Chapter 9

Slowly sliding out of the exhausted, passed out slayer, Tara tosses the riding crop and the soft-tipped flogger off the side of the bed, silently thanking Buffy for grabbing items that wouldn’t draw blood.  Knowing the slayer was giving her a break this time, though silently wondering at the wisdom of her actions knowing that they need to get the Slayer under some kind of control, and the sooner the better.  Having just done another spell for strength and stamina before the Slayer gave up, Tara sighs softly as she notices it’s almost ten in the morning.  Whereas Buffy had gone easier on the implements, she’d picked out the largest dildo Tara had that would work with a harness. 

Unbuckling the harness, Tara makes her way into the bathroom, washing the items and setting them on the towel.  Gathering a washcloth and towel, along with soap to clean the slayer, Tara makes a mental note to get a small bucket to keep in the bathroom to run the water in to wash her up afterwards.  Or possibly even for Buffy to wash her up afterwards.  Setting the items on the nightstand, Tara heads into the kitchen.  Grabbing out a large pan, she throws in the roast along with scrubbing the ten pound bag of potatoes quickly and placing them around the roast along with a two pound bag of baby carrots.  Placing the lid on the top of the pan, Tara opens the oven and re-arranges the racks to slide the roast in the bottom before closing the oven and turning it on to bake. 

Grabbing the bowl and filling it with warm water, Tara heads back to her bedroom, smiling as she hears the light snoring coming from Buffy.  Setting the bowl on the nightstand, she dips the washcloth in it and wrings it out before adding some body wash.  Gently, Tara washes down the slayer’s hands and arms to her back, sighing quietly at the raised, overlapping welts, the back completely covered in them as she tries to be extra gentle as she washes the sweat from the slayer’s body. 

Tara shakes her head at the healing properties of the slayer as she washes the dried blood from between her thighs and buttocks noticing that the woman already seemed to be healing.  Silently thanking whatever powers gave the woman the healing benefits, while cursing them at the same time that she has to deal with this.  Finishing washing the slayer’s legs and feet, Tara gently pats her dry before rolling her over onto her back.  Carefully cleansing her face and drying it before working her way down the slayer’s front. 

Laying the washcloth in the bowl, Tara gently rolls Buffy back onto her stomach and grabs a clean sheet to drape over Buffy’s lower half before gathering everything and heading towards the bathroom.  Tossing the towel and washcloth in the hamper before dumping the water down the sink, she turns the water on debating for a minute as to whether to take a shower or a bath.  Deciding on a shower, Tara flips up the shower switch before grabbing a fresh towel, placing it within reach before easing beneath the hot spray, moaning quietly as she lets it beat down on her sore muscles.  Adjusting the angle of the head of the shower nozzle, Tara leans against the side of the enclosure, closing her eyes as the water pounds on her.  Thankful she’d spent the money on one of the ‘On Demand’ water heaters.  Emptying her mind of any thoughts, Tara lets the tension and feelings of disquiet drain out of her body.

***

Buffy licks her lips as she slowly awakens, glancing at the empty spot beside her, Buffy frowns until she hears the shower running.  Easing out from under the sheet, she grabs the jug of water and sucks it down quickly even as she realizes Tara must have washed her before she decided to take a shower herself. 

Standing, Buffy heads into the bathroom.  Using the bathroom quickly, but refraining from flushing the toilet, figuring Tara might not like the results, Buffy leans against the wall by the shower, silently debating on whether or not to join the witch.  Buffy jumps slightly when Tara speaks.

“If you want to come in, you can, Buffy.”  Tara murmurs tiredly, smiling softly as Buffy shifts the shower curtain aside as she steps into the tub.

“You look like you’re about to crash.”  Buffy comments, brushing a finger over the tired woman’s cheek. 

“Had some energy left over and was going to take a shower, but after I got in here…”  Tara shrugs, closing her eyes as she continues to lean against the wall. 

“How long have you been in here?”  Buffy questions, frowning as she notices the wrinkled skin.

“Don’t know.  An hour, maybe longer.”  Tara drags her eyelids up, smiling at the slayer.  “How long does it take you to recover and come around again?” 

“An hour to two hours.”  Buffy reaches for the shampoo.  Squirting some into her hands, she smiles softly at the witch.  “Come here and use me to hold you up.  I’ll wash your hair and work on washing your body.”

Tara doesn’t argue, just shifts to rest against the slayer, wrapping her arms around the woman’s waist and dropping her head on a strong shoulder.

“Not going to make this easy, are you?”  Buffy grumbles, a small smile on her face as she works on trying to lather Tara’s hair.

“You could just carry me into the bedroom and toss me on the bed.  I’ll be out like a light.  I put a roast with potatoes and carrots in the oven, it’ll probably be done in another couple hours.  Or you can order pizzas, grab the cash out of my purse and save the roast for later.”  Tara offers, brushing her lips softly over the slayer’s neck. 

“You need to eat some more.  You only ate the once yesterday.”  Buffy points out as she rinses the witch’s hair as best she can before running her hands down her back, knowing that she probably won’t be able to clean the witch properly. 

“Won’t be awake long enough to eat.”  Tara mumbles fighting her closing eyes as it is. 

“Okay, witchy mine.  Time to get you dried off and in bed.”  Buffy flips the switch to the regular tub and turns off the water before helping a groggy Tara out of the bathtub.  Grabbing the towel, Buffy quickly dries Tara off before haphazardly running the towel over her own body.  “Your hair is going to be a mess when you wake up.”  Buffy comments, before laughing softly at the heavy breathing she gets in reply.  “I’ll take it that you don’t care.”  Buffy scoops the woman up in her arms and carries her into the bedroom.  “I think you do this just to get carried around.”  Buffy allows a small smile to cross her lips as she maneuvers to pull the bed covers down before gently laying the witch on the bed.  Covering her, Buffy brushes her lips softly over Tara’s lips.  “Why didn’t someone snatch you up and keep you?”  Buffy wonders quietly gently stroking her fingertips over Tara’s cheek before moving to grab her shorts and the shirt Tara had insisted she wear the day before.  Buttoning the shirt, Buffy grabs the woman’s purse as she leaves the bedroom.

Letting Dani out of the basement, Buffy smiles at the panting dog.  “Sorry, Dani.  I guess mommy forgot to let you out.”  Buffy unlocks and opens the back door, stepping out onto the small porch, shaking her head as Dani goes running around to the back of the house, knowing that’s where she goes to the bathroom.  Opening Tara’s purse, Buffy pulls out her wallet, flipping it open she stops at the pictures showing.  Running a finger over a picture of Tara, and an older version of the witch, realizing this must have been Tara’s mom, Buffy slowly sits down on the step.  Tracing the features of the smiling woman that’s asleep in the bedroom, Buffy silently wonders what her life would have been like if things had been different.  Flipping to look at the other pictures, she figures out the ones of her father and brother, coming to a stop at a picture of an absolutely beautiful African-American woman smiling sexily into the camera.  Buffy isn’t even aware of her fingers pulling the picture out to flip over and read the back. 

                        Tara,

                                I hope you find your heart, love.

                        I know it’s being called to somewhere

                        else.  Always know that I love you.

                                                        Lanai

Buffy turns the picture back over, silently wondering if Tara had left this woman to come here, or if there was more to it than what this picture would indicate.  Gently easing the picture back in, Buffy runs a finger over the woman’s smiling mouth.  Sighing quietly Buffy looks at the cash, pulling out a couple bills before heading back inside to make a call to the pizza place to have three x-large pizzas and hot wings delivered.

***

Buffy tosses the ball for Dani, smiling as the dog jumps and pounces on it before bringing the slobber soaked tennis ball back to her to throw again.  “We need to take you to the beach or park or something for you to actually run.  Do you like the beach?”  Buffy questions curiously tilting her head as Dani tilts her head and perks her half ear forward.  “You haven’t been to the beach, have you?  There’s one a little over an hour away from here.  Maybe we can get one of the group to drive out there if we offer to cook out.  They’ll probably need the break here in a couple weeks.” 

Tara leans against the door, smiling as she listens to Buffy talk with Dani.  When Dani notices her and barks as she comes running to her, Tara drops down onto her haunches and rubs Dani’s face.  “Sorry, mommy was bad today, wasn’t she?”

“That’s okay, I took care of her.”  Buffy smiles softly at the witch. 

“I have a truck, Buffy.  I’m having the transmission rebuilt and it should be done next week.”  Tara offers quietly, glancing up at the slayer.

“Do you like the idea of going out to the beach?”  Buffy questions softly as she walks over to Tara, tossing the ball for Dani to chase after again. 

Tara grins crookedly and nods her head.  “I like the beach.  Dani’ll probably love it.”  Tara stands and wipes her hands off on her jeans.  “I saw you turned the oven off.”

“Yeah.  I left the roast in there, thinking it’ll help keep it warm until we eat dinner.”  Buffy shrugs and smiles.  “Last I checked it hadn’t dried up to a tough piece of meat.”

“Mmmhmmm.  I saw you did a few taste tests, also.”  Tara quirks an eyebrow and chuckles as Buffy pouts.

“I had to make sure it was good.”  Buffy steps onto the porch in front of Tara.  “I need to wash up.  Doggy drool.”  Buffy holds her hands up in explanation, before groaning quietly as Tara leans in to kiss her lovingly.

“You should probably try to get some sleep, too.  Thank you for finishing tearing out the padding by the way.”  Tara follows Buffy into the house, leaving the door open so Dani can come in and out as she wants. 

“I don’t mind helping, especially with everything you’re doing for me.”  Buffy admits softly, washing her hands at the sink.  “I’m honestly not real tired.  Whenever my inner beast gets a good spanking, it energizes me.”  Buffy smirks as Tara groans and rolls her eyes.  “Well, that’s kind of what the Slayer is.  It’s a beast, demon type entity within me.”

“Well you and the beast are going to get a serious spanking if you don’t get some rest.”  Tara smacks Buffy on the ass as she walks by, jumping and squealing as Buffy smacks her back.  “HEY!”

“What’s good for the goose…”  Buffy smirks and wiggles her eyebrows. 

“I’ll goose you.”  Tara narrows her eyes on the slayer in warning before turning back to the stove.  Grabbing a couple of oven mitts, she pulls the roast out of the oven and pulls the lid off.  “Do you want gravy to go with the roast, or eat it like it is along with salad and maybe peas or something?”  Tara questions curiously. 

“The way it is, is fine.  Peas or corn would be good.”  Buffy agrees.  “When do you want to sand down the floor in the living room?”  Buffy hops up on the counter, watching as Tara grabs two cans of peas and two cans of cream style corn out of the pantry.  

“I’ll either have to contact the rental agency to have them drop it off, or just wait until I get my truck back and pick it up later.”  Tara shrugs, smiling.  “It doesn’t have to be done right now.  Thanks to you, I’m at least a couple weeks ahead of schedule with what I planned to have done.” 

“Are you actually on a schedule?”  Buffy watches Tara open the cans and place them in pots as she sets them on the stove and turns the burners on. 

“A loose schedule.  I try to get the things done in a certain amount of time, or I might just waste the day away not doing anything.”  Tara grins crookedly at the slayer.

“Right.”  Buffy nods her head and quirks an eyebrow up at the witch, curious as the blonde works her way closer to her. 

“What do you like to do?”  Tara stands in front of Buffy, looking up at the slayer.

Buffy looks into curious blue eyes and shrugs her shoulders.  “Haven’t really thought about it.”

“What is your most favorite memory?”  Tara questions softly.

Buffy thinks for a few minutes, a soft smile crossing her lips.  “Ice skating with Dawn when I was twelve and she was eight.  She was the klutziest person I’ve ever known on ice skates.”

Tara chuckles and shakes her head.  “You’ve never seen me on them.  Last time I tried I came home with my knees totally black and blue and a cracked tailbone.  I decided then and there I was never going to wear another pair of ice skates.”

Buffy reaches up to tuck blonde hair away from the witch’s cheek as she looks into smiling blue eyes.  “You’re beautiful, Tara.”  Buffy whispers quietly, her eyes serious.

Tara holds her breath at the slayer’s comment, looking into the serious and gentle hazel eyes looking back at her.  Knowing she’s fallen in love with the slayer, Tara smiles tremulously at the small blonde.  “Thank you.”

Buffy watches as Tara finally moves to finish fixing dinner, her eyes staying firmly on the blonde witch.  Shaking herself out of her trance, Buffy groans as she realizes Tara had set the table and everything else, without her helping.  “I’m sorry.”

“Hmm?  Sorry for what?”  Tara questions curiously, her eyes looking at the woman.

“I didn’t help, and just sat there watching you the whole time.”  Buffy admits, frowning.

“That’s okay, sweetie.  You can do the dishes.”  Tara winks and grins as Buffy groans loudly.  “Get over here and eat.”  Tara orders between soft laughter, her eyes twinkling as Buffy jumps down and settles at the table. 

“Yes, ma’am.”  Buffy smiles quickly as she grabs the platter of food. 

Tara shakes her head at the slayer as they quietly fill their plates, tossing the bone with a little meat on it to Dani, smiling as the dog catches it and heads back out the door.  “Another hole for the back yard.”  Tara chuckles at the thought as she settles in to eat her early dinner, or late lunch as the case may be. 

“Does she do that a lot?”  Buffy questions curiously as she takes a bite of the meat.

“Most of the time, although she’s pretty good at keeping them in the same area.  Kind of like her bombs, which I probably need to do a scoop detail here soon.”  Tara admits, shrugging her shoulders.  “I’ve always wondered if I could teach her to use the toilet, but dogs’ bodies aren’t quite made to sit on a toilet.”  Tara jokes, her eyes twinkling merrily. 

“We could probably make some kind of adapter for it.”  Buffy offers, laughing quietly as Tara busts out with a hearty laugh.  “A little platform for her to stand on with a hole cut out above the toilet…”  Buffy chuckles as Tara laughs even more. 

“The thing is, I can see her actually using it!!”  Tara shakes her head and runs a hand over her forehead at the thought, grinning hugely at the slayer.  Settling back down, Tara slowly eats, watching Buffy make short work of the food on her plate before she fills it again. 

“I called the Watcher and told him that whatever money they’re going to send to put it in your bank account.  I hope you don’t mind I went ahead and gave him your checking account number.”  Buffy waves towards the purse sitting on the counter.

“That’s fine though you didn’t have to do that.”  Tara comments softly, watching Buffy continue to eat while relaxing back in her chair after she finishes her plate of food.

“Yes, I did.”  Buffy blinks and looks up at Tara.  “You’re probably already out a couple hundred dollars just on food because of me.  Let alone what you’ve spent on other items to help with the control.”  Buffy waves her hand towards where the bedroom is.  “I very seriously doubt you would have had a good portion of those items in your… repertoire if it wasn’t for me.”

Tara nods slowly in agreement, her eyes becoming distant.  “You have a point, but I honestly don’t mind.”

Buffy pokes a potato and eats it quickly as she thinks about the picture in Tara’s wallet.  Wanting to ask Tara about the woman, but afraid it might bring up sad memories.  Deciding to wait until either Tara brings it up, or when they’ve hopefully been together a while, Buffy smiles down at Dani as the dog comes in and leans against her leg.  Rubbing the dog’s head roughly, Buffy continues to eat with her other hand.

“You do realize that Dani doesn’t like anyone but us, don’t you?”  Tara questions softly, smiling at the shocked look that comes across Buffy’s face as she looks at her.  “She’ll deal with them, and behave around them, but she doesn’t really like them.”  Tara shrugs as she looks at Dani, her head even with the table. 

“Why does she like me?”  Buffy wonders out loud, looking down at Dani as the dog lets out a soft woof.  “I don’t really understand doggy speak.”  Buffy admits, looking down at the dog. 

Tara chuckles and shakes her head.  “She sees something in you, maybe a kindred spirit, like she does me.  We’re as much her humans as she is our dog.  And don’t think it isn’t possible, because she does think of us as hers.”  Tara smiles as Dani woofs again in agreement, the tone obvious.

“I’ve never belonged to a dog before.”  Buffy jokes and pulls gently on Dani’s half ear, chuckling as the dog grunts quietly and presses even harder into her leg.  Patting Dani on the side, Buffy whispers softly.  “Lay down, Dani.  I need to finish eating.”

Dani huffs softly as she scoots back and lies down beside her new human resting her head on her legs as she listens to the two women talk.

Tara spears a carrot and eats it contentedly as she continues to watch the slayer make short work of the food on the table.  Knowing there probably won’t be much left, Tara purses her lips as she considers buying a large freezer to make up meals and soups in large quantities and freeze so there’s always something available for the slayer to eat.  Knowing the steps down to the basement are too narrow to put it down there.  Thinking about the small patio with the gas grill sitting on it, Tara considers the thought of extending it and placing the freezer out there with a small roof above it and a wall on the one side to keep the majority of the weather off it, knowing that she could magically lock the item so only she or Buffy could get in it, so they wouldn’t have to worry about someone stealing the food.  “How handy are you with tools?”  Tara questions curiously.

