the nurse.  “Please, how are they?”

The nurse nods, as she reads the note on the chart that the two women didn’t have any actual family but the friends that were there for them.  Sighing quietly, she looks up as a young man walks in, wrapping his arm around the woman questioning her, obviously in support.

“It was touch and go, but it looks like they’re both going to make it.  The one woman, Buffy Summers that was shot in the shoulder lost a lot of blood, there was some nerve and muscle damage from the bullet, but it looks like she should heal without losing too much mobility in her arm.  Tara Maclay is in a little worse condition, there was a lot of internal damage from the bullet.  It looks like it had shifted around a bit inside her.”  The woman hesitates looking up when the blonde whimpers quietly.

“She went after the guy that shot them, then dragged herself back over to Buffy.”  Anya explains, tears starting to fall again. 

“That might have caused it.”  The nurse frowns, wondering how the woman could have moved at all with being shot where she was.  “The doctors had to remove her spleen and her large intestine was nicked along with a few other things.  She’s going to be on some heavy antibiotics to try and counteract that.  She isn’t completely out of the woods yet, but it looks promising.”

“Where are they?”  Willow questions as she leans heavily into Christina’s side.

“They’re in recovery right now.  Ms. Summers was out of surgery first and will be put in a room in another hour.  They won’t be allowed any visitors for a while yet.”  The nurse smiles apologetically at the group of young people.

“Can they be put in the same room to recover together?”  Anya questions hopefully.  When the nurse looks up starting to shake her head no, Anya stiffens, her eyes starting to flash.  “Those two women will do a lot better if they’re in the same room.  Do whatever you have to, but they should be able to recover together.  I want to see them, now.”  Anya states imperviously, her backbone finally reasserting itself after hearing her lovers should be okay. 

“Ma’am they can’t have visitors.”  The nurse tries to tell Anya again.

“Fine, but I want to see them.  I’m not going to visit with them.  I just want to see them from the doorway.”  Anya strides towards the nurse, looking at her angrily.  “And I want to see them in the same room, together!” 

“Give me a few minutes.”  The nurse finally gives in as she looks from one angry, unforgiving face to another, before turning around to talk with the doctors of the two women.

Anya starts to pace back and forth as she waits for the nurse to come back, biting on the edge of her thumbnail in worry.  

Xander looks in confusion from Anya to Willow.  “Why are you insisting on them being in the same room?”  Xander finally questions Anya softly.

“That’s where they would want to be.”  Anya answers shortly, as she runs shaking hands through her hair.  “Want to be together.”  She whispers, her eyes on the doorway as she spins on her heel pacing back and forth. 

Willow blinks a couple times as she watches Anya, hearing what she’s saying, trying to figure out what she isn’t saying.  When an idea of what Anya is trying to say pops in her head, her eyes open wide.  “Anya?”  Willow questions hesitantly, watching as Anya turns haunted brown eyes towards her.  “You three?”  Willow softly whispers the question.

Anya slowly nods her head towards Willow.  “Today.”  Anya finally admits, her eyes starting to fill with tears again.  “This morning actually.”  Anya drops down in the nearest chair, placing her face in her shaking hands as the sobs start working through her body.  “Can’t lose either one of them.  I can’t, not after finally getting us together, it just wouldn’t be fair.”

Xander stands there in stunned disbelief as he looks from his ex-fiancée towards his best friend with haunted eyes.  Finally shifting towards the nearest chair, he slumps down, burying his face in his hands as what Anya said sinks in.

***

“Okay, two of you can go see the two women, but only from the observation window.  You can’t go in the room.”  The nurse looks at the group of people, not surprised when the one woman stands up quickly walking her way.

Anya turns back, looking towards Willow and Xander.  “Which one of you want to go?”  Anya questions softly.

“Wills, you go.”  Xander looks up at the redhead, nodding his head towards Anya.  “She would probably rather have you with her, than me anyway.”  Xander admits quietly.

Willow frowns at her best friend, before sighing quietly.  “Thanks, Xan.”  Willow whispers as she walks towards Anya, offering her hand towards the shopkeeper.

The two women follow the nurse to the room they’d put Buffy and Tara in.  Anya’s legs almost give out as she looks through the window at the two pale, lifeless women that such a short while ago had been full of life, joking and making love.  Placing her hand against the windowpane separating them, Anya tilts her forehead against the cool glass as tears drop unheeded down her cheeks. 

Willow wraps her arm around the shaky ex-demon to help support her, while whimpering quietly at the sight of the machines hooked up to the two blondes, the IV drips and other numerous things taking their vitals and delivering much needed medication and blood. 

“You guys should probably go home, try and get some rest.  They probably won’t be conscious for a long time.”  The nurse offers quietly, not surprised when both women shake their heads. 

“I’m staying.”  Anya states adamantly as she straightens her back, wiping her face free of the tears.  “And as soon as one of them comes to, I want to be allowed in to talk to them.”  Anya turns hard brown eyes on the nurse.  “I suggest you make sure that happens.”

The nurse nods her head hesitantly.  “We’ll let you know as soon as there is any change in their condition.”

Anya turns her gaze back on her two lovers.  Staring for a few minutes, Anya opens herself to the two women, sending them all the love that she feels, hoping quietly that they might feel it and that it might help them. 

Willow turns surprised eyes on Anya as she feels the waves of feelings coming from her.  “You really love them both.”  Willow whispers softly.

“Yes, I do.”  Anya admits, sighing as she closes her eyes.  “Damn Hellmouth.”  Anya whispers, clenching her hand against the glass pounding twice before turning to stride back towards the waiting room.

Willow turns her gaze from Anya’s back to her best friend and ex-lover.  “You two are going to be all right, you have to. You don’t have a choice.”  Willow whispers, sending her love towards the two women before slowly following Anya back towards the waiting room.

***

Chapter 26

The haggard looking group look up at the doorway as they hear a decidedly pissed off sounding English voice demanding to know how Buffy and Tara are doing. 

Chuckling quietly, Xander slowly stands walking out of the room to talk with Giles.

Anya shifts from where she’d been lying on the small couch, rubbing her face wearily.  “Is any of that coffee hot?”  She questions as she slowly stands walking towards the table looking at the multiple cups.

“Try the ones on the other end, you’ll have better luck.”  Willow whispers, as she shifts from where she’d practically been sitting on Christina.  Smiling apologetically at the woman.  “Sorry.”

“You were fine.”  Christina smiles gently at Willow, stroking a hand over the messy red hair.  “But I be a thinkin’ that we all should be a goin’ home and taking showers before a comin’ back.”

“Maybe.”  Willow rolls her neck, groaning quietly as she looks up at the doorway as Giles comes striding in.

“Bloody idiots.”  Giles growls.  “Now that I’m here, does someone want to explain exactly what happened?”  Giles questions softly, as he looks from one person to another, stopping momentarily on the new face in the group.

“Buffy foiled Warren’s attempt at hijacking the money from an armored car, he didn’t like it and came to the house to shoot her the next day.  He shot Buffy and Tara.”  Anya plops down on the chair, rubbing a hand over her forehead.  “Phoenix…”  Anya’s eyes open in shock.  “Phoenix, she hasn’t been out since this happened.  She hasn’t been fed or watered.”

Christina looks down at Willow, raising an eyebrow in silent question.  “Would you be a willin’ to let me take the pup out?”  Christina turns her gaze on Anya.  “Do you think she’d mind me?”

Anya frowns, looking at the woman for a moment before looking at the rest of the group.  Short of Willow going, Christina was probably the best bet.  “Here.”  Anya shrugs off her shirt, leaving her in a camisole.  “This smells like me.  It might help.”  Anya starts to hand the shirt to Christina, before realizing there’s blood splattered on the cloth.  Pulling it back down, Anya whimpers quietly as she runs her fingers over the smears and splatters.  

Christina closes her eyes at the obvious pain in the woman’s cries.  Walking slowly towards Anya, she kneels in front of her.  “Here.  Be a givin’ me the shirt.  I’ll take care of the pup.  You take care of your women.”  Christina eases the shirt away from Anya, accepting the set of keys Anya digs out and hands to her.

“The food’s in the garage, her leash is by the back door.  Watch her, she might try and sneak by you as you open the front door.  She gets antsy when Tara or Buffy aren’t around for a while.”  Anya explains softly, looking thankfully at the tall woman.

“I’ll be sure to keep an eye open.”  Christina pats Anya gently on the shoulder as she stands, quickly leaving the room and the hospital.

Giles rubs the bridge of his nose as he feels a serious headache coming on.  “Okay, I don’t know where to start the questions.”

“Don’t bother starting them yet, Giles.  Let’s just make sure they’re going to be okay.”  Willow and Xander both move to sit on either side of Anya as she sits there just staring vacantly across the room. 

“Miss Summers is coming to and asking for a…”  The nurse hesitates as she looks down at the paper.  “Anya or Tara?”

“I’m Anya.”  Anya stands, blinking.  “Tara’s the woman in the room with her.” 

