Chapter 17

 

Tara leans against the door, watching as Willow fidgets after letting her in the room.  Trying to think of the best way to approach the subject of her and Faith, Tara glances down at the carpet.

 

“Congratulations on graduating first in your class.”  Willow smiles nervously at Tara still somewhat shocked that the blonde Wiccan had sought her out. 

 

“Thanks.”  Tara sighs quietly.  “I wish you would join us downstairs, Willow.”

 

Willow feels the tears gathering behind her eyes and turns to look out the window at the back yard for a few moments, fighting them off.  “I don’t know how you could want me to be around you, Tara.  The things I’ve done to you are unforgivable.”

 

“Not unforgivable, Willow.  But I can’t ever forget them.”  Tara murmurs softly, her eyes on the redhead.  “I honestly believe that you understand now, what you did.  And I can’t tell you how happy I am that you have control of your magic.”

 

“Thank you.”  Willow let’s some of the tension ease out of her body, but doesn’t turn to look at Tara.  “I haven’t told anyone yet, but I contacted Giles, and he’s found a Coven in New Hampshire that has offered to help me cleanse myself and help me learn what you were trying to teach me.  I plan on leaving in another week’s time, and though I don’t know if I’ll ever actually use magic again, I think this is for the best.”

 

“That’s wonderful, Willow.”  Tara hesitates for a minute, seriously debating on whether to continue on with her planned conversation, or wait, since Willow’s leaving.  Knowing she can’t keep Faith a secret, Tara takes a deep breath.  “I have something else I need to tell you, Willow.”

 

Willow slowly turns to look at Tara, watching as the blonde looks at her somewhat nervously.  “I know you’re dating someone, Tara.  If that’s what you’re wanting to talk to me about.”

 

Tara unconsciously wraps her arms around her waist and nods her head.  “But it isn’t the fact that I’m dating someone, it’s more of who I’m dating.”  Tara nibbles on her bottom lip as she watches Willow frown.

 

“Well, if it’s Buffy, I’m going to kick her ass because I already asked her if you two were dating and she said no.”  Willow jokes trying to lighten the mood a bit. 

 

Tara chuckles and slowly shakes her head, a quick smile crossing her face.  “No.  Buffy and I aren’t dating.  I honestly think of her as just a good friend.” 

 

“Is it someone I know?”  Willow finally questions after a few minutes as Tara doesn’t continue.  Watching as Tara nods her head sharply, just once.  “I know I’ll never have you for a lover again, Tara, but one day I hope to have your friendship.  If you want to tell me, tell me.  If not, you don’t have to.  I gave up any rights I had to knowing anything about you a long time ago.” 

 

“Maybe.  But our relationship helped make me who I am today, Willow.  Your love, caring and understanding helped me to become stronger and, I think, a better person.”  Tara looks sadly at Willow.  “Though we aren’t a couple any more, I don’t want to hide things from you.  And friendship is something I hope one day we can have, without the hurt feelings between us.”

 

Willow twists her hands together and nods in agreement.  “Things are still kind of fresh, right now.  I didn’t help matters with basically stalking you for a while, either.”

 

“No, you didn’t.  You scared me, Willow.”  Tara finally admits as Willow turns pale.  “I was afraid you were going to try and make me come back to you.”

 

Willow swallows hard and looks up into sad blue eyes.  “You had a reason to be.  I honestly thought about it for a while.  I…”  Taking a deep breath, Willow makes the admittance.  “Then when I looked at you, I really saw you.  Saw the look in your eyes when you turned and strode away from me.  It took me a while, but I finally realized what that look was.  It was pure and unadulterated fear… pointed straight at me.  I’ve never seen that look on your face before, not even when we were fighting demons and some of the close calls we’ve had in the past.  To see it pointed at me…”  Willow shakes her head and looks down at the carpet.  “I didn’t like myself very much.  I stayed to myself for a while until Buffy’s conversation with Faith.  I kind of blew up at Buffy, being all denial gal again until she pretty much let me have it.”

 

“Willow…”  Tara starts, then stops, honestly not knowing what to say to the redhead. 

 

“It’s okay.”  Willow smiles sadly, finally making eye contact again.  “I deserved what she said and more.  I still wonder if there might not be something going on between her and Faith, though.  I asked her one night, and she never truly answered me.”

 

“There isn’t, Willow.”  Tara states quietly.

 

Willow blinks at the knowledge that Tara knows for a fact that nothing is going on between the two slayers, no doubt whatsoever in her words.  “But how…” 

 

Tara sighs and tucks her hands into her jeans pockets.  “I…  Faith…”  Tara groans and looks up at the ceiling for divine help before slowly dropping her eyes back to confused green eyes.  “Faith and I are a couple, Willow.  We have been for the last three months, more or less.” 

 

Willow stares at Tara, her mind not understanding what she’s saying.  Tilting her head she looks at Tara in confusion.  “You and…”

 

“Faith, yes.”  Tara nods her head, waiting for a moment before plunging on.  “I was feeling sorry for myself and decided to get drunk off my ass… literally.  She saved me from an overzealous woman and took my drunk, passed out ass to her place since she didn’t know where I lived.  She took care of me, even after I was a bitch to her before I passed out.  We talked the following night, I went out on patrol with her and then when we came back to her apartment we argued and I slapped her before storming out of her apartment.”

“Did she…”  Willow starts, the anger flowing through her at the thought that Faith had tried to do something to Tara.

 

“She didn’t make advances on me, Willow.  She didn’t try to force anything, but she was trying to explain to me that she was a murdering bitch, and that she thought I was under the impression that she was a nice person, which she did her damnedest to disabuse me of.  She made a smart assed comment, and I lost it.  I slapped her hard across the face before I gathered my stuff and walked out.  I’m disgusted with myself with the way I acted and I still feel guilty as hell for hitting her.  But she’s done nothing, NOTHING to hurt me.  As a matter of fact she’s been kind, sweet, gentle and caring with me, Willow.”  Tara hurriedly explains her eyes serious.

 

Willow stares at Tara as she lets what Tara said seep into her mind, before turning to look out the window again.  “So, you and Faith have been sleeping together for three months?”

 

“No.  Not in the way you mean it.”  Tara shakes her head, sighing quietly.  “Faith put off our being physical until after I had gained back some much needed weight.  And even then, I was the one that had to force her hand.  She didn’t, and still doesn’t, want our relationship just to be about sex.  She’s admitted what she was like before, Willow.  She doesn’t like the way she was, and doesn’t want to be that person anymore.”

 

Willow swallows hard at the thought of Tara and Faith together.  Having a hard time understanding the attraction Tara has for Faith, still not able to get over the cleavage-y slut-bomb factor.  “Do you…”  Willow takes a deep, steadying breath, before trying again.  “Do you love her?”

 

“Yes.”  Tara answers softly, watching as Willow’s shoulders slump.

 

“Thank you for telling me.  I… I need a little while and then I might come down, if you don’t mind?”  Willow turns her head partly, but not far enough to look at Tara.

 

“No, I don’t mind.  I wish you would, Willow.  The little get together downstairs isn’t complete without you.”  Tara murmurs shifting to open the door.

 

“Wait.”  Willow walks over to the dresser, opening it and pulling out a box.  “I… I know…”  Willow finally puts the box in Tara’s hands.  “Take it.  It’s not a graduation gift, per se.  But I think it’ll mean more to you than anything else I would have gotten you.”

 

Tara looks at Willow for a minute, before easing the lid off the box, gently moving the tissue paper to uncover the Dolls Eye Crystal she had given Willow all that time ago.  “But I gave this to you.”

 

“I know.  And now I’m giving it back.  It should be with you, Tara.  I may never practice magic again, and though it will always hold a place in my heart just on sentimental value, it belongs with you.”  Willow looks from the crystal up into watery blue eyes, smiling sadly. 

 

“Thank you.”  Tara hesitates for a moment before hugging Willow with one arm.  “We’ll be okay, Willow.  I know we will.”

 

“I hope so.” Willow sniffs hard as Tara releases her and heads out the door.  “Thank you.”  Willow whispers, before shifting back to the window, staring out at the late afternoon sky as the sun slowly sinks.  Thinking about Faith and Tara, knowing she may never understand the two women being together, but realizing deep inside that she doesn’t have a say in their relationship.

 

***

 

Faith shoves her hands in her pockets to stare at the dumbfounded brunette.  “Yes, Xander.  Tara and I are together.  No, I didn’t threaten her to be with me, for some strange reason she likes me.”

 

“More than likes.”  Anya purses her lips, as she considers the dark-haired slayer.  “And you know it, too.”

 

“Yeah.”  Faith shifts, slightly embarrassed.  “I ain’t gonna hurt her.  And anyone or anything that harms her, will be answering to me.”  Faith warns quietly, her eyes serious as she looks at Xander.  “So, if you’re gonna be a bastard, you might as well hit that door, because I won’t hesitate to toss you on your ass out in the yard, understand?”

 

Xander unconsciously takes a step back, seeing the seriousness in Faith’s eyes, though surprised at the lack of anger there.  Realizing that when she was in Sunnydale before she would have just shoved him against a wall and told him to leave things the fuck alone, he blinks in surprise.  “Yeah, I understand.”  He finally looks at Anya, before glancing around, sighing in relief as Linda and Dawn come walking back into the living room, the two laughing quietly.

 

Linda glances up the stairs, hesitating for a minute before walking slowly up them to sit beside Buffy.  “How are things?” 

 

“Actually not that bad.”  Buffy admits, having slowly relaxed as she listened to the two women talk.  “I think the conversation’s about over, though.  And I would rather not be caught eavesdropping.  I’ll leave that for Faith to tell Tara.”  Buffy grins, patting Linda on the leg.  “I think it’s time to eat, what about you?”

 

“Won’t get any arguments out of me.  Smelling the food on the ride over here about made me want to pull over and start shoving it in my face.”  Linda jokes as she stands, holding her hand out to Buffy. 

 

“And fight Faith over it?  So not a good idea.”  Buffy chuckles, following Linda down the stairs after she releases her hand. 

 

“There’s enough in there for all of us, and then some, even with your two’s appetites!!”  Linda jokes.

 

“That’s what you say.”  Buffy smiles at Faith as the slayer looks at her, concern obvious in her eyes.  “They’re bringing the conversation to an end, Faith.”

 

Faith relaxes as she sees the understanding and lack of worry in Buffy’s eyes.  Shifting to move to the bottom of the stairs, Faith leans against the wall, waiting patiently for Tara to come down.

 

“I think its food time, anyone else wanting to eat?”  Buffy looks at the group grinning when she gets some serious head nods. 

 

Faith chuckles as the group traipses into the kitchen, her eyes lifting to look up the stairs as Tara finally makes her way down them.  Looking at her lover intently, she breathes out a sigh of relief when she gets a loving smile pointed in her direction.  “Everythin’ okay?”

 

“Pretty much.  She’s in shock, but she isn’t going to freak out.”  Tara sets the box with her Dolls Eye Crystal in it on the stair a couple steps up from the bottom before practically melting into Faith’s offered embrace, burying her face into the strong neck. 

 

“Good.”  Faith brushes her cheek against Tara’s head, gently rubbing her hands up and down Tara’s back, smiling as her lover relaxes even more into the caress. 

 

“How did things go down here?”  Tara asks after a few minutes, smiling as she hears the good-natured ribbing and joking coming from the kitchen.

 

“Not bad.  Think Xander’s mind wanted to implode or somethin’, though.”  Faith chuckles, hugging Tara to her.  “I had B make sure nothin’ was gonna happen.”

 

Tara sighs and presses a lingering kiss against Faith’s pulse point.  “I figured you would do something.”

 

“I had to be sure you were okay, T-Bear.  You know that as well as I do.”  Faith wiggles her hands under the back of Tara’s shirt to stroke over her lover’s lower back, loving the feel of the silky soft skin. 

 

“I know.  My protector.”  Tara grins as she shifts back to look into warm brown eyes.

 

“Your Warrior, ya’ mean.”  Faith chuckles at the crooked grin on her lover’s face.  Lifting one hand, she cups the back of Tara’s head, urging her to close the short distance, kissing her softly before slowly deepening the kiss.

 

“Eeeep!”  Xander jumps when he sees Tara and Faith in a serious full-bodied lip-lock as he works his way into the living room.  Shaking his head and mentally trying to think of evil disgusting things to make Xander Junior go back to sleep as he turns his head away from the two women.

 

“Get used to it, Boy Toy.”  Faith growls after finally easing away from the kiss, smiling as Tara nips gently on her bottom lip.  “If we wanna kiss, we’re gonna kiss.”

 

“Glad you said we there, Slayer.”  Tara jokes, nipping gently on Faith’s pulse point. 

 

Faith snorts.  “I know better’n not including you.  You’ll kick my ass, or stick it on the ceiling.”

 

“Ummmhmmmm.”  Tara gets sidetracked from the conversation as she slowly twirls her tongue around the hard heartbeat under her tongue, smiling as it starts to beat faster.

 

“T-Bear.”  Faith warns, closing her eyes as Tara’s lips close around the flesh and suckles for a few minutes.  Feeling her body clench with desire Faith growls while gently digging her fingers into Tara’s waist, urging her away.

 

“Faith!”  Tara growls as Faith shifts so they’re not in contact any more. 

 

“House full of people, graduation party, Boy Toy’s head about to fuckin’ explode.”  Faith growls back, ticking off the reasons why they can’t continue.

 

“Fine.”  Tara smacks Faith gently on the hip before reaching and grabbing her crystal.  “But later tonight, you’re mine.”

 

“Like there was any doubt.”  Faith smirks as she follows her laughing lover to the kitchen.

 

Xander whimpers as he rubs his face, waiting for another smack from Anya, surprised when he doesn’t get one.  Slowly lowering his hands he winces as he looks beside him, surprised to see his smiling fiancée.  “How come you aren’t hitting me?”

 

“Because this time you actually saw something instead of just imagining it.”  Anya grins before sitting back into the couch and starting to eat.

 

Xander stares at Anya in stunned silence, wondering if he will ever understand her.  Looking up as Dawn giggles and sits down on one of the chairs. 

 

***

 

“Is that for Willow?”  Tara questions Buffy softly, seeing a plate piled with items that Willow likes to eat.