“I’m assuming you mean besides stakes, knives and swords, right?”  Buffy smirks as Tara growls softly at her.  “I can swing a hammer and cut a halfway straight line when I have to, why?”

“I was thinking about extending the porch in the back and putting a relatively enclosed space out there to put a large chest freezer.  That way I can make some large batches of soups, along with some packaged meals so all you’d have to do is heat them up to eat.”  Tara explains, as her mind continues to think.  “Plus being able to stock up on food when it’s on sale probably wouldn’t be a bad idea, either.”

“We can probably frame out and level the ground to where the concrete would need to be poured.  I think it takes a few days for it to cure.  After that we can work on building a roof and a wall on the one side to place the freezer in.  Maybe close the front in eventually if you want and just be able to access it from the one side.  That way the weather wouldn’t get at it, unless we get a major storm that really whips things around.  We could always put a door on it or something.”  Buffy shrugs as she tosses out the ideas.  “I’ll do whatever you want me to do.  I’m not a carpenter by any stretch of the imagination, but I don’t think it’ll be that hard to put together.”

“Maybe that’ll be our next project after I get the truck back.”  Tara grins crookedly at the slayer.  “After a trip to the beach and playtime for all of us.”  Tara adds quietly, knowing that neither one of them has had much of a break to have fun.

“Sounds good.”  Buffy takes a deep breath after finishing the food, patting her belly.  “You’re a damn good cook, Tara.  Thank you.” 

Tara winks and stands as she starts to gather the dishes.  “You would probably have been happy with sandwiches.”

“Happy and enjoying something are totally different critters.”  Buffy offers softly as she helps Tara gather the bowls and plates.  “Why don’t you relax while I load the dishwasher and hand-wash the rest of these?”

Tara sets the dishes in the sink and softly brushes her lips over Buffy’s.  “Thank you.”

Buffy smiles as she watches Tara head towards the basement, Dani following behind her.  “I should be the one thanking you.”  Buffy murmurs softly before turning back to clean up the kitchen.

***

Chapter 10

Tara turns her head and watches Buffy come down the stairs, smiling softly at the slayer as she settles in beside her on the couch. 

“What are you watching?”  Buffy questions curiously, not really paying attention to the movie Tara had put in, but looking instead at the blonde witch. 

“Fifty First Dates.”  Tara keeps her eyes on Buffy, searching the hazel depths for a few moments before slowly leaning in to kiss her gently. 

Buffy whimpers quietly at the soft gentle brushing of Tara’s lips.  When the witch captures her bottom lip between hers and starts to suckle on it gently, Buffy shifts to face the witch more fully, moving a hand to her waist and tenderly stroking the flesh.

Tara arches into Buffy’s touch even as she releases her bottom lip and trails her tongue soothingly over the slightly swollen flesh.  Trailing a hand down Buffy’s arm to her thigh, Tara squeezes it gently.  “Straddle me.”  Tara orders quietly.

Buffy nods her head in acquiescence even as she shifts her body, throwing her leg over Tara’s legs and gently easing down to where she’s sitting on Tara’s lap.  Looking down into dark blue eyes, Buffy groans quietly as Tara’s hands slowly caress up her thighs.  Tara’s thumbs slipping under the edge of her shorts to tease the crease of her hips. 

Tara bites her bottom lip as she trails her thumbs closer to Buffy’s apex, feeling the heat coming from the slayer.  Watching Buffy’s eyes intently, Tara finally leans up to capture her lips in a heated desire-filled kiss.  Battling strongly against the slayer’s tongue, Tara trails her hands further up the slayer’s body.  Running her hands under the top, she strokes her thumbs softly back and forth over Buffy’s hardening nipples.  Groaning quietly as Buffy presses her body harder into her hands, Tara pants heavily as they end the kiss, both women needing oxygen. 

Buffy whimpers quietly as Tara starts to roll her nipples gently between her thumb and forefinger, occasionally pinching them softly.  “God, Tara!”  Buffy rocks her body as she feels the desire easing from her.

“Shirt off.”  Tara moves her hands to the shirt, quickly unbuttoning it to brush it softly over the slayer’s shoulders, letting it drop behind her and onto the floor.  “Beautiful.”  Tara whispers, brushing her fingers over the slayer’s breasts.

Buffy digs her fingers gently into Tara’s shoulders for balance as the witch leans in and captures a nipple in her warm mouth.  Arching hard into the woman’s mouth, Buffy groans deeply as Tara suckles firmly on her breast.  Shifting one hand to cup the back of the witch’s head, holding her gently to her as Tara twirls her tongue around her hard, aching nipple before she gently scrapes her teeth over the flesh, making her moan deeply. 

Tara smiles softly as she kisses her way over to the slayer’s other nipple, giving it the same treatment, loving the sounds of the heavy breathing and the quiet moans coming from her lover.  Sliding her hands down to Buffy’s waist, Tara releases the nipple in her mouth moving back a short distance to look into Buffy’s hooded hazel eyes, the eyes having darkened with desire.  Thankfully not seeing any hint of blue yet, Tara smiles and kisses her tenderly. 

Buffy eagerly returns the gentle kiss stroke for stroke, wrapping her arms around Tara’s shoulders as she feels the woman shift.  Finding her body sitting on the couch with Tara kneeling in front of her as Tara slowly breaks off the kiss, Buffy looks in surprise at the witch.

“Hips.”  Tara simply whispers, her hands on Buffy’s shorts, easing them down the slayer’s strong legs as Buffy lifts her hips.  Sliding them off, Tara tosses them to the side before allowing her hands to stroke up the opening limbs, smiling softly at the desire glistening on the slayer’s bald mound. 

Buffy shifts effectively moving her body closer to the edge of the couch while spreading her legs further apart, watching intently as Tara slides into the offered opening.

Tara trails her eyes up the slayer’s body, finally connecting with her eyes, checking one last time to make sure Buffy was still in control.  Seeing no hint of the Slayer trying to wrest control from Buffy, Tara smiles before lifting up to kiss her firmly, battling against Buffy’s agile tongue.  Running her hands up the strong legs letting her nails trail teasingly over the flesh Tara smiles as Buffy ends the kiss whimpering.  “Is there anything that you really like or enjoy?”  Tara’s voice sounding a lot deeper and rougher than normal. 

As Tara’s fingers work their way upwards, the fingers teasing her inner thighs barely caressing over her outer lips, Buffy tilts her head backwards on the couch, her hips shifting, trying to have the witch make contact with her.  Swallowing hard, Buffy finally whispers.  “What you’re doing, and hopefully planning on doing, is something I enjoy immensely, and the sooner, the better.”  Buffy finally finishes, tilting her head forward again, making eye contact with the witch.  Honestly not knowing how long she has before the Slayer comes knocking.

“Hint taken.”  Tara presses a lingering kiss on Buffy’s lips before working her way down her neck, spending a few moments on the pulse point, latching her lips onto the flesh and sucking gently until she hears the low groan coming from Buffy.  Curiously sucking harder, Tara chuckles internally as Buffy’s groans turn louder and the blonde pushes her neck into her mouth.  Sucking harder for a few more moments, Tara releases the flesh with a swirl of her tongue.  Working her way quickly down Buffy’s chest, Tara captures one nipple between her teeth, batting it with her tongue before laving it gently with her tongue and working her way over to the slayer’s other breast, giving it similar treatment. 

“Tara…”  Buffy whimpers, burying her hands in Tara’s hair, gently urging the witch down her body, her hips bucking as Tara finally caresses over her outer lips with a hand, a couple fingers dipping between to slide through the wetness and finally trail over her aching clit.  “Thank, God!”  Buffy presses up into the touch groaning deeply as Tara’s fingers press and rub over her bringing her closer to climax.

Tara trails her tongue down the woman’s abdomen, tracing her stomach muscles even as she picks up the speed and pressure of her fingers.

“Yesss…”  Buffy hisses, crying out softly as Tara finally applies the pressured rub she needs to tip her over the edge.  Pulling Tara’s head in against her stomach, Buffy jerks into her lover’s touch even as she feels the liquid ease from her body.

Tara bites gently on Buffy’s stomach as the petite slayer continues to press and convulse against her for a few moments.  As Buffy slowly calms down, Tara shifts and presses her lips to Buffy’s bald mound the thought briefly going through her mind to wonder if Buffy always keeps it shaved, the feel of the smooth, warm, wet, soft skin under her lips seeming extremely naughty for some reason.  Giving up on her wonderings, Tara slides both hands under the strong thighs and inhales deeply of the slayer’s heavy musk smell.  Growling deeply even as she presses her face against the slayer’s apex, Tara quickly gives in to her desire and drags her tongue through the fluid coming from her. 

Buffy spreads her legs further apart, tugging Tara more closely to her as the witch’s tongue drags all the way from the bottom of her opening up to dip inside her for a moment before the length of it trails over her clit.  Tilting her head back on the couch, Buffy pants softly as she immerses herself in the loving touches and caresses of the witch.  Trailing her fingers through the silky blonde hair, Buffy arches into Tara’s mouth as the witch finally wraps her lips around her and starts to softly suck while circling her tongue around the muscle, occasionally flicking it with the tip of her tongue teasingly.  The slayer starts whimpering as Tara growls against her, the vibrations bringing her closer to the edge for a second trip. 

Tara feels Buffy tensing beneath her even more, at the same time as the slayer’s muscle starts to throb continuously under her lips and tongue.  Wanting to feel the woman’s wet warmth wrapped around her, she quickly slides one hand up and presses two fingers gently into the slayer, groaning roughly at the feel of the hot cavern clenching on her fingers.  Half stroking, half learning her lover’s body, Tara hears the slayer’s breathing picking up even as a quiet rumbling starts low in the woman’s chest, exploding a few minutes later in the form of her name escaping Buffy’s lips as the slayer climaxes.  Panting heavily into the slayer, Tara laps eagerly at the woman’s quivering body even as she tries to keep contact with Buffy’s gyrating hips, her fingers buried within her lover and loving every minute of it.

Her body finally dropping back onto the couch, from where she’d unconsciously been pressing up off the couch and into Tara’s mouth, Buffy tugs gently on Tara’s hair.  Breathing heavily, Buffy tilts her head forward to look into loving blue eyes slowly coming closer.  Seeing Tara’s feelings for what they are, Buffy doesn’t know whether to be ecstatic or to run in the other direction.  Not wanting someone to love her and only end up having to deal with her probably dying on them.  Searching Tara’s eyes, Buffy realizes it’s too late.  The witch had at some time fallen in love with her, even as her own feelings for the witch were becoming more intense and tender at the same time.  Biting her bottom lip for a moment as Tara’s fingers gently ease from within her, Buffy closes her eyes as Tara reaches up and cups her cheek.

Gently cupping Buffy’s cheek, Tara kisses her tenderly, lingering on the woman’s lips before finally shifting her face and burying it in the slayer’s damp neck, sighing softly as Buffy’s strong hands finally work their way from her hair down her back to knead gently.

“You’re still dressed.”  Buffy comments softly, closing her eyes and enjoying the closeness of the woman.

“Wasn’t worried about me.”  Tara mumbles, pressing her lips to Buffy’s pulse point, smiling as it still pounds heavily, but the woman was obviously slowly getting control of her body.  Licking gently over the flesh, Tara sighs softly as she trails her tongue over the damp shoulder. 

Tugging gently on Tara’s top, Buffy subtly hints that she wants the clothes gone. 

Tara leans back, stripping her top off before unhooking her bra and tossing it after the shirt.  “Better?”

“All.”  Buffy simply states the word, opening her eyes and watching Tara intently.  As Tara shifts from the couch and pushes her pants and panties off, Buffy reaches out to pull Tara down so she’s straddling her.  Pulling her against her body, Buffy sighs and relaxes back into the couch again, closing her eyes once more.

Tara settles her body more comfortably against Buffy’s.  Trailing her hands down to the woman’s waist, she buries her face once more against Buffy’s neck even as the slayer’s hands grasp the beginning swells of her butt cheeks, twitching and releasing alternately.  Smiling softly as she hears the breathing deepen for the slayer even as her body starts to relax more, Tara resituates herself to practically curl up on her lap, slowly following her lover into Morpheus’ arms.

***

Tara stretches yawning hugely as she slowly wakens.  Hearing a quiet chuckle from beside her, she blinks and turns her head to look at Buffy.  Rubbing a hand over her face, she smiles at the slayer.  “Are you laughing at me?”  Realizing she’s lying in bed, Tara furrows her brows in consideration as she tries to make sense with her hazy brain.

Buffy shifts the tray of toasted bagels, fresh fruit and juice gently over Tara’s lap as the witch shifts up in bed, trying to wake up.  “I can’t cook, but I can toast, butter, spread cream cheese and cut up fruit like no one else.”  Buffy settles beside Tara and holds up a bagel to her mouth, smiling as Tara takes a bite. 

Tara chuckles and takes the bagel from the slayer’s hand, setting it back on the plate as she finishes chewing and swallowing the bite she took.  Licking her lips of the cream cheese that had stuck to her top lip, she turns and kisses Buffy.  “Good morning.  And thank you for breakfast, but what did I do to rate this?”

“You’re always fixing food for us, and though I can’t really cook, I can do this.”  Buffy waves at the tray of food for the witch. 

“Where’s yours?”  Tara questions curiously as she stabs a piece of cantaloupe and eats it.

“I kind of ate a good amount while I was fixing it.”  Buffy admits, blushing lightly. 

Tara chuckles and reaches over to gently squeeze Buffy’s thigh.  “That’s fine, honey.  I am surprised though, that the Slayer hasn’t made an appearance.”  Tara comments softly, picking up the bagel and offering it to Buffy, smiling as she leans in and takes a huge bite. 

“Probably won’t be long.”  Buffy whispers sadly, her eyes capturing Tara’s blue ones.  “It’ll probably be in the next couple hours.”

Tara nods her understanding, taking a bite out of the bagel, before offering the rest of it to Buffy.  “I want to get cleaned up and run to the store to get an air mattress.  Some of the items that I’m using on you could puncture my waterbed, and I’d rather have the air mattress go flying around the room than have a flood in here.”  Tara explains quietly.  “When we finish with the living room and move what stuff I need in there, we’ll work on a regular, extremely sturdy bed for the big bedroom, maybe split it up into two smaller rooms.  One as storage and for my magical items the other for the rougher toys and the bed.  I won’t tie you down, Buffy.  That’s something I don’t think we’ll need to do, since I can protect myself.”

Buffy slowly relaxes, thankful that Tara decided not to magically tie her down, not liking that thought, but thinking it possibly might be for the best.  “If you’re positive you can keep me from hurting you, I won’t argue the point.  I just want you to make sure you take every precaution, and be ready for anything that might happen.  She hasn’t tried to hurt you, but I won’t guarantee that something might not happen.”

Tara sighs quietly, finishing the last of the fruit and waving Buffy to finish the other half of the bagel.  “Did she end up hurting Caitlin, or your previous Watcher, Buffy?”

Buffy fidgets slightly as she pokes at the bagel, before slowly nodding her head.  “She broke Caitlin’s arm.” 

Tara winces as she turns to look at Buffy.  “What’s the full story?”

Buffy sighs quietly and moves the tray, placing it on the floor before facing Tara, but not looking at her.  “It wasn’t long before everything went to hell.  The Slayer was about to make an appearance, and I warned Caitlin that I should have Davids beat her into submission first.”  Buffy looks up briefly, before looking back down after seeing the questioning look in Tara’s eyes.  “I could tell it was going to be one of the rougher times.  I knew the Slayer wanted to push the boundaries.  I let Caitlin talk me into letting her try and keep control.”  Buffy sighs and runs a hand through her hair.  “I don’t know if you realize it or not, but when the Slayer is in control, I don’t really have much memory of what happens.  The beginning of a session, and the very ending of the session I remember, but other than how my body feels when I wake up…  I’ll sometimes have brief remembrances, but that’s about all.” 

“Did you remember what happened?”  Tara gently brushes Buffy’s cheek, watching her intently.

“No.  They told me afterwards that she had started to use the steel-tipped flogger on my back, but when the blood started to well up, she kind of freaked.  Davids tried to come in, but he was too late.  Caitlin had backed off and I turned on her, grabbing her.”  Buffy takes a deep breath about to continue when Tara interrupts.

“The Slayer, Buffy.  The Slayer inside you turned on her, not you.”  Tara knows Buffy is blaming herself for what happened, but knowing she shouldn’t.  “I’m assuming he was able to beat the Slayer off Caitlin before she could do too much damage.”

Buffy slowly nods her head, looking guiltily at Tara.  “It’s still me though, Tara.  She might be hijacking my body, but it is my body.”

“Honey, don’t blame yourself.  She wanted to be able to do everything you needed.  She was probably jealous and upset that someone else was taking what she considered her place.  Sometimes a person has to go through something completely life changing before they can do what needs to be done…  Or it might possibly break them.”  Tara offers softly, knowing the truth of it and how very easily she could have just let her brother kill her instead of fighting back and becoming even stronger in her own right.