“Oh…  Please, come with me.”  The nurse states, quickly heading back to the room. 

***

Anya sits down in the chair between the two beds, reaching for Buffy’s hand, unconsciously sighing in relief at the color slowly working its way back into the slayer’s pale features.  Glancing at a still very pale, lifeless witch, Anya whimpers quietly, reaching her other hand out towards Tara, stroking her fingers gently down her forearm.

“What… happened?”  Buffy questions hoarsely, blinking her eyes open to focus in on Anya.  “Where’s… Tara?”

Anya frowns as she looks at Buffy, shifting around so she’s facing the slayer.  Running her free hand up over the slayer’s forehead, Anya sighs quietly before explaining everything that happened to the slayer up to and including the fact that Tara was lying in the other bed beside the slayer. 

Buffy turns her head looking towards the witch, her eyes full of pain.  “Is she going to be okay?”  Buffy whispers, tears flooding her eyes.

“They think so.  From the sounds of it, she had a lot of internal damage.  They had to take out her spleen and something about her large intestine being nicked among other things.”  Anya bites her lip to try and keep from crying.  Raising the slayer’s hand to her face, Anya presses her lips against the palm, before brushing her cheek against the calloused hand.  “God, you two scared me.”  Anya admits, tears starting to fall again.  “Buffy, I love you.  I want you to know that.  There’s no question, no possibility, its there.  Get well, please?”  Anya whimpers as weak fingers stroke down her cheek.

“Promise.”  Buffy whispers.  “Is there anything we can do for Tara?”

“Wait, pray.”  Anya offers, frowning.  “Unfortunately that’s all.”

“What about using my healing to help her?”  Buffy shifts, wincing.

“Doesn’t work that easily.”  Anya places a calming hand on the slayer’s chest.  “Don’t move.  You might rip out the stitches.”

“Why can’t we do it?”  Buffy questions looking intently at the ex-demon as she tries to shake off the effects of the drugs.

“First off, it takes a very powerful witch to do what Tara did.  Secondly, not every witch has the training or know how to use your abilities like she does.  I would assume her mother’s teachings must have encompassed a lot of different things.”  Anya admits, her gaze shifting towards Tara.  “When you’re better, you could try opening yourself a little to Tara, see if she’s aware of it.”

“You’re open right now.”  Buffy whispers looking towards Anya from where her eyes were drawn inexorably towards Tara.

“Yes.  I figured it might help her if she felt me.”  Anya admits softly.  “You can’t do that, or you’ll have every demon in Sunnydale coming to make you dinner.”  Anya explains running a hand down Buffy’s cheek.  “Just let her feel your love.  Right now that’s what she needs more than anything.”

Buffy nods hesitantly, gently squeezing the hand holding hers.  Blinking as the shot the nurse gave her for pain starts to work through her system.

“Sleep, Buffy.  The nurse will probably be coming soon to make me leave.  Giles is here.”  Anya admits quietly as she slowly stands looking down at the slayer.  “Next time they let someone come in do you want him to visit you?”

“Want you…”  Buffy slurs quietly as her head shifts and the drugs carry her back to unconsciousness.

“You have me, Buffy.”  Anya smiles gently at the slayer, brushing the hair away from Buffy’s face.  Sighing quietly she looks from Buffy to Tara.  “You both have me.”  Anya whispers to the quiet room before placing Buffy’s hand back on the bed, reaching for Tara’s hand, holding it for a few moments before following the nurse that came to get her out of the room.

***

“Stay here, and behave.”  Christina admonishes Phoenix as she shuts the door, leaving the windows cracked to jog quickly into the hospital.

Everyone looks up as Christina strides into the room.  Anya questions her softly.  “How’s Phoenix?”

“She be out in me vehicle.”  Christina admits a small smile on her face.  “Very stubborn animal you got there.  She wouldn’t be goin’ back inta the house for me, sat down by my car and wouldnae budge.”

Anya sighs, before a smile slowly crosses her face.  “That dog loves those two women completely.  I’ll see what I can do with her.”

“I’ll go with you.”  Giles offers standing as he follows the ex-vengeance demon out, honestly wanting to see the puppy that put up such a fight to try and protect Buffy.

Anya heads towards the barking, knowing Phoenix’s bark.  Opening the door, she grasps the leash as Phoenix jumps out, whimpering quietly as she leans against her legs.  Kneeling, Anya pets the dog.  “It’ll be okay, Phoenix.  Your two mommies are in the hospital where you can’t go.  But they’ll be okay.”  Anya lifts the heavy dog up, cradling her in her arms as Phoenix licks her face. 

“Here, she’s too heavy for you to try and hold.  Let me.” Giles offers softly, smiling at the dog. “Phoenix, I’m Giles.”  Giles offers his hand to the dog, smile as she hesitantly sniffs his hand, looking at him with an intelligence he never would have believed possible before she licks his hand in acceptance.  Grasping the dog, Giles and Anya walk towards the hospital, sitting down on an outside bench.  Giles smiles as the dog climbs off his lap to lean against Anya, whimpering quietly. 

Anya smiles down at Phoenix, petting the dog surprised at the amount of comfort she feels from the animal.  “You’re probably wondering what’s going on.”  Anya finally whispers looking at the Watcher.

“That would be putting it mildly.”  Giles turns his gaze on the ex-demon, watching as she sighs quietly. 

“Well, this is the way it happened…”  Anya starts, slowly explaining to Giles how she came to be dating Tara, the obvious feelings Buffy had for the witch, and also herself through to an abbreviated version of the three women finally coming together the day before.  “Now we’re here, with the two of them in the hospital shot by that asshole Warren.”  Anya snarls.

Giles sits in stunned disbelief, not even cleaning his glasses, just staring at Anya, his mouth open in surprise. 

Anya glances up, sighing at the Watcher’s look.  “I thought it would be best to tell you, give you time to get used to the idea.  If you don’t approve, fine.  But don’t say or do anything stupid to hurt their feelings.  Buffy thinks of you as a father, and honestly, I believe Tara thinks of you that way, also.  It’ll hurt them beyond belief if you disapprove.” 

“I… I…”  Giles finally whips his glasses off, pinching the bridge of his nose as he tries to comprehend what Anya just finished telling him.  “All three of you are together?”  He glances at Anya as she nods her head, watching him intently.  “Dear, Lord.”  Giles mutters as he stands pacing back and forth.  “What the bloody hell are you three thinking?”

Anya blinks at the Watcher.  “We’re thinking we love each other and want to be together is what we’re thinking.”

“This, this, this is unacceptable!”  Giles turns, glaring at the ex-demon.

“Sorry, but you can’t tell us what is acceptable or unacceptable.”  Anya shakes her head at Giles.  “I would have thought better of you RIPPER.”  Anya emphasizes Giles’ nickname, making Giles pale.

“All your little exploits were well-known in the demon community Ripper.  Don’t think I don’t know about the things that went on with you and Ethan and the rest of your merry band.”  Anya snarls, standing up jabbing him in the chest with a stiff finger.  “I suggest you get rid of the high and mighty better than thou fucking attitude, and support us.  If not, you can get your ass on the next plane back to merry ol’ England.  While you’re at it, you can find someone else to run your shop for you, too.” 

Giles unconsciously moves back from the angry ex-demon, his eyes wide in shock, wondering why it had never occurred to him that with Anya being an ex-vengeance demon that she would know about what happened, that the demons talk to each other was a given.  It having not occurred to him, leaving him dumbfounded as the woman urges the puppy to follow her as she leaves him alone, slowly sitting down on the bench, thinking about his own past misdeeds and own sexual experiments.  Silently, Giles wonders if he has any right to judge anyone for the choices they make.

***

Anya sits down on the ground, her back against the hospital building, running her hand gently over Phoenix’s head as the dog lies in her lap, whimpering quietly.  “Everything will be okay, Phoenix.  Everything has to be okay.”

***

“Anya?”  Willow hesitantly questions the ex-demon, finally finding her.  As Anya opens sad eyes to look at her, Willow tilts her head towards the hospital.  “Buffy’s come around again, and they say it looks like Tara might wake up soon.  I’ll keep Phoenix.”  Willow murmurs as Anya throws the leash towards her as she hops up running into the hospital.  Walking slowly around the building, Willow frowns as she notices Giles sitting on the bench, a dejected slump to his shoulders.  Gingerly sitting down on the opposite end of the bench, Willow waits to see if he feels like talking.

“Do I never stop screwing up when it comes to you kids?”  Giles questions quietly glancing towards Willow from the corner of his eye.  When he sees Willow turn to look at him a frown on her face, he shakes his head.  “You needed guidance to help you learn the magic arts, instead of me telling you no.  Buffy needed me to stay here to be a father to her, to help her after being brought back from Heaven.  Even Xander could have used a father figure, instead of that sorry excuse he has.”  Giles stops for a moment looking up at the afternoon sun, running a hand roughly through his thinning hair.  “Now I started to be an idiot in regards to those three women practically telling Anya that they can’t be together.”