 

“Yeah.  I figured I’d take her up a plate, since I don’t know for sure she’ll come down.”  Buffy shrugs, sighing quietly. 

 

“Try to get her to come down.  Maybe between what I said and you talking with her…”  Tara trails off, smiling sadly at Buffy. 

 

“I’ll try.”  Buffy grabs a couple sodas with one hand and the plate with the other before hurrying from the room. 

 

Faith watches Buffy leave before turning back as Tara starts to pile food on a plate, that she knows isn’t for her.  As Tara puts quite a bit of pepper steak on it, Faith rolls her eyes.  “You know, I can get my own food, don’t ya’?”

 

“Ummhmmm.”  Tara more hums her answer as she places a couple egg rolls on top before handing the plate to Faith, winking.  “But I like to do things for you.”

 

Faith grunts quietly, accepting the plate, leaning in to kiss Tara firmly on the lips.  “Love you.”

 

“Goddess.  I love you, too, Faith.”  Tara murmurs, pressing her lips back against her lover’s for a few moments before releasing her.  “Go get settled.  I’ll bring you a couple sodas.”

 

“I got ‘em.”  Faith grabs a couple cans before heading towards the living room. 

 

Linda chuckles as Tara’s eyes stay glued to Faith as the dark-haired slayer walks out of the kitchen.  “You’ve fallen hard.”

 

“You have no earthly idea.”  Tara whispers, finally turning back to Linda after Faith is out of sight.  “My life has definitely been strange for the last few years.”  Tara admits, grinning crookedly.  “And how long has this little get together been planned?”

 

Linda shifts and laughs quietly.  “For the last couple weeks, honestly.  Faith’s been doing some major running around while you were taking finals.  She enlisted Buffy’s help, figuring it would be best to have the small get together here, instead of at your guys’ small apartment.”

 

“And easier to decorate, without me being at the apartment, I would suspect.”  Tara murmurs, shaking her head at the thought of her sneaky lover.  Placing a few of her favorite items on her plate, she puts more of her lover’s favorite items on it, knowing Faith will probably be about halfway through her food by the time she gets out there.  “So, how are things between you and Buffy?  I haven’t really had much time to talk to either one of you lately.”

 

Linda groans quietly and rubs a hand over the back of her neck.  “Does being in a perpetual state of arousal tell you anything?  I’m going to have to back off here soon she’s literally driving me crazy.”

 

“Tell her, Linda.  She may not realize what she’s doing is having that much of an effect on you.”  Tara purses her lips to try and keep from laughing, already knowing Buffy knows exactly what kind of effect it’s having on the professor.  If the blonde slayer hadn’t come practically busting down their door with the mini-meltdown she had, Faith’s comments about how the poor professor became an aroused mess as soon as Buffy walked into the room would have clued her in.  With both women being slayers, she knows for a fact that Buffy can smell the professor just like Faith can.

 

Linda groans and shakes her head.  “Then if I do that, she may not come around, and honestly I don’t know what’ll be worse.”

 

Tara gently pats the older woman on the shoulder.  “I’m sure things will work out.  Give it time, and you might be surprised at what happens.  Look at me and Faith.  Two more different people in the world I don’t think you could find.”

 

Linda chuckles and grins at the blonde Wiccan.  “You definitely have a point there.  But you can see how much you love each other.  It’s in your eyes whenever you look at one another.”

 

Tara blushes lightly.  “I know, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.  Food.”  Tara looks down at her plate, before sighing and grabbing another plate, piling it high for her lover before winking at Linda.  “Get the food before the other bottomless pit comes back down.”

 

“Tara, we literally bought a couple hundred dollars worth of food, I don’t think we’ll run out that quickly.”  Linda jokes, smiling at Tara’s laughter in response to her comment.  “God help me tonight.  The dancing may end up making me run to the bathroom for a little alone time.”  Linda mumbles as she fixes her plate.

 

***

 

Chapter 18

 

“Come down.”  Buffy softly orders Willow, still holding the drinks and food in her hands.  “Tara wants you down there.”

 

“Why?”  Willow looks up, the look of loss obvious on her face.  “Why does she still care, Buffy?  I mean… the things I did to her.”  Willow rubs a hand over her face.  “How can she be so willing to forgive me, if someone had done those things to me…”

 

“That’s Tara, Willow.  You know that as well as I do.  She wants her family and friends down there, and that includes you.”  Buffy leans against the door frame.  “Come on.  I have a friend I’d like you to meet.  The couple times she’s come over, you’ve been over at your parents.” 

 

Willow groans quietly.  “Let me wash my face and straighten up somewhat.”

 

“Go.  I’m staying right here.”  Buffy grins as she gets a disgusted look from the redhead. 

 

“Okay, okay.”  Willow grabs a nicer shirt and eases by Buffy, heading towards the bathroom.  “Damn stubborn slayer.”

 

“Yep.”  Buffy smirks as she hears a growl come from Willow before the door shuts.  “Finally.”  Buffy groans quietly, before setting down the drinks and picking at the food.  “She takes too long, I’ll eat it all.”  Buffy mumbles around an egg roll, chuckling at the thought.

 

***

 

Tara chuckles as Faith sits on the arm of the chair she’s sitting in while picking on Linda.  Leaning into her lover’s side, she works on eating the rest of her food, Faith already growling softly at her when she noticed she hadn’t eaten much.  Feeling Faith stiffen slightly, Tara glances up at her lover before turning to look up the stairs watching as Willow slowly makes her way down them with Buffy behind her.  Her green-eyed gaze locked onto Faith.

 

Faith’s hand digs into the back of the chair as she watches the redhead, silently waiting to see what happens.  Swearing that she won’t do anything that will upset Tara, but also knowing herself well enough that if Willow wants to start something, she’ll be more than happy to punch her lights out.  Still feeling anger at the redhead for what she’d done to Tara, she’d tried to put those feeling aside, but looking at Willow has them right there, waiting to be let loose.  Feeling Tara place her hand on her thigh and gently squeeze, Faith tries to relax, though she doesn’t look at her lover, but continues to keep eye contact with Willow.

 

“Don’t hurt her.”  Willow states simply as she comes to a stop directly behind the chair the two women are sitting on.  “I’ve put her through enough shit, so don’t you dare do anything that will hurt her.  Understand?”

Faith unconsciously growls softly until she feels Tara’s fingers gently digging into her leg.  Dropping her gaze, she looks into loving blue eyes, slowly calming down to smile softly at Tara.

 

“She won’t, Willow.”  Tara answers for Faith, keeping eye contact with her lover. 

 

“Never.”  Faith whispers for Tara’s ears only, gently brushing some blonde hair behind her lover’s ear.  “B has my permission to kick my ass back to Boston and bury me fifty foot in the ground, if I do.  That is if T-Bear don’t take care of it first.”

 

“Not a worry.”  Tara grins crookedly, her eyes twinkling. 

 

Willow watches the interaction between the two women, seriously shocked at the look on Faith’s face along with her gentle touch.  Never would she have believed it, if she hadn’t seen it for herself.  “Huh.”  She looks at Buffy, then looks down at the plate the slayer had filled for her.  Quirking an eyebrow she stares at Buffy.

 

“What?  You took too long.”  Buffy shrugs, noticing the acceptance in Willow’s eyes.  “Wills, I’d like you to meet someone.”  Buffy nods her head towards Linda.  “Willow, this is Linda Carlisle.  Linda this is one of my best friends, Willow Rosenberg.”

 

Linda steps forward, holding out her hand.  “It’s nice to meet you, Willow…”  Linda tilts her head and chuckles.  “You’re in my class, aren’t you?”

 

“Yeah.”  Willow blushes lightly.  “You’re a wonderful teacher.”

 

“Don’t suck up, Wills.  Knowing you, you’ve already passed with a 4.0, plus schools out for the summer.”  Buffy grumbles bouncing her hip gently into the redhead, though she’s grinning at Linda.  “Let’s get you some food, so we can join the argue fest they have going on here.”

 

“I want to get some more of the fried wontons before they disappear.”  Linda narrows her gaze on Faith, before hurrying behind Buffy and Willow.

 

“Why’d I get that look?”  Faith grumbles, snatching one of the said wontons off Tara’s plate.

 

“Probably because you already ate something like twenty of them.”  Tara grins as Faith wiggles her eyebrows at her. 

 

Faith leans down as she finishes eating the wonton to whisper softly in Tara’s ear.  “Would rather be snackin’ on somethin’ else, but I think that wouldn’t go over too well here.” 

 

Tara whimpers at the low, husky tone and the hot breath blowing in her ear before Faith presses a quick kiss against her earlobe and leans back.  “How come I think I’m going to be a complete useless mess before the night’s through?”

 

“Don’t know.”  Faith chuckles, slowly trailing her fingers through Tara’s hair.  “Yo, Demon girl.  When are you and Boy Toy gonna finally tie the knot?  T-Bear’s told me you were planning on gettin’ married.”

 

“As soon as we can set a date.”  Anya grumbles, narrowing her eyes on Xander. 

 

“This is a bad time.  The summer is the busiest time in construction, Ahn.  You know that.”  Xander shifts uncomfortably as the look Anya sends him makes him worried.

 

“Sorry, didn’t mean to bring up a sore subject.”  Faith winces as she looks down.  “Figures I’d put my foot in it.”

 

“It’s okay, honey.”  Tara pats Faith’s thigh.  “You know, you could always get married then take your honeymoon at a later date when you can get away easier, if you wanted to.”  Tara suggests, looking at the couple.

 

Anya blinks at the suggestion, turning to look curiously at Xander to see what he thinks about it.  Seeing the considering look on his face, she smiles slowly.  “We will talk about this.  Maybe we could get married on a Friday evening and at least have a little getaway for the weekend, then go on an actual honeymoon later.”

 

“That could work.”  Xander nods his head smiling at Anya as he relaxes from where he’d stiffened at the mention of the marriage, knowing his putting Anya off because he couldn’t leave the construction crew is a sore subject.

 

Faith sighs in relief, leaning down to press her lips to the top of Tara’s head in silent thanks.  “I owe ya’.”

 

Tara squeezes Faith’s thigh in response, loving the feel of the strong muscles under her hand.  Actually just loving to touch the slayer whenever possible, preferably touching the warm, soft skin but not complaining when she can’t. 

 

Threading her fingers with Tara’s, Faith snarls her lip at Dawn as the teenager makes a small whipping motion towards her. 

 

Dawn giggles as Faith’s snarl and twinkling eyes are in contradiction with each other, knowing Tara has the slayer wrapped around her little finger.

 

Tara rolls her eyes at her lover and Dawn’s antics, the teen loving to egg the slayer on whenever possible.  Of course her lover was just as bad as the teen, if not worse.  Looking curiously at Faith as her lover leans down with a serious look on her face. 

 

“You know Red better’n I do.  Is she gonna be okay with us?”  Faith unconsciously presses her forehead against the top of Tara’s head as she softly questions her lover.

 

“Eventually.  I think she may get a little freaked and may not want to be around us that much, but…  Eventually she’ll come to terms with it.”  Tara closes her eyes as the sweet hot breath of her lover caresses over her cheek sending a shiver of desire through her body.    

 

Faith smirks as she smells Tara’s arousal even as her lover leans more into her.  Pressing her lips against Tara’s temple, she reaches down for her plate.  “Let me get a little more for ya’ to eat, T-Bear.  You’re gonna need your strength with the night I got planned for ya’.”

 

“Uh, huh.”  Tara takes a deep breath to try and get control of her libido as Faith’s low, rough, sexy voice sends a streak of desire straight through her body making her ache and throb. 

 

Faith chuckles as the smell of arousal increases, along with the temperature of her lover.  Trailing her fingers along Tara’s thigh before finally grasping the plate, Faith laughs delightedly at the growl she gets from Tara as she strides towards the kitchen.

 

“You are so in trouble.”  Tara grumbles softly, knowing Faith heard her, especially when the slayer laughs even louder.

 

“Good trouble.”  Faith murmurs to her self as she steps into the kitchen hesitating as Willow’s eyes seem to freeze on her.  Fighting the automatic anger and tension working through her body Faith sets the plate down on the counter and starts sorting through the food, finding some sesame chicken, she places it on the plate for Tara before dumping the rest of a container of vegetable lo mein for the witch to eat, surprised when she sees a delicate freckled hand settle a spring roll on the plate.

 

Willow shrugs as Faith finally looks up, seeing the caution in brown eyes.  “She likes spring rolls.”

 

Faith nods her head in silent agreement.  “Thanks.” 

 

“Need a couple more sodas?”  Buffy questions a few minutes later as Faith and Willow seem to be staring at each other. 

 

“Yeah a couple sodas is good.  Ya’ got another of those waters T-Bear likes?”  Faith questions curiously.  “Peach if ya’ got one.”

 

“I think so.”  Buffy’s voice is slightly muffled from her head being stuck in the refrigerator. 

 

Willow blinks in surprise that Faith knows Tara’s favorite water and more so the fact that she specifically asked for it for the blonde.  Watching as Buffy finds the water and sets it on the island along with a couple cans of soda, Faith making sure she has everything secured before striding out of the kitchen with a look of thanks at Buffy.  Willow sighs quietly as she turns from watching Faith leave the kitchen to look at Buffy who was watching her intently.  “She really loves her, doesn’t she?”

 

“Completely.”  Buffy answers quietly, unconsciously leaning back against Linda as the woman had moved behind her in silent support.  “I honestly believe Faith would give her life for Tara in a heartbeat if the occasion should ever arise, Willow.  Faith shows a tenderness and caring for her that I never would have believed if I didn’t see it with my own two eyes.” 

 

Willow looks sadly down at the food she’d placed on her plate.  “Yeah, I saw that earlier.”  Willow takes a deep breath and stiffens her resolve.  Having already decided that she wasn’t going to go down that destructive road again, and with that decision having been made, she knows she’ll have to accept the two women’s relationship, even if she can never forgive Faith for what she’d done.  “Come on, we have some celebrating to do.”  Willow puts on her best smile before heading into the living room.

 

Linda blinks, having been quiet during the discussion, the tension in the room thick enough that it was almost visible.  Wrapping her arms around Buffy and hugging her, she chuckles quietly.  “How come I have a feeling you are breathing out in serious relief?”