“It broke her.”  Buffy whispers, her eyes full of pain.  “Her actually watching him literally beat me with the flogger in one hand and a metal cane in the other.  My mom came in with a tranquilizer gun and had to put three darts in me before I finally collapsed.  I didn’t come to until many hours later.  She was just sitting there in shock.  Her arm was in a cast and Davids had cleaned me and the room up afterwards.  Two weeks later they were all dead.  I was out on patrol, wiping out a vampires nest while another group of vampires and demons attacked my family.  The demons crashed in and tossed them outside the house for the vampires.  When I got home…”  Buffy exhales shakily as she withdraws in on herself.  “I couldn’t tell one person from the other.  I buried all of them and went out looking for every demon I could find.  After that the Slayer got locked away and I swore she would never be allowed out again.”

“And your heart was locked away even before that.”  Tara whispers, the tears slowly trailing down her face.  “Come here.”  Tara tugs gently on her lover’s arm, pulling her onto her lap while hugging her tightly.  “I’m sorry, Buffy.  So sorry.”  Tara whispers, pressing her lips to Buffy’s head as she snuggles against her, the tears hot as they drip onto her skin as Buffy finally allows herself to grieve for the family and loved ones she’d lost over a year ago. 

Buffy whimpers quietly, wrapping her arms around the witch as she cries.  Burying her face in Tara’s neck as she finally breaks down.

Tara closes her eyes, tears quickly escaping from the lids as she strokes her hands firmly up and down Buffy’s back, soothing the woman as much as she can while alternately placing soft kisses on her head, hugging and stroking her back as the heart wrenching sobs escape Buffy.  Opening her eyes as she hears a soft woof, she looks at Dani and smiles sadly.  “It’s okay Dani.  Go outside, baby girl.”

Buffy slowly gets control of her crying roughly an hour later, sniffling quietly.  “Sorry.”

“Shhh.”  Tara shakes her head, pressing a kiss again on Buffy’s temple.  “You haven’t given yourself time to grieve, Buffy.  It’s an important process to healing.”  Tara explains quietly as Buffy shifts back slightly looking at her with red swollen eyes.  “And you can come to me at any time, whether you need someone to hold you, kiss you, or a shoulder to cry on.”  Tara brushes her thumbs gently under Buffy’s eyes, smiling sadly at the slayer.  “Don’t hold it all in, okay?”  Tara tremulously murmurs, pressing a gentle kiss to Buffy’s lips.  “It’s not healthy for you.”

Buffy slowly relaxes and nods her head.  Hugging Tara, she shifts in to bury her face against Tara’s neck again, pressing soft kisses on the flesh.  “I don’t know that we’ll have time to go to the store today.”

“That’s okay.  We’ve dealt with it fine before now.  We’ll deal with it just like before.  But since you seemed okay yesterday without the Slayer being spanked, are we going to have to go extra hard this time?”  Tara nibbles on her bottom lip as she thinks about it.

“Probably no worse than we have in the past.  Though I might pick out a few different items for you to use and you can alternate if you get tired.”  Buffy takes a couple deep breaths, finishing calming down as Tara’s hands stroke lovingly up and down her back.  “How can you do this, when you are obviously normally a very kind, caring person?”

Tara shrugs her shoulders and closes her eyes.  “I do what has to be done, Buffy.  Like I’ve mentioned before, I don’t like it, and I probably never will.  It’s something that has to be done, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to have someone else in here to do it.  I’ll give you everything you need.  Just be sure to let me know what it is exactly that you need.”

“I will.”  Buffy smiles and nips gently at Tara’s neck.  “And right now, I think we’re both needing a shower.”

“That’s probably putting it mildly.”  Tara grins crookedly as Buffy slides back.  Kissing her softly, Tara sighs and tilts her forehead against Buffy’s.  “I care for you, Buffy.  A lot.” 

Buffy closes her eyes at the softly spoken words.  Nodding her head, so it rubs gently against Tara’s, Buffy whispers back just as softly.  “I know.  And it’s very mutual.”

Tara smiles tremulously for a few seconds before kissing Buffy again.  “Let’s go shower, honey.  That way we can become all sweaty and gross again.”

“You’re not gross when you’re sweaty.  You’re pretty damn tasty when you’re sweaty.”  Buffy growls as she shifts her head, sucking and licking at Tara’s flesh before humming appreciatively.  “Yep.  Very, tasty.”

Tara laughs softly and smacks Buffy on the butt.  “Come on woman!  Let’s go get cleaned up and maybe you can eat a couple sandwiches before we spend all late morning and afternoon fucking like rabid rabbits.”  Tara growls.

“Ain’t ever seen no rabbit with appendages like you’s gots, Mistress.”  Buffy jokes shifting off Tara and the bed, grabbing the tray. 

“They had even bigger ones at the store.  The only thing is they didn’t have a harness to fit them.”  Tara admits, shaking her head as she thinks about some of those ‘king kong’ sized items.

“You’re a smart woman.  I’m sure you could figure something out.”  Buffy tilts her head as she thinks about it.  “Jeans, the item between the zipper and duct tape…  There you go!!  All figured out.”  Buffy shrugs at the disbelieving look coming from Tara.  “It would honestly probably help with the taming.  You might not have to spend quite so long fucking and beating the Slayer into submission.”

Tara runs a shaky hand over her eyes as she thinks about the size of some of those items.  “Buffy, I think one of them was probably bigger than my fist and as long as my forearm.”

Buffy winces slightly at the thought but nods her head.  “I would be healed probably within six hours after the end of it, Tara.”

“Yes, but you’re the one that ends up with the pain later.  Surely to Goddess, you wouldn’t want to feel that when you came to.”  Tara looks seriously at her lover as she follows her into the kitchen. 

“Not particularly.  Unfortunately it’s the nature of the beast, Tara.  The Slayer gets off on the pain while you’re showing your dominance over her.  The more painful and dominant it is, the easier she’ll be to control.”  Buffy bites her bottom lip as she rinses off the dishes before loading the dishwasher. 

Tara watches the slayer’s back for a few minutes, the woman’s admittance making sense.  “We can visit the store later and see what they have.”  Tara finally whispers, turning to walk to the door watching as Dani rolls around in the backyard after looking her way.  “I think I already know the answer, but I’m going to ask anyway.  With something the size of say my hand and arm…  Would I be able to use lubricant, or would it still be best to go in without?”

“Pain, Tara.”  Buffy whispers in answer, turning to gaze at Tara’s back, seeing Tara’s head nod in understanding. 

***

Chapter 11

“We’re going to need their help to take out that group by the caves.”  Giles finally admits, after trying two separate assaults on the demons holed up inside.  Unfortunately the internal cavern splinters off into too many different directions and they weren’t able to put a dent in them, let alone find the leader of the group.  Pulling off his glasses he leans back in the chair and looks at Jenny.  “It’s been over two weeks.  We can pray and hope that they have control of the Slayer halfway decently by now.”

Jenny picks up the phone and stares at it for a few moments. “What could happen if Buffy loses control to the Slayer while we’re out there?”

Giles sighs heavily and shakes his head.  “I don’t think it’ll happen that quickly, my dear.  She’s always had very good control over that part of her.  I honestly believe that she would be able to hold off until a more proper time.  But it might be best to plan on going after this group after…”  Giles waves his hands, blushing lightly.

“After Buffy’s inner demon is spanked?”  Jenny looks away from Giles, still not totally comfortable with what is needed to get control of the Slayer. 

“And after Tara has recovered.”  Giles sighs quietly, rubbing a hand roughly over his eyes.  “Call them and see when might be the best time, so we can prepare.”

***

Buffy growls softly as the phone rings, jogging inside after tossing the ball for Dani again, she presses the talk button.  “Yeah.”  Buffy rolls her eyes as she hears Jenny’s voice.

“Hi, Buffy.  We’re going to need your and Tara’s help with the demons outside of town.”  Jenny gets straight to the point.  “We’ve been more or less able to keep up with the normal vampires, but this group we haven’t been able to take down and there are rumblings of them gathering even more demons to help.” 

Buffy sighs heavily and moves to the back door, leaning against the frame.  “When are you planning on trying to take them out?”

“Whenever you and Tara are ready, with the least likely chance that the Slayer will appear.”  Jenny admits softly.

Buffy closes her eyes and tilts her head against the doorframe.  “Can you get everybody and everything ready in about four hours?”

Jenny blinks in surprise and looks towards Rupert. “Can we gather everyone and be ready in four hours?”

Giles nods his head quickly, grabbing his cell phone to start making the phone calls.

“Yes, we can.  Can you two come here when you’re ready?  We’ll leave from here.”  Jenny finally breathes out a sigh of relief.

“We’ll be there.”  Buffy disconnects the phone and purses her lips.  Walking back into the house, she hangs the cordless phone on the charger and walks towards the bedroom.  Staring at Tara sleeping in the bed, Buffy smiles at the sight of the beautiful woman.  Knowing from past experiences that she’ll probably be waking up in another hour, Buffy walks into the room.  Opening the closet, she quietly grabs the actual weapons that Tara has, along with her own meager selection of weapons that she usually carries with her.  Tucking them away into a gym bag, Buffy carries the bag outside to the truck, smiling at the sight of the old 1966 Ford pickup truck.  The truck was structurally in decent shape, and the engine had been re-built a couple years ago according Tara.  Now with Tara having the transmission rebuilt the faded red truck was in good running order.  Tossing the bag in the back, Buffy heads back inside to gather the rest of the weapons that Tara had in the back room.

After loading the truck, Buffy silently enters the bedroom.  Easing into the bed beside Tara, she places a soft kiss on the woman’s shoulder, trailing her fingers along the woman’s back and spine, Buffy tilts her head at the satiny smooth white skin.  Loving the sight and feel of Tara’s soft flesh, she gently pushes the sheet down to uncover the strong buttocks and legs, Buffy smiles softly and starts to place soft kisses along Tara’s back.

“Hmmm.”  Tara smiles sleepily as she feels Buffy’s hot, wet mouth working its way down her back.  “What do I owe this pleasure to?” 

“Want to make love to you before we have to leave and help the group take out the last group of demons that are giving them troubles.”  Buffy explains before trailing her tongue teasingly across the top of Tara’s butt cheeks.  “I know we haven’t had time to really talk about what we like sex-wise but do you enjoy anal play?”  Buffy questions softly, trailing her tongue delicately along the witch’s crease without dipping between her cheeks. 

Tara moans quietly and buries her face in her pillow.  Wiggling at the almost ticklish feel of Buffy’s tongue, Tara swallows.  “I don’t know.”

Buffy gently eases between Tara’s legs, spreading them before kissing softly along her butt cheeks.  Sucking the flesh where it meets Tara’s thighs, working her way across the delectable flesh, smiling at the smell of arousal coming from her lover.  “Do you trust me?”

Tara shifts, pressing her lower body into the bed while nodding her head.  “Implicitly.”  Tara answers with the single word, no doubt in her mind that Buffy would never do anything to hurt her.  Honestly believing in her heart that even The Slayer within her wouldn’t hurt her, either.  The gut feeling she had after Buffy had admitted that the Slayer chose her, making her believe that wholeheartedly.

“You barely know me.”  Buffy whispers before trailing her hands up Tara’s legs to caress Tara’s butt cheeks, kneading them gently.

“I know you.”  Tara starts to breathe heavier as Buffy’s fingers gently spread her butt cheeks even as she feels her breath blowing hotly over her body, making her desire her even more.

“How can you be so sure?  I have a demon inside me, Tara.  Who’s to say that it won’t one day turn on all of us?”  Buffy breathes over Tara’s body before finally dipping her tongue between her cheeks and trailing it slowly downwards.

“Goddess…”  Tara moans, pressing up into the slayer’s caress.  “Y-you’ll n-never let it happen.”  Tara stutters out quietly.  “Sweet Goddess!!”  Tara jerks as Buffy’s tongue presses gently against her.  Clenching the pillow under head with both hands tightly, Tara buries her face firmly into the item as the tongue circles her rosebud before Buffy licks over her time and time again.  Making her level of want almost unbearable, knowing from the past week that Buffy could make her wait literally for hours before giving her release, or make her come in less than a minute.  It was almost as if she knew exactly what buttons to press and what to do to keep her on the cusp of exploding.  Never knowing if it’ll be one of those times that she’ll want to take her time or bring her quickly to completion.  Or occasionally when she wants to make her come so many times that she has to beg for a break before she passes out. 

“I want to experience everything with you.”  Buffy nibbles along the flesh of Tara’s left butt cheek.  “After we take care of this group of demons, I want to go to the beach and let Dani have fun.  You and I can get up to naughty things in the ocean or in the sand dunes…  Hell both sounds good.”  Buffy smiles as Tara whimpers softly.  Slipping one hand under Tara, Buffy cups her sex, closing her eyes at the desire coating her lover.  Stroking her fingers through the dampness, gathering as much of it as possible, Buffy slowly opens her eyes and moves to watch the fluid ease between Tara’s cheeks, coating her rosebud.  Starting to breath even heavier at the sight, Buffy trails a fingertip down and slowly around the tight hole.  Teasing the opening for long moments, Buffy listens to the quiet moans coming from Tara even as the woman shifts around on the bed, finally pressing gently into Tara’s body, just allowing the tip of her finger to penetrate her, Buffy growls softly at the sight.

“Goddess, Buffy!”  Tara cries out, bucking slightly until Buffy places her other hand on her butt to keep her from moving too much.

“Easy.”  Buffy whispers, pressing her face against Tara’s thigh.  Letting her lover become used to the barely there intrusion before gently pressing in a little further, groaning at the feel of Tara’s muscles clenching around the half of her finger she has pressed inside her.  “How does that feel?”  Buffy questions hoarsely, pressing a wet open-mouthed kiss against Tara’s thigh.

“Goood.”  Tara draws out the word, trying to press up slightly again, hoping to take more of her lover inside her. 

Buffy starts breathing heavier even as she slides her finger slowly into Tara, her eyes darkening with desire.  “Tara…”

Tara turns her head to look over her shoulder at her lover.  Seeing the desire on Buffy’s face and in her eyes, she smiles softly.  “You can play another time, if you want.  I would love to make love to you right now.”

“Together?”  Buffy questions hopefully, gently withdrawing her finger, chuckling at the low whimper she gets from Tara as it finally eases out. 

“Together.”  Tara nods her head in agreement, rolling over onto her back as Buffy shifts beside her, groaning into the heated kiss her lover places on her lips.  “How long do we have?”

Buffy glances over to the clock, having already used up one of the four hours, and knowing that between the two women showering and getting ready they’ll probably need another hour or so for that.  “Hour and a half before we need to shower and head out.” 

“So we have some time to enjoy and not just rush?”  Tara grins crookedly, her eyes twinkling merrily. 

“Hell, yes.”  Buffy laughs quietly at the sight of Tara’s happy face, silently wondering what God, Goddess, Powers That Be, or whatever else it could be that brought this woman into her life.  Sending a silent thanks to whomever or whatever it was Buffy gradually shifts to settle her body on top of Tara’s, enjoying the full body contact for a few minutes, looking intently into loving blue eyes. 

Tara gently runs her fingers through Buffy’s hair, smiling softly at her lover.  Pleased at how much the woman has opened up in the past few weeks of them being together.  Buffy having relaxed quite a bit becoming closer to her and Dani both, having to admit that the dog has seemed to make the woman a lot more playful than she was previously. 

Buffy closes her eyes in contentment as Tara’s fingers caress over her head before slowly working down her back to knead her butt cheeks before working their way back up. 

“Would you like to just be touched?”  Tara questions softly, knowing that they hadn’t really had much chance to just relax together. 

“Hmmm.”  Buffy hums and wiggles her body slightly against Tara, pressing her lips against her neck.  Starting to nibble on her flesh gently, Buffy grins as she hears the low groan come from Tara at the same time the woman’s heartbeat speeds up.

“Was that hum a yes, or a no?”  Tara chuckles quietly as Buffy wiggles again and starts to suckle at her pulse point more seriously.  Stroking her hands gently over Buffy’s back, she smiles softly as the slayer seems content to just nibble, lick and suck on her neck and shoulder. 

“You taste so good.”  Buffy nibbles her way across Tara’s collarbone, before dipping her tongue in the hollow of Tara’s throat.  Shifting her body slightly, Buffy presses her thigh firmly against Tara’s apex, smiling at the wet heat coming from her lover even as she hears the quiet groan.  Pressing her own body into Tara’s, Buffy continues to lick, kiss and nibble across the woman’s shoulders, neck and upper chest as she starts a slow, gentle rocking motion.

Tara tilts her head back, moaning quietly as Buffy slowly works her way up the expanse of flesh.  Shifting her leg slightly, Tara tenses her leg muscle, pressing more firmly against Buffy as her lover starts to rock faster and harder against her, bringing her along for the ride.

Suckling on her lover’s bottom lip, Buffy makes eye contact with passion filled blue eyes.  Releasing the flesh as she smiles, Buffy darts her tongue to tease her lover until Tara’s hands both shift from where they’d landed on her butt cheeks to grasp her head and pull her down for a full-on battle of wills.

Tara groans deeply into the kiss, pressing her apex hard against Buffy’s thigh before rotating her hips as she feels the climax working through her.