Willow inhales deeply, turning stunned eyes on the Watcher.  “I hate to tell you this, but I’m going to pretty much tell you what Buffy told me.  You don’t have any right to tell them who they like, love or even want to fuck.  And I believe we’ve all screwed up enough over the years that we don’t need to add to it.  You can’t imagine the amount of pain I felt when Tara and Anya started dating.  But you know what I have finally come to realize?”  Willow whispers hoarsely towards the Watcher, his sad eyes looking at her, silently telling her to go on.  “It’s nothing compared to the amount of pain I caused Tara.  And I have absolutely no right to judge them.  The only thing I can do is be there for them, to love them, and hopefully one day have their friendship.  Slowly I’m working my way back into Tara’s good graces.  She’s already forgiven me for what I did to her, but I’m not ready to forgive myself.”  Willow hesitates for a moment running a hand through her hair.  “They need friends and family that love and support them, Giles.  If you can’t do either of those things, it might be best if you aren’t around.”

Giles sighs deeply, feeling the weight of the world settling on his shoulders.  “I feel like a foolish old man.”  Giles finally admits, brushing his hand across his eyes as he feels the tears gathering.  “Do you think the puppy would do better if she got to see Buffy and Tara?”  Giles questions quietly, looking down at a sad looking Phoenix.

“Probably.  But it’s kind of a moot point.”  Willow admits softly.  “They won’t let her in the hospital.”

“What they don’t know won’t hurt them.”  Giles mutters, quickly whispering an incantation for a glamour spell, making the dog look like a bunch of flowers, to the normal person. 

“What did you do?”  Willow questions, seeing Phoenix but feeling the magic surrounding the puppy.

“To everyone but those that know her, she looks like flowers.  Phoenix, you have to be a very good girl and be very, very quiet.”  Giles explains softly to the dog as he picks her up to carry her into the hospital, a surprised and grinning Willow following closely behind. 

***

Anya strides into the room, surprised as she sees the two beds pushed closer together, Buffy reaching over the short distance to stroke her fingers gently over Tara’s arm.  Easing her body between the two beds, Anya places one hand on Tara’s thigh and the other on Buffy’s cheek, looking down at the slayer.  “How are you feeling?”

“It hurts like hell.”  Buffy admits, frowning.  “Like a damn firebrand in my shoulder, but I told them I’d call if I needed painkillers, letting them know that I don’t like to take drugs.”

“You should take them, Buffy.  It’ll let you get some much needed rest.”  Anya offers quietly, leaning gently against the bed.  Turning her gaze to Tara, she sighs at the pale witch. 

“Her fingers were twitching a little while ago.  They said she might become partially awake, but they’re pumping her pretty full of pain killers and antibiotics right now.”  Buffy whispers looking at Tara. 

Anya shifts up to place a gentle kiss on Tara’s forehead before whispering quietly.  “Heal, sweetheart.  Get well so you can come home and be spoiled.”  Turning her gaze to Buffy, she leans in to gently brush her lips over the slayer’s lips.  “You take your pain pills so you can rest.  The more rest you get, the quicker you’ll heal.”  Anya offers quietly as she pulls away from the soft caress.

“You need to get some rest, too.”  Buffy murmurs her hand grasping Anya’s gently.  “Promise me you’ll go home eat, rest and relax.  Don’t spend all your time here.”

“But…”  Anya starts to argue, stopping as she sees the look of determination coming across the slayer’s face.  “Okay.  Do you mind if I stay at your house?  That way I can take care of Phoenix, also.”

“God!  Is Phoenix okay?”  Buffy questions, looking up at the doorway as a hesitant Giles stands there holding the dog in question.  “Giles?”  Buffy looks worriedly up at the Watcher.

“Just bringing you some flowers to brighten your day.”  Giles murmurs, emphasizing the word flowers.  “They were just begging to be brought up to you to make sure you two are alright.”  Giles turns his eyes towards Anya, smiling apologetically at the ex-vengeance demon.  “Shhh.  Phoenix, remember you need to be quiet.”  Giles whispers as he brings the dog to the side of the bed for Buffy to pet her.

“Going to have to get you a rabies shot after dealing with Warren, aren’t I?”  Buffy jokes with the puppy, smiling as Phoenix whimpers quietly while licking her hand.  “You’re a good girl.  And when we’re all better, you’re going to get to go to the park and spend all day chasing any kind of bug you want, and playing catch.  Thank you, Giles.”  Buffy looks up, the happiness obvious in her eyes. 

Giles looks at a softly smiling Anya as he answers Buffy, hoping Anya hears the apology in his tones.  “It’s the least a blind old fool can do.” 

Anya looks up to the Watcher, seeing the apology in his eyes and voice.  Nodding her head, she smiles gently at Giles.  “It’s a wonderful thing for you to do, Giles.”

“Well, I don’t want to chance the glamour breaking down.  I need to get her back outside.”  Giles explains as he gently eases the dog back against his chest looking down at Buffy.  “Get well, Buffy.  If Tara should wake up while I’m gone, please pass on my well wishes for a speedy recovery for her, also.  I’m going to go ahead and take this girl back to your house, if you’re okay with that.”

“Thank you, Giles.”  Buffy whispers smiling as the Watcher blushes lightly, nodding his head as he quickly leaves the room.  “How come I think there were some serious undertones going on with that conversation?”

“Nothing for you to worry about.  It’s all straightened out now.”  Anya gently squeezes Buffy’s hand.  “Do you want me to call the nurse and have her bring you some more pain medication?”  Anya whispers as she sees the pain cross the slayer’s face.

“You won’t shut up, until I do, will you?”  Buffy opens her eyes, blinking at Anya.

“No, I won’t.”  Anya admits running a hand gently through the slayer’s hair.  Smiling softly as Buffy finally gives in, nodding her head for a shot.  “Love you.”  Anya whispers softly, pressing another gentle kiss on the slayer’s lips before easing out of the room to locate a nurse.

***

Willow sighs as she opens the door to her parents’ house, smiling at Christina as the woman carries in the bag of food, taking it to the kitchen.  Following her in she stops and leans against the wall; watching as she unpacks the containers of Chinese placing the chopsticks and napkins on the table before looking up at her.

“What?”  Christina questions with a raised eyebrow, seeing the small smile playing about the redhead’s mouth.

Willow just shakes her head, walking towards the tall woman and wrapping her arms around her waist, resting her head against her upper chest, sighing in contentment as Christina hugs her gently.  “Thank you for being such a big help with everything.”

“No thanks necessary, my wee Willow.”  Christina offers quietly, pressing her lips gently to the top of the redhead’s head.  “The doctors seem to be a bit confused about Buffy healing as quickly as she is.  Tara seems to be doing a lot better today.”

“Slayer healing is a wonderful thing.  I was in the room when Buffy insisted on Tara tapping into her energy to help her own healing along.  I never knew Tara could do that.”  Willow admits quietly, sighing as strong hands gently glide up and down her back.  “I’m starting to think I didn’t really know Tara at all.  The more I think about the past, the more I realize I hardly ever questioned her about herself or anything else.  I‘m a selfish woman, I also realized we haven‘t talked much about you.”   Willow shifts back in the tall woman’s arms, looking up into soft blue eyes.  “I want you to tell me all about you.”

Christina chuckles quietly.  “Ain’t much to tell.”  Christina admits softly, reaching up to stroke along Willow’s cheek.  “Why don’t we be sittin’ down to eat while I tell you the boring story of my life.”

Willow shakes her head.  “Somehow I don’t think it’s that boring.” 

“Yes, it is my wee one.”  Christina smirks as she sits down, watching as Willow opens the refrigerator grabbing a couple sodas out for them.  “I grew up one of four children.  I have an older brother and two younger sisters.  We grew up arguing and fightin’ as siblings do.  But we love each other.  When Da and Ma realized I was a bit brighter than they expected, they sent me to live with Da’s sister in Florida, to get a proper education.  I got accepted to college here, where I got a living allowance and grants and scholarships to help with the schoolin’.”  Christina shrugs, digging into her chow mein.  “See, boring.”

“What about friends, what are your brother and sisters doing now?  Past girlfriends or boyfriends?”  Willow questions as she digs into her food.

“Got some friends back in Scotland, not that many.  Where we lived was up in the highlands away from a lot of people and we kept to ourselves mostly, except for schoolin’.”  Christina admits, tapping her chopsticks on the outside of her box.  “When I came to America, I was more worried about doing good in school to make my family proud, so didn’t deal much with other people.”  Grabbing a dumpling out of one of the other containers, Christina chews thoughtfully for a few moments.  “My brother is married now and has two kids of his own.  My two younger sisters are fightin’ over the ’catch’ of the highlands, trying to win his favor.”  Christina chuckles quietly. 

Willow watches as the obvious love and affection for her family crosses her face.  “What about you, girlfriends, boyfriends?”  Willow questions softly.