 

“You have no idea.”  Buffy closes her eyes and relaxes even more into the arms of the professor.  “Saying that Willow could literally go off the deep-end and cause the Hellmouth to open would not be past the realm of possibility, Linda.  She’s a very powerful witch that has had serious problems with control in the past.  You’ve heard some of the stories, but there’s really bad blood between Faith and her.  Throwing Tara into the mix…”  Buffy shakes her head and strokes her hands over Linda’s arms.  “We’re all a pretty fucked up crew.  I’m surprised you’ll hang with us.”  Buffy grins at the harrumph she hears coming from behind her.  “Come on, grab the rest of those wonton thingy’s you were bitching about and let’s head back into the living room.”  Buffy pats Linda’s hands as the woman pulls her arms away. 

 

Linda let’s her fingers slide over the strong stomach muscles of the slayer, closing her eyes at the feel before mentally smacking herself for taking the liberty with Buffy.  ‘I have got to end this, I’m going crazy!’ Linda whispers mentally before placing a few items on her plate as Buffy piles her plate high with food, the two women companionably heading into the living room where a burst of loud laughter comes from.

 

***

 

Tara smiles softly as she watches Buffy and Faith talking in the distance as they wait for the vampire to rise.  “I can’t believe she went to all that trouble for my graduation party.”  Tara finally admits quietly, turning to glance at Linda, whose eyes are glued on Buffy. 

 

Linda blinks as it takes a minute for Tara’s words to sink into her head.  Turning to glance at Tara, Linda chuckles.  “She loves you, Tara.  If it wasn’t for you, she’d probably still be living alone, patrolling by herself and working at the club.  You made life worth living again for her.  And those are her words, not mine.”  Linda admits quietly, the dark-haired slayer having admitted she had pretty much given up on everything when Tara had come into her life. 

 

“No more than she made it worth living again for me.”  Tara murmurs softly, her eyes going back to watch Faith.  Smiling as her lover doesn’t even give the vampire a chance and stakes him quickly as Buffy strides over to another grave, not even waiting for the vampire to get completely out of the grave before dusting him. 

 

“How come I have this feeling they’re in a hurry to finish patrol?”  Linda chuckles as the two women trot towards the other exit as they wave at them to follow.  Putting the car in drive, Linda follows the two slayers as they jog down the street towards the next cemetery.  “And can I just say how weird it is that people don’t really talk about the death rate or how many damn cemeteries this town has in it?”

 

Tara chuckles and nods in agreement.  “They always explain everything away to people on LSD, PCP or serial killers that are going through town, freak accidents and Goddess only knows what else.  If they just don’t ignore it like it didn’t happen.  Though if you notice, the majority of people don’t spend a lot of time out walking around at night.”

 

“With those two patrolling, I’m assuming incidents have been down.  At least I don’t remember reading as many odd reports in the newspaper lately.”  Linda admits as she pulls up outside the next cemetery the two women dart into. 

 

“Not as many, no.  Unfortunately the Hellmouth is like a beacon to evil and more come here, replacing the ones they take out.”  Tara sighs, silently wondering if it will always be this way, or if one day that someone, or something might finally be able to take out all the demons walking the earth.  Shaking her head slightly to get the sad thoughts out, Tara grins crookedly as she looks at Linda.  “Sooo…  What exactly is going on with you and Buffy?”

 

Linda groans, shifting slightly in the seat to look at Tara easier while talking to her.  “Tara, I hate to say it, but I don’t think I can handle a hell of a lot more of Buffy.  Here soon I’m going to have to take a break to get my head on straight.  She’s literally driving me crazy, and I’m just kidding myself that she might actually like me.  I think she likes to flirt with me, because she knows it’s safe.”  Linda makes the admittance in a soft, sad voice. 

 

“Linda…”  Tara almost tells the woman that Buffy definitely likes her as more than a friend, but bites her bottom lip to keep from slipping.  Closing her eyes, she shakes her head.  “Give her time, Linda.  At one time I never would have believed she would even flirt with another woman, let alone how she acts with you.  I honestly believe she cares for you, a lot.  Actually, let me rephrase that… I know she cares for you a lot.”  Tara reaches out to grasp Linda’s hand firmly in hers.  “Just a little while longer, and if she doesn’t come around me and Faith will knock some sense into her, okay?”

 

Linda chuckles and nods, squeezing Tara’s hand before turning her gaze towards the two slayers as they wait for the next vampire to rise before they continue on their patrol.

 

***

 

“I think Linda’s gettin’ antsy.”  Faith comments to Buffy as they make their way towards the next cemetery as they draw closer to the club.  Glancing over to the car, seeing the worried look on Tara’s face as she looks obviously from Linda to Buffy and back again before looking at her.

 

“I kind of got that vibe.  I’m going to talk to her tonight.”  Buffy promises quietly, glancing back at the vehicle, eyes connecting with pale blue eyes, smiling at the professor.

 

“Yeah, you don’t wanna fuck up and lose her, B.  Not if ya’ really care for her.  I almost lost T-Bear before I had a fuckin’ clue what she could mean to me, and has come to mean to me.”  Faith finishes on a whisper, sighing quietly. 

 

Buffy grabs Faith gently on the shoulder as they walk into the next cemetery.  “But you didn’t, Faith.  You went after what you wanted, apologized and look at what you have now.”  Buffy glances over her shoulder towards the car waiting for them, this the last cemetery that they will hit before going to the bar. 

 

“Yeah.  Look at what I got now.”  Faith grins as she looks towards the car and her lover.  “I still do and say stupid stuff, but she gives me a chance to dislodge my foot outta my mouth.  Or let’s me know when I fuck up and better yet, tells me what I’m doin’ that bugs her or hurts her feelings.  She kinda didn’t say much to begin with until I noticed her withdrawin’.  This feelin’ thing is a rough road, B.”  Faith admits quietly finally dragging her eyes away from Tara as she looks at Buffy.

 

“But it’s worth it.”  Buffy chuckles as Faith nods her head and smiles at her.  “Tara’s a very understanding, forgiving woman, Faith.  Anyone would be lucky to call her a friend, let alone a lover.  Just love her, and treat her right and she’ll stand by you forever.”

 

“I plan on doin’ just that, B.”  Faith whispers seriously, catching hazel eyes with hers.  “My life ain’t worth shit without her.  I was just going day to day waitin’ for somethin’ to take me out.  She made me realize there’s more to life than what I’d had before now.  I’d die happy today, ya’ know?”

 

“I know, Faith.  But I don’t suggest you do.  That’ll just piss her off and probably make her come after you.”  Buffy grins, though she’s only half joking.  “You want this one, or me.”  Buffy tilts her head towards the grave as they hear the vampire digging his way upwards.

 

“You go ahead, B.  I got the last one.”  Faith shifts back to give Buffy room, in case she wants to actually fight the vampire.

 

Buffy shakes her head as Faith shifts.  “He isn’t even going to make it all the way out of the grave.  I have other things on my mind than fighting evil tonight, Faith.”  Buffy grins as she hears the laughter coming from the slayer, having to admit that before Tara she honestly couldn’t remember the slayer ever laughing so much or easily before in the time she’s known her.

 

“Yeah, I think we could both say that.”  Faith smirks, her eyes twinkling merrily. 

 

“Do you think she’s ready to become closer?”  Buffy hesitantly questions Faith as she pulls the stake out, quickly dusting the vampire before sending her senses out to make sure there isn’t anything else nearby for them to fight. 

 

“B, as soon as you let her know you wanna be with her, your ass may not even make it outta the bar!  Surely to God ya’ know when she goes to the bathroom it’s to get some relief from what you’re doin’ to her!”  Faith smirks as Buffy’s eyes dilate and the blonde slayer nods her head.

 

“Oh, yeah.  And she smells absolutely…”  Buffy cuts herself off, blushing even as she growls softly at the remembered smell of the woman. 

 

Faith smacks Buffy on the shoulder.  “Come on, B. You’re in for probably one of the best experiences of your life tonight.  And remember, just follow your instincts.  I’m sure she’ll be more than happy ta give ya’ any instructions if you want ‘em.  She is a teacher after all.”

 

“Oh, yeah.  Don’t teachers make you do things over and over and over again until you get them right?”  Buffy licks her lips as they make their way back towards the vehicle unaware of the extra sway to her hips as she thinks about what she’d like to do to the professor again and again.

 

Faith snorts and doesn’t even bother answering the blonde slayer, having a feeling Buffy wouldn’t hear it if she did. 

 

***

 

Chapter 19

 

Linda sips on her water as she watches the three women dancing on the dance floor… well, Buffy was dancing, she wouldn’t consider what Tara and Faith were doing as dancing, so much as vertical sex.  Having decided to take a much needed bathroom break, she’d stopped at the bar to pick up four bottles of water for all of them and was now watching the show.  Though compared to some of the other women in the bar, was very tame indeed.

 

Swallowing hard as Buffy strides off the dance floor towards her, Linda leans back in her chair and drags her eyes away from the younger woman, trying to bring her reaction to Buffy down within normal parameters. 

 

Buffy grins as she grabs the chair, shifting it so she’s practically sitting against Linda.  Shifting slightly to press her leg along Linda’s, she reaches for the bottle of water.  “Thank you.”  Buffy tilts the water towards Linda, to let her know what she was thanking her for before twisting off the lid and sipping a third of it quickly.  Debating with herself for the last hour, since they arrived at the bar, how to broach the subject of wanting to actually date Linda as a girlfriend instead of a friend, Buffy sighs quietly, no closer to an idea than she was before.  Smiling slightly as she remembers Faith’s suggestion, though knowing she couldn’t literally… well she literally could, but she wouldn’t just pick up the woman, throw her on a bed and show her how much she’s come to mean to her. 

 

“Are some of these women blind?”  Linda questions rhetorically, as the tall butch woman comes up to Faith and Tara, obviously asking Tara to dance. 

 

“No, I think the ones that come here frequently and know they are a couple like to just irritate Faith more than anything.  Now the ones like her…”  Buffy smirks as Faith growls at the woman and gets in her face, pushing her away, chuckling as a real look of fear finally crosses the woman’s face and she takes off across the bar.  “They see a hot woman and go after her, not really noticing that they’re with someone.  And there is no denying those two women are together, anyone with eyes can tell that.”  Buffy chuckles quietly, as Tara practically melts into Faith’s body, kissing her intensely. 

 

“They make a damn good couple.”  Linda admits softly, playing with the cap from her water, glancing towards Buffy. 

 

“Yes, they do.”  Buffy searches Linda’s pale blue eyes intently.  “Do you think we would make a good couple?”  Buffy hesitantly questions, watching as shock, desire and want cross Linda’s face.   

 

“I… I don’t know how to answer that question, Buffy.”  Linda finally admits, knowing that she would dearly love to be coupled with Buffy, figuratively and literally.  But the fact the woman was straight makes her pause, wondering if Buffy thought if she was with another woman she might find what Tara and Faith have.  “You can’t just want something and have it happen.  You have to care about the person and love them, Buffy.  Love them as more than a friend to be a couple.  Though I’m sure there are people that make relationships work based just on friendship… but I’m holding out for more.”  Linda admits softly, looking sadly at the slayer. 

 

Buffy thinks for a few minutes about what Linda said, trying to decipher what’s between the words and the underlying wants and desires.  “You want to be in love, and the person to be in love with you.”  Buffy finally offers, seeing the slight nod from Linda, though the woman doesn’t make eye contact with her.  “You want fire and desire in your relationship.”

 

“Yes.”  Linda agrees quietly, her eyes dropping to the table from where she was watching Faith shift to dance pressed up against Tara’s back with her hands stroking slowly and lovingly over Tara’s body, but with a heavy flame of desire obvious in both women, their feelings for each other almost a physical entity.

 

“Do you think it’s possible to have that type of a relationship with a person that was a friend first?”  Buffy unconsciously holds her breath as she watches Linda.

 

Linda slowly turns her gaze to Buffy’s, making contact with hopeful hazel eyes, it finally hitting her that Buffy’s not just making conversation, all the questions and comments were leading somewhere.  “Buffy?”  Linda tilts her head, whispering the slayer’s name questioningly.

 

Buffy bites her bottom lip, thinking for a few moments.  Even knowing that Linda is obviously attracted to her, and cares about her, it doesn’t mean that the woman is in love with her.  The time she’d spent around Faith and Tara, and even Willow and Tara before that had slowly broken down her own thoughts about two women being together, knowing her biggest hang-up was the fact that she had grown up with the thought that two people of the same sex being together was wrong… or not so much wrong, but wrong for her.  But watching the obvious loving relationships, Buffy finally came to the conclusion that love is love, whether it’s between two women, two men or a man and woman, and that she was short-changing herself by not even opening her eyes to what was in front of her.  Looking into questioning pale blue eyes, Buffy smiles nervously before taking a big, deep breath.  “I’m not saying that I’ve all of a sudden decided I’m gay.  And this is definitely not an experiment.”  Buffy narrows her gaze slightly to let Linda know how serious she is.  “But I’ve realized over the past months that I care for you a hell of a lot more than just as a friend.  That I have very deep, very real feelings for you, and not only have I been driving you crazy…”  Buffy smirks as Linda blushes but doesn’t look away.  “But I’ve been driving myself just as crazy.”

 

Linda is unaware of her mouth opening and shutting in shock, not having expected Buffy to admit she has feelings for her.  Knowing the slayer enjoyed flirting with her, but honestly thinking it was just fun and games for the woman with no worries about it becoming something more.  Now, to find out that Buffy does care for her and the flirting was for real not just a game, Linda isn’t sure what to say or do.    

 

Buffy watches as Linda seems at a loss for words, blinking as she hears Faith whisper softly to kiss her, Buffy smiles thankfully at the slayer’s suggestion, though she knows she’s going to have to harass her for listening in on her talk with Linda.  Reaching up to cup the Professor’s cheek, Buffy closes the short distance between them and presses her lips gently against Linda’s.  As she makes contact with the soft, full lips, Buffy unconsciously whimpers as she slowly presses more firmly as she brushes her lips back and forth across Linda’s.