Buffy grunts quietly, feeling the warm flood ease onto her thigh.  Knowing she’s close to following the witch, Buffy nips gently on Tara’s tongue, before releasing it and shifting her hands to lift her upper body, pressing her lower body harder against Tara, rocking faster.

Tara whimpers at the beautiful sight of her lover flushed, sweaty and on the cusp of climaxing.  Gently scraping her nails down her lover’s body, she pinches and twists her lover’s nipples gently, smiling as Buffy tilts her head back, crying out her name softly as she finally tips over the edge.

Panting heavily, Buffy continues to rock against Tara, slowing as she goes, until finally coming to a stop.  Allowing Tara to pull her firmly down against her, Buffy buries her face into the witch’s sweaty neck, inhaling deeply of her scent.

Tara presses her lips against Buffy’s head, her hands gently stroking over the damp back as Buffy’s body flinches against her as it slowly calms down.  Closing her eyes in contentment, she runs her hands down the slayer’s muscular butt cheeks, smiling at the feeling of her lover’s body.  Knowing that the slayer had filled out quite a bit in the last couple weeks, but it was almost as if she put on pure muscle.  There wasn’t an ounce of fat on the woman anywhere.  Buffy had insisted on still going out most nights on patrol when she was pretty certain that the Slayer wasn’t going to make an appearance.

Buffy enjoys the loving touch as her body calms down, licking and suckling at the flesh in front of her for a few minutes, smiling at the soft giggles coming from Tara.  Sighing after a little while, she gently shifts to lie beside Tara, running her fingers tenderly over her lover’s body, unconsciously trailing the scars.  “We probably need to shower and get ready to leave.  I already have all the weapons in the back of the truck.” 

Tara turns her head to look at the clock and groans softly.  “Go ahead and shower, love.  I’ll go throw a couple large sub sandwiches together for us to eat.”

“Already did.”  Buffy murmurs quietly.  “I was planning on us spending the majority of the day in bed before the phone call and made up about five of those sub sandwiches and put them in the refrigerator.”

Tara shifts her arm to run her hand through Buffy’s hair.  The woman had surprised her when she’d allowed her sensitive side to show, realizing Buffy kept a lot of herself hidden away behind her ‘slayer persona’.  Shifting to her side so she’s facing Buffy, Tara leans in and presses a soft kiss on swollen lips.  Closing her eyes and pressing her forehead against Buffy’s, Tara smiles softly.  “I love you.”

Buffy stops her fingers stroking at the whispered words.  Swallowing hard as the soft words break down the last vestiges of the wall around her heart, Buffy pulls Tara’s body in close to hers and buries her face against the witch’s shoulder.  “God help you, but I love you, too.”  Buffy finally whispers a few minutes later, her fingers digging firmly into Tara’s waist.

Tara feels the tears coming to her eyes at the slayer’s admittance even as she holds her lover tightly. 

Buffy finally pulls away after roughly ten minutes.  “Let’s shower and go kick some demon ass.”

“If we must.”  Tara grins crookedly at Buffy even as she trails her fingers lovingly down the woman’s cheek. 

“We must.”  Buffy turns her head and presses her lips firmly against Tara’s palm before rolling away and off the bed.

Tara watches as Buffy grabs a pair of cargo pants and a tank top, heading towards the shower before finally following her.

***

Buffy finishes the last of the sub as Tara pulls up in front of the Watcher’s apartment.  Dani was all tucked up inside the house, since Tara didn’t know for sure that they would be back before dark, and the witch had grabbed her small backpack that she keeps herbs in for spells that she might need to cast. 

Tara chuckles as Buffy steps down from the truck and brushes her clothes off as she walks with her towards the door.  “Other than when Giles and Jenny came to the house, have you even seen any of the others in the last couple weeks?”

“No.”  Buffy grumbles quietly.  “Wouldn’t mind keeping it that way, either.”

“Buffy.”  Tara laughs at the defiant looking slayer. 

“I like having a life, without everybody and their brother knowing about it.”  Buffy’s voice is serious.  “Could you imagine your parents and sister knowing everything there is to know about your sex life?  Hell probably more than you, yourself know?  Trust me, not something I recommend.”

Tara tilts her head and thinks about it.  “I never really thought about it…”  Knowing that Buffy was sort of an ‘oddball’ slayer, where she hadn’t been found by the Council until after she became the slayer.  By then it was too late and her family knew about her new ‘abilities’.  So they had let them in on what it entailed and the group had more or less lived together.  Shivering at the thought of the things that she does to Buffy being common knowledge to her family, she understands the slayer’s feelings a little more.  “Sorry.  That would be…”

“Yeah.”  Buffy agrees, gently urging Tara towards the door as they had come to a stop.  Keeping her hand possessively at Tara’s waist, she stays close as Jenny opens the door after Tara’s knock. 

“How are you two?”  Jenny questions curiously, looking over the two women, blinking in surprise at the obviously healthier looking slayer.  The glittering hazel eyes a dead giveaway to the fact that the woman was doing a lot better.

“We’re fine.  Things are slowly getting to an even keel.”  Tara explains, smiling at the gypsy woman. 

“That’s wonderful.”  Jenny smiles slowly relaxing a little more at Tara’s admittance.  “We’re just waiting for Oz and Larry to show up then we’re heading out.”

“What have you tried to do so far to get to the demons?”  Buffy questions curiously, following Tara into the living room, both women leaning against the wall next to each other.

Giles sighs and runs a hand through his hair.  “Everything we can think of.  The problem is, is that there are literally dozens of little split offs from the main cave.  And I’m almost willing to bet there is more than one entrance into those warrens of caves.  We can’t split off into too many different groups, without someone coming to irreparable harm, so we usually stick to two groups but going in the same direction.”

“Have you tried tagging any of the demons to see where they disappear to?”  Tara questions Jenny, her brows furrowed.

“Yes.  But something neutralizes the spell every time.”  Jenny admits, her eyes worried.

“There’s a magic user with them.”  Tara sighs and leans her head back against the wall as she thinks.  “Have they tried to send any magic at you?”

“No which really has me slightly worried.  We’ve only been able to take out a few of the lesser demons, but we’ve seen other demons before they’ve disappeared into the caves.  Whoever it is that’s wielding the magic has only used it to negate our own magic.”  Giles rubs the bridge of his nose. 

“And my locator spell shows a high concentration of demons in the caves.”  Jenny grasps Giles’ shoulder in support, knowing how much it’s bothered him to not be able to do anything with that particular group. 

“Yet when we get there, we only get glimpses of them, and any magic done inside is negated.”  Giles’ lip snarls up.  His disgust and anger showing at their lack of being able to do anything.

Buffy looks curiously at Tara, knowing that from what the group had said, Tara was the strongest witch of all of them.  “Will you be able to do anything against whoever this magic user is?”

“I don’t know.”  Tara answers truthfully.  “Depends on how strong he is, and what kind of magic he’s calling on.”

Buffy grunts quietly, not liking that answer.  “And so far he hasn’t used magic against anyone.  But for how much longer?”

The group looks at Buffy, no one knowing what to say to that question. 

Tara gently grasps Buffy’s hand, squeezing it gently.  “We’ll go in, see what’s the what and if we have to get out of there to prepare for him, we will.  That’s about all we can do right now.”

Buffy nods silently in agreement, her eyes trailing to the door as there’s a knock, watching Amy hop off the couch to answer it.  As Larry and Oz come in, she glances back over the group.  “Let’s get this show on the road.”

Everyone grabs up all available weapons to carry out to the Watcher’s vehicle, Oz’s van and Tara’s truck, spreading the weapons out amongst them. 

“Whoever wants to jump in the back of the truck, feel free to come with us.”  Tara calls out softly as she climbs in the truck, smiling as Jason, Darian and Amy climb into the back bickering amongst themselves.  Wondering once more about the threesome, as they were always together, Tara looks at them in the rearview mirror, smiling as Darian pinches Amy’s butt as she was getting ready to sit down, making her jump.

Buffy shifts to look over the back of the seat at the group of young people before turning back to her softly smiling lover.  “How much does this magic user worry you?”

Tara sighs as she watches the group settle down in the back before she starts the truck and backs out of the spot.  Shifting it to first gear, Tara follows the other two vehicles and shrugs.  “He worries me.  Anyone that can negate another magic user’s spells either knew exactly what kind of spell was used, or is extremely powerful.”

“How powerful are you?”  Buffy narrows her gaze on the road, wondering what will be the best plan of attack, though with not having any room to fight, with it being in the caves and going up against unknowns, makes it hard.

Tara chuckles quietly.  “I don’t really know, Buffy.  On a scale of one to ten?  Maybe a six?” 

“Jenny and Amy?”  Buffy turns to gaze at Tara.

“Amy would probably be around a three.  Jenny isn’t that strong, but she’s good at balancing and focusing, along with doing less draining spells.  She’s somewhere between a one and two, I would think.”  Tara explains quietly.

“But when I first came here, you two together worked to freeze the Master.”  Buffy points out.

“Yes.  We combined our powers, my strength and spell with her focusing abilities to stop him.  I could have done it, but I would have frozen you and probably anyone within a couple yards of you also.”  Tara explains grinning crookedly. 

“Huh.  But you did the spell with the mini-stakes.”  Buffy wonders what the difference is with the spells.

“That was a different type of spell entirely.  I could actually influence the stakes with my will.  Telling them where to go.  With an actual spell I send at someone, it’s more generalized.”  Tara tries to explain.  “Jenny innately has a way to focus a spell and send it to a centralized point, which I’ve been trying to work on, but…”  Tara shrugs, chuckling quietly.  “That doesn’t seem to be part of my repertoire.”

Looking at her lover, Buffy smiles.  “In other words, every witch is different and has different powers, along with strengths and weaknesses?”

“Pretty much.  Just like normal people.  Probably slayers, also.  I’m assuming some are stronger than others, faster and that type of thing.”  Tara grins crookedly at Buffy as she glances quickly at the slayer. 

“I would assume so.  It would make sense.”  Buffy relaxes back into the seat, closing her eyes as she silently contemplates the woman beside her.

Tara glances over at the softly smiling slayer, before turning back to concentrate on driving to the outskirts of Sunnydale and the caves, wondering what they’re going to encounter once they reach the caves.

***

Chapter 12

Tara frowns heavily at the fact they insisted that she stay with Larry, Oz and Giles while Buffy, Jenny, Amy, Jason and Darian are in their own group.  Understanding on a deep level why they are insisting on splitting up this way, but not liking the fact. 

Buffy glances over her shoulder at Tara, seeing the worry and low hint of anger in the blue eyes.  Not liking being separated from the witch, Buffy sighs quietly knowing that Tara would be the best protection for the other group, while she’s the protection for this group.  “Be careful.”  Buffy finally tells her lover, seeing the blue eyes soften, the love obvious in the gaze.  Quirking her lip briefly, Buffy turns on her heel and heads into the cave area they’re going to search.

Taking a deep breath, Tara follows Giles as Larry and Oz bring up the rear. 

***

“Ahhh.”  Ethan smiles delightedly as the bright blue light shows on the map in the depths of the caves.  “Finally what I’ve been waiting for.”  Clapping his hands, he points at five demons in particular.  “Make her follow you to the pre-arranged area.  And make sure the rest of the group will have to follow at a distance.”  He turns back to the map, chuckling wickedly.  “I need your mystical blood, my dear.  It’s time for the real you to step forward and be in charge.” 

Ethan laughs as he settles back in his chair, his eyes twinkling with merriment at what he has planned.

***

Giles growls lowly as he slams another stake home in the vampire while Tara has resorted to using the short sword and striking at any demon that gets within reach.  Her magic neutralized whenever she tried to do a spell after the fifth one she did. 

“BASTARD!”  Tara snarls, finally taking the demon’s head as Oz and Larry work together to take out the larger demon.  Wiping the demon blood off her arms, she looks around, sighing in relief as their group, though a little worse for wear has made it alive out of this last battle.  “Have you ever known all these different demons to work together before?”

“No.”  Giles answers, as Larry limps over to join them, Oz letting the bigger man lean on him slightly.  “I dare say that there is a bigger force controlling them.  I doubt that a master vampire would be able to control all these different type demons.”

“So, whoever is wielding the magic has control of the demons and needs to be taken out.”  Tara grumbles as they stride further into the caves to hit a dead end.  “What the hell?”  Tara lifts her flashlight and lets it wash over the walls and ceiling surrounding them as the others do the same thing. 

“Nothing.  Bloody well nothing!”  Giles picks up a rock and throws it against the wall in disgust. 

“The other route…”  Tara’s eyes open wide in realization.  “The main group of demons and the magic user must be where Buffy and their group headed.  There’s nothing else in this area, we already checked it out completely.”  Tara takes off at a jog, letting her flashlight play over the walls to the marking they made to let them find their way back easier, some of the branches of the cave having been quite a distance before they hit a dead end.

***

Buffy snarls as she jumps, spinning in the air and decapitating the tall demon with the knife in her hand, landing to drop down and knock the feet out from another demon as she keeps them from going after the rest of her group.  Jenny and Amy’s magic being useless after the first two spells, and unfortunately none of the rest of them were ‘fighters’ on a more physical playing field.  Silently praying that Tara’s okay, having a gut feeling that her magic is useless also.

Finally making her way over to her sword, that she’d had to leave buried in a demon’s head, she yanks it free as she gets a slight breather as the two demons still breathing back off and converse between themselves, in some strange language.  “Is everyone more or less okay?”  Buffy hoarsely questions, keeping her eyes on the demons as she moves back in front of the group, breathing heavily.  Her eyes darting to the demons littered around them, double-checking to make sure they actually are dead.

“We need to get Amy out of here.”  Jenny presses her hand against the wound on Amy’s side, trying to staunch the blood flow. 

Buffy turns to look quickly at the dark-haired woman.  Ripping the bottom of her top off, she tosses it to Jenny.  “Press that against the wound, hopefully that’ll staunch the blood flow.”  Buffy pulls off the strap that holds the sword in the scabbard, she tosses it to Jenny also, hoping it’ll be long enough to wrap around Amy and keep the bandage in place.  Rubbing the back of her hand over her jaw, Buffy growls softly at the slight sting and the blood on her hand. 

“Buffy…”  Darian warns as he helps Jenny with Amy.

Jason shifts to stand in front of the three, his axe ready, knowing he isn’t by any means a great fighter, but he’ll go down protecting his friends.

“I see ‘em.”  Buffy grumbles deeply as the two demons are being joined by more demons.  “What the fuck do they have here?  A damn unlimited supply of demons?”

“Close my dear.”  Ethan finally steps up from the middle of the group of demons.  “Now!”  He waves a hand, grinning maniacally as the slayer stepped into the perfect spot, letting him activate the almost invisible, magically reinforced cage down around her.

Buffy snarls and launches herself at the man, grunting in pain as it dislocates her shoulder. 

“Go ahead and try, my dear.  But you won’t get anywhere.  That cage could hold a thousand charging rhinos.”  Ethan smirks.  “One measly little slayer will be nothing for it.”

Snatching a throwing knife from her boot, she starts to let it go when Ethan’s grin just gets bigger.  Narrowing her gaze, she tries tossing it, instead of letting it fly with everything in her.  Growling deeply as it disappears.  Pacing back and forth, she takes a deep breath and slams her shoulder against the side of the cage to put her shoulder back in place before she drops to her knees and tries to dig her way out of the cage. 

“Once you hit two feet, you’ll find the same thing that surrounds you above ground.”  Ethan conversationally lets Buffy know.  “Don’t fight and I’ll let the rest of your group go.  Your decision.”

Tara comes running up, panting heavily as she stares at the tall, skinny man with the English accent talking to her lover.  Stepping closer to the cage as Buffy looks towards her, Tara whimpers and starts to reach out.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you, witch.”  Ethan smirks, his eyes now on Giles.  “I put a nasty little surprise around the cage for anyone that touches it, or tries to come in contact with the slayer without my special mark.”

“Bloody bastard!”  Giles snarls, starting to step around the cage and head towards Ethan, when the demons step menacingly towards him.  “Ethan, what the bloody hell are you doing?  This is a bit much even for you, isn’t it?  I mean whole chaos theory in effect I understand, but this?”

“Ah, my dear Ripper.  Times change, and so have I.  I’m trying for something a little more… I guess I should say, bigger?  On a grander scale maybe?  Than our dear buddy Eyghon.”  Ethan smirks, before narrowing his gaze and snarling.  “Leave now, and I’ll let you live.  If not, I’ll have them rip your hearts from your chests and eat them in front of you before your brain realizes you should be dead.” 

“We have to get Amy out of here.  I’ve slowed the blood flow, but…”  Jenny looks at Giles, her eyes showing her worry. 

“Get out of here.  Go!  You can’t do anything for me right now.”  Buffy’s voice is rough, talking to the group, but her eyes stay on Tara, seeing the flame of anger burning brightly in her lover’s eyes. 

“I’m not leaving you.”  Tara growls at Buffy, watching as her lover steps up to the bars staring at her intently. 