“Aye, I had one of them.”  Christina smirks at Willow as the redhead groans and bangs her head down on the table.  Deciding to give the redhead a break, Christina chuckles quietly.  “Robert was a guy I dated my senior year of high school.  Found out later he was an ass, dating another girl at the same time, even got her pregnant.  Probably because I wouldn’t put out for him.”  Christina shrugs at the thought.  “Better off without him, anyways.”  

“I’m sorry.”  Willow whispers softly watching Christina as she chuckles.

“I’m not.  That just cemented the thought in my head that I not be a liking men.”  Christina smirks at the redhead.  “I never could get to that point of thinking about him that way.  I was always more interested and dreaming about different girls.  Should have known well before I ever even dated him.”  Christina grins cockily at the redhead.  “And if I hada met you then, I would have definitely known.”

Willow blushes looking down at her food from the mischief filled blue eyes across from her.  “Well, unfortunately at that time I was dating Oz and probably wouldn’t have noticed you.”  Willow admits quietly. 

“Wouldna givin’ you the choice not to notice me, my wee Willow.”  Christina chuckles loudly as Willow looks up in disbelief.  “I would have definitely been a’ doin’ things to get your attention.”

Willow whimpers quietly.  “What about the girlfriend?”  Willow questions, trying to get the subject off her.

“Ah, now that be a wee bit different.  Pretty lass, was Dee.”  Christina nods her head.  “Whirlwind affair that burned out quickly.  Practically jumped into bed with her right off the bat, I did.”  Christina admits, frowning.  “Unfortunately we weren’t meant for each other and went our different ways.  Dated a few times after that, but nothing serious.”  Christina sighs looking at Willow.  “At least not until a wee slip of a pixie with red hair and green eyes turned my world on its axis.” 

Willow blushes lightly at Christina’s words.  “You’re a smooth talker, Christina.”  Willow jokes softly, looking up at the pale blue eyes, becoming lost in their depths as she sees the caring and seriousness there.  “Will you stay tonight?”  Willow questions softly watching as Christina frowns and looks at her questioningly.  “I kind of would like to curl up in your arms and sleep again.”  Willow admits, biting her lip.  “I don’t think I’ve ever felt as cared for or as safe as I do when I’m in your arms.”

Christina nods, a small smile coming across her face.  “I’ll be here for you, my wee Willow.”  Christina reaches across the short distance to gently stroke down Willow’s neck. 

“Thank you.”  Willow breathes out the words, pressing into the caress as she closes her eyes, feeling a happiness and a light sense of arousal work through her body at the gentle caress.  

***

Chapter 27

“I don’t care how fast or well you’re healing, you shouldn’t be running up and down the hallway.”  Nurse Sanderson growls at Buffy, her hands on her hips.

Buffy throws her right hand up in the air, already knowing better than to try doing it with her left shoulder yet, the muscle being stiff and sore still.  “I’m going stir crazy.  And you guys separated me and Tara, so I thought I’d visit her to see how she was doing!”  Buffy bitches, frowning heavily at the nurse.

“Well if you hadn’t been caught in a compromising position, we wouldn’t have split you two up!  That woman has serious abdominal injuries that she needs to heal from!”  Sanderson growls into Buffy’s face.

“We were KISSING!  That was it!  Nothing else was going on or was going to happen!”  Buffy snarls angrily.  “I’m just going to visit her.  Nothing else!  I promise.” 

Anya chuckles as she walks down the hallway towards Buffy and the nurse, having heard Buffy groan and grumble the whole day before after they moved Tara.  “Ask the nurse when the doctor is going to release you, Buffy.”  Anya states as she stops outside Tara’s room, poking her head in, laughing quietly at the smirk on Tara’s face. 

“When am I going to be released?”  Buffy frowns heavily at the nurse.

Nurse Sanderson sighs, dropping her hands from her hips.  “This afternoon.”  She finally admits, shaking her head as she thinks about the doctor releasing this little hellfire on an unsuspecting public.

“YES!”  Buffy yells jumping up in the air as she dodges past the nurse to slide to a halt beside Anya, poking her head into the room, grinning hugely at Tara.  “They’re releasing me, so now they can’t tell me I can’t come visit you!” 

Tara laughs then groans as she grabs her stomach.  “Don’t’ make me laugh, Buffy.”  Tara’s eyes twinkle at the slayer as Buffy and Anya come into the room one on each side of her bed. 

Leaning down, Buffy quietly whispers.  “Can you do more healing to help yourself so you won’t be in here as long?” 

“Only if you’ll let me help your shoulder out some more.”  Tara whispers back, her eyes serious.  Looking over at Anya, Tara raises an eyebrow in question.

“I think it’s a wonderful idea, and I’m more than willing to help.”  Anya admits quietly, looking towards the doorway, waiting for the Gestapo bitch of a nurse to show up. 

Buffy runs to the door.  “We’re having a little prayer over Tara, so we would appreciate not being disturbed.”  Buffy tells the nurse as the woman sits back down at the nurse’s station. 

“You better not be getting up to anything in there!”  Nurse Sanderson growls looking at the small blonde. 

“I PROMISE!”  Buffy practically yells, rolling her eyes.  “One time!  ONE TIME!  Get caught kissing and they think I’m a damn horn dog.” 

Nurse Sanderson waits until the little blonde spitfire disappears behind the door, before turning and chuckling with the other nurse on duty with her.  “I hate to say it, but I think I might actually miss her when she’s gone.”

“It has been more entertaining since those two have been here.”  Nurse Allen laughs quietly.  “They’re bound and determined to keep us on our toes.”

“That they are.”  Sanderson chuckles as she pulls down the next chart.

****

“The soreness should wear off sometime this afternoon.”  Tara murmurs quietly after they finish the healing spell, smiling gently at the slayer.  “I didn’t want to heal you so quickly and completely that you would be tempted to get up to meanness before leaving the hospital.”

“No fun.”  Buffy grumbles, easing a hip against the bed and reaching to stroke Tara’s jaw line, smiling gently as she watches Anya’s hand stroke a finger down the witch’s cheek.  “What about you?”

“I pretty much made the internal damage heal, and took away some of the pain, but I’m leaving the external area alone.  They’re already freaked enough at how quickly you’re healing.  And amazed, but not freaked that I seem to be doing so much better, that I don’t want to chance them wanting to call in specialists to figure out what’s going on.”  Tara admits quietly, smiling up at the two women.  “Anything else on what they’re going to do with him?”

“He’s in jail.”  Anya frowns heavily.  “I had to go by and give my statement, and they saw you earlier today, didn’t they?”  Anya questions Buffy before looking questioningly at Tara, also.

“Yeah, some detective came and got my story.  Pretty much told it as I remembered it, except for the magic part.”  Buffy smirks looking down at Tara.  “They said he wasn’t able to walk for a few hours.  Did you tap into my strength when you kicked him?”

Tara blushes deeply looking down.  “I don’t think so.”  Tara bites her lip self- consciously.  “I wish I could have been there a split second sooner.” 

“Don’t blame yourself.”  Buffy whispers, brushing the back of her knuckles against Tara’s cheek.  “If you hadn’t come out when you did, and I tried to duck out of the way, he would have hit me in the heart, Tara.  So without you, I’d be dead.”

Tara pales at the thought, shaking slightly.  “Actually we should thank Jonathan for calling us.”  Tara looks up seriously.  “Do you think if he had friends that were actually good people, that he’d stop doing the stupid things he does?”

“Maybe.”  Buffy gives Jonathan the benefit of the doubt.  “Maybe we should talk with him, or see if Xander wants to become friends with him.  They have that geekdom thing that they both share.” 

Tara grins sardonically at the slayer, her eyes shifting to the doorway as Giles hesitates.  “Come in, Giles.”

“I didn’t want to interrupt.”  Giles blushes lightly.  “I was down in the billing department and are having all the hospital bills sent to the Watcher’s Council.  Ummm.  Buffy, can I speak with you for a minute?”

Buffy growls quietly before leaning down to place a gentle kiss on Tara’s lips.  “Be back after Watcher-dude says what he has to say.”

“Okay, sweetie.”  Tara smiles watching Buffy walk towards the door, while grasping Anya’s hand tightly.  After Buffy’s out of sight, Tara looks up at Anya.  “Are you going to tell me what transpired with Mr. Giles?”

“No.”  Anya shakes her head, as she shifts more up on the bed beside Tara.  “It’s over and done with.”

Tara raises an eyebrow at the ex-vengeance demon.  “He seems to be a bit more… I don’t know.  Hesitant?  Around you.  Almost like he’s afraid of what you might say or do.”

“Good.”  Anya smirks.  “Do you think they might let you out of this place in another day or two, that way you can heal completely?”

“Hopefully.”  Tara murmurs quietly.  “A week in this place is long enough.”

“You’re telling me.”  Anya lifts Tara’s hand and places it in her lap, playing with her fingers.  “Poor Phoenix is going crazy.  She doesn’t like you guys not being there.  She’s okay around me, but when I’m here Giles says she whimpers and howls almost nonstop.” 

“Well, with Buffy coming home that should help.”  Tara glances at the doorway, hoping Buffy comes back before long.  “Were you able to get a hold of Dawn?”