 

Linda moans softly into the kiss as Buffy’s tongue finally caresses over her lips, silently asking permission to enter.  Eagerly opening her lips, she meets Buffy’s in a slow, mating dance as they taste and tease, their bodies shifting to press against each other as Buffy’s hands bury themselves in her hair and her hands grasp Buffy’s legs tightly as the slow dance becomes more heated.

 

Growling softly into the kiss, Buffy presses more firmly against Linda, unconsciously shifting and straddling to sit on the taller woman’s lap, their bodies straining against each other as the flirting and teasing that had been going on for roughly a month finally coalesces into the flaming inferno of desire that had been burning below the surface.

 

***

 

Faith smirks as she watches the display.  “I think we’re gonna have to get a couple buckets of ice to break ‘em up.” 

 

Tara laughs and buries her face in her lover’s neck and hugs her tightly.  “The same could be said for us on occasion.”

 

“Well, at least B didn’t decide to have this discussion in a restaurant, or somethin’.  Could you imagine?”  Faith laughs as she hears the quiet snort coming from her lover. 

 

“I think she knew better than to have this conversation anywhere else than here, or somewhere private.”  Tara nuzzles against Faith’s neck, inhaling deeply of her lover’s scent.  “Goddess, you smell so good.”  Tara starts to nibble gently along the slayer’s strong neck, smiling as Faith grabs her ass, pulling her tighter against her as she does a slow grind letting her know in no uncertain terms that her lover is past the point of being turned on.  “I really, really would like to go home now.”  Tara whispers hotly into Faith’s ear, nipping on her lobe gently.  “I plan on spending the rest of the night and most of the morning making love with you, until we both pass out from exhaustion.”

 

“Shit!”  Faith groans at Tara’s words even as her lover presses her thigh more firmly between her legs and her fingers dig firmly into her ass.  “Your graduation is early afternoon, babe.”

 

“Uh, huh.”  Tara darts her tongue briefly in Faith’s ear.  “And the problem with that is?”

 

Arching her neck as Tara places teasing nips down along the flesh, Faith’s mind loses track of the conversation for a few minutes.  Kneading Tara’s butt firmly, Faith whimpers softly as Tara’s teeth scrape gently over her pulse point before she sucks the flesh into her mouth marking her.  “Speech.”  Faith finally growls the word, lifting one hand up to gently pull Tara away from her neck, looking into passion-filled eyes.  “You’re gonna go to the graduation, and give your speech to the idiots that probably won’t take your words to heart.  Then I’m gonna take you out to an early dinner and spend hours making love to you afterwards.  So you’re gonna need a few hours sleep.” 

 

“Could sleep through graduation.”  Tara wraps her arms loosely around Faith’s neck, urging her close to kiss her deeply. 

 

“No you won’t.  You worked too hard to get where you’re at, babe.  You earned that privilege, and I want the honor of being able to stand in the crowd, whoopin’ and hollerin’, and basically makin’ an ass out of myself over ya’.”  Faith whispers after Tara finally releases her from the toe curling kiss, speaking the words against Tara’s lips, an answering smile coming to her as she feels Tara’s lips quirk up.

 

Threading her fingers through the soft strands of Faith’s wavy locks, Tara can’t help but tilt her head and kiss her lover again.  The strength, rough exterior, tenderness, gruffness, and caring all bundled up in this enigma of a slayer something she wouldn’t trade for the world.  Slowly ending the kiss with a swipe of her tongue over Faith’s full bottom lip, Tara grins sexily at her slayer.  “Take me home, and have your wicked way with me.”

 

“Wicked’s for the witch.”  Faith growls playfully.  “I’m a slayer, remember?”

 

“How could I forget?”  Tara looks down from where Faith had sometime or another during their kissing picked her up off the ground, holding her firmly to her body. 

 

“Ooops.”  Faith looks down and smirks.  “When did that happen?”

 

“Don’t know, don’t care.  Let’s say goodbye to…”  Tara turns her head and laughs at the sight of Buffy and Linda still kissing each other hungrily, blinking in surprise as she can swear Linda’s top is partially undone.  “Ummm… maybe we should get those two to head to Linda’s place.”

 

Faith snickers quietly at the sight.  “We might have to drive ‘em.  Hell, we might have to throw them in the back seat still attached to each other, don’t look like they’re breaking it off anytime soon.”

 

“You may be right.”  Tara starts to laugh even more as Faith grins wickedly at her. 

 

***

 

Groaning, Linda finally pulls away from the slayer’s very talented mouth, whimpering and arching into fingers that had somehow managed to unbutton the majority of her shirt and were stroking teasingly over her breasts.  Dragging her eyes open, she looks into desire-filled hazel eyes, whimpering again she not only sees the flame of desire in those gorgeous eyes, but also the caring and budding love reflected there. 

 

“Damn, I should have done this weeks ago.”  Buffy groans, feeling the hard nipples under her fingers covered by the soft lace.  Pinching the flesh, Buffy growls at the guttural moan coming from the Professor and Linda arching even harder into her touch.  Dipping her head down, Buffy nibbles on Linda’s neck, breathing in deeply of the professor’s musky aroma.  “God, I’ve been stupid.”  Buffy finally whispers as she works her way up Linda’s neck, placing gentle, soft kisses along the flesh before tenderly kissing Linda’s panting mouth, finally easing her hands away from her body.  Shakily buttoning the top back together, resting her forehead against Linda’s.  “I just meant to kiss you, so you could tell I was serious.”  Buffy admits.  “I didn’t exactly mean for it to get this out of hand, at least not here.”

 

Linda lets out a strangled laugh and digs her fingers into the slayer’s butt cheeks, having been kneading the slayer’s back and butt the whole time.  “Definitely serious.”  Finally opening her eyes, Linda takes a couple deep breaths to try and get control of her body, but knowing there is no way in hell that she’ll get by ignoring it for long.

 

“Ladies, my woman here wants me to take her home so she can ravish me for hours on end.  I think it might be a good idea for you two to head out, too.”  Faith smirks as she grabs a bottle of water off the table, handing it to Tara before grabbing the last bottle and opening it to down it quickly. 

 

Buffy doesn’t turn to look at Faith, keeping eye contact with Linda instead.  “Ravishing for hours on end sounds like fun.” 

 

Linda groans deeply, closing her eyes for a few moments to get control of her thundering heart and her pounding sex.  “Talk about wanting to jump from the frying pan into the fire.” 

 

Buffy chuckles lowly and shakes her head.  “I’ve been in the flames for a while now, just trying to figure out how to bring you in there with me.”

 

“I can vouch for that.  Nothin’ like a damn blonde slayer banging on our door at three in the fuckin’ morning wantin’ to talk about how to tell ya’ she wants you.”  Faith smirks at the growl she gets from Buffy.  “Babe, I say we should go home and let these two do whatever they’re wantin’ to do.  See ya’ tomorrow.”  Faith pushes a laughing Tara away from the table and towards the door to the club before Buffy decides to kick her ass for telling on her.

 

Linda’s eyes widen in shock at Faith’s words, even as she stares at Buffy.  “You didn’t?”  Seeing the tell-tale flush of embarrassment coming up Buffy’s neck, along with her refusal to admit or deny the fact, Linda curls her lips up in a sensuous smile.  “So…”  Linda whispers sexily, dragging the single word out until Buffy’s eyes finally make contact with hers again.  “Am I driving you back to your house, or are we going to head to my house?”

 

Buffy whimpers even as she searches pale blue eyes.  “I want.”  Buffy finally whispers against Linda’s lips as she delves into the welcoming heat, conveying to the Professor what her answer is.

 

“God, so do I.”  Linda pants heavily after Buffy releases her lips.  Groaning loudly as Buffy presses her lips hard to hers once more even as strong, talented fingers trail over her breasts again, fingertips plucking through the cloth at her hard nipples. 

 

“Go, now.”  Buffy finally growls hungrily against Linda’s lips, having to admit that if she doesn’t get some relief soon, she’s going to go crazy. 

 

Linda nods and let’s Buffy help her up from the chair as she staggers after the striding woman that’s pulling her along behind her, ignoring the whistles and congratulations from the other women in the bar. 

 

Buffy growls as she pushes Linda against the side of the car, threading her fingers through the blonde hair and pulls her down for a deep, invasive kiss.

 

Linda whimpers as Buffy finally breaks off the kiss.  “Home.”  Linda digs the keys out of her purse with shaky hands, taking a couple tries to get the keys in the lock and unlock her door as Buffy hurries around to the other side of the vehicle.  Unlocking the car doors, Linda slides in behind the wheel, whimpering loudly as Buffy shifts in the seat and her hand starts at her knee and slowly slides up her thigh.  “Fuck!  Buffy hands off, unless you want to consummate this relationship here in my car.”

 

Buffy works her hand around the side of the seat and pushes the seat back, growling as it only goes back so far.  Her eyes on the console between the two seats gets another growl. 

 

Linda snorts at the slayer’s obvious machinations.  Shaking her head, she starts her vehicle and puts it in gear to hurry to her house with the slayer mumbling softly under her breath about SUV’s having more room.

 

***

 

Chapter 20

 

Linda starts laughing as they stumble up the stairs to her house.  Buffy having attached herself and they were slowly making it to her front door.  Catching her foot on the top step, she falls down, Buffy grunting softly under her as the slayer continues to kiss and nip at her lips while her hands knead her ass.  “We are not going to do this on my front porch.”

 

“Why not?” Buffy smirks up into laughing pale blue eyes.  “I behaved in the vehicle on the way over here.”

 

Linda groans and buries her face in Buffy’s neck.  “I don’t consider your hand rubbing, pinching and twisting my nipples through my shirt behaving, Buffy!  I almost wrecked twice on the five minute drive here.”

 

“Good.  That means I was doing something right.”  Buffy chuckles and grasps the firm flesh in her hands and pulls Linda more tightly against her. 

 

“I don’t think you’re going to have any problems, Buffy.”  Linda mumbles against Buffy’s neck, nipping gently on the flesh.  “You’ve been doing a damn good job so far.”

 

“Watch Faith and Tara enough, eventually something will rub off.”  Buffy jokes, her eyes sparkling with merriment.  “Then all the happenings in the bar…”

 

Linda groans and rubs her nose against Buffy.  “Inside while we’re halfway coherent.”

 

“Why?  I kind of like where we are.”  Buffy laughs as she slides her hands around Linda’s hips and up her sides, letting her thumbs play over the outer edges of Linda’s breasts.

 

“The first time we make love is going to be on a somewhat softer surface.”  Linda finally pushes herself off Buffy to stand, holding her hand out to the slayer.

 

Letting Linda help her up, Buffy sighs heavily before asking hopefully.  “Second time we can initiate the porch?”

 

Linda rolls her eyes as she hurriedly unlocks the door, groaning as she feels small warm hands stroking over her butt again.  “I think you have an ass fetish.”

 

“There aren’t a lot of other places I can touch in public without causing a scene.”  Buffy laughs.  “Plus it’s convenient, since I’m following you.”

 

“Jesus, do you have the slightest idea what you’re doing to me?”  Linda growls deeply as Buffy’s hands stroke down the seam of her jeans as they stumble into the house, Linda trying to make it to her bedroom.

 

“The same thing you do to me, I hope.”  Buffy smirks as she feels the dampness and heat coming from the Professor, chuckling wickedly as she shifts her hand a little further and gets a loud whimper as she presses firmly against the seam of the jeans. 

 

“Strip, slayer.”  Linda prays that that’ll give her enough time to get her own clothes off without octopus hands all over.  Unbuttoning her shirt as quickly as she can, she kicks her shoes off as she hurries down the hallway, chuckling quietly as she hears Buffy quietly bitching behind her.

 

“Figures I’d wear the damn boots I have to unlace halfway down to get off.”  Buffy growls angrily, hopping on one foot as she unties and yanks on the strings.

 

Sending a silent thank you to the Gods, Linda pulls off her shirt, tossing it aside as she works on unbuttoning and unzipping her jeans, yanking them down as she turns around when she hears a thump behind her, laughing softly at the sight of Buffy on the floor snarling at her boots.

 

“That’s it.”  Buffy pulls her knife out and slices through the laces, kicking the boots off and yanking the socks off before standing and pulling her shirt off as she advances on Linda, her eyes drinking in the sight of the woman.  Inhaling sharply at the lacy black bra and underwear she has on, the sight of the tall woman’s body almost stopping her in her tracks.  “Damn.  I don’t think I ever realized how beautiful a woman’s body is before now.  Or, at least your body is beautiful.”  Buffy admits softly, her eyes captured by passion-filled blue eyes staring back at her.

 

“Thank you.”  Linda breathes out the thanks as her eyes caress over the tanned skin of the slayer, groaning at the hard brown nipples that seem to be calling out to her to caress, kiss, lick and suck on them.  As Buffy finally pushes her leather pants down her strong legs, Linda whimpers at the sight of the small strip of dark brown curls at the slayer’s apex. 

 

“Don’t.”  Buffy shakes her head as Linda starts to reach behind her to unhook her bra.  “I want the privilege of finishing undressing you.  And sometime in the near future I want to do this slowly and learn every square inch of your body.  But right now…”  Buffy closes the distance between them hurriedly, wrapping her left hand behind the professor’s neck and pulling her down for a heated kiss while reaching around with her right to work on unhooking the bra.  Finally getting it on the second try, she works on pulling the straps down Linda’s arms. 

 

Linda pants heavily as Buffy finally breaks off the kiss, stepping back a short distance to finish easing the bra from her arms, smiling at the sight of the slayer obviously entranced with what her eyes are glued on. 

 

Flicking the bra somewhere behind her, Buffy tilts her head down and captures one of the pale, hard nipples between her lips and suckles hungrily at the flesh.  Wrapping her arms around Linda’s waist, she lifts the woman and steps back towards the bed, groaning against the flesh in her mouth as she feels the wet heat pressing against her abdomen as Linda wraps her legs around her waist.

 

Groaning loudly as Buffy nips her way over to her other breast and starts to lick and suck on it, Linda pushes up into the slayer’s mouth as she’s pressed into the bed, Buffy’s body pressing firmly into hers.  Rocking her hips, Linda buries her hands in Buffy’s blonde hair and pulls gently.  “Panties… off…”  Linda moans the words, needing to feel skin against her.