“You don’t have a choice.  I can’t break out of here, it’s too strong.  You don’t have any magical abilities to override whatever he’s done, so tell me what you’re going to do?”  Buffy clenches her hands staring at her lover. 

“Stay with you.”  Tara steps to the cage, shaking off Giles’ hand on her arm.  Stopping when she’s just an inch away from Buffy. 

“Go, try and find a way around it.  Don’t die by staying here, please.”  Buffy whispers softly, hopefully so only Tara can hear, praying that the demons can’t hear her, and if they do that they can’t understand English.  Seeing Tara’s eyes fill with tears, Buffy takes a deep shuddering breath.  “I can’t see you dead, too, Tara.”  Buffy shakes her head, swallowing hard.  “Not you, too.”

Tara inhales deeply before taking a step back, roughly wiping the tears from one cheek.  “We will be together again, Slayer.  I’m not finished with you, yet.”

“I’m counting on it.”  Buffy watches as the bedraggled group heads out. Giles and Jenny carry an unconscious Amy with Darian and Jason helping the limping Larry since they’re taller than Oz, her lover trailing after them slowly.  As Tara reaches the bend in the cave and stops to turn and look at her again, Buffy smiles gently at her lover.

Tara stares at Buffy for a few minutes, letting her love for the slayer reach for Buffy.  Slowly shifting her eyes to the smirking magic wielder, Tara snarls at him.  “I don’t know how or when, but I’ll be back for you and my lover.  Goddess help you when I do come back.”  Tara warns.

Ethan grins as the knowledge of who the Slayer’s mate is.  “And you’ll be the first to die, my dear.  Ta ta.”  He waves at the blonde. 

Buffy growls deeply as her head snaps around to look at him after Tara glances at her once more and finally hurries after the rest of the group.  “I’ll rip you limb from limb if you touch one hair on her head or have something else do it!” 

“You, my dear, won’t be able to think straight by that time.”  Ethan’s lips curl up into a knowing smile.  “As a matter of fact, I’d be willing to lay odds that you’ll be the one hurting her.”

Buffy stills completely as she stares at the Englishman, her mind stalling as it tries to figure out what he’s talking about. 

Waving a hand, he shrinks the cage slightly and has it follow down through the cave to the specially reinforced room.  Having learned from past dealings with demons, magic users and the like that it’s always best to double and triple up on whatever you’re doing.  “Have a good night, dear.  We’ll talk again later.”  Ethan makes the cage expand to the size of the room, letting her have some room to maneuver in, chuckling.

“Bastard!”  Buffy bangs against the cage again, her efforts wasted.  Pacing back and forth, she stares out at where the asshole disappeared, silently swearing to herself that she will see the end of him one way or another. 

***

Tara grabs Giles’ arm after he helps settle Amy in the back of Oz’s van and Jenny climbs in with her.  “Who the fuck is he?”

“Right now is really not the time…”  Giles blinks in surprise as a hard slap crosses his face.

Snarling into Giles’ face, Tara let’s her anger show completely.  “He has Buffy in there, with the WHOLE FUCKING PLACE MAGIC PROOFED!  You know him, he called you ‘Ripper’ and you knew his name… or did the name ‘Ethan’ just appear in your fucking head?”

“We have to get Amy to the hospital.”  Jenny tries to break the two up, though silently wondering how Rupert knows the man inside the caves.

“We’re not stopping you, go!”  Tara slides the door closed with a loud slam, rocking the van.  Turning her gaze back on Giles as she hears Jenny telling Oz to go ahead and drive them to the hospital, Tara advances on the retreating Watcher.  “Now, tell me who and what he is, so I can figure out a way to get Buffy out of there.  Because so help the Goddess, if I can’t I’m coming after you.” 

Giles swallows hard and pales at the absolutely livid witch that looks like she’d be more than happy to flay him alive at this moment in time.  “He’s a Sorcerer and used to worship Chaos.  I knew him in my misspent youth, and we worshiped Eyghon together until things went horribly wrong.  I got out, and joined the Council, and Ethan continued, devoting himself to Chaos.”  Giles hurriedly explains.

“How powerful is he?”  Tara’s voice is low as she considers what she just learned.

“Very, very powerful.  He doesn’t just play in the black arts, he wallows in it.”  Giles offers, thankful that Tara’s stopped advancing on him, though her eyes were still an eerie blue.

“What does he want with Buffy?”  Tara questions, her brows furrowed as she turns back to the cave, knowing her powers are back just from the feel, now able to see the low current of magic that obviously tracked all magic users that came into the caves, silently cursing herself for not seeing it earlier when they went in, though not knowing what she would have done to counteract it. 

“Fuck if I know.”  Giles leans back against the car, his shoulders slumped.  “We have to get her out of there.  Some way or another, we can’t leave her in there.”

Tara makes her way slowly to her truck, resting her arms on the side of the truck bed and her chin on her arms as she continues to stare towards the caves.  “We’ll figure out something, love.  Give us time and believe in me.” 

“Tara, we should probably leave here.”  Giles cautiously approaches the witch.

Tara slowly shifts away from her truck bed and rubs her hands over her face, feeling extremely weary.  “Let’s go to the hospital, see how Amy’s doing.”

Giles frowns at the tone of Tara’s voice, his eyes captured by the worry and pain showing in blue depths before she turns away from him to climb into the truck.  Growling under his breath as he glances towards the caves once more, silently swearing that he’ll have Ethan’s head on a platter if anything happens to any of his charges.

***

Tara paces back and forth in the waiting room as they wait for the surgeon to come out and tell them how Amy is doing.  Her mind partially on the woman in the ER, but more on her captured lover.  Tara tries to think of what she can do to get Buffy out of the Sorcerer’s hands. 

Sighing quietly as Jenny hesitantly walks up to her, she looks into the older woman’s weary eyes.  “What are we going to do?”

“I don’t know.  Two spells were all Amy and I could do, then he shut us down.  I don’t know if he now has a lock on our magic, or when we go in, it’ll give us a couple spells before shutting us down again.”  Jenny admits quietly, running a dirty hand through her hair.

“There’s one way to find out.”  Tara murmurs knowing that she can go back to the cave and try doing a spell to see if she can or not. 

“You’re not going there by yourself.”  Jenny can tell by the flame in Tara’s eyes what she’s thinking. 

“Not right off the bat, no.  I’m going to prepare.  Our magic works outside the caves.  If I do the spell outside and activate it once inside…”  Tara tilts her head at that thought.

Jenny blinks in surprise.  “That might work.  But you’ll have to be careful which spells you use, you only have so much power to pull from before you’ll be drained.”

Tara nods her head in understanding.  “I’ll have to do research.  And everything he can tell us about that bastard will help.”  Tara’s eyes flit over to Giles for a moment before turning back to Jenny.  “We have to do this as quickly as possible.  I won’t have Buffy being an experiment for that asshole, there’s no telling what he’s up to.”

“We’re probably not going to do anything tonight, but come by tomorrow morning, and we’ll start working on it.”  Jenny glances up as the doctor comes in.

“Is Amy Madison’s family here?”  He questions tiredly, looking at the group of people.

“We are her only family.”  Jenny stands, walking up to the surgeon.  “How is she?”

The rest of the group shift and move to stand with and behind Jenny, Giles settling his arm gently around her waist.

The doctor looks at the group, sighing heavily.  “I’m sorry, but the damage and blood loss was too much…”

Darian and Jason unconsciously reach for each other as the two men fight their tears for their lost girlfriend.

Giles’ eyes narrow as he hugs Jenny to him as the woman breaks down and the tears come out in hard sobs.  Thinking about what he’s going to do to Ethan the next time he’s within reach of the Sorcerer.

Oz and Larry stand in shock, not knowing what to say or do while Tara looks at the group of people that have taken a serious blow.  Clenching her hands at the needless death, Tara whispers softly.  “Thank you, doctor.”

He nods his head, hating to have to give bad news, unfortunately that seems to be a normal thing in this hospital.  Turning he heads back to ER and to see if there might be someone he can actually help this time.

***

Chapter 13

Tara sighs quietly as she lets herself into her home, reaching down to gently scratch Dani’s head.  “She isn’t here, Dani.  She’s been captured and I need to do some serious researching and be prepared for what possibly might end up being the end of me.” 

Dani growls softly, understanding what her human is saying, wanting her other human back home where she belongs.  Silently following Tara through the house, Dani listens and makes her own plans.

***

“What are we going to do?”  Jenny questions softly, her eyes shadowed as she stares at Rupert buying every weapon that he thinks might be of use to them.  Making the trip to Los Angeles, they’d stopped in to talk with Angel, the vampire wanting to come back with them, but having his own problems with some demons causing havoc in the city. 

Giles sets the four crossbows along with boxes of bolts and even some shotguns and shells on the counter, his eyes darting around as he grabs knives and everything else he can think of.  Ignoring the sales clerk’s eyes getting bigger and bigger as the pile on the counter grows.  “We’re going to do whatever we have to do, my dear.  It’s already been two days, and from what Tara told us, Buffy’s probably close to losing control.  It has to be tomorrow, we can’t wait any longer.”

“I hope she’s prepared for whatever we might have to do.”  Jenny crosses her arms over her chest, not knowing how Tara will react if Buffy has lost control to the Slayer.  The likelihood of anyone being able to get close enough to the woman to knock her out in the confines of the cave without someone getting hurt almost impossible. 

“She probably knows better than anyone.”  Giles comments softly, finally placing the last of what he thinks might be of help on the counter as the clerk continues to ring items up and the other two employees work on bagging everything. 

“What do you have planned for Ethan?”  Jenny looks at her lover, watching as his face flushes with anger.

“I’ll bloody well rip his head from his body with my bare hands when I get hold of him.”  Giles snarls in anger. 

Jenny nods her head in silent agreement, Rupert having explained in detail his exact relationship with the Sorcerer.  Knowing her lover would never be able to let Ethan disappear again.  Not with what he’s pulled this time.  None of them aware of how far Ethan’s treachery actually has reached.

***

“Dani, stay here.  You can’t go.”  Tara tries to push the dog back away from the door as she tries to force her way out with her.  As Dani looks up at her and growls deeply, Tara looks into the brown eyes, seeing determination and anger glaring back at her.  “You know that this is going to be extremely dangerous, don’t you?”  Tara whispers, kneeling down in front of her dog, gently rubbing her cheek.  “There’s a damn good possibility a good portion of us, if not all of us, will end up dead.  I’m not sure if my preparations will work or not, but it’s going to be our best hope of getting her out of there and taking out that asshole.”

Dani woofs softly and gently licks Tara’s chin, letting her human know that she’s going to be there with her all the way.

“So be it.”  Tara presses a soft kiss to the dog’s nose, before grabbing her backpack and slinging it over her shoulder, having the different ingredients she needs for some of the more intricate spells before reaching down to grab the gym bag full of weapons.  Allowing Dani ahead of her, she turns and locks the door, silently looking at the house, remembering the laughter, tears, and pain of the last couple weeks.  Silently praying to the Goddess to give her the strength to get back her lover, and if not, for the Goddess to take her with Buffy.

***

Buffy snarls at the Sorcerer as he taunts her on the other side of the cage. 

“They’re not going to come back for you, you know?”  Ethan smirks at the slayer, the woman being his captive for three days now.  Surprised and impressed at her control though he can see the blue of the Slayer swirling with the hazel color within her eyes.  Knowing it won’t be much longer before Buffy finally loses control to the Slayer.  And ultimately, that’s what he’s been waiting for now, his plans having changed in the last year. 

Ethan tilts his head and crosses his arms over his chest.  “I must say, you are a stubborn one, aren’t you?  I mean, after your lover, Watcher and your whole family was murdered by the different demons, you almost gave up.  There I was following you all that time, just waiting for you to die with what I had orchestrated to happen to your family, and damned if you didn’t pull it all together again and find someone else that wanted to fuck you.”

Buffy jerks at the Sorcerer’s words, understanding that he was the one that was to blame for her family, lover and Watcher being killed.  “YOU FUCKING BASTARD!  You’ll be the first thing I rip apart when I get out of here.”  Buffy growls deeply, slamming hard against the cage, the Slayer within her fighting for control, wanting to get at this person and rip him to shreds.

“Oh, I somehow doubt that.”  Ethan chuckles wickedly, having been notified from one of his demons that the group were gathering quite an arsenal and were planning on storming the caves.  Now he just needs to get the Slayer to appear in all her glory so he can set his next plan into motion, having already taken the blood from the blonde, but wanting her to be the cause of her new friends and lover’s deaths.  “You know, your mother screamed your name when I let the Dagnan demon ass rape her.  Then your sister…”  Ethan purses his lips and sighs quietly in remembrance.  “The vampires enjoyed using every orifice in her body multiple times before they finally drained her and ripped her to shreds.”

Buffy screams at the top of her lungs, the anger burning uncontrollably within her at the Sorcerer’s words, unable to control the Slayer any longer.

“Oooh.  Now that’s what I’ve been waiting for.”  Ethan grins as dark, dark blue eyes glare at him and all he gets in response to his comments is a low, growling snarl.  “How much of Buffy is left in there, hmm?  Does she want to hear about how her father was castrated, or better yet what happened to the Watcher and Caitlin?”  He laughs delightedly as the Slayer slams hard into the cage time and time again trying to get at him.  “Not yet, my dear.  Not yet.  But soon, very, very soon.”

***

“Dani, stay close.”  Tara orders the dog, no give in her tones, thankful when Dani stands beside her as the rest of the group finish gathering outside the cave entrance.

All the men grab the shotguns and extra ammunition, double-checking the items as Jenny pulls a short sword over her shoulder along with the spells she’d pre-prepared, like Tara.  Though hers are geared more to protection spells to be activated at a second’s notice.  Not having the power Tara does, planning on doing what she can to help the others. 

“Go in, guns and weapons blazing and try to save your guys’ magical powers, right?”  Oz re-confirms with Tara and Jenny. 

“Yes.”  Tara steps up to the cave entrance past the magical barriers that the Sorcerer had set in place, tossing a small bag of herbs further inside and whispering ‘ignite’, smiling as the bag bursts into flame quickly.  “Good, that works.”

“I’ll lead.”  Larry comments, Oz stepping up beside him as the two men keep the shotguns pointed forward as the rest of the group fall in line behind them.  Giles and Darian bring up the rear, with Jenny and Jason walking in front of them with Tara and Dani behind Oz and Larry. 

“Remember, aim for their heads.”  Giles comments softly, the simple act of blowing off most demons heads would effectively kill them. 

“Yep.”  Oz’s eyes dart around as he used the light taped to the shotgun to pan over the cave as they advance quickly, but cautiously. 

Larry lifts the gun the rest of the way to his shoulder quickly and fires the shotgun a second behind Oz as they both see the demons quickly coming their way. 

“Down.”  Tara orders Dani, as she kneels down on the ground beside the dog as Jason steps close to them, already aiming towards the demons, prepared to start firing when either Oz or Larry have to re-load. 

Jenny drops down behind Tara as Darian steps up beside Jason and Rupert faces backwards, protecting their flank from anything that might try to come up behind them. 

“Bastards weren’t expecting that.”  Larry growls as he reloads his weapon after they took out the demons that were in front of them.  “A little extra firepower is the way to go with some of these bastards.”

Oz grunts quietly in partial agreement even as he slams a stake through a vampire’s heart that only had half his head still attached.

“And sometimes a piece of wood is the way to go.”  Larry grins at Oz as the redhead smirks at him.

As the men re-load their weapons and advance, Tara glances down at Dani as she starts to sniff more intently.  “Stay close.”  Tara warns the dog as she notices Dani’s body tensing and a low growl issuing from the large dog. 

Oz glances back at the dog, hearing the anger in the growl, the dog seeming to be looking deeper into the caves.  “This is where she was taken, right?”

“Yes.”  Tara practically snarls the word, her eyes narrowed as she reaches down to scratch Dani’s head as the dog stops to sniff, a quiet whine coming from her before pushing ahead.  “Don’t go too fast, Dani.”  Tara warns as the rest of the group follow the dog, trusting her instincts to find Buffy.  Actually thankful that the dog wanted to come with them, since now she could save the locator spell to find Buffy, and use her powers for other spells.

“I would suggest you not come any further.”  Ethan steps out of the darkness, a wall of demons in front of him for protection, surprised to see the shotguns being lifted and aimed at them.  “Why Ripper, old boy!  I didn’t know you had it in you.”

“Bloody bastard!  Where is she?”  Giles shifts forward, leaving Jason and Darian to bring up the rear, watching their back. 

“Ah, ah, ah…  Now, is that any way to talk to an old mate?”  Ethan smirks and shakes his head.  “I dare say you wouldn’t want to meet up with her right now.  She’s a little… devolved.” 

“Bloody hell.”  Giles growls his eyes darting towards Tara, knowing what Ethan is saying.  They only have the one pistol that shoots tranquilizer darts, and unfortunately they only have two darts, having used the rest of them on Oz when he’d gotten loose the last full moon.

Tara’s jaw clenches, even as she holds onto Dani, the dog growling and snarling at the Sorcerer.  “Wait, Dani.”  Tara whispers softly.  “We need you to find Buffy.”  Preparing the protection barrier spell, Tara tilts her head.  “Let’s do this.”