“Yes.  She freaked, but once I explained you two were going to be fine, she calmed down.  I think she’s going to try and get them to come back early.”  Anya smiles at Tara.  “Then we have to decide how to tell her what’s going on with us three.”

Tara groans quietly.  “Not something I’m looking forward to.”  Tara admits, her lips quirking.  “But everyone else seems to be dealing, more or less.”

“Yes they are.”  Anya grins down at the witch.  “I love you.”  Anya whispers as she strokes the tips of her fingers down Tara’s cheek. 

“I love you, too.”  Tara presses into the caress, sighing softly.  “I want to go home.”  Tara admits.  “I don’t want to be here anymore.”

“Then tell them.  I’ll go see if they can’t get the doctor here.  Tell them to do whatever blood tests they deem necessary, and that you’ll sign any and all release forms so they won’t be sued if something happens.  We’ll take you home, heal you completely and be done with this whole mess.”  Anya states calmly and logically.

“Sic ‘em.”  Tara smirks at the shopkeeper, laughing quietly as Anya nods, and leaves the room on a mission.  “Goody.  Buffy and I can both go home.”

***

“What’s up?”  Buffy questions, leaning against her bed as Giles sits down in the chair in her room.

“Of course I’m having the Council take care of both of your hospital bills, I just mentioned that.”  Giles starts, rubbing the back of his neck roughly.  “I’ve been talking with the Council off and on for the last couple months, and have finally swayed them to the realization that you should be compensated for the job you do.  They’re going to backdate payments to you from when you became a slayer.  You will also have full benefits, so if you should get hurt to where you need a hospital stay, it will be covered.”  Giles pulls out his billfold, handing a card to Buffy.  “Just give the hospital billing department this and it’ll be taken care of.”

Buffy stares in stunned disbelief at the Watcher accepting the card but not able to say anything.

“I’ve been a complete ass when it comes to you, Buffy.  I should have stood up to them a long time ago, and never should have left you here by yourself.  You needed someone to count on, and I should have been that person.”  Giles sighs as he roughly runs a hand through his hair.  “And it took Anya bringing me down a peg or two to realize that.”

“Yeah, about that… What happened?”  Buffy questions hoarsely.

“She didn’t tell you?”  Giles looks up with stunned surprise on his face.  When Buffy shakes her head and looks inquiringly at him, he sighs deeply.  “I went off about your three’s relationship.  Saying that it was unacceptable, and pretty much made an ass of myself.”  Giles admits, frowning.  “She threw a few things in my face about my past and the fact I had no right to judge anyone.  And she was absolutely correct.”

Buffy blinks at the Watcher for a few minutes as he looks embarrassed and apologetic.  “You’re okay with us, now?”

“Yes.”  Giles answers simply looking up hopefully into Buffy’s face.  “Can you forgive a buggered old fool?”

Buffy nods her head, a slow smile crossing her face.  “Yes, I can.”  She whispers, hopping down and leaning over the Watcher hugging him with her one good arm.  “If you haven’t, you might want to apologize to Anya.”

“I have, and profusely.”  Giles admits, grinning.  “I’ve even taken to walking Phoenix around the neighborhood to give her something of a break.  That dog of yours is one of a kind.”

“She’s a very smart, protective puppy.”  Buffy admits, smiling. 

“She loves you and Tara completely.  Pretty much like Anya, I’d dare say.”  Giles chuckles as Buffy laughs.  “Whenever Anya or myself will say one of your two’s names she barks excitedly and runs to the door.  I think she’s been wanting to come back and visit with you.”

“Well, she’ll be a happy camper when we get home, then.”  Buffy smiles briefly, before it slowly turns into a frown.  “I wish Tara could come home with us.”

“If I could find that smarmy doctor, she will be.”  Anya growls walking into Buffy’s room.  “I’ve been looking for him for the last fifteen minutes and can’t find the little bastard.  I’m going to insist on the nurses paging him.”  Anya snarls turning back around and leaving the two sitting there in stunned surprise, before they bust out laughing.

“Well, I would say Tara may be coming home, also.”  Giles pulls off his glasses, laughing quietly. 

“Yep.  These people don’t want to deal with the Wrath of Anya!”  Buffy jokes. 

“I should get out of here and let you change.  Your doctor should be by anytime to release you then we’ll wait and see what they say about Tara.”  Giles smiles gently at the slayer before standing and walking out to visit with Tara. 

“Well, damn.”  Buffy allows a smile to cross her face.  “Backdated pay?  I might be able to pay off the house!  That would be wonderful not to have that hanging over my head anymore.” 

***

As the three women work their way out to the car, Giles shakes his head as he follows them.  “If any of you three show up in there again, they’re going to run the other way.”

“Good.”  Anya grumbles as she has one arm wrapped gingerly around Tara’s waist and the other firmly planted around Buffy’s.  “We’re doing the healing in the car on the way home.  I don’t want you two to wait any longer.”

“Yes, ma’am.”  Tara tries to hold back a smirk, but as Buffy leans around Anya and grins at her Tara can’t help the chuckle that escapes. 

“You two being in the hospital for a week is long enough.  Xander has even gotten to the point of stopping by the house every night, seeing if we need anything.  And let’s not even discuss Willow.  She’s there in the morning when I leave to come to the hospital and spends most of the day at the house, sometimes Christina’s there with her.”  Anya grumbles as she helps Tara in the back seat while Buffy gets in on the other side. 

“Thankfully I’m usually at the shop.”  Giles chuckles as he gets behind the wheel, waiting for Anya go climb in the front seat before starting it.

“Be prepared, Mr. Giles.  You’ll probably get some overflow.”  Tara warns the Watcher seriously.  “Buffy will be unblocking her powers and it just about flipped Anya and me out when she did it, so make sure your walls are in place and seriously reinforced.”

Giles nods his head, strengthening his own mental walls.  “Go ahead.”  He waits before pulling out, making sure that his walls are secure, still surprised at the flow of energy he feels.  Carefully making his way towards Buffy’s house while the three women work together to finish healing Buffy and Tara.  Sighing quietly he pulls in the driveway, turning the engine off as he turns to look at the three women, noticing the healthier caste to both Tara’s and Buffy’s countenances. 

Tara breathes out, leaning against Buffy’s side as she finishes the spell.  “Can we not do this again for, like, forever?” 

“I’ll go along with that.”  Anya whispers, smiling at her two lovers.  “Don’t like either one of you being hurt.  So no more, understand?!”

Buffy chuckles and lifts her left arm, rotating it before wrapping it around Tara, pulling her in firmly against her side.  “All healed?”  Buffy questions, her fingers shifting to the witch’s shirt, trying to move it up to look at her abdomen. 

“Buffy!  That can wait until we get in the house.”  Tara admonishes the slayer, gently smacking her hand, trying not to laugh at Buffy‘s pouting lip.

“Was just wanting to check the wound.”  Buffy mumbles before leaning in to quickly kiss Tara. 

“Someone’s wanting you guys to stop playing around and come into the house.”  Anya looks at the two women from where she’s standing outside the door, waiting for them to climb out. 

Buffy chuckles as she hears Phoenix barking excitedly.  “How does she know we’re here?”

“She just does.”  Tara shrugs her shoulders, grinning.  “I don’t have a clue as to how she does it, but she does.”

“Phoenix!”  Willow yells as Phoenix pushes past her running out to the vehicle wagging her whole body excitedly.  “Damn dog.”  Willow grumbles trying not to laugh as Buffy hauls the dog up in her arms twirling around with her. 

“Thanks for helping out, Willow.”  Tara smiles at the redhead as she looks back at Buffy rolling around on the ground with Phoenix, roughhousing. 

“It’s the least I could do.”  Willow chuckles as Phoenix and Buffy end up nose to nose, Phoenix’s tail swinging back and forth quickly.  “Is she smiling?”

“Buffy or the dog?”  Tara questions jokingly wrapping an arm around Anya as she comes to stand on the porch beside her.  “Phoenix, come up here and see me!”  Tara calls, laughing as Phoenix swipes a tongue quickly over a sputtering slayer’s face before running towards her. 

“Oh, I see how you are!”  Buffy grumbles wiping the slobber off her face as she quickly follows behind Phoenix. “What’s for dinner?”  Buffy questions as she walks up the stairs heading into the house, following the rest of the crew.

“I’m going to go home.”  Willow smiles as she gathers a book she brought to read while she puppy sat. 

“Hot date tonight?”  Tara questions, her eyes glinting merrily.

Willow blushes and slowly nods her head.  “We’re going to see that new Sandra Bullock film then go out to dinner.”

“Have a wonderful time.  Please tell Christina thanks for everything she’s done, also.”  Tara smiles as Willow grins at her before leaving the house. 

“I actually put a roast in the oven along with a bunch of vegetables, it should be getting close to being done.”  Giles admits as he heads towards the kitchen.