 

Buffy grunts and releases the flesh she’d been alternately sucking and nipping on to kiss her way down the abdomen flinching almost uncontrollably under her lips, inhaling deeply of the rich, musky aroma coming from Linda.  Carefully sliding her fingers under the edges of the underwear, Buffy pushes the cloth gently, whimpering softly at the small tuft of blonde hair revealed to her while she takes in the sight of the flushed and swollen flesh glimmering with desire.  Forcing herself to continue pushing the panties down, Buffy clenches the piece of cloth in her hand for a moment before setting it aside on the bed, running her hands slowly up Linda’s legs, effectively spreading them as she climbs upwards.

 

Linda whimpers loudly as she feels hot breath caressing up her inner thighs and a warm mouth kissing and licking its way upwards toward her center.

 

“God, you smell good.”  Buffy nips gently on the flesh under her mouth her eyes caressing over the professor’s body, smiling at the whimpers and groans coming from the blonde.  “Can I…?”  Buffy trails off, so close to her destination, but not knowing if Linda likes this or would prefer something else. 

 

“If you stop now I may very well kick your ass.”  Linda pants the words, her eyes closed and her head tilted back as her body starts to shake.

 

“Guide me, if you need to.”  Buffy whispers as she finally settles between the professor’s thighs, wiggling her hands under the gyrating hips to clasp Linda’s butt cheeks firmly.  Tentatively sticking her tongue out, Buffy flicks the tip over the desire covered lips.  Moaning as the rich, musky flavor bursts upon her palette, Buffy wiggles in closer and laps hungrily over the professor’s body, gathering all the liquid she can find before finally delving between the swollen lips, her eyes opening to watch Linda as she finds the small, hard muscle and slowly drags her tongue over it.  Grinning hugely as Linda moans her name loudly and buries a hand in her hair, holding her against her.  Licking softly across the muscle before flicking her tongue firmly over it a few times, Buffy finally wraps her lips around the throbbing clit and starts to suck softly at first, moaning as she feels it start to spasm and flinch in her mouth.  Continuing to suckle on the flesh, she starts to flick her tongue continuously over the hot muscle while holding onto the professor as Linda starts bucking uncontrollably. 

 

Linda cries out hoarsely, yanking on the slayer’s head to hold her against her exploding body as she clenches her thighs tightly against the sides of the slayer’s head, rocking and shifting as Buffy alternates lapping gently over her body and pressing kisses against her hot flesh.

 

Buffy hums happily as she continues to suckle and lick on all the flesh available to her, finally nipping gently on the swollen outer lips as she feels Linda tugging insistently on her head, urging her upwards. 

 

Linda chuckles at the sight of the hugely smiling slayer.  “You’re a natural.”

 

Buffy blushes lightly and presses a soft kiss against Linda’s lips.  “But there are so many other things I want to try…”  Buffy smirks before nipping on Linda’s bottom lip and starting to work her way back down the older woman’s body, pouting as she’s stopped by arms wrapping tightly around her. 

 

“No you don’t.  My turn you rotten slayer you.”  Linda rolls them over, so she’s resting on top of the smaller woman.  “Plus, I’m hoping that you’ll come to visit more often.”  Linda admits softly, her eyes serious. 

 

“I was kind of hoping you might want to come stay with me occasionally, if you weren’t planning on going anywhere over the summer break.”  Buffy offers, biting her lip as she looks hopefully at the professor.  Running her fingers through the damp blonde hair, Buffy sighs softly.  “I care for you, Linda.  I would even say I’m falling in love with you.”

 

Linda feels tears coming to her eyes at the slayer’s words, and the love shining brightly from hazel eyes.  “You can’t know how much that means to me, or how happy that makes me.”  Linda whispers, pressing soft kisses over Buffy’s lips, chin and cheeks in between each word.  “I’ve been fighting my feelings for you for a while now.  Hell, from the first moment I laid eyes on you, I’ve been fighting them.”

 

“You don’t have to fight them anymore.”  Buffy gently brushes the tears away from Linda’s cheeks as a couple fall. 

 

“I love you, Buffy Summers.”  Linda whispers, leaning down to kiss the slayer tenderly.  “May I make love to you, now?”

 

“Please.”  Buffy breathes against the lips still pressing lightly against hers, moaning softly as soft fingers trail gently down her neck and across her chest to tease her nipple. 

 

“I’m going to learn the feel of your body with my fingers first.”  Linda warns before kissing across Buffy’s cheek to her ear as she shifts her body to lie half on the bed beside the slayer, giving her more flesh to learn the shape, texture and feel of.  “Then, if you stay the night, I’ll spend the morning learning your body with my mouth and tongue.  Nothing like making love to a sleepy, warm body first thing in the morning.” 

 

Buffy moans loudly at the professor’s words, along with the fingers plucking firmly at her nipple before the warm hand cups her breast and squeezes gently.  “Who said anything about sleep?”  Buffy arches her back as strong fingers pinch and twist her nipple firmly, making her whimper with need. 

 

Nipping gently on Buffy’s earlobe, Linda grins around the flesh before laving it with her tongue.  “I’m an old lady, slayer.  I need a few hours of sleep to function partially coherently.  And I am supposed to be at the Graduation Ceremony tomorrow.”

 

“You’re not old…  How old are you?”  Buffy’s brows furrow slightly, honestly not knowing how old Linda is. 

 

Linda snorts softly and buries her face in Buffy’s neck.  “Hell of a time to worry about my age, Buffy.”

 

Buffy shrugs and runs her hand down Linda’s shoulder to her fingers, threading them together before gently urging Linda further down her body.  “Doesn’t mean a hell of a lot, Linda.  I was just curious, after all, 240 year old vampire as my first lover.  I don’t think you’re that old.”

 

Linda chuckles and nods her head against Buffy’s neck.  “When you look at it that wayyyy…”  Linda groans as her fingers finally come into contact with Buffy’s apex.  The outer lips coated heavily with desire, making her delve between the swollen flesh as Buffy releases her hand.  “Twenty-nine.”  Linda groans the words as she suckles on Buffy’s neck, stroking her fingers slowly over the folds, smirking as she hears the low groan coming from Buffy. 

 

“Not old… Please.”  Buffy begs as Linda’s fingers tease her body, fingertips barely stroking over her clit.  Pushing her body upward, trying to get more pressure on her aching body.  Gently digging her fingers into Linda’s shoulders she widens her legs, lifting one to put her foot on the bed, pushing upwards quicker and harder.  “Linda!”  Buffy begs again as Linda’s fingers shifts with her body.

 

Linda shifts and captures Buffy’s lips hungrily with hers even as she slides two fingers down and inside Buffy, both women jerking slightly at the feel.  Breaking off the kiss, Linda looks down into passion filled hazel eyes.  Panting softly, she watches the differing emotions crossing the slayer’s face as she starts to slowly stroke inside the tight canal.  “You feel so good.”  Linda whispers as the clenching of the slayer’s muscles around her fingers starts to increase and Buffy’s tongue darts out to lick her lips as she starts to pant heavier. 

 

Buffy finds her eyes captured by beautiful blue eyes watching her intently.  Biting her bottom lip as she whimpers loudly between panting breaths, Buffy trails one hand down Linda’s body while her other one buries itself in blonde hair.  Rocking her whole body against the fingers starting to stroke faster and harder inside her, she groans, arching her neck and closing her eyes as she calls out Linda’s name with her release as the professor’s thumb presses firmly against her clit, tipping her over the edge.

 

“Beautiful.”  Linda whispers as she watches the pleasure cross Buffy’s face as the slayer’s muscles clench tightly on her fingers, keeping her from continuing her stroking inside her lover.  A slow smile crosses her face at that thought.  “My lover.”  Linda whispers out loud, dipping her head down to bury her face in Buffy’s damp neck, pressing her lips firmly against the flesh and leaving them there.

 

Wrapping both arms around Linda, Buffy hugs her gently to her, closing her eyes as she slowly comes down from her climax.  Whimpering quietly as Linda finally eases her fingers from within her.  Smiling as the professor leaves her hand cupping her sex gently.  Buffy shifts her head and presses her lips against the top of Linda’s.  “Tired?”

 

Linda chuckles and nips gently on the flesh under her lips.  “Yes and no.”

 

Buffy smirks at the answer.  “Which one is it?  Because if you aren’t tired…”

 

Linda growls playfully and shifts to where she’s covering Buffy’s body with hers, her thigh replacing her hand as she presses gently against the slayer.  “If I’m not tired… what, Slayer?” 

 

“Ooohhhh.”  Buffy whimpers and closes her eyes as Linda starts to rock against her, her thigh gliding and pressing against her clit deliciously while Linda’s hard nipples rub against hers.  Grasping the professor’s ass tightly in both hands, she pulls the woman firmly against her, urging her into a firmer and faster motion.

 

Linda nips gently up Buffy’s neck before capturing her earlobe, suckling on it as she presses harder and faster against the slayer.  “Do you like this?”

 

“God, yes.”  Buffy groans, wrapping one leg around Linda’s and arching her throat as Linda starts working her way slowly over her throat with her lips, teeth and tongue.  Grasping Linda’s hip with one hand, Buffy finally slides a hand slowly around from where she’d been clenching on her butt cheek.  Trailing her finger tips over the damp flesh, Buffy smiles as she feels Linda press into her hand.  “May I?”

 

“Please…”  Linda groans deeply as Buffy’s fingers glide down between her legs, slowly and gently stroking over her body.  Feeling the hesitation of the slayer’s fingers outside her opening, Linda nuzzles against Buffy’s ear.  “There’s no other feeling like being buried inside a woman, Buffy.  The warmth, the velvety feel, the muscles wrapping around your fingers and clenching tightly onto you is incomparable.  To feel the flutters, to have your hand coated with the wetness of your lover’s climax, knowing that you can keep stroking and caressing and pulling more orgasms from your lover, to curl your fingers inside her stroking over the pleasure giving spot driving her over the edge and if you’re really, really lucky, she’ll come screaming your name in your ear while flooding your hand and passing out to where only her body twitches and jerks in the aftermath.”

 

Buffy moans low and deep, Linda’s voice, low and sexy as she more breathes the words into her ear than says them making her body ache even more with desire as she paints the picture in her head.  Turning her head, she captures the professor’s lips in a voracious kiss, literally invading her mouth with her tongue at the same time she slides two fingers deep into the woman, groaning into the professor’s mouth at the feel of the wet heat literally wrapping around her fingers, it being everything the professor had said and so much more. 

 

As Buffy slides inside her, Linda whimpers quietly, her hips rocking and rotating slightly, urging the slayer to learn and explore this new environment.  Moving her body slightly, she rests her hands on either side of Buffy’s head and lifts her upper body up, pressing her thigh hard into the slayer’s apex.  Rocking harder and more firmly to give the slayer the pressure she needs.

 

“Shit…”  Buffy groans, her own explorations derailed at the added pressure and feel of the thigh rubbing against her.  Growling as she realizes what’s happening, she wraps her free arm around Linda, pulling the woman down against her and rolls them over.  “My turn.”

 

Linda chuckles then arches into the slayer’s hand as Buffy glides her thumb over her clit. 

 

“You’re right.”  Buffy rubs her cheek against Linda’s as she starts to stroke inside the welcoming heat.  “Warm, wet, velvety soft…”  Buffy groans as she feels the muscles clenching on her fingers.  Feeling Linda’s hand stroking down her body, Buffy whimpers.  “If you touch me, I might forget what I’m doing.”

 

“I want us to come together.”  Linda admits, groaning softly as Buffy’s fingers start to stroke and play inside her, the searching digits caressing over her inner walls.  Finally cupping the slayer’s mound, Linda jerks as Buffy curls her fingers and caresses over her g-spot.

 

Growling softly in triumph of feeling Linda’s response to her caresses, Buffy lifts her upper body to watch the professor intently as she strokes over the inside of her lover while letting her thumb caress over the outside bundle of nerves.  “Do I have the right spot?”  Buffy questions softly as Linda’s body bucks and shifts under her hand uncontrollably, smirking as she feels the muscles around her fingers convulsing while the muscle under her slowly circling thumb throbs in tandem with the professor’s pounding heartbeat.  Moaning deeply as Linda’s hand unconsciously clenches her sex firmly, squeezing her swollen outer lips and putting pressure on her aching clit.

 

“BUUUUFFFFFYYYYYY!!!”  Linda finally cries out, her back arching and hanging there for infinite seconds as the orgasm comes crashing through her body.

 

Buffy bucks into the hand holding her, a small orgasm working its way through her body even as Linda drenches her hand and arm with her climax.  Somewhat collapsing on Linda, Buffy buries her face in her neck, while enjoying the feel of the muscles around her fingers continuing to tighten and relax uncontrollably.  “God.”  Buffy exhales heavily, panting softly against the damp flesh as Linda wraps her arms around her and hugs her loosely. 

 

“You have a great learning curve.”  Linda finally mumbles into Buffy’s hair, her eyes closed and her body placid in the aftermath of a great night of making love. 

 

“I’m going to have to check with Tara and see if there’s some kind of spell she can put on my room as a noise dampener.”  Buffy mumbles, gently shifting her fingers part way out of her lover before letting them glide back in, smirking at the low groan and hips shifting slightly under her.  “You feel so good.”  Buffy finally eases her fingers all the way out of Linda, before trailing the wet digits up Linda’s flesh and cupping the breast she doesn’t have covered with her body.  “I would ask if we could continue, but I vaguely remember you saying something about needing a few hours sleep.”

 

“Uh, huh.”  Linda mumbles, a slow smile crossing her face at the chuckle she gets from the slayer.  “Cover us, slayer.  We’ll see what kind of mischief we can get up to in the days and nights to come.”

 

“I like the sound of that.”  Buffy admits, lifting herself to look at Linda, chuckling quietly.  “Though you know what I would like the sound of even more?”

 

“What?”  Linda reaches up to gently brush the damp strands from Buffy’s cheek, searching serious hazel eyes. 

 

“That you re-word it to be years to come instead.”  Buffy whispers, her heart in her eyes knowing she’s in love with the older woman. 

 

“Days, weeks, months, years, decades, whatever I can have I’ll take.”  Linda finally offers, kissing Buffy tenderly.  “I’ve fallen in love with you Buffy Summers.”