Giles growls and lifts the shotgun the rest of the way to his shoulder and starts firing, pumping more shells into the chamber after he fires, until he runs out.  Kneeling down he re-loads quickly as the rest of the group shift out and shoot at the advancing squad of vampires and demons. 

“You can’t win!”  Ethan laughs delightedly as he places a protection spell on the demons, though he feels a thread of fear streaking through him as cold blue eyes stare at him.  The pure hatred aimed at him, along with the swirling power in the blonde’s eyes making him worry.  “Your magic doesn’t do any good in here.  I’ve locked onto your signatures and negated any spells you do in here.” 

Tara nods her head.  “So you did.  But maybe there are other things that you didn’t consider.” 

The rest of the group waits, knowing that’s the sign for Tara and Jenny to start hitting the Sorcerer with everything in their magical arsenal.  Waiting until the barrier goes down and for their shotguns to do any good.

Jenny looks at Tara for her signal, as Tara pulls out a small bag of herbs and nods to her, Jenny does the same, the two women having prepared for the possibility of a protective spell being put up around the demons. 

Tara silently prays to the Goddess that this works, tossing the ingredients towards the right side of the demons while Jenny tosses hers to the left side, whispering softly to set in motion the spell, feeling the pull on her magic.  Tara yells as she feels the barrier fall.  “NOW!”

The men all shoot the demons that had closed the distance between them, a couple of the men laughing as the surprise and shock crosses the demons’ faces as the shotgun blasts all of a sudden start taking them out. 

Ethan snarls at his protection barrier being knocked down.  Staring at the blonde witch, he grins wickedly.  “You may be able to take out my demon squad.  But there’s someone that you won’t allow to be shot.” 

Tara growls and unconsciously loosens her grip on Dani, having been fighting the dog to keep her from jumping into the melee as the demons fall, most of them dead, but a lot of them needing to be finished off, and still dangerous.  “DANI!”  Tara watches as the dog growls and literally jumps over the pile of demons, chasing hell bent after the Sorcerer.  “Finish them off!  I’ve got to find Buffy.”  Tara goes to follow after the Sorcerer and Dani, being stopped by Giles’ hand on her arm.

“Here.  I don’t know if they’ll be enough to knock her out.”  Giles hands her the gun, his eyes serious as he hands her another real gun.  “If they don’t…”

Tara stares down at the 9mm.  Shaking her head, she hands it back to the Watcher.  “No.”  She says simply before taking off after her dog and the Sorcerer, tucking the tranquilizer gun in her waistband as she uncaringly literally uses the sea of demons to run across.

“God help her.”  Giles whispers his eyes worried, knowing what an uncontrolled Slayer is capable of.  Documented stories of what had happened in the past and how the Slayer had to be put down not something that is widely known.  And not something that he leaves out to where the rest of the group can read.

“Trust her.”  Jenny whispers as they work their way forward to finish off the demons still alive so they can follow the witch.

“She could be hurt… or worse.” Giles gruffly murmurs as he leans down to stake a vampire that was still alive.

“She knows, Rupert.  She knows.”  Jenny winces as Darian and Jason both hack and slice at the demons with the swords both men have, knowing they’re working through the anger of Amy being killed.

The group stop as one as a loud roar seems to come from somewhere in the depths of the caves, echoing to them. 

“God help them.”  Giles shakes slightly, afraid of what might be happening.  “Hurry up!”  Giles orders gruffly as the group works together to make sure the demons are dead before hurrying after Tara and the Sorcerer.

***

The Slayer slams again and again at the cage, her sensitive ears picking up on the noise of battle and voices that seem familiar, one voice in particular calling to her.  Growling deeply, she works her way more methodically around the cage, looking for a weak point.  Jumping up time after time, pushing on the barrier on top of her, not able to find any give in the cage.  Snapping her head around, she drops down low to the ground.  Her eyes tracking the man she knows is responsible for her being in this cage.  Launching herself at the cage, where the man was hurrying by, she roars her anger and pain loudly at being caged.  Hearing an answering bark, The Slayer turns her gaze to the large animal chasing after the man, part of her recognizing the animal as a friend, fighting with the Slayer within her to not hurt the animal if she gets loose.

***

Ethan sends another temporary block behind him, feeling the closeness of the animal.  Running low on magic, after using the majority of it for the protection spells and the drain he’d had to keep the witches from being able to do magic, not understanding how they were able to work around his spells. 

Hurrying into his room, he slams the door just before the dog makes it to the room.  “Fucking animals.”  Ethan growls, hurriedly sitting down behind the controls, panning the couple cameras he has in the depths of the caves closer to where he is now, he flips the switch for the escape hatch in the ceiling.  “Now, where is the witch?”  He snarls angrily, his eyes concentrating on the cameras.  “You’re going to have a nasty little surprise, witch.  There’s a protective spell around the Slayer, and there’s no way you’ll be able to get anything that’ll harm her, or knock her out past it!!”  He snorts at the thought.  “Of course, if you want to get up close and personal without doing her any harm, you’re more than welcome, after all she’ll be able rip you to shreds through her barrier.”

Ethan laughs, even as he moves one of the cameras to see the snarling dog outside his door.  “Bitch.”  He growls at the dog, surprised when the dog tilts her head and spins around to run back the way they’d came.  Looking at the other cameras that he has around the slayer’s cage, he narrows his gaze and a slow, evil smile crosses his face.  “Show time.”  Flipping the switch and allowing the spell keeping the Slayer in the invisible cage loose, he sits back to watch the entertainment.

***

Chapter 14

Tara winces as she hears the roar coming from up ahead, along with Dani’s bark.  Breathing heavily, she doggedly continues into the depths of the caves, using the locator spell to find Buffy since she’d lost Dani probably a mile back in the warren of caves.  Eyes caught by a blinking red in the corner, Tara snarls up into the camera.  “I’m going to get you one way or the other you sick bastard.”

The Slayer starts at one end of the cage and runs to ram her shoulder into the cage again, grunting as she continues off balance, slamming into the cave wall on the other side.  Shaking her head she snarls as her eyes dart back to the cave, hearing something approaching, but knowing it isn’t the one she wants to rip apart, it’s the animal.

Dani cautiously approaches her human, knowing that this was the other part of her human that she hasn’t had a chance to get to know.  Easing down onto her stomach, she inches forward cautiously, whimpering softly in her throat.

The Slayer tilts her head at the animal considering it for a few minutes, before dismissing it as a threat.  Buffy inside breathes a sigh of relief being more aware than usual when the Slayer is in control.  Not even thinking about the oddity of knowing what’s going on, Buffy whimpers silently inside the Slayer as she can almost sense Tara coming up on them.  Praying that the Slayer doesn’t hurt Tara, Buffy silently waits, knowing there’s nothing she can do.  Also knowing that if she hurts Tara, she’ll make damned sure that she and the Slayer take out the bastard that’s hurt them and then take herself out.

Tara runs into the room panting heavily, stopping and staring at the dark blue eyes staring at her.  The Slayer’s body tense, ready to spring.  Gently easing the stuff from her body, Tara makes sure all the weapons are gone from her, before holding her hands up, never breaking eye contact with her but still able to see Dani lying down on the ground, thankfully unhurt.  “Dani, go back where I came from and keep the rest from coming in here.”  Tara orders softly, thankful when Dani cautiously and slowly makes her way out of the section of caves they’re in. 

The Slayer tilts her head, taking in the woman.  Her nose flaring, she inhales deeply of the woman’s scent.  Recognizing her scent on her, she twitches slightly trying to understand what the other her is trying to say, the other part not usually saying anything to her but understanding the general gist of what she’d been trying to convey today. 

Tara let’s out a quiet breath, thankful the Slayer didn’t attack her as soon as she’d arrived, she cautiously approaches her.  When the Slayer narrows her eyes on her and her lip snarls up with a guttural growl, Tara slowly kneels on the ground.  Hoping that acting submissive to The Slayer may get her closer to the woman. 

The Slayer’s growls turn softer as she watches the woman slowly lie before her on the ground, turning up and offering her neck in a submissive gesture.  Pouncing and landing with her hands and knees on the outside of the woman, the Slayer snarls.

Tara swallows, trying not to feel fear as she feels the Slayer’s teeth surrounding her throat.  Knowing that she could very easily rip her throat out killing her, if she so desired.  Taking a chance, Tara hopes that the Slayer will remember her touch, voice and smell.  “Buffy, I know you’re in there.  Don’t fight with the Slayer, but try and help her understand that I’m both your mates.  You said that you were pretty sure that the Slayer chose me.  Use that to help convince her.”  Tara closes her eyes as the teeth clench down more firmly on her neck as she talks. 

Growling low and deep in her throat the Slayer bites down on the flesh in her mouth.  Feeling firm hands slowly trail up her arms and over her shoulders, the Slayer loosens her grip slightly, blinking in confusion as she feels a bolt of heat streak through her body at the touch.  The other her silently whispering in her head that she knows this touch, this touch is her mate, smell her scent, know her touch, listen to her voice... 

***

Ethan watches the happenings on the screen, confused at first, then smirking as the Slayer pounces on the woman, ready to tear her throat out.  “Oh, yes.  That’s it my girl.  Rip it out, kill her, tear her to shreds.  It’ll probably end up driving your human half insane when she realizes what you’ve done.  By then it’ll be too late.  I’ll have used your blood to open the portal to another world where I can be the God I’m destined to be!”  Ethan laughs, leaning forward to watch the happenings.

***

The rest of the group race down the cave following behind a long departed Tara to come to a stop as Dani is sitting in the middle of the opening, growling softly at them. 

“Fuck!”  Oz growls back softly, watching as Dani’s lip snarls up, showing her canines fully.  “She’s obviously under orders not to let anybody by.”

Giles paces back and forth.  “There has to be an exit to the caves somewhere.  That bloody fucking bastard wouldn’t only have one escape route.  Jenny, Darian and Jason stay here.  Oz, Larry you two come with me.  We need to climb above and try and search for some other entrance.  Oz, your greater sense of smell will come in handy in this case.”

Oz nods in agreement as the three men take off back the way they’d come without another word.

Jenny sighs quietly watching as Rupert disappears.  Knowing he feels at fault for what’s happening, though there was no way he could have prevented it.  It’s not like he is responsible for Ethan’s actions just because he knew him.

***

Tara breathes a little easier as she feels the easing of the Slayer’s teeth around her neck.  Continuing to stroke over her body, Tara shifts the shirt up to stroke over skin, closing her eyes as the teeth move from her neck altogether, and the Slayer’s growling becomes lower, less threatening.  “It’s me, Slayer.  It’s your mate.  I love you, not just the other part.  I know you can understand me.  There’s too much of Buffy and you intermingled for you not to understand what’s happening, given the chance.  Know me, Slayer.  I’m yours just as much as you’re mine.”  Tara bites her bottom lip, hoping that the Slayer understands what she’s trying to say to her. 

The Slayer growls softly, rubbing her face over the woman’s neck, sniffing deeply.  Dragging her tongue up the length of her neck, the Slayer rumbles deeply as hands caress over her stomach and back.  Firm knowing hands calming her, feeling right.  Not sensing any more fear coming from the woman, the Slayer grasps the shirt the woman’s wearing, ripping it away as she sniffs down the body.  Coming into contact with more clothes in the way, the Slayer tears it away.  Brushing her face over the flesh while hearing the hard, strong heartbeat pushing the blood through the human’s body, the Slayer’s eyes look up at her mate, understanding more.  Growling in a rough, deep, unused voice.  “Mate!”  She drops her head down, biting and marking her mate’s breast, breaking the skin and lapping at the blood.

Tara involuntarily cries out at the pain of the bite, not having expected this to happen.  But obviously the Slayer was claiming her.  Her fingernails dig into the Slayer’s back unconsciously drawing blood even as the Slayer soothes and laps at the wound.  As the Slayer rumbles softly after a few minutes and moves up her body after ripping her own shirt, pressing her breast against her lips, Tara closes her eyes and swallows before biting down roughly.

The Slayer grunts holding her mate’s head to her breast urging Tara to suckle at the bleeding breast for a few minutes before pulling away. 

Tara looks up into navy blue eyes as the Slayer half-snarls, half-smiles while dipping down and lapping up a trickle of blood from the corner of her mouth before growling and tearing off in the opposite direction Dani had gone.  Tara lays there stunned, not knowing what’s happening now, or going to happen in the future before rolling over and scrambling after the Slayer.  “DANI!  COME!!”

***

Buffy blinks in shock at what she’s seeing and feeling, the Slayer accepting Tara completely and marking her as hers.  As the Slayer gives her more control, allowing her to come forward, Buffy groans quietly, as she slowly becomes aware that the Slayer isn’t giving up control to her, but allowing her to integrate fully with her.  Too late to pull back, as the Slayer’s strength pulls her fully forward, Buffy prays silently to the Powers That Be.  

The Slayer grins wickedly as she feels her other half finally accept the gift she’s giving her.  “Now, we kill.”  The Slayer/Buffy growls as the two become one and literally bulldoze the door to where the Sorcerer is hiding.

***

Ethan shakes his head in disbelief as he watches the Slayer and the witch.  “NOOOO!!!”  He screams as the Slayer doesn’t kill her, but actually accepts her and marks her as hers.  Not wasting any time he scrambles up the escape hatch that leads to the forest above, running at full speed to jump on the dirt bike.  Starting it quickly, he takes off with dirt flying from his back tire as it slides before gripping.

“Got to make it to the site.”  Ethan growls softly, hunching down over the bike, pointing it towards the prepared area, silently cursing his stupidity in wanting to wait and see the Slayer destroy her friends and lover. 

***

“What the bloody hell?”  Giles pants as the three men run through the forest, hearing an engine kick over.

“Motorcycle.”  Oz growls roughly, pushing his legs harder adjusting and pointing more to the left from where the sound came from.

Giles closes his eyes for a second, before pushing his body harder to follow Oz and Larry as the two young men seem to find a burst of energy somewhere deep inside themselves.  “Come on old man, you need to catch this bastard!”  He growls to himself as he continues after them.

***

Dani tilts her head before spinning around and taking off quickly towards her human.

Jenny, Jason and Darian look quickly at each other before sprinting after the dog.

***

Buffy growls as she looks at the empty room.  Searching the room, she doesn’t see an escape route, but knows it’s here somewhere.  Tilting her head, she sniffs deeply, smelling the Sorcerer’s scent.  Looking up as the strongest, most recent scent seems to come from above.  Turning her head she looks at Tara as she comes into the room.  Seeing the obvious shock on her lover’s face, Buffy blinks filing it away to ask her about later.  “Up there!  But I don’t know how.”

Tara stares in stunned shock at her lover.  Shaking her head at the sight of one navy blue eye and one hazel eye staring at her, she glances up to the roof of the cave.  Looking back at the control panel, Tara finally growls in disgust.  “I don’t know what the hell he pushed to activate it, but obviously there’s something here.”

“Start pushing shit.”  Buffy grabs the chair and stands on it, while pressing up on the slight imperfection. 

Tara takes a deep breath, and prays silently for the Goddess to guide her, cause for all she knows the asshole booby trapped the whole place to cave in with the wrong button.  Starting to press buttons, she finally hits the right one on the third try.

“THAT’S IT!”  Buffy growls deeply, jumping out of the way as a metal ladder extends down as the ceiling slides away.  “Gotta get him.”  Buffy glances towards Tara even as she’s grabbing the ladder and clambering up it quickly. 

Tara’s eyes follow her lover before glancing back as she hears a loud bark.  “Buffy, wait!!  Take Dani with you!!” 

Buffy growls, dropping back down into the hole as Dani comes thundering into the room.  Not knowing how to carry Dani out while still being able to climb up the ladder, the problem is solved as Tara whispers a soft incantation behind her, lifting them both up and through the hole. 

“Be careful.  I’ll be right behind you.”  Tara calls out as Buffy and Dani disappear from her sight, thankful that with the Sorcerer’s leaving the magical block left too.

“Love you.”  Buffy calls back, watching as Dani already takes off running.  Trusting the dog’s instincts, Buffy keeps pace with her.

Tara waits, knowing the rest of the group that Dani had probably been keeping from interrupting them would be coming soon.  “Please help her.”  Tara whispers softly in prayer, wanting this Sorcerer to be taken out before he causes more problems, knowing that he wanted Buffy for a reason.

***

Giles, Oz and Larry collapse on their knees as Tara, Jenny, Jason and Darian climb out of the hole. 

“He got away on a motorcycle.”  Giles pants, looking up at the group, making sure they aren’t harmed, blinking his eyes in surprise at the sight of Tara’s shirt hanging from her literally in tatters and the woman’s scarred body on display with a very obvious bite mark on her breast.  Blushing darkly, he looks everywhere but at the woman. 

“Find.”  Tara says simply, tossing one of the packets of herbs in the air, thankful Jenny had the forethought to pick up the items she’d dropped.  “Jenny, stay with those three until they’ve recuperated enough to follow.  Then use this to find us.”  Tara places another packet in her hand, softly whispering a spell, keying it to her essence.  Looking up into the angry eyes of Darian and Jason, she nods.  “Let’s get him.”