“Okay, that’s going to be a snack, but what’s for dinner?”  Buffy jokes, rubbing her stomach.  “Hospital food just doesn’t feed my hungries.”

Tara sighs as she sits down on the couch, unconsciously rubbing her side.

Buffy frowns as she looks at the witch, kneeling on the floor in front of her and pushing the shirt up out of the way, gently running a finger over the pink scar left behind.  “That’s going to stay, isn’t it?” 

“Yes.”  Tara admits looking down at the scar.  “I could heal everything, but I’ll keep the scar.  Your slayer healing being part of you will probably make the scar almost non-existent like it’s done with your other wounds.” 

Buffy growls quietly as she climbs up on the couch beside Tara, wrapping her up in her arms.  “We’re going to be okay, right?”

“Yes, we are.”  Tara murmurs burying her face in Buffy’s neck, smiling as she feels Anya’s arms wrap around her other side. 

“Eventually we’re going to need to talk about living arrangements.”  Anya offers quietly, pressing gently into Tara’s back, while stroking a hand through both women’s hair. 

“I kind of figured you’d move in here, with us.”  Buffy offers almost shyly.  “It kind of makes the most sense, if you wanted to.”

Tara pulls gently away from Buffy, shifting back so she can look from one woman to the other.  “I think that would be a wonderful idea.  Do you think we can all get along well enough to live together?”  Tara jokes raising an eyebrow at the two women.

“I don’t know, but we’re going to need another bathroom or two with four women living in the house.”  Buffy admits, frowning. 

“Xander could probably do it, if not he has his buddies on the construction crew that know how to do those things.”  Anya suggests, thinking. 

Tara smiles indulgently at the ex-demon, before leaning in and kissing her lovingly.  “I think that would be a wonderful idea.”

“Ladies, it would seem Dawn is already on her way back.  They cut their vacation short to bring her home.”  Giles blushes lightly as he watches the interaction of the three women. 

“Damn, I didn’t want her to do that.”  Buffy grumbles, frowning. 

“She was worried about you, even though I told her that you were healing and as soon as we got you both out of the hospital we were going to heal you both.”  Anya explains, frowning momentarily.  “And that probably means she’s going to be here in a few hours.  When did she leave the message?”

“Willow wrote down that she called around 1:00, and that they’d probably be back around 6:00 or 7:00 tonight.”  Giles explains looking up at the clock, noticing it was already after 5:00.

“Oh, Goddess.”  Tara whimpers closing her eyes.  “Are we telling her tonight?”

“Yes.”  Buffy answers quickly.  “I’m not going to be without you two again anytime soon.  Even if all we do is sleep together and nothing else tonight.  I want to be curled up between you.” 

“Then that’s where you’ll be.”  Anya smiles at the slayer. 

“The roast is ready and I’ve got some rolls in the oven baking right now.  Do you ladies want a salad with dinner?”  Giles questions quietly, sighing as he realizes how much the three women obviously care for each other and just how much of a fool he was. 

“I’ll fix it.”  Tara pats her two lovers on the leg as she quickly stands, walking towards the kitchen, Giles silently following.

“How are you wanting to discuss this with Dawn?”  Anya runs a hand through Buffy’s hair, smiling gently as Buffy scoots closer to snuggle in against her side. 

“I want to talk with her first.”  Buffy shrugs.  “We’ll go from there.  She’s my sister, hopefully she won’t freak too badly.”

“If that’s what you want.  Tara and I are here if you need us.”  Anya wraps her arms loosely around the slayer, tilting her head against Buffy’s, sighing quietly.  “Everyone else knows and are fine about us.  Once we get past this last hurdle, I’ll feel better.”

“I love you.”  Buffy whispers as she leans back to look into Anya’s eyes.  “You’re a very wonderful woman, and I’m lucky to have you in my life.”

“I think that goes for all of us.”  Anya whispers, stroking her hand down Buffy’s cheek.  “I feel blessed to have you and Tara in my life.  I honestly believe together we can make it.”  Anya’s lip curls up in a half smile.  “And I want all three of us to be together.”

“Sounds like a plan to me.”  Buffy threads a hand gently through Anya’s hair before leaning in to kiss her gently.  Moaning as Anya quickly deepens the kiss, gently sliding her tongue over and around hers. 

“Damn.”  Anya whispers as they finally break off the soft, loving kiss.  “For a straight girl you sure can kiss.”  Anya smirks as Buffy growls at her.

“Not so straight, damn it!”  Buffy grumbles, leaning back into the couch, pouting.  “And if I knew that you two liked me, we would have been together long before we were.” 

“I just can’t believe with all the flirting you and Tara did, that neither one of you realized the other one was in love with you.”  Anya chuckles as Buffy rolls her eyes.  “One good kiss and that’s all it would have taken, Buffy!  Instead you two danced around each other.  I still don’t understand it.”

“Slayer stupidity.”  Buffy grumbles blushing lightly.  “Whenever I think back over everything that Tara said and did, I realize all the signs were there.  But maybe I was afraid of what would happen if we did come together.  How everyone would react, the fact that Willow’s my best friend probably factored into it pretty heavily.”

“She was the easiest one out of everyone.  She figured it out and questioned me briefly.  I don’t even think she was that surprised.”  Anya admits, tilting her head as she thinks about it.  “I think Xander was pretty shaken up at the thought, but he came around quickly.”

“Hell of a time to figure it out, though.”  Buffy grumbles quietly. “I’m sorry you had to deal with it by yourself.”

“Wasn’t that much of a problem, Buffy.”  Anya sighs quietly leaning in against the slayer, tilting her head on her shoulder.

“Yes, it was.”  Buffy murmurs, stroking a hand soothingly over the ex-demon’s thigh.  “Giles told me what he did.  You shouldn’t have had to deal with that.”

Anya rubs her cheek against Buffy’s shoulder.  “Everything’s fine now.  So nothing to worry about.”

“Dinner’s ready, you two.”  Tara calls softly from the dining room, smiling at the two women. 

Buffy kisses Anya on the head before the two women stand.  “Food’s of the good.” 

***

Chapter 28

“How’s it going?”  Anya questions quietly as she walks up behind Tara, looking out the back door where Buffy and Dawn are talking.

“I haven’t heard any yelling or screaming, or seen any violent hand gestures.”  Tara whispers, watching the two sisters.

“She’s got her feelings locked down tight.”  Anya observes, biting her lip.

“Yes, she does.”  Tara strokes a hand gently over the arms wrapped around her waist.  “Goddess, I hope Dawnie doesn’t end up hating us.”

“She could never hate you.  She loves you, Tara.”  Anya whispers in Tara’s ear, kissing the flesh lightly.  “Come on, let’s go sit down and watch television.  No sense in standing here worrying.”

Tara sighs softly before nodding as she follows Anya into the living room.

***

Dawn stares at Buffy in stunned silence as she explains about her feelings for Tara and Anya. 

“Dawn?”  Buffy questions worriedly as her sister doesn’t say anything, just looks at her with wide eyes.  “Something… anything?”

Dawn’s mouth works for a few minutes.  “Both?”  Dawn squeaks out the word, and as Buffy hesitantly nods her head, Dawn whimpers and runs a hand over her eyes a couple times contemplating the concept.  Finally speaking quietly.  “I knew you loved Tara, but I never even considered the possibility of there being something between all three of you.”

“You knew?”  Buffy whispers in surprise, blinking her eyes owlishly at her sister.

“God, Buffy!  Do you think I’m completely blind?”  Dawn rolls her eyes.  Turning around, she slowly walks back and forth, thinking heavily.  “I’ve never seen you be so happy one moment and completely and insanely mad the next.  Your mood swings were horrible!”  Dawn explains.  “You would always make sure there was plenty of food left over for Tara even if you were still hungry, knowing Tara wouldn’t mind that you finished the food.  A ton of little things.  I honestly don’t mind the idea of you and Tara being together.”  Dawn explains quietly as she turns to look at her sister.

“You have a problem with the three of us being together.”  Buffy whispers, her eyes sad, the hurt showing in the hazel depths.

“I…”  Dawn shakes her head.  “Buffy, I just don’t know.  It never occurred to me that you three would try to have a relationship together.  It’s… strange.”  Dawn admits rubbing her forehead.  “Do you love them both?  Really, truly love them both?”  Dawn questions, her eyes piercing Buffy.  “You’re not just doing this because you love Tara and Anya’s kind of a… two for one deal, right?”

Buffy shakes her head slowly.  “I have to admit that I loved Tara first, but as I got to know and understand Anya better, she wormed her way into my heart, also.”  Buffy admits softly.  “And I honestly can’t think of one woman without thinking about the other.  I do love them both, Dawnie.”  Buffy looks at her sister, her eyes pleading. 

Dawn tilts her head looking at her sister, considering everything for a few long minutes.  “Do you think this relationship will work?”  Dawn questions seriously, wanting an honest answer.