 

“Thank God this isn’t a one way thing.”  Buffy brushes her lips softly over Linda’s a couple times.  “Because I’m definitely in love with you.  Now, let’s get you situated under the covers and the alarm set so that way we don’t miss the graduation.  I have to go home in the morning to get cleaned up for it.”

 

“I’ll drive you.”  Linda smiles at the huge, happy smile that crosses Buffy’s face.  Groaning as she shifts from the bed, her body aching deliciously. 

 

“Are you okay?”  Buffy questions worriedly as she sees the way Linda’s gingerly moving and the groan.

 

“Definitely okay, just using muscles that haven’t been used in far too long.  It’ll take me a couple days to get back in the swing of things.  But once I do...”  Linda wiggles her eyebrows and smirks as Buffy blushes lightly. 

 

“Definitely like the sound of that.”  Buffy grins, relaxing in realization before shifting the covers and letting Linda climb back in under the bedding before turning to the clock.  “What time?” 

 

“Don’t worry about setting it.  I’m sure we’ll get up in plenty of time.  Hell, Tara or Faith will probably end up calling just to see what’s up, knowing those two.”  Linda groans as Buffy quickly climbs into the bed and presses her body against her side. 

 

“Knowing those two, they may be here at the front door bright and early to see if I spent the night.”  Buffy grumbles, though smiling at the thought.  “If they even bother to get any sleep tonight.”

 

“Maybe about as much as us.”  Linda murmurs as she urges Buffy to throw her leg over her body, gently running her hand up and down the strong thigh as she relaxes sleep claiming her in record time.

 

Buffy brushes her cheek against Linda’s shoulder before pressing a kiss to the flesh.  “I love you, Linda Carlisle.” 

 

***

 

Chapter 21

 

The glowing red tip of a cigarette flares from the darkness within the old Towne Car, blue eyes tinting towards yellow watch as the two blondes finally stumble their way into the house.  Ignoring the quiet whimpering coming from the back seat, he takes another hefty drag on the cigarette before flicking it out the window. 

 

“Decided to get a bit of the strange, luv?”  Spike growls softly into the night, having been following Buffy around town at a safe distance for the last couple weeks.  Shocked beyond belief at the sight of Glinda and the rogue slayer obviously a couple, he’d shaken that off relatively quickly before being put on his ass at the sight of Buffy, his slayer, panting after the older woman like a dog in heat. 

 

“We’ll see how well you pant after her when I’ve turned her.”  Spike snarls, his eyes turning completely yellow, fangs elongating, his forehead ridges coming up as he reaches behind him and yanks the small blonde woman that he’d had gagged and tied in the back seat forward, sinking his fangs deeply into her neck, shaking her somewhat, tearing at the flesh as he gulps down the hot, sweet blood greedily until there’s nothing left to drink. 

 

Tossing the empty husk into the back seat, Spike slowly licks the leftover blood off his teeth and lips.  “I didn’t run with Angelus all those years and not pick up a thing or two, you stupid bint.”  Spike smirks as he starts the car and slowly drives away.  It having taken him a few months to find someone that could get the chip out of his head, but it was worth all the pain and money it had cost him to get it done, already having an idea in mind of how to bring about the downfall of the bitch that had nerve enough to throw his love back in his face.

 

***

 

“Ah, hell.”  Faith growls angrily as she looks outside, seeing the dark, overcast day.  The rain already starting to come down in heavy sheets. “What’re they gonna do in case of a storm, babe?”  Faith questions hoarsely, turning to look towards Tara who’s rolling over in the bed, sleepy eyes looking back at her in confusion.  Chuckling softly at her lover’s look Faith strides towards Tara, setting her coffee mug on the nightstand as she crawls in bed and pulls the witch firmly onto her. 

 

Snuggling into the warm flesh, Tara sighs contentedly, almost falling back asleep until she feels a firm pinch on her ass.  “Stop that.”  Tara grumbles, biting almost roughly on Faith’s breast in retaliation. 

 

“Ouch!”  Faith wiggles at the bite before rubbing a hand firmly down Tara’s back as she feels the smile coming across Tara’s lips.  “It’s storming, babe.  It’s already raining pretty good.  What’s the back-up plan for graduation?”

 

“Two hours later in the Auditorium.”  Tara clasps Faith’s other breast with her hand and relaxes further into her lover’s body.  “Sleep.”

 

Faith chuckles and presses a kiss on top of Tara’s head.  Tara having only fallen asleep two hours ago after they’d spent the whole night and early morning kissing, touching and making love.  She’d waited until Tara was sound asleep before easing out from under her lover and making a pot of coffee, slowly working her way through it as she stood on the patio watching the dark clouds rolling in before the rain started to come down, having her step back into the apartment. 

 

Reaching over for the alarm, Faith sets it for a couple hours, deciding she’ll try and get a little sleep.  Reaching for the sheet that was only halfway covering the witch, she pulls it over them both and smiles at the feeling of contentment working through her as Tara shifts more on top of her and seems to almost burrow against her.  Admitting the woman had wiggled her way into her heart and there was no way she’d ever be able to deny it.  Not that she wanted to.

 

***

 

Buffy jumps as she hears a loud rumbling noise, her eyes blinking in confusion as she looks around the dark room. 

 

“Storm.”  Linda mumbles, pulling the slayer back down against her.  “Rain, lightning.  Delaying graduation for a couple hours.  Sleep.”

 

Buffy chuckles at the words coming from Linda, knowing the professor is still asleep.  “Are you awake?”

 

“No.”  Linda wiggles and snores softly, holding Buffy tightly to her in her sleep. 

 

Buffy fights with her conscience for a moment, debating on asking Linda questions while she’s asleep, silently wondering if she knows she talks in her sleep.  Deciding to behave for the time being, Buffy relaxes back against her.  “Love you, Professor.”

 

“Love you, too, Slayer.”  Linda answers back in her sleep.

 

Buffy whimpers at the words and presses her lips softly against Linda’s flesh.  “I want you to tell me that again when you’re awake.” 

 

“’Kay.”  Linda mumbles almost incoherently as she continues to snore softly.

 

***

 

“Where’s my cap, I lost my cap?”  Tara runs around the apartment, throwing cushions and shifting furniture around in her haste to look for her cap.

 

“Babe…  Babe…”  Faith tries to get her lover’s attention as Tara runs around the apartment in a panic.  Growling she finally grabs Tara in her arms and lifts her while staring into panicked blue eyes.  “It’s in the closet in the little box beside your shoes, that are in their little box, which are on top of the bigger box that is holding your gown and stole thingy.” 

 

“We didn’t have sex last night with me just wearing the cap?”  Tara blinks at Faith, having sworn she remembered wearing the cap while Faith did all kinds of naughty things to her.

 

Faith allows a slow, sexy grin to cross her face as Tara blushes darkly.  “No, we didn’t.  But I have a feeling we will tonight if that blush is anything to go by.”

 

“Oh, Goddess!”  Tara rubs a hand over her face in embarrassment.  “Okay, that was a dream.”

 

“A dream I wanna re-enact.”  Faith smirks as Tara whimpers quietly.  “You wanna tell me about it?”

 

“Not right now, or we’ll never be ready in time for Linda and the rest of the group to pick us up.”  Tara shakes her head, finally grinning crookedly at her lover. 

 

“No fun.”  Faith chuckles and strokes a hand down Tara’s back as she sets her lover back on her feet.  “Go ahead and finish gettin’ ready.  I’ll put your outfit in a bag to carry out.”

 

Tara reaches up and captures Faith’s face in her hands and kisses her soundly.  “You’re absolutely wonderful.”  Tara murmurs, kissing her again deeply, showing her how wonderful she thinks she is with the kiss.

 

Faith groans as Tara finally pulls away from the kiss, unconsciously leaning forward as Tara steps back, trying to keep in contact with the witch.

 

Tara chuckles and strokes her fingertips down Faith’s cheek.  “I love you, now let’s get ready.”

 

Faith licks her lips and groans as she opens her eyes, watching Tara smirk before she hurries to the bathroom.  “Damn.  Glad we got the weekend off from the club.”  Faith murmurs before shaking her head of the desire that’s trying to take over and strides towards the closet, pulling out the boxes with Tara’s stuff in them, smirking as she wonders exactly what happened in Tara’s dream as she checks the boxes, seeing the cap. 

 

***

 

Linda chuckles as she follows Buffy into her house, the slayer running at full tilt.  Leaving the umbrella on the porch, Linda heads towards the kitchen to make some coffee while Buffy hurries through her showering and primping for Tara’s graduation. 

 

“Good morning.”  Dawn smirks as Linda steps into the kitchen, having seen them pull up and Buffy come flying into the house, the huge grin on her sister’s face a surprising sight. 

 

“Barely.”  Linda looks at the clock, chuckling as she pulls the coffee pot out and fills it with water.  “Where’s the coffee and filters?”

 

Dawn snorts and pulls out the pre-packaged coffee, throwing it in the coffee maker.  “If you don’t buy it already pre-measured there’s no telling how the coffee will turn out around here.” 

 

Linda chuckles and presses the button to start the coffee brewing.  “Where’s Willow?”

 

“She’s upstairs on the computer.”  Dawn crosses her arms over her chest and tries to outstare the professor.  When all Linda does is quirk her eyebrow and lean casually against the counter until the coffee finished brewing, Dawn finally gives in.  “Come on!  What happened?”

 

“We went dancing, we went to my place and we came here.”  Linda fights the smirk wanting to cross her face at the disgusted look Dawn sends her way.

 

“A little more details!  Jeez.”  Dawn grumbles narrowing her gaze on the older woman.

 

“Hmm…  We danced mostly together, since Tara and Faith couldn’t be parted.  We drank a lot of water, then I drove us to my house and eventually we fell asleep.  The storm woke Buffy up for a few minutes, but she fell back asleep quickly then I got up and showered to get ready for the graduation and I drove us here.  Detailed enough for you?”  Linda laughs outright as Dawn grabs the partial loaf of bread and knocks her over the head with it. 

 

“You’re worse than everyone else.”  Dawn finally plops down on the bar stool by the island, pouting heavily.  “Did you kiss her?  At least tell me that much.”

 

Linda snorts softly as she pulls down two coffee mugs, opening the refrigerator door she grabs the milk and puts a small splash in her mug before she replaces the milk. 

 

“What is it you’re wanting to know?”  Buffy growls softly behind Dawn chuckling as she gets a loud squeak and Dawn falling out of the chair onto the floor. 

 

“Damn.”  Dawn grumbles, rubbing her butt cheek as she slowly stands, watching her sister with a disgusted look on her face.  Her eyes slowly widening as she watches Buffy.

 

“Mine?”  Buffy questions seeing that Linda was spooning some sugar in a mug, knowing the woman doesn’t take sugar in her coffee. 

 

“Of course.”  Linda chuckles softly as Buffy presses gently into her back and wraps her arms around her waist. 

 

Reaching one hand up, Buffy gently turns Linda’s chin and places a soft kiss on her lips.  “Thank you.”  Buffy smirks at the loud squeak coming from behind them. 

 

“I take it you’re going to let everyone know in your own way?”  Linda laughs at the extremely wicked look crossing the slayer’s face. 

 

“Do I even need to answer that question?”  Buffy picks up her coffee mug and wiggles her eyebrows at Linda before turning back to her shocked sister.  “You never answered.  What did you want to know?”

 

Dawn groans and shakes her head.  “Never mind.  You’re an evil, extremely evil sister.  And you two look cute together.”  Dawn admits, smiling hugely before hurrying out of the kitchen. 

 

“I think that was her way of saying she approves.”  Linda comments, gently tugging Buffy back against her body, wrapping her left arm around her waist as she sips on her coffee. 

 

“She likes you.”  Buffy wiggles against Linda’s body, smirking as she hears the low groan coming from the older woman.  “How long do we have before we have to pick up the other evil slayer and her brilliant lover?  I see a very scary correlation here.”  Buffy furrows her brows in thought before laughing as Linda’s hand lifts up to pinch her firmly on her nipple.

 

“Enough time to drink a couple cups of coffee.”  Linda leans down the short distance and brushes her lips over Buffy’s ear, the slayer having pulled her hair back in a loose upsweep, a few strands curling down by her ears.  “By the way, I think I promised to say this when I was awake.  Love you, too, Slayer.  And I want to thank you for not trying to take advantage of my speaking in my sleep.”

 

Buffy blushes darkly before she finally laughs quietly.  “It did occur to me, though.  But I’m damn glad I didn’t, if you have a tendency to remember your conversations.”

 

“I normally remember them.  I think my conscious mind must be more in residence than most peoples when they sleep.”  Linda admits as she gently urges Buffy around after setting her coffee cup down. 

 

“I need to tell Willow about us here today or tomorrow.  I thought it might be too much of a shock after finding out about Faith and Tara to say something to her yesterday.”  Buffy admits softly, moaning as she presses into the professor, loving the feel of breasts and softness pressing against her. 

 

“We weren’t even technically together yesterday, Buffy.”  Linda closes her eyes, enjoying the feel of the slayer burrowing against her.

 

“Yes, we were.  I just hadn’t explained I liked you in more than a friend way yet.”  Buffy nuzzles against Linda’s neck before pressing a firm kiss against the flesh, smiling as she feels Linda’s heartbeat pick up with the caress. 

 

“That sure of me?”  Linda questions curiously.

 

Buffy stops nuzzling and kissing Linda’s neck with that question, biting her bottom lip in thought.  “How come I feel like there’s no real right answer to that question, but they’re all wrong?”

 

Linda watches as Buffy finally lifts her head to look at her after a couple minutes, when she doesn’t answer her.  Seeing the worried and hesitant look on Buffy’s face, Linda smiles softly at the slayer.  “Just tell me how you knew that you had me.”

 

Buffy exhales softly, realizing she isn’t going to be in trouble, that Linda was just curious how she felt.  “Slayer senses helped a lot, Linda.”  Buffy admits softly, smiling shyly at the confused look on Linda’s face.  “All our senses are extremely tweaked.  Our sight, our hearing… our sense of smell.” 

 

Linda groans and closes her eyes, knowing whenever she’s around the slayer, she’s a turned on, horny mess. 