The three take off after the soft glowing light to find the Sorcerer.

Giles looks at Jenny.  “What happened?”

“I don’t know.”  Jenny admits, shaking her head as she watches the three men stand and start to walk after the other three.  “You should rest.”

“We have to keep moving, saving the spell for when we can’t follow the trail anymore.”  Giles runs a shaky hand through his hair. 

“Do you have any idea what he was trying to do?”  Jenny questions softly as they allow Oz and Larry to get a little further ahead of them.

“Not the foggiest.”  Giles admits worriedly.  “I’m just thankful that Buffy still has control over the Slayer.  I thought…”  Giles shakes his head at what he’d thought when he’d heard the roar.

“I’m not so sure she does.  The bite on Tara’s breast…  I don’t think Buffy would have done that and it was obviously fresh.”  Jenny remembers the trickle of blood coming from the wound.

“Dear Lord.  If the Slayer is in control…  How the hell did she keep from attacking everyone?”  Giles shakes his head at the thought, not understanding.  Every time in the past that the Slayer had gotten complete control they had ripped through everyone and everything in their path if they weren’t taken down quickly.  That’s why it was of paramount importance to keep the Slayer controlled. 

“Worry about that later, we need to find Ethan now.”  Jenny wraps her arm around her lover’s waist as they pick up their stride hurrying after Oz and Larry who had worked quite a ways ahead of them.

***

“Hold up.”  Buffy orders Dani, kneeling beside the dog, patting her head gently as she looks into the clearing.  “I’m trusting you to understand what I’m saying completely.  I want you to go around to the other side of the clearing, quietly and without being detected.  When you see me coming in, you come in from the other side and we’ll try to take him down between the two of us.”

Dani noses Buffy in the chest before taking off in the woods, heading to the other side of the clearing.

Buffy’s eyes follow the dog until she disappears in the undergrowth, barely hearing the quiet animal.  Silently waiting, she keeps her eyes on the Sorcerer who is situating items in the clearing from a hidden box.  Licking her lips, Buffy shakes her head at the slight tang of copper still in her mouth, knowing that the blood from the witch was working through her system and given time and enough transfers there’s no telling what it will do.  Right now, she can sense that her mate is working her way quickly and steadily towards her.  Smiling at the thought of the stubborn woman, she whispers softly agreeing with herself from a previous thought that had come from the Slayer before they became one.  “Yeah, she’s perfect for a mate.” 

Focusing back in on the Sorcerer, Buffy hopes that Dani’s prepared.  As he turns his back to her, Buffy darts out as quietly and quickly as she can, smirking as she tackles him to the ground with Dani coming bounding in and literally grasps his throat in her massive jaws.

“I wouldn’t say a word, if I were you.  She’s very possessive, and doesn’t like her humans fucked with.”  Buffy growls in his ear as he stops struggling and whimpers as Dani clenches down a little firmer on the flesh in her mouth.  Buffy reaches over and grabs one of the bags and uses her knee to keep his hands from moving as she rips the cloth bag into sections before quickly tying his hands tightly before doing the same to his feet.  Looking back up, she smirks at the absolute fear showing in his eyes.  “Why didn’t you put up a protection barrier around yourself this time, you idiot?  Weren’t expecting me, or are you running low on juice?”

Dani shakes her head slightly as the human tries to say something.

Buffy tilts her head and tries not to laugh outright as he tries to answer her only to be shut up by Dani.  “What?  Did you try to say something?”

As his eyes look pleadingly at the dog, Buffy pats Dani gently on the head.  “Yeah, she’s a good girl, isn’t she?  I bet you if I told her to rip your throat out, she’d do it in a heartbeat.  Wanna try it?”  Buffy questions curiously, quirking her eyebrow up even as she feels and hears her lover running towards her.

Tara groans as she hears Buffy’s conversation with the Sorcerer.  Sliding to the ground beside her lover, Tara falls over onto her back panting heavily.  “Got it… control?”

“Yep.  Actually Dani does.”  Buffy chuckles as Dani growls and shifts to where she’s got one of her huge paws planted in the middle of his chest.  Remembering the fight, Buffy looks at Tara.  “How is everyone?”

Tara looks sadly at her lover and slowly her eyes fill with tears.  “Amy didn’t make it.”  She admits hoarsely.

Buffy snarls as she reaches down and with a flick of her wrist breaks the Sorcerer’s arm.  “You know, I was thinking about discussing this in a calm manner, but that just flew out the window.”  Turning her gaze back to Tara, not seeing any hint of recrimination in her blue eyes, she relaxes slightly.  “Can you do something to him, so he can’t do any hocus pocus?”

“I honestly don’t think he has much power left.”  Tara admits as she sits up, pulling out some herbs she’d made up to go along with a temporary binding spell. 

Buffy listens curiously as her lover places the spell on the Sorcerer, then tells Dani to release him.  Smirking as Dani growls once deeply then backs off to sit staring at the Sorcerer.  Buffy finally turns to Darian and Jason who both look like they want to rip the guy to shreds.  “You’ll get your chance.  I promise you.”  Buffy lets them know, feeling sadness that one of their own had fallen even as the two men nod in understanding and back off. 

“What did you want with my slayer?”  Tara snarls as she slaps him hard across the face. 

Now that the dog doesn’t have him by the throat, Ethan swallows convulsively a couple times before staring at the witch.  “Like I’ll bloody well tell you, you stupid bint!”  Screaming like a girl as with his last word excruciating pain works its way up from one of his testicles through his whole body. 

“Damn fragile little things, ain’t they?”  Buffy conversationally questions.  “Popped like an annoying blister.” 

Tara winces slightly as she realizes what her lover did, not even daring to glance at the two men to see what their reaction was. 

Buffy looks up apologetically at Jason and Darian, surprised when they just stare at the man, having expected them to be wincing in commiseration.

“You better start talking before she decides to go after the other one.  Then the Goddess only knows what she’ll do next.  She can be a real bitch when you get on her bad side.”  Tara watches as Ethan squirms, the pain obvious in his eyes as he sweats uncontrollably.  As he turns a sickly green, she rolls away and up onto her feet.  “Be careful, I think he’s about to get sick.”

“Back up some, Dani.”  Buffy orders as she stands up and hops back as he finally spews.  “Oooh.  Disgusting.”  Buffy looks at the mess on the ground as he continues to throw up, her nose snarling in disgust. 

“If he doesn’t answer crush the other one.”  Jason’s nose curls in disgust, though his eyes are cold and angry.  “If that doesn’t work, I’ll shove this shotgun so far up his ass that it’ll come out his fucking mouth!”

“Then pull the trigger.”  Darian adds, not feeling one iota of guilt for what he’d like to do to the Sorcerer.

Buffy realizes her lover is standing there with her shredded shirt hanging uselessly.  Looking up guiltily as she remembers what she did, she cautiously pushes aside the material, wincing at the sore looking wound.  When Tara’s hand gently grasps hers and presses it to her breast, Buffy looks up and sees the soft smile and the look of forgiveness in her mate’s eyes. 

“I’m fine.  At least this time the scar will be because of something I’m happy about.”  Tara whispers softly.

Dani calmly lies there, looking from one person to another, while keeping an eye on the man lying on the ground.  Wishing they would just hurry up so she can go home and spend time with her humans.

Buffy nods, letting her thumb brush over one of the red scars on her lover’s chest.  “It sounds like the rest of the group is here and our Sorcerer is passed out from the pain.”  Buffy sighs, slightly irritated. 

Giles stares down at Ethan and looks up at the rest of the group.  “Is he alive?”

“Yeah, but not for long.”  Darian prods him hard in the side with the barrel of his shotgun. 

“What did he actually do to you?”  Giles questions curiously staring at Buffy.

Buffy shrugs her shoulders.  “I vaguely remember him taking some of my blood, but nothing else except trying to piss me off.  And succeeding.”  Buffy’s eyes turn hard as she stares down at the Sorcerer.  “He’s responsible for my family, lover and Watcher being killed.”  Going on to explain more of what the Sorcerer had done.

“Dear, Lord.”  Giles rubs his eyes as he takes that information in.  “Your blood?  What the hell did he want with it?”

Tara had been sorting through the items the Sorcerer had while they talked, tilting her head as she comes across the spell.  Reading it carefully, making sure she’s translating it properly, she pales.  “It seems like this was the last ingredient he needed to open a portal to another world.”  Tara hands the spell to Giles. 

“What the bloody hell?”  Giles reads over the spell, shaking his head in disbelief.  “It might have actually worked.”  Giles rereads the spell again.  Tucking it away in his pocket, he leans down, grasping Ethan by his shirt and yanking him away from where he threw up to smack him hard across the face a couple times.  “Wake up you bloody ponce!!”  Giles snarls before smacking him again.

Oz hesitantly takes off his shirt, looking at Larry and nodding towards Tara, the bigger man taking his over-shirt off and offering it to the witch while Oz offers his to the slayer. 

Tara accepts the shirt, surprised, before smiling at the ex-jock.  “Thank you.” 

Larry grins and shakes his head.  “Least I could do.”

Buffy looks in surprise at the wolf as he offers his t-shirt to her.  Slightly stunned, she accepts the shirt before hugging him gently.  “Thank you.”

Oz shrugs and blushes.  “Thought you’d like to be covered.”  He whispers, turning his back to the two women.

Jenny has to smile at the two young men’s gallantry, while Buffy and Tara finish tearing off their tattered clothes while pulling on the other shirts.  Chuckling as Tara’s almost dwarfed by Larry’s shirt.  Looking back at Rupert, she shakes her head. “I think it’s going to be a while before he comes around.”

“I’m starting to believe you’re right.”  Giles grunts, smacking him again, getting a perverse sense of pleasure as Ethan’s lip splits open and starts to bleed, but the man obviously stays unconscious.  “What was done to him?”

Tara’s eyes twinkle and she rubs a hand down her face as she turns away, not looking at the Watcher. 

“He had a couple little accidents.”  Jason offers, looking at Darian who nods his head in agreement. 

“Yeah, he had a couple accidents.  Was unavoidable.”  Darian smirks and kicks the Sorcerer hard in the ribs.  “Dumb, clumsy-assed prick that he is.”

Giles groans, his shoulders slumping.  “Please?”  He finally questions.

Buffy shrugs her shoulders and points to Ethan’s arm.  “I broke his arm like a dried twig then crushed his left testicle, making it pop like a balloon.”

Giles unconsciously squeezes his legs together at the thought.  “What the bloody hell are we going to do with him?”

“Kill him slowly.”  Darian looks seriously at the Watcher.  “For all the pain, heartache and deaths he’s caused, he doesn’t deserve to live.”

“No, he doesn’t.”  Tara agrees, wrapping her arm around Buffy’s waist. 

Buffy looks at her lover in surprise.  “I thought you would have been the one arguing to let him live?”

“No.”  Tara shakes her head, looking down at the sorcerer.  “He’s evil through and through.  He caused everyone you loved to be killed, Amy and Goddess only knows how many other humans in his pursuit of wanting to go to another world.  I know I can’t strike the killing blow myself, unless he was in the act of hurting someone I loved but I’ll be damned if I condemn anyone for taking him out.  Given time, he’ll just try and do it again.”

“I dare say you’re right.”  Giles sighs heavily looking down at Ethan, before looking up at Jenny.  “What do you think?”

Jenny had been sifting through some of the ingredients the Sorcerer had gathered, some serious Black Magic having been used in collecting a lot of the items.  “He needs to be neutralized.”  Jenny finally looks up, making eye contact with her lover. 

“Now the question is…  Who wants the honors?”  Giles looks at the group, knowing Buffy probably has the biggest claim on the Sorcerer, with Jason and Darian coming in second.

Buffy slowly shakes her head, the anger she’d been feeling towards the Sorcerer having had time to cool down.  “I can’t.  Not in cold blood.  In the heat of the moment, I wouldn’t think twice.  But now…”

Tara steps behind Buffy, wrapping her arms around her lover knowing that the way she’s starting to lightly shake that it won’t be much longer before she breaks down.  The shock of everything that’s happened and what she’d learned about her family finally making it to her conscious mind from where she’d shoved it back. 

Jason nods to Darian and the two men step away from the rest of the group to whisper amongst themselves.

“Tara?  Can you help me destroy these items?  I don’t want to take a chance of them falling into the wrong hands, and I don’t know about anybody else, but the trek back to the vehicles is going to be long enough without lugging extra stuff with us.”  Jenny smiles at the sight of Tara holding Buffy firmly in her arms with her face buried in the slayer’s hair. 

“Yeah.”  Tara mumbles, pressing her lips against Buffy’s head.  “We’re going home right after this.”  Tara chuckles as Dani woofs softly and moves over to stand beside Buffy.  “She was a little pissed at the fact that you weren’t home.” 

Buffy chuckles and kneels beside the dog, wrapping her arms around her chest and hugging her.  “Yeah, I missed you, too.” 

***

Chapter 15

It’s a quiet group that heads back towards their vehicles.  Jason and Darian slowly catching up after insisting that the rest of the group head back after Tara and Jenny took care of the supplies the Sorcerer had.  None of the group even flinched when the shotguns had gone off a little while later.

“If you guys would like to come by the apartment, we could order something in.”  Jenny offers, looking at the group.

Buffy shakes her head, though she is extremely hungry, being fed not on the Sorcerer’s list of things to do the past three days. 

Tara gently rubs a hand over her mate’s growling stomach.  “I think we just want to head home, but thanks.”

“I kind of figured.”  Jenny smiles sadly at the women, her eyes glancing over the rest of the group.

“We’re going to head home.”  Jason mumbles shaking his head.  Darian and he having already discussed that they were going to pack up everything they could fit in their car and head out at first light.  Amy being buried the day before, they had no reason to stay.  Having had enough of living on the Hellmouth, and now with what happened they just wanted to get away for a fresh start. 

Larry looks at Oz and shrugs his shoulders.  “I don’t much mind one way or the other.  If you want to head to the house, you can drop me by my place.”

“I think I would just prefer to crash.”  Oz admits, looking at Jenny apologetically. 

“That’s fine.  I think we’ve all earned a couple days off.  Plan on meeting at the apartment on Saturday?”  Jenny offers after figuring out it was Wednesday, smiling softly before sighing as she hears a chorus of agreement from the rest of the group as they finally make it back to their vehicles.  “Be careful.”

Giles glances again at Buffy, having not said anything about her eyes, though the prophecy about the Slayer that merges with her host floats around in his brain.  Not wanting to bring it up after everything that’s happened he shelves those thoughts to be brought out at a more opportune time.  “Take care.”  Slipping into the car, he whispers softly to Jenny.  “She is the one.  The Last Slayer.”  Giles smiles in delight as Jenny grins at him.

“You, too.”  Tara smiles thankfully at the Watcher, knowing he’s just aching to say something to Buffy, but deciding not to.  Flipping down the tailgate for Dani to jump up into the back of the truck, Tara closes it back as Buffy gets in the cab.  Climbing into the truck, Tara looks down in surprise as Buffy stretches out and rests her head on her thigh as she starts the vehicle, gently running her fingers through the dirty blonde hair, Tara smiles gently at her lover.  “You didn’t sleep, did you?”

“No.”  Buffy rubs her cheek against Tara’s thigh.  “Didn’t sleep, didn’t eat, didn’t shower, and had to piss and shit on the goddamn floor like an animal.”  Hearing a soft growl coming from the back of the truck, Buffy chuckles softly.  “Sorry, Dani.”

“Well, I was able to shower and use the bathroom properly, but my sleeping and eating was sorely lacking while you were gone.”  Tara admits, finally putting the vehicle into drive and pulling out behind the rest of the group, driving into town before they slowly split off to go to their respective homes.  “If you want, I’ll order four or five pizzas while you shower.”

“Gods, yes.”  Buffy groans at the thought, pressing her lips firmly against Tara’s thigh.  Running her hand over her lover’s knee as she feels the muscles flex under her chin as Tara moves her foot from the gas pedal to the brake and back again, she sighs in thanks that she is able to be with her mate again. 

Tara gently squeezes Buffy’s shoulder, unwilling to stop touching her lover now that she can.  “I was so worried that he was going to hurt you.”  Tara finally admits as she turns the corner onto their road.  “If he had, everything that was done to him, would pale in comparison to what I planned on doing to him.”

“Do I even want to know?”  Buffy groans as she finally shifts up as Tara parks the truck. 

“Probably not.”  Tara shakes her head at some of the thoughts that had crossed her mind.  Everything from torturing him with little stabs of a short pointed object to flaying him alive and eviscerating him had crossed her mind.  And those were the nicer thoughts she’d had. 

Buffy climbs out of the truck and just stares at the pale yellow house, reaching down to scratch Dani’s head as the dog jumps out of the truck and trots up to her to press against her side.  “We’re home, Dani.”

“Yes, we are.”  Tara wraps her arm around Buffy’s waist, urging the woman towards the house.  Quickly unlocking the door, she nods her head to the bathroom.  “Go on.  I’ll let you know when the food gets here, so take your time.”