“I want it to work.  We all three want it to work, Dawn.”  Buffy sighs quietly.  “It’s not going to be easy.  There’ll be the normal relationship problems threefold.”  Buffy quirks her lip up at the word threefold.  “But I want to try.  And none of us want it to be one of those things where say, Anya and Tara are together one night, Tara and I the following night and then Anya and I the night after.  We want this to be a relationship with the three of us in the truest sense of the word.”  Buffy bites her lip as she waits for what Dawn might say or think.

Dawn looks down at the ground, sighing quietly.  Thinking about everything her sister has told her, when it occurs to her that Buffy is treating her like an adult, not her bratty little sister.  And in turn, she’s actually responding more like an adult instead of her usual whiny self.  Allowing a small smile to cross her face, she realizes that a lot of that is to do with Tara being in the house, and no matter what, she wants the witch to stay with them.  And honestly, being around Anya has actually become pleasant once she really got to know the ex-vengeance demon a little better.  Slowly raising her head, Dawn raises an eyebrow.  “If I catch you three doing strange and kinky things in places that I can see you, I’m going to go live with Xander or Willow, understood?”  Dawn fights the grin trying to break out on her face.

It takes Buffy a moment to come to the realization that Dawn is joking with her… and then it hits her that she’s telling her that she’s okay with the threesome.  As the huge grin crosses her face, Buffy watches an answering grin finally crossing Dawn’s face, followed by giggles.  “I love you!”  Buffy yells, wrapping her sister up in her arms and spinning her around.  “Thank you, Dawnie!”  Buffy laughs loudly.

“PUT ME DOWN!”  Dawn cries out between laughter.  “You’re going to make me sick!” 

“That’s okay, it’ll clean up!”  Buffy chuckles before slowly setting her sister back on her feet, holding her steady as she wobbles.  “We got to go tell Anya and Tara.”

“Okay.”  Dawn follows her laughing sister in the house, smirking at Anya and Tara as they look at her hesitantly.  “No kinky stuff where I can see it, understood?”  Dawn raises an eyebrow, chuckling as the two women look at her in question.  “And do something to deaden the sound, if you can.  I’d appreciate it.”  Dawn flounces up the stairs, laughing, leaving the three women and Giles down in the living room.

“She’s okay with us?”  Tara whispers, her eyes on Buffy as the slayer prowls towards her and Anya.

“Apparently.”  Buffy nods, smirking, her eyes taking in her two lovers.  “Giles?”

“Yes, Buffy?”  Giles answers, surprise still showing on his face from Dawn’s words.

“We’ll be back tomorrow.  You don’t mind staying here with Dawn, do you?”  Buffy questions, her eyes roaming over Tara’s and Anya’s forms.  “We three need some time to discuss things, and it would probably be best to do it by ourselves.”

Giles whips off his glasses, pinching the bridge of his nose.  “Yes, quite right.  Go children, please.”  Giles whimpers quietly at the images trying to flit through his mind. 

“Clothes?”  Anya questions as she stands walking quickly to the door, seeing the gleam in Buffy’s eyes.

“Won’t need them.”  Buffy growls as she follows a lightly blushing Tara and a laughing Anya out of the house.

“And you worry about me.  I think poor Giles is about ready to have his head explode.”  Anya chortles as the three women quickly make their way to her car.

“Drive, Anya.”  Tara whispers as Buffy pulls her in on top of her on the front seat and starts running her hands firmly over her breasts while nipping at the back of her neck.

“Yep.  We created a monster.”  Anya smirks as she quickly pulls out of the driveway, turning the car towards her apartment.

“Yes, you did.”  Buffy agrees, licking across Tara’s neck, while burrowing her hands under her top, stroking her fingers over the silk clad breasts.  Smiling as she hears Tara moan in pleasure.  “I just wish I had two mouths so I could have both of you at the same time.”  Buffy growls before sucking the soft skin she’d been licking into her mouth.  Sucking strongly knowing it’ll leave a mark but not caring. 

“Shit!”  Tara cries out quietly, starting to squirm in Buffy’s lap as Buffy pushes the bra up out of the way and starts pinching her nipples. 

Buffy chuckles wickedly as she slides a hand down to Tara’s skirt, dragging it up her legs.  “Are you wearing underwear?”  She questions Tara, her hand sliding between Tara’s legs, growling as she comes into contact with the cloth barrier.  “I’ll probably be able to afford to buy you new underwear here soon.  Hope you don’t mind.”  Buffy quickly tears the fabric with one hand at one hip before sliding over to the other hip, tearing the fabric there, flipping the useless panties down as she slides eager fingers over swollen, dew covered lips. 

Anya whimpers quietly as she glances over seeing Buffy caress a moaning and wiggling Tara’s slit.  “Can’t drive and watch at the same time, you two.  This is so not fair.”  Anya growls, speeding up slightly as they draw closer to the apartment building.

“Not… me…”  Tara pants, whimpering loudly as Buffy slides two fingers deep inside her, working her into a frenzy of need as she brushes the heel of her palm briefly over her swollen clit, not giving it the pressure she needs.

Buffy smirks as Anya quickly pulls into the parking garage, bringing the car to a quick halt in her parking spot.  “Want me to continue this here, or upstairs?”  Buffy whispers, grinding her palm briefly against the hardening muscle.

“Goddess, people…”  Tara whimpers, pushing her body against the hand pumping strongly into her and the palm pressing against her needy clit.

“Does it bother you that someone can look in and see what I’m doing to you?”  Buffy questions hoarsely.  “Or does it turn you on that much more?”  Buffy reaches up with her other hand, wrapping it in Anya’s hair and bringing her over for a ravenous kiss while pumping her right hand even faster into Tara as she hears the loud moans and feels the extra wetness oozing out of the witch at her words.

“BUFFY!”  Tara screams, reaching down to press Buffy’s hand hard against her, burying the slayer’s fingers deep inside her as she comes.

Buffy moans into Anya’s mouth as she feels the hot flood of liquid saturate her hand, and Tara’s muscles clenching down so hard on her fingers that Buffy wonders if she’d be able to remove them even with slayer strength. 

“Upstairs, now.”  Anya growls after pulling away from Buffy’s mouth, inhaling the smell of Tara’s climax deeply within her senses. 

Buffy finally eases her hand away from Tara as the witch releases her internal muscles.  Opening the door, Buffy helps Tara out of the vehicle, quickly following her as she notices the witch stumble as her legs aren’t quite ready to support her yet.  Slamming the car door, Buffy wraps her left arm around Tara while slowly sucking and licking the juices off her right hand as the three groaning women make it to the elevator, riding it up the three flights to Anya’s floor.

As soon as Anya unlocks the door, the three women are barely inside with the door shut behind them, before Buffy grabs Anya, pulling her in against her other side, kissing her ravenously.

Tara moans quietly at the carnal display, gently urging the two women towards the bedroom, stripping her clothes off as she helps Buffy and Anya take their clothes off in between hands and lips landing on various body parts, teasing, pinching and caressing, not knowing whose hand is where. 

Buffy growls quietly as she feels someone’s fingers slide deep inside her while nipping on firm flesh, taking a moment to realize she’s nipping on someone’s butt cheek.  Not even caring who it is, Buffy starts licking and nipping her way across the firm flesh while rocking her hips into the fingers working in and out of her at a feverish pace.  Running her hands up over the back in front of her, Buffy wiggles her hands under the person’s body, grasping hold of full, firm breasts, grinning at the realization she’s got hold of Tara.  Feeling smaller, firm breasts press into her back, Buffy sighs in happiness at being sandwiched between the two women. 

“Want… over…”  Tara mumbles, moaning quietly as Buffy lifts her body from her, effectively lifting Anya with her.  Grinning, Tara turns over and spins her body around, burying her face against Buffy’s apex, licking strongly over the rock hard clit of the slayer while reaching up and sliding three fingers deep within Anya’s center, brushing her thumb firmly over the ex-vengeance demon’s clit at the same time she starts a fast rhythm inside the shopkeeper.

Finding Tara’s sex right in front of her, Buffy dives in, her body rocking against the sensory overload as her back is nipped and licked, her clit sucked on and fingers pounding away inside her.  Sucking strongly on Tara’s blood engorged clit, Buffy whimpers as she feels the climax working through her own body.  Sliding her fingers through Tara’s wetness, Buffy starts pumping three fingers in and out of the witch, growling as she hears Tara whimper ‘more’ into her sex.  Working the fourth finger in, Buffy groans loudly as Tara clenches her fingers, her hips jumping uncontrollably as the witch explodes.  The small warm flood soaking her hand, tips Buffy over the edge as Tara unconsciously, or consciously scrapes her teeth over the swollen flesh she’d been sucking on. 

“FUCK!”  Anya screams loudly as Tara slides a slippery finger in her ass at the same time she presses hard into her clit and buries her fingers deep inside her.  Collapsing on top of the slayer, all three women groan quietly as they become one sweat-soaked heaving mass of flesh.

Feeling too spent to move, the three women, pant heavily, lying in a tangle of limbs for long moments before Tara chuckles quietly. 

“What are you laughing at?”  Anya slowly eases her body off Buffy, groaning as Tara’s fingers slide from her various body parts.