 

“Then there’s the fact that you haven’t exactly been hiding your thoughts or feelings.”  Buffy reaches up to gently stroke over Linda’s cheekbone.  “Your feelings are pretty obvious when I actually looked, instead of being afraid.”  Pressing her finger against Linda’s lips, Buffy shakes her head, shifts back and turns around, waiting for Willow to finish coming down the stairs and towards the kitchen.

 

“I thought I heard you come in.  Did you have fun last night?”  Willow questions smiling, her eyes going curiously to the professor.  “Hello, Professor Carlisle.”

 

“Linda, Willow.”  Linda shakes her head, smiling at the redhead as she reaches back for her coffee cup and the pot, adding some more coffee to her cup. 

 

“I had a wonderful time last night.”  Buffy darts a quick smile at Linda.  Turning her gaze back on Willow, Buffy tilts her head towards the living room.  “Wills, can I talk to you for a minute?”

 

“Sure.”  Willow blinks in confusion but follows Buffy out of the kitchen and towards the living room. 

 

Buffy fidgets slightly as she turns and looks at Willow.  “This is going to probably sound very, very strange.  Especially coming from me, but I have to tell you something.”

 

Willow furrows her brows as she stares at Buffy.  “Is it bad?  I mean, I didn’t think anything could be worse than finding out Tara and…”  Willow trails off, wrinkling her nose at the thought, still not able to say it out loud.

 

“I don’t think it’s bad.”  Buffy whispers softly.  “Actually I think it’s pretty great, wonderful in fact.”  Buffy looks up from where she’d unconsciously looked down at her feet.  “Linda and I are seeing each other, dating, whatever you would like to call it.” 

 

Willow’s mouth drops open in shock, looking intently at Buffy to see if the slayer’s pulling her leg.  Unconsciously her head turns and looks back towards the kitchen before turning back to Buffy. 

 

“Yes, Linda and I.”  Buffy nods her head to the unspoken question in Willow’s eyes.  “I’ve kind of fallen in love with her over the last couple months, Wills.”  Buffy whispers, her eyes serious.  “And I just finally let her know that last night.”

 

“Ohhh.”  Willow’s eyes widen in surprise and shock, before she really takes in Buffy’s more relaxed state.  “Last night?”

 

Buffy blushes and nods her head.  “Last night.”  Groaning Buffy smacks Willow lightly on the shoulder as a huge smirk crosses her best friend’s face.

 

“I want to be there when you tell Xander.”  Willow chuckles loudly at the loud groan coming from Buffy. 

 

“You can be there, but I wasn’t exactly planning on telling him, more like showing him.”  Buffy grins as Willow starts to laugh hysterically. 

 

“I definitely have to be there, then.”  Willow steps up and hugs Buffy.  “As long as you’re happy, I’m happy for you, Buffy.”

 

“Thank you, Wills.”  Buffy hugs Willow tightly.  “We need to probably get going.  You sure you don’t want to come?”

 

“No, you guys go.  I need to do a few more things.  I need to tell you about something.  Are you coming back here tonight?”  Willow bounces on the balls of her feet worriedly.

 

“What’s wrong?”  Buffy’s eyes narrow on Willow.

 

“Nothings wrong, I just want to talk to you.  You need to get going so you’re not late for the ceremony.  I’m sure Linda’s supposed to be there for that, being one of the professor’s at the college.”  Willow urges Buffy towards the kitchen.

 

“We’re going to talk.”  Buffy growls quietly.  “Dawn!  Get your ass down here now, or you’re not going.  Linda?  We’re going to need to head out so I don’t have you in trouble with your boss.”

 

“Good, I was about ready to say something.”  Linda strides from the kitchen, looking curiously at Buffy and Willow. 

 

“I’m here.”  Dawn comes pounding down the stairs, grinning hugely at Buffy and Linda.  “Shotgun!”

 

“I don’t think so.”  Buffy growls as Dawn grabs the umbrella and darts out the door laughing.  “I’m going to kick her ass.”  Reaching out for Linda’s hand, she threads their fingers together.  “Come on, sexy professor.  We have people to see and each other to do.”  Buffy snickers quietly as she tugs a shocked Linda behind her out the door.

 

“Oh, Goddess.”  Willow starts to laugh as what Buffy said sinks into her head.  “Linda, I hope you know what you’re getting yourself into.”  Willow chuckles as she heads up the stairs to finish e-mailing her parents to let her know she was spending the summer in New Hampshire, but not exactly where knowing they won’t understand.

 

***

 

Chapter 22

 

Buffy rubs the back of her neck as she glances around.  Having the uncomfortable feeling that someone’s watching them.  Shaking her head at not finding anyone, she smiles at Linda.  “Come on, let’s go get Faith and Tara.  I’m sure we’re both going to be in for some ribbing.”

 

“You think?”  Linda smirks as Buffy blushes darkly. 

 

“More than kissing went on, I take it?”  Dawn pipes up, laughing as Buffy growls at her.

 

“You’re too young to know exactly what went on last night.”  Buffy grumbles as the three make their way into the apartment building.

 

“And this morning.”  Linda mumbles, brushing a hand across her mouth, chuckling as Buffy groans loudly ahead of her. 

 

“You’re a lot of help.”  Buffy punches the button for the elevator, glaring at the older woman. 

 

“You thought I was last night and this morning.”  Linda bites her bottom lip, her eyes dancing merrily with amusement as she leans against the wall on the other side of the elevator. 

 

“Not in front of my sister.”  Buffy moans and rubs her eyes.

 

“Like what I’ve seen Faith and Tara getting up to isn’t worse than this?”  Dawn scoffs and grins at Linda as the professor taps her on the leg with her shoe. 

 

“They make it a habit of making out in front of you?”  Linda steps into the elevator, jumping slightly as she feels a warm, strong hand caress her butt cheek firmly. 

 

“They don’t make it a habit, but if they get the urge to kiss, hug or touch, they do.  It’s actually kind of nice.”  Dawn admits shyly.  “They love each other and they show it from the simplest look to serious kissage.”

 

Buffy groans and bangs her head against the back of the elevator as it dings and opens, arriving on Faith and Tara’s floor.  “I think my little sister is growing up.”

 

“I’ll be sixteen in another two months.  Old enough to drive.”  Dawn points out, grinning as she hurries out of the elevator as Buffy whimpers. 

 

“Hope you don’t plan on me teaching you.”  Buffy finds herself stopped before she steps out of the elevator, groaning softly as Linda presses her gently against the opening with her body and kisses her. 

 

“I’ll offer my services.”  Linda whispers, so only Buffy can hear, so she can make the decision.

 

“The services I want from you don’t include driving instructor.  At least not the way you meant it.”  Buffy smirks and presses a quick hard kiss to her lips before urging her out of the elevator, ignoring the quiet giggles coming from her sister.

 

Linda growls and hurries after the slayer, winking playfully at Dawn. 

 

“And you thought she wasn’t interested in you.”  Dawn giggles as Linda rolls her eyes. 

 

“Yeah, yeah.  I have a feeling I’m going to be picked on by everyone for months to come.”  Linda tosses her arms around the taller Summers’ companionably. 

 

Dawn snorts.  “Try more like years.”

 

“COME ON!!  We’re going to be late.”  Buffy bangs on the door, chuckling as Faith slings it open, growling at her while fixing her clothes. 

 

“You guys are already late.  We can’t help we spent our time waiting for ya’ in interestin’ ways.”  Faith smirks as she finishes tucking her button up shirt in her jeans before zipping and buttoning the jeans. 

 

“My fault.”  Tara blushes coming up behind them, fixing her hair into a tight ponytail. 

 

“I got ‘em babe.”  Faith murmurs, reaching down for the bag holding Tara’s clothes as her lover starts to pick them up.  “You got your speech?”

 

Tara takes a deep breath and checks her slacks’ pocket and nods as she feels the comforting crinkle of paper under her hand.  “I’m ready.  Everyone else ready?”

 

“Let’s go.  We can’t have the smartest person graduating and one of the Professors late for the graduation ceremony, now can we?”  Buffy urges the group from the apartment.

 

“She’s bossy for a little thing, isn’t she?”  Linda smirks as she looks over her shoulder at a softly growling slayer. 

 

“Try being her baby sister.”  Dawn snarks and yelps as Buffy pinches her on the butt. 

 

“Move it, baby sister.”  Buffy growls, before smacking Linda firmly on the ass as she laughs at her. 

 

“Just one big happy family.”  Tara grins crookedly at her lover after watching the other three’s happy antics.

 

“Yeah.”  Faith agrees softly, tucking the boxes under one arm so she can thread her fingers through Tara’s, squeezing gently.  “Let’s get this over with so we can come back and you can tell me about that dream you had.”  Faith wiggles her eyebrows as Tara blushes darkly. 

 

“You’re not going to leave it alone, are you?”  Tara finally grumbles quietly as they step onto the elevator. 

 

“Nope.  I have a feelin’ whatever it is, is gonna be fun.”  Faith snorts as Tara pokes her gently in the side.

 

“Ten minutes.”  Linda mumbles as she looks at her watch.  “I have to be there in ten minutes, hopefully we’ll make it.” 

 

“Driving from one side of town to the other only takes ten minutes.  We’ll make it there with at least four minutes to spare.”  Buffy pats Linda gently on the back as they hurry out of the building and climb into her car.

 

Linda narrows her gaze as Buffy purses her lips and tries not to laugh at her.  “You’re a menace.”

 

Buffy wiggles her eyebrows and grins.  “That’s not what you…”  Snapping her mouth shut as Dawn leans forward from the back seat, her eyes wide as she looks at her.  “Sit back, Dawn.  We better get going.” 

 

Tara giggles quietly as Faith pulls her tightly against her side.  “She’s going to get herself in trouble the rate she’s going.”

 

“Us slayer’s have this tendency of putting our foot in it, that’s for sure.  Though occasionally it works out for the best.”  Faith admits, rubbing her cheek against Tara’s head. 

 

“Who knew Faith would be such a sap.”  Dawn smirks as she settles back in the seat as Linda starts the vehicle and pulls out.

 

“I like my sappy Faith.”  Tara murmurs shifting her head so she can nuzzle against the slayer’s neck.  “Why are we going to the graduation instead of staying home, again?”

 

“Because my brilliant lover graduated first in her class and we want to embarrass her by yellin’ and screamin’ and makin’ asses of ourselves over her while she gives her speech and gets her diploma.”  Faith smiles at the grunt coming from her lover. 

 

“I’m blessed.”  Tara murmurs, the happiness she feels in the words that should sound sarcastic, but that sound heartfelt and honest, obvious. 

 

***

 

Leather coat billowing behind him, Spike strides down the street, smirking up at the dark sky.  “If this wasn’t a sign, I don’t know what is.  Be ready to say goodbye to your sweetheart.”  Spike chuckles wickedly, his eyes flashing yellow as he hesitates watching the college graduates heading into the college, his eyes glued on the blonde slayer. 

 

Forgetting all the times he’d jumped the gun and how that had always come back to bite him in the ass, Spike follows at a distance, his eyes watching with curiosity the group of people joking and running towards the college auditorium.

 

“You’re mine, luv.  Nobody else’s and it’s about time you remembered that.”  Spike snarls as he dodges into a side exit, using vampire strength to force the door open as he slips inside, watching the people mill about.  “Happy meals, all of you.”  Spike grins at the sight, his eyes tingeing towards yellow at the sight. 

 

***

 

“Faith!”  Dawn groans and smacks the slayer on the thigh.  “Calm down!”

 

Faith continues to bounce her legs as she sits in the bleachers between Dawn and Buffy, growling as both sisters press on her legs. 

 

“Jesus, Faith!  You’re more nervous than Tara is.”  Buffy nods her head towards the blonde that’s sitting on the stage watching them with a smirk on her face.

 

Faith shifts and wiggles in her seat again.  “I can’t help it, B.  After Tara and me becomin’… well ya’ know, this is like the most important thing that’s happened to me, and it ain’t even happenin’ to me!” 

 

Buffy rolls her eyes as she looks at Dawn, laughing quietly as her sister groans and shakes her head.  “Calm down, they’re starting.”  Buffy clasps Faith’s thigh tightly, using slayer strength to press down on the bouncing leg until Faith grunts and finally stops bouncing.

 

***

 

Linda grins at Tara as the witch turns to look at her with a smirk on her face, both women having been watching the shenanigans up in the bleachers.  Faith looking like she couldn’t sit still as she shifts and literally seems to bounce up and down.  Only half paying attention to the Dean starting the graduation ceremony, since she was just here because of being part of the faculty, she wasn’t slated to make a speech.  Looking around at the different students, she silently wonders how some of them managed to graduate, having some of them in her class and knowing they barely passed her class. 

 

Relaxing back on the folding chair, she crosses her legs and lets her eyes trail up to the bleachers again, a small smile playing on her face, as Buffy is staring unwaveringly at her.  Groaning quietly as a decidedly sensuous smile crosses the slayer’s lips, Linda wiggles slightly in her chair as her libido takes notice.

 

“Someone interesting up there?”  John questions curiously as he sneaks in beside her, smirking at the light blush crossing Linda’s face.  “Come on, Professor Carlisle, you can tell me.”

 

“Shut up, Professor Johnson.”  Linda growls at the history professor. 

 

“Who is she?”  John pokes at a bruise on Linda’s neck, snorting back a quiet laugh as she whimpers and pulls up on the collar of her shirt, trying to cover the mark. 

 

“Like you’ll actually be able to pick her out from here, even if I pointed her out to you.”  Linda finally laughs and looks at the skinny professor. 

 

John turns his gaze to the area that he thinks Linda had been looking.  Furrowing his brows as a small blonde suddenly stands and flies down the bleachers, the dark-haired woman that had been sitting beside her two steps behind her.  “I hope it ain’t them, they look worried.”

 

Linda’s eyes dart back to the stands, eyes opening wide in shock as Buffy and Faith come tearing down the bleachers, her eyes turning to Tara’s wondering if the witch knows what’s going on.  Seeing Tara turn to look at her and suddenly becoming pale as she looks past her, Linda starts to spin around to look behind her when she feels a rough grip and stale, soured, cool breath caressing over her face.

 

“She’s mine, bitch.  And once I take you out of the picture, she’ll be mine for eternity.”  Spike snarls angrily as he yanks the woman out of the chair and back against his body, already shifting her head as he start to sink his teeth in her neck. 