“Is this the life-affirming sex I’ve heard about?”  Tara whimpers quietly as Buffy slowly rolls off her.

Buffy groans, flopping her head on the pillow.  “I don’t know, but it took me a while to figure out who was where, and to tell you the God’s honest truth?  I’m still not sure!” 

Tara and Anya both chuckle at the slayer’s words. 

“Well, I know where Tara’s fingers ended up.”  Anya sighs quietly as she taps Tara on the leg.  “You going to spin around and lay up here by us?”

“Don’t have the energy.”  Tara mumbles, shifting her hands to a leg on either side of her to caress gently. 

“We’re going to need a bigger bed.”  Buffy considers the logistics of the three women sleeping together.  “When’s your lease up on the apartment?”  Buffy questions Anya, turning her head to look at the woman.

“Three months.”  Anya admits quietly.

“Keep it or sublease it?”  Tara questions, groaning as she feels two hands stroking up either inner thigh. 

“Don’t know, don’t care.  I just know we’re going to move Anya in as soon as possible.  We can worry about everything else afterwards.”  Buffy mutters, her hand stroking gently over Tara’s sex curiously seeking out the folds and crevices smiling at the dampness of her sex.

Tara moans quietly as Buffy’s questing fingers map out her sex. 

Anya chuckles as her fingers collide with Buffy’s.  “Want to see, or should I say, feel a really neat spot?”  Anya questions, looking at Buffy as she grasps the slayer’s hand. 

“Okay.”  Buffy agrees, curious about the ex-demon’s mischievous grin and Tara’s low groan.  Allowing Anya to wrap her index finger around hers, Buffy blinks in surprise as Anya slides their two fingers within Tara.  As Anya feels deep within the witch, coming across a certain area after hooking their fingers, Anya slides Buffy’s finger over the area. 

“Feel that spot, remember that spot, caress that spot.”  Anya orders softly, sliding her hand away from Tara as Buffy curiously does what Anya told her to do.

“FUCK!”  Tara growls loudly, her hips starting to jerk and jump at the uncontrollable pleasure starting to build within her body at the slayer’s curious caressing.  “Damn you, Anya!”  Tara whimpers loudly as her body starts shimmying and shaking as she can’t control her response.

Buffy shifts her body, watching in amazement as Tara’s body practically vibrates with the arousal coursing through her.  Stroking more firmly and quickly, Buffy shifts her body around, to get a better angle with her finger, gingerly sliding another finger in to caress over the spot, eyes opening wide as Tara arches high off the bed, groaning loudly at the same time the witch floods her hand and arm with her orgasm.

Anya chuckles as she watches Buffy and Tara, her hand stroking gently over Buffy’s back, knowing the slayer is so engrossed with what’s happening with Tara that she really isn’t even aware of what she’s doing.  Figuring it probably won’t take long for Buffy to reach the same release, Anya quickly slides three fingers within the slayer, searching out the slayer’s g-spot stroking firmly and quickly.

“DAMN!”  Buffy cries feeling the immense pleasure coursing through her body as Anya obviously starts doing to her what she’d just finished doing to Tara.  Rocking her body against the pleasure giving fingers, Buffy slides down on top of Tara as the witch pulls her down.

“Don’t hold back, enjoy it.”  Tara whispers, stroking her hands up and down Buffy’s back as Buffy rocks against her body and Anya’s pleasure giving fingers.  Tara smiles as Anya winks at her.

Buffy whimpers, burying her face between Tara’s breasts as she feels the fast build-up of extreme pleasure in her body.  Even her toes feeling like they’re tingling and looking for release.  Her body uncontrollably shaking with desire, Buffy screams as the orgasm rips through her, literally soaking Anya in her juices.  Seeing spots of colors, sparking behind her closed eyelids, Buffy whimpers continuously for long minutes as Anya’s fingers slowly still inside her before easing out.

“Hmmm.”  Anya moans quietly, licking up some of the slayer’s juices.  Gathering more, she shifts to dangle her fingers in front of Tara’s lips.  “Want some?”

“Anya!”  Tara growls at the teasing ex-demon before grabbing the hand pulling it down to suck the juices from the fingers.

Buffy blushes darkly at the two women, burying her face even more firmly into Tara’s chest.

“Don’t be embarrassed.”  Anya presses a kiss against Buffy’s shoulder.  “It tastes absolutely wonderful.”

Tara unconsciously runs her tongue over her lips.  “More.”  Tara orders softly.

“Greedy.”  Anya grumbles.  “You could always situate yourself to clean it up the right way, you know!”

“Buffy, sweetie?”  Tara murmurs quietly, smiling as Buffy looks up hesitantly.  “Turn around.”  Tara grins lasciviously at the slayer.

Buffy whimpers, burying her face against the witch again.  “There’s just something wrong with this picture.”

“Yes there is.  You’re not turning around.”  Tara admits, nodding her head.

“Buffy, shift up.”  Anya orders considering things for a moment, smiling as Buffy does as asked.  “Tara, you turn around.  You need to be cleaned properly, also.”  Anya slides down to the end of the bed, watching as Tara shifts around so she can lap hungrily over the slayer’s body, making Buffy blush even more.  Gathering up some of the liquid glistening on Tara’s thighs, Anya offers it hesitantly to Buffy.  “Try, please?”

Buffy looks at the glistening finger for a second before finally capturing it in her mouth to suck the sweet liquid from it.  Closing her eyes and groaning at the sweet flavor.  Finally gathering all the liquid Buffy grunts.  “Different.”

“Different type orgasm.”  Anya wiggles her eyebrows as she slides between Tara’s thighs licking her way slowly up Tara’s thighs, gathering every last drop.

“HEY!  That’s mine.”  Buffy growls, frowning at the ex-demon, unconsciously shifting her body as Tara‘s tongue and lips caress over her inner thighs. 

“You snooze, you lose.”  Anya smirks at the slayer, before laughing as Tara’s body jumps as she starts laughing. 

Wrapping her arms tightly around Buffy’s waist, Tara hugs her.  “There’s plenty more where that came from, sweetie.  Be thankful Anya hasn’t given you the work over yet!” 

“You told me not to.  Wasn’t it something about giving her time to acclimate herself to us before teasing her unmercifully?”  Anya frowns as Buffy buries her face in Tara’s apex, lapping up the liquid.  “Now, that’s just downright mean.”  Anya taps Buffy on the back of the head, chuckling as Buffy growls at her. 

Laughing, Anya slides up beside the two women.  Turning her head, she watches as they clean each other of their orgasms.  When Tara turns lust-filled eyes towards her, Anya raises an eyebrow in question. 

“Buffy, sweetie.  I think it’s time for you to attack Anya.”  Tara chuckles as she hears a grunt of approval come from Buffy and Buffy practically pushes herself up and off the bed, turning in the air and landing between Anya’s spread legs.  “Damn.  Wish I could do that!”  Tara states after seeing that little maneuver. 

“More, more, more, more.”  Buffy growls, her eyes twinkling merrily as she works her way up Anya’s body, spreading the ex-demon’s legs further apart as she slides between them, fingers playing around the woman’s sex. 

“Sex crazed monster.  She finally found out what good sex is li…”  Anya whimpers loudly as Buffy quickly slides her fingers home within her, searching and finding her g-spot, stroking with her strong fingers, quickly bringing her to a shivering, shaking mass of need.  “BUFFY!”  Anya screams as she reaches her orgasm in record time.

Buffy grunts happily, opening her mouth as she tries to engulf the ex-demon’s whole sex in her mouth to try and capture all the fluid escaping from the woman.

Tara can’t help but laugh at the slayer’s antics.  “Anya, there’s no more thinking we created a monster, I know we have.”

Buffy looks up, a huge grin covering her cum-soaked face.  “You think?”  Running a tongue around her lips, gathering up more of the ex-vengeance demon’s juices, she tilts her head.  “I’ve been missing out all these years.  Lots and lots of time to make up for.”  Buffy nods her head as she thinks about it.  “Lots and lots of making up to do.”

Tara laughs gleefully as she slides down, lapping the slayer’s face clean, grinning as she hears the groan coming from Anya as she slowly lands back in this plane of existence from her orgasm.  “And all the time in the world to do it.”

“Promise?”  Buffy questions softly, her eyes hopeful.

“Promise.”  Tara whispers, kissing Buffy gently, groaning as Anya slides up beside them, stroking her hands gently over both women. 

“Promise.”  Anya adds her promise, kissing first Buffy, then Tara before all three women tease each other in a three way tangle of tongues, before they slide back on the bed, collapsing as their bodies finally give in to the exhaustion working through them after their sex marathon. 

“Love you.”  Tara murmurs quietly as the three women shift, spooning against each other.

“Love you, too.”  Buffy wraps her arms around Anya while she smiles as Tara’s arms wrap around both women.

“Love you two, too.”  Anya places one hand on Tara’s arm and the other on Buffy’s arm as she slowly feels herself drifting off to sleep. 

THE END

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