 

***

 

Buffy stiffens as she swears she gets a glimpse of peroxided hair on the stage in the shadows behind where the Professors are sitting.  Getting another glimpse, she growls and doesn’t even think, just takes off down the steps, aware of Faith starting to question what’s happening before the slayer follows right on her heels.

 

Faith follows Buffy starting to ask her what the hell is going on, until she gets a glimpse of almost white-blonde hair behind the Prof, something clicking in her head about the bleached blonde vampire that she had flirted with when she was in B’s body, the slayer having admitted to her about her fucking the fixed vampire when she came back from the dead, though she’d admitted she hadn’t told anyone else except her and Tara.  Catching Tara’s blue eyes with hers, she silently prays that Tara can do something, because they’re too far away to reach Linda in time, if the vampire was serious about draining or killing her. 

 

***

 

As Tara watches Faith and Buffy it occurs to her what might be happening with the remembrance of how overcast it was outside.  Turning in her seat, she pales at the sight of Spike about ready to pounce on Linda, her eyes turning to look into the pale blue eyes of the professor before the woman turns to look behind her.  Now understanding the pleading and hopeful look Faith had cast her way, she knows there’s no way the two slayers will make it in time to save Linda from Spike, the vampire’s teeth already starting to sink into the flesh of Linda’s neck part of her wondering how the hell he’s able to hurt the professor with the chip in his head while the other part of her is already casting the spell to send him spinning away from Linda.

 

Jumping up, she hurries over to the professor as she falls out of her seat, pressing her hand firmly against her neck, thankful it looked like her major artery wasn’t hit, but not taking any chances.  Glaring as Spike finally picks himself up from where he’d landed ten yards behind them, she snarls as he grins cockily before licking his lips of the blood.

 

“Tastes good.  After I finish draining her, I think I might try a little witchy-snack, what do you think Glinda?  Like the thought of me sinking into you?”  Spike grins maniacally, his yellow eyes flashing.

 

“You’ll never get that close to her, ya’ bastard.”  Faith snarls as she flies in from the side of the stage as Buffy comes at him from the other side.  Buffy taking him high, while she takes him low. 

 

“FUCK ME!”  Spike cries out, his body wrenching in two different directions, as he feels his spine being severed by the force of the two slayer’s slamming into him.

 

“NEVER AGAIN!”  Buffy snarls loudly as she rolls and hops up onto her feet, her eyes flashing angrily as she stares at the vampire lying broken on the stage as he glares up at her.

 

“Ya’ told your girlfriend that ya’ fucked a soulless vampire that’s killed two previous slayer’s and thousands of people?  Betcha’ she won’t be too happy to learn that.”  Spike snarls, already knowing his life is forfeit.  There’s no way he can get away from the two slayers, especially with half his body not working.

 

Faith watches as Buffy ignores the vampire and runs to Linda, sliding on her knees as she gets close to the woman.  Looking up, she breathes out a sigh of relief as her lover smiles at her, letting her know that Linda will be alright.  Ignoring the pandemonium breaking out from the people on stage, the other people in the audience and on the graduating class on the floor, not real sure as to what is happening in the shadowed area of the stage.  Striding over to the vampire, Faith snatches him by the hair on his head and drags his ass back further into the shadows before snapping his neck and leaving him lying there.  Knowing it didn’t kill him, since he’s still there in the flesh, but figuring Buffy would rather have the pleasure of dusting his ass, and she didn’t want to take the chance of him disappearing on them again.

 

***

 

“Linda?”  Buffy whispers, as she brushes blonde hair away from Linda’s cheek with a shaky hand.

 

Linda smiles up at the slayer and reaches for her hand, pulling it down against her chest.  “I’m okay, Buffy.  He was only able to get his teeth in me, and that’s as far as it went.” 

 

Tara pulls her stole from around her neck and hands it to Buffy with her free hand.  “Tear it in half and fold up one side of it into a small section, and we’ll use the other part to bind the wound until we get her to the hospital.”

 

“After I make sure you’re okay and settled comfortably, either at the hospital or at home, I’m going to take that bastard and dismember him one tiny piece at a time over the next six months.”  Buffy coldly states, the slayer’s words all the more scary for the lack of heat and anger in her voice.  Accepting the cloth from Tara, she rips it in half easily and quickly folds one section up into a small padded piece before gently pressing it against the puncture wounds on Linda’s neck when Tara shifts her hand out of the way.  Holding it in place as Tara grabs the other half and carefully wraps it around Linda’s neck, ignoring the people coming over to them to see what happened. 

 

“B?  He ain’t goin’ anywhere for a while.  What’cha want me to do?”  Faith questions softly as she settles down on her knees by the small group of women, resting her hand gently on Tara’s back. 

 

Buffy looks up at Faith and Tara almost lost.  “We need to get her to the hospital, and checked out.”

 

“Then we’ll take her.”  Tara calmly states as she gently ties the cloth and smiles down at Linda.  Pleased to see the sparkle in the woman’s eyes, the shock finally starting to recede. 

 

“But your speech.”  Linda whispers, reaching out to grasp Tara’s hand.  “You worked so hard to get to this point.”

 

“Like anyone will remember what I said next year… hell, tomorrow.”  Tara shrugs.  “I graduated, earned my diploma and I’m happy with that.”

 

“Are you okay?”  Dawn finally pushes her way through the crowd around Linda, smirking as someone yelps when she nails them with an elbow.  “And where is that creep?  To think I used to believe he was a good guy.”  Dawn snarls, her eyes gleaming with anger. 

 

“He’s mine.”  Buffy warns before gently scooping the taller woman in her arms and lifting her effortlessly as she stands.

 

“Buffy!”  Linda opens her eyes wide as she glances over at the rest of the group, watching as quite a few of them blink in stunned shock as the petite woman lifts her so easily.  “I can walk, Buffy.  I’m really okay.  Hell, I could probably stay here for the rest of the ceremony it isn’t that big of a deal.”

 

“Yes it is.”  Buffy warns softly, no give in her eyes.  “Faith, can you take soon to be departed and throw him in Linda’s trunk?  I’ve got plans for him.”

Tara sighs and slowly stands, looking at the gathered crowd.  “Sorry, it looks like some guy high on drugs or something attacked Professor Carlisle.  She’s going to be fine, but she needs to be taken to the hospital and checked out.”  Tara looks around until she sees the Dean press his way forward.  “Sir, she’s become a friend to me over the last few months, and unfortunately I won’t be able to perform my speech.”

 

“That’s fine, Ms. Maclay.  If you need anything, Linda, please contact me.  I’m sorry this happened.”  The Dean sighs heavily, wondering, not for the first time, about the happenings in this town before he turns and starts to work on disbursing the crowd and settling everyone down so they can continue on with the graduation ceremony. 

 

“Buffy, this is embarrassing.”  Linda hisses quietly as the slayer holds her firmly against her as she carries her across the stage. 

 

“Deal.”  Buffy allows a small smile to cross her face at the loud growl she gets in response to her comment.  That cementing it in her mind that Linda is okay, finally relaxing a little as she finally looks down into irritated blue eyes.  “I love you, Professor.”

 

Linda feels her heart stutter at the absolute love in Buffy’s words and eyes, there for everyone to see and hear.  “I love you, too.”  Linda wraps her hand around Buffy’s neck and pulls her down the short distance to kiss her.

 

Faith glances over at the two women heading off the stage before looking back down at the broken remains of the vampire.  “Thought you killed two slayers.  I tell ya’ what you’re a fucking idiot.”  Faith smiles a Tara leans in to kiss her soft on the cheek. 

 

“Go ahead and dust him.  I’ll take the heat from Buffy.  I think all I’ll have to do is remind her that Linda’s okay and it was easier than trying to explain why we were toting him around.”  Tara smiles softly at her lover. 

 

“Yo!  Little D…”  Faith turns to stare in shock as Dawn snatches the stake from her pants and slams it home into the bleached blonde vampire.

 

“Now you don’t have to explain anything.”  Dawn tosses the stake back to Faith, her eyes turning back to look at the dust pile.  “Bastard.”  Dawn spits out the word before striding away after her sister and Linda.

 

“Well…  I didn’t see that comin’.”  Faith admits, blinking a couple times as she turns to watch Dawn stride away.

 

Tara nods her head in agreement as she takes a deep breath.  “I think she’s growing up.”

 

“That’s a given.”  Faith agrees, wrapping her arm around Tara’s waist.  “Come on, T-Bear.  I can hear B starting to bitch.”

 

“I love you, Faith.”  Tara kisses Faith firmly on her full bow-shaped lips before wrapping her arm around the slayer’s waist as they hurry after the other women.

 

“I love you, too.”  Faith grasps Tara’s hip firmly, pulling her tightly against her side as they walk together.

 

***

 

Epilogue

 

Faith and Tara laugh and dodge the streamers being thrown at them.

 

Linda smiles as Buffy leans back against her, the small slayer practically melting into her body as they watch Faith and Tara.

 

“I never would have believed it, if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes.”  Buffy admits, running her hands over the arms wrapped around her waist.  “A year ago, things were so different.  Faith was released from jail and came here, telling me she was here to help, and I was a total bitch to her.  Tara was wasting away to nothing and the world was looking pretty grim.”

 

“Now, two people that you couldn’t think are more different have just gotten married at the place they really met, though for the second time.  You’ve been dating Linda for roughly six months and we were extremely lucky in finding out about The First trying to take out the slayer line.”  Willow offers, smiling at Buffy after dragging her eyes away from Faith and Tara, still feeling a sense of loss at losing Tara, but finally having come to terms with it. 

 

“Who knew that Tara could be a conductor for other witches to be able to combine their strength and powers to take him out without too many lives being lost?”  Anna smiles at the thought of the blonde haired witch who’s now being swung around and kissed heartily by her wife.

 

“I should have.  My spells very rarely worked until I met her, and I was always so much stronger when we were together.  It makes sense now.”  Willow smiles shyly at the head of the Coven from Devon, blushing as Anna turns a gentle smile on her.

 

“Yes, well, now that we know this, after those two finish their honeymoon…”  Giles trails off at the laughter coming from Linda and Buffy.

 

“They’ll be on their honeymoon probably until they’re old and gray, Giles.”  Buffy finally explains their laughter, looking over at the two women that are so entwined, it would be hard to tell one from the other, if it wasn’t for the fact that Faith was dressed all in black leather and Tara was wearing all white leather.  Still somewhat shocked at the sight of Tara in the tight outfit, and how easily it was for Faith to talk her into that being her ‘wedding finery’.  Though having a wedding in an S & M bar… it makes sense.

 

“Yes, well…”  Giles blushes lightly and shrugs his shoulder.  “When they come back from Hawaii, then.”  He grins in response to the laughter he gets from his rewording.  “Tara going with the coven members to the different Hellmouths to help cleanse them, will be a major step in helping rid this world of the demons on it.  Are you still planning on living here, my dear?”  Giles let’s his eyes trail from Buffy to Linda and back again.  Having been somewhat shocked and surprised to find his slayer dating a woman, but seeing the two together it made his old heart happy.

 

“Yes, I do.  I have someone very important here, and besides, if this is going to be the main active Hellmouth with the other ones being shut down completely, most of the demons will probably eventually end up working their way here.”  Buffy admits, sighing quietly at the thought. 

 

“Faith will be here with you the majority of the time.  So will Tara, until she’s needed.  They’ve decided to just fly in for the ritual and spells before flying back here, so at the most they’ll probably only ever be gone a couple days at a time.”  Anna pats the small slayer gently on the shoulder.  “Plus I’m in contact with different covens around the world, locating some combative witches to help you keep Sunnydale under control.”

 

“And that is very much appreciated.”  Linda hugs Buffy tightly to her, leaning down to nuzzle gently on her neck, smiling at the quiet groan she gets in response.  “Maybe, one day, there can be another wedding here for another couple that met and fell in love in the most surprising of places.”

 

Dawn bounces up, hearing the words, squeaking at the thought and grinning hugely.  “This place is so cool!!  But what’s that railing type thing over there used for?”

 

Groans, whimpers and blushes are pretty much the majority of the answers to the teenager’s question, before Buffy growls softly at her sister.  “Come back when you’re forty, then you can know.”

 

“BUFFY!”  Dawn whines.

 

“Some things never change.”  Buffy shakes her head and turns in Linda’s arms, looking up into loving blue eyes.  “And some things change for the best.  Name the day and the time, my beautiful Professor, and I’m here.”  Buffy finally whispers.

 

Linda moans quietly as Buffy captures her in a kiss that starts off soft and loving that slowly becomes more heated.  Realizing that over the months of being with the slayer that, if anything, their desire and love for each other keeps growing.  Praying that it always will, she pulls Buffy tighter to her as she battles strongly against the tongue invading her mouth.

 

Faith chuckles at the sight of Buffy and Linda as she continues to hold Tara in her arms.  “And ta’ think.  All this because you decided to get drunk off your ass on that bar stool right there.”  Faith comments, tilting her head towards the bar stool.

 

“My Knight in Shining Leather saved me.  In more ways than I can count.”  Tara whispers running her fingers gently through her lover’s wild mane of hair.  “I love you completely, my beautiful slayer.”

 

“I love you, too, my beautiful witch.”  Faith looks lovingly into Tara’s eyes before placing such a loving and tender kiss on Tara’s lips that it brings a tear to most of the crowd’s eyes.

 

Ginny and Danielle smile at each other, before Ginny leans against her lover.  “Did you tell them what we were actually planning on doing as a wedding gift?”

 

“Nope.  They think us throwing this party for them was it.  I was surprised when Giles approached us about the bar, but I like the thought of starting over somewhere new.”  Danielle admits, smiling as the sight of the people that she calls friends partying and celebrating.

 

“You just like the challenge of starting from scratch again.  And I can’t think of anyone better to own and run this bar than Buffy, Tara and Faith.”  Ginny smacks her lover on the ass before turning to make more drinks as a couple women sidle up to the bar, smiling at the thought.  One of the unlikeliest places to find love, an S & M Bar called The Bitch Club sitting on top of a Hellmouth.  Shaking her head at the thought, Ginny grins happily.  “Sometimes things are just meant to be.”

 

***

 

The End



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