“Thank you.”  Buffy mumbles softly, wanting to kiss Tara, but knowing that she probably had some seriously rank breath to go along with the extremely rank body. 

Tara’s eyes follow Buffy before looking at Dani who pants up at her.  “You get the largest beef basted rawhide bone I have.”  Tara chuckles as Dani woofs and trots towards the kitchen.  Following the dog, she opens the pantry and hands Dani the bone.  Opening the door to the basement, Tara chuckles as Dani trots down the stairs, knowing the dog will probably be asleep before she can get one knot off. 

Picking up the phone, she places an order for five different pizzas along with some hot wings, remembering seeing the bones in the trash from the last time the slayer had ordered pizza.  As the man tells her it’ll be close to an hour for delivery, Tara thanks him and hangs up.  Grabbing the gallon of orange juice out of the refrigerator, Tara fills a large glass with it before hurrying to the bathroom. 

Buffy groans quietly as the hot water beats down on her body, just letting it loosen her stiff and sore muscles, wincing slightly at the sting as it hits her breast.  Looking down at the healing bite, Buffy chuckles quietly as it occurs to her that Tara had bitten even harder into her, than she had the witch.  Though she had the whole slayer healing thing going on, and would be healed in another hour or two, while Tara would probably be sore for a week.  Sensing Tara enter the bathroom, Buffy pulls back the shower curtain part way to look at the witch. 

“Here.”  Tara offers the glass to Buffy, watching as her lover downs it without a second’s hesitation.  “Milk, juice or water next?”

Buffy licks her lips free of the orange juice. 

“More juice.”  Tara chuckles and sets the glass down on the counter by the sink while striding out to grab the half gallon of juice that’s left, knowing Buffy will probably be able to finish it off in no time.  While she’s in the refrigerator, she grabs one of the gallon jugs of water she keeps in there for when she’s taming the Slayer.  Carrying both jugs back to the bathroom, she sets down the water and quickly refills the glass with juice. 

Buffy downs the glass after Tara hands it to her, smiling in appreciation at the witch.  “Thanks.”

“No thanks are necessary, Buffy.”  Tara finishes off the gallon of juice, handing it to Buffy, looking intently into her lover’s eyes until Buffy looks questioningly at her.  “Did you look in the mirror before heading for the shower, or just go straight to the shower?”

“Shower.”  Buffy hands the empty glass back to Tara before rubbing a hand over her gritty eyes.  “What is it?”

Tara tilts her head as she looks more seriously at her lover.  “You’re actually one with the Slayer now, aren’t you?”

Buffy looks down at the floor for a few minutes before slowly nodding her head.  “I don’t know how or why, but when you accepted the Slayer she acted like she was letting me come back into control but…”  Buffy shrugs and looks up at Tara.  “She didn’t give me control, she combined our essences instead.”

Tara gently caresses her fingers under Buffy’s blue eye.  “You have two different colored eyes now.” 

Buffy blinks in confusion, before her brows draw together. 

“When the Slayer in you came forward, your eyes changed to a deep blue.  You probably aren’t aware of that fact, since you probably never looked in a mirror while you were fighting her, or you would have seen your hazel eyes swirling with the blue.”  Tara presses a soft kiss to Buffy’s forehead.  “Shower.  Then you can eat and crash.”

Buffy nods her head, not arguing as Tara slides the shower curtain back in place.  Finally grabbing the washcloth she soaps it up with the apple body wash Tara bought for her, after learning she liked the smell.  Smiling softly at the thoughtful woman, Buffy scrubs her body thoroughly once before going over it again a second time.  Letting the hot water rinse the suds from her body, she reaches for the apple shampoo and works it through her hair, sighing quietly as it hardly suds at all, knowing it was dirty, but not realizing how dirty.  “Don’t want to crash.” Buffy murmurs with Tara’s last words running through her mind taking a while to make sense.  “Want to make love to you, then crash.”  Not knowing if either one of them will have the strength after eating, or not, but definitely planning on some serious together time in the days to come.

***

Tara shifts the chair so she’ll be sitting close to Buffy as she places the pizzas on the table, not bothering with plates.  Grabbing a roll of paper towels, she sets the container of hot wings in front of her lover’s chair before hurrying to the bathroom.  “Food’s here.”

“’Kay.”  Buffy looks up from where she’s drying her body. 

“I’m going to take a quick shower.”  Tara chuckles as Buffy was looking at her curiously while she was stripping her clothes off. 

“Damn.  I should have stayed in.”  Buffy grumbles quietly as Tara runs a finger gently over her back as she turns the water on before stepping in the shower. 

“I ordered some wings for you also.  I set out a couple two liters in case you want soda instead of water.”  Tara groans at the hot water hitting her body, turning her back to the water after the sting on her breast was a little too much for her to deal with.  “Go ahead and start eating.  I’ll be out in a few minutes.”

Buffy looks down at her stomach as it rumbles at the mention of food.  “Traitor.”  She growls at it before tossing her wet towel in the hamper.  Grabbing a dry towel, she works on drying her hair as she barely turns on the water to wet her toothbrush and placing some toothpaste on the bristles, finally looking in the mirror, stopping with the toothbrush halfway to her mouth at the odd sight of one navy blue eye and one hazel eye looking back at her.  Leaning into the mirror, looking at the odd colored eye, Buffy rolls both of them before leaning back to brush her teeth.  ‘Like being the slayer ain’t weird enough, now I’ve got two different colored eyes.’  Quickly finishing brushing her teeth, Buffy rinses her toothbrush before grabbing the hairbrush and running it through her hair to try and pull out the worst of the knots, leaving the towel for her hair around her neck.  Setting the brush back in the drawer, her eyes turn to the shower once more, smiling as she hears Tara humming some nameless tune under her breath as she showers. 

Not able to resist, she pulls back the shower curtain, reaches in with her hand and pulls Tara partway out for a long, breath-stealing kiss.

Tara blinks, pressing her hand against the shower wall as Buffy disappears as quickly as she had appeared.  Shaking her head to try and get her mind to work again, Tara takes a deep breath.  “Damn.”  Shakily reaching for the water, Tara turns the hot water off, whimpering quietly as the cold water hits her overheated body.  “Three days is too long.”  Tara murmurs, knowing if it’s too long for her, Buffy is probably needing some serious release.

***

Buffy licks her lips savoring the flavor of the witch as she settles at the table.  “Don’t care how tired we are, I’m definitely going to enjoy her before we take a nap.”

Smiling at the sight of the food stacked on the small table, Buffy flips open the container holding the wings with one hand while grabbing a two liter of Coke with the other.  Ignoring the glass, she opens the cold two liter and takes a swig from it before setting it down and grabbing the wings, moaning quietly as she realizes Tara had taken the time out to sprinkle some additional crushed red pepper and hot sauce on the items, kicking them up from the lacking normal hotness from the fast food chain. 

Halfway through the four dozen wings, Buffy glances at Tara as the witch settles in beside her.

Tara chuckles seeing the hot sauce at the corners of the slayer’s mouth.  Leaning in, she licks the sauce from one side, laughing softly before leaning back and opening one of the pizzas, pulling a piece out.

Buffy slides her tongue around her lips, gathering up the leftover sauce before watching Tara intently while finishing off the wings.  Closing the box with nothing but bones left in it, she leans over to toss it on the counter before reaching into the pizza box.

Tara eats a couple slices of pizza as Buffy pretty much demolishes the rest of them in record time, along with two of the sodas.  “Do you want something else?”

“Yes.”  Buffy answers simply as she gathers the pizza boxes, crushing them together and folding them to fit in the trash can while Tara gathers the empty two liters and the paper towels, placing them in the trash.  Washing her hands thoroughly at the sink, Buffy shifts to allow Tara beside her as the witch washes her hands also. 

Tara looks curiously at the slayer as she doesn’t expound on her answer.  As she dries her hands, with the towel Buffy hands her, she squeaks as Buffy picks her up and strides through the house.  “Ummm…”

“Shhhh.”  Buffy shakes her head as she gently settles Tara in the middle of the bed, untucking the towel around the woman as Tara shifts, and tossing it behind her.  Pulling the towel wrapped around her own body off, smirking slightly in remembrance of the witch insisting on her covering herself because it was distracting.

Tara swallows at the gleam in Buffy’s eyes, never having seen that particular predatory look pointed at her before.  Starting to open her mouth, she slowly closes it as Buffy’s fingers gently trail over her lips.

“I want you.  I want to taste you, touch you and make love to you.  Then we can sleep, take Dani to the beach tomorrow and play with her before spending all tomorrow night making love.”  Buffy brushes her lips softly over Tara’s after she finishes telling Tara what she wants.

“I want you, too.”  Tara whimpers arching her neck as Buffy kisses her way slowly downwards. 

Buffy growls quietly, before shifting Tara, making her angled more corner to corner, with her lower legs over the edge of the bed.  Nipping gently across her lover’s stomach, she works her way upward to kiss Tara more hungrily and firmly than she has before.  “I love you, Tara.  And…”  Buffy tilts her head down until her forehead rests against Tara’s, closing her eyes in thought.

“And?  You can tell me, ask me anything, Buffy.”  Tara whispers, kneading Buffy’s back while trying to get control of her breathing.

“Normally when it’s me, you’re tender, soft, gentle and loving.  And God, I love it.  But…”  Buffy trails off, shifting slightly uncomfortable with what she’s going to say, shaking her head internally at the thought of the things Tara has done while she’s the Slayer and that they talked about doing during those times, but having problems saying it now.

Tara frowns as she notices the worried and lightly blushing slayer, who’s not looking at her.  Almost as if she’s embarrassed for what she needs to say.  Trying to think through what Buffy’s saying, she has an inkling of understanding that with the Slayer and Buffy being integrated now, what Buffy is trying to say.  “Look at me, love.”

Buffy hesitantly opens her eyes, looking worriedly into understanding blue eyes.

“You need it rougher?  But not all the time, right?”  Tara smiles softly as Buffy relaxes and the worry leaks from her beautiful eyes. 

“No, not all the time.  But now, yes I do.”  Buffy admits.  “I don’t think we’ll ever have to go to the degree that we have before.  But the riding crop, soft flogger, paddle and the dildos will definitely get used.”

Tara exhales quietly, leaning up to kiss Buffy firmly.  “So, I can pack away the steel tipped flogger, the nail glove and the rougher instruments?”

“Yeah.”  Buffy smiles as Tara grins crookedly up at her.  “And you might want to actually buy a load of lube, because I do really like anal play.”

“I can definitely deal with this side.”  Tara pulls Buffy down against her, hugging her tightly.  “Goddess, I hated hurting you, Buffy.”  Tara admits, the tears coming to her eyes as Buffy buries her face in her neck.

“But you did it.”  Buffy settles her body firmly on top of Tara.  “You knew what was needed and you did what had to be done.”

Tara nods and presses her lips against Buffy’s head.  “Causing you pleasurable pain doesn’t bother me one bit, Buffy.  Don’t worry about that.  I enjoy the occasional roughness myself.”

Buffy shifts slightly, trailing her fingers gently over Tara’s breast, the swollen flesh with the perfect impression of her teeth.  “Just not normally this rough.”

Tara shivers slightly at the gentle touch over the sensitive flesh.  “Not normally, no.” 

Buffy shifts down to press soft, wet kisses to the bite.  “I’m sorry.”

“It’ll be okay in a few days, Buffy.  You… or the Slayer, as the case may be, needed to mark me as hers.  There for a few minutes I was afraid that we would end up rolling around the cave floor doing some seriously naughty things.”  Tara smirks at the thought.

“If it wasn’t for that bastard, we would have been.”  Buffy admits, shifting up to look down at Tara, laughing quietly.  “She literally wanted to be buried inside of you while she marked you.  She settled for the bite, instead.”

Tara whimpers, even as her sex clenches.  “Do you mean what I think you mean?”

Buffy looks into the curious, but slightly scared blue eyes and slowly nods.  “Yeah.  But you don’t have to.” 

“Maybe something for the future.”  Tara gives a slightly nervous smile, the thought somewhat intriguing, but still scary on another level.  “How did we go from me wanting to have my face buried in your sex to talking about burying your fist inside me?”  Tara finally questions, rolling her eyes as Buffy laughs.

“My fault.  I hesitated to tell you I need you to be rougher than you normally are with me and things just kind of snow-balled.”  Buffy grumbles quietly as she nips gently on Tara’s neck. 

“Trust me?”  Tara scrapes her nails gently up and down Buffy’s back.

“Yes.”  Buffy answers quickly, looking up into loving blue eyes. 

“Let me devour you with my mouth first, then I’ll see about taking care of your other needs.”  Tara licks her lips at the obvious acquiesce that crosses Buffy’s face.

“But I’m devouring you at the same time.”  Buffy growls, lifting up to invade Tara’s mouth, battling heatedly with her. 

“Goddess!”  Tara tears her lips away panting heavily as she desperately needs the oxygen.  As Buffy presses her lips against her chin, Tara smiles.

Buffy quickly shifts around, kissing across Tara’s chest, groaning quietly as Tara’s warm mouth captures her unmarked breast and suckles it firmly.  “Shit!”  Buffy presses her face against Tara’s breast.  “Tara, I don’t think I can stand much teasing and foreplay.”  Buffy admits, her body already aching as the juices trickle down her inner thighs.

Tara nips firmly on the hard nipple, running her hands from Buffy’s sides down to her hips.  “Then come here.” 

Buffy groans at the deep, sex-roughened voice.  Shifting further down her lover’s body as Tara urges her further down.  Growling as Tara shifts her body, opening herself to her eyes, Buffy slides one hand under her butt cheeks while keeping herself somewhat propped up with her other arm. Feeling Tara tugging on her hips, Buffy slides down slowly, whimpering as a hot wet tongue wiggles between her swollen lips.

Tara dives in as deeply as she can into Buffy’s center, pressing her chin firmly against Buffy’s clit.  Swirling her tongue around to gather as much of her lover’s heavy desire as she can, Tara pulls it out to swallow hungrily.  “Goddess, you taste sooooo good.”  Tara growls lowly before wrapping her lips around Buffy’s clit, sucking firmly while flicking her tongue continuously over the tip of the begging muscle.

“SHIT!”  Buffy cries out as Tara doesn’t play but brings her to the edge of orgasm and literally pulls her over it without a second’s hesitation.  Her hips bucking against Tara as her lover doesn’t stop but continues to suck and lick over her body.  Dropping her head into Tara’s apex, Buffy whimpers as she feels two long, strong fingers slide inside her searching and finding her hot spot.  Rocking harder and faster against Tara, Buffy pants heavily.  As she feels the tingles working their way through her body, coalescing at the two points of contact, she cries out her lover’s name loudly as she collapses into a shivering mass.

Tara whimpers as Buffy gushes, her climax flooding over her.  Releasing the continuously flinching muscle, she gathers what she can of her lover’s juices, the musky-sweet flavor addictive.  Ignoring her own aching body, knowing Buffy is probably only half conscious right now, gently sliding her fingers out of Buffy as she finally relaxes her tight muscles.  Trailing her fingers up to play tenderly over her rosebud.  Something she hasn’t done while being with Buffy not realizing that she enjoyed it, and still somewhat stunned at the thought. 

Buffy clenches her hand on the round warm flesh she’s grasping as she comes down from the extreme pleasure coursing through her body, shuddering slightly as Tara’s fingertips glide softly and tenderly over her rosebud.  Shaking her head slightly to try and disperse the desire, Buffy growls deeply and licks fast and furiously over Tara’s swollen quivering clit.    

Tara grasps Buffy’s thigh with one hand while her other hand, that had been playing around the slayer’s rosebud, slides up to hold onto a muscular butt cheek at the same time she arches into her lover’s tongue, the vibration from Buffy growling tipping her over the edge quickly.  Finally collapsing back onto the bed, causing it to wave slightly, Tara’s chest rises and falls as the air whistles in and out of her mouth at how quickly Buffy had brought her to release. 

Buffy hums contentedly as she laps at her lover.  Most of the time she enjoys taking her time and enjoying Tara’s flavor and drawing out the pleasure, but being three days without her, made her want the witch as quickly as possible.  And that’s what she’d done as soon as enough of her faculties had come back to her.  Grinning at the thought of the witch and how quickly she could go from a soft touch to a hard pounding if need be she thanks the PTB for sending her, knowing in her heart that someone or something had to be responsible. 

“No…”  Tara whispers softly, clenching her legs together as she feels Buffy’s hand sliding inexorably towards her center.  Pressing a firm kiss to Buffy’s mound, she gently rolls them over so she’s above Buffy.  Nipping at the flesh of the muscular thigh, Tara smacks the other thigh lightly before rolling off the bed.  “Situate yourself properly.”  Tara orders quietly as she heads over to the toy drawer, having already decided what she was going to use when Buffy said she actually enjoyed anal play, but needed some roughness. 

Buffy grunts her displeasure, until she sees where Tara’s headed.  Shifting around on the bed, placing her body in the middle, she turns on her side to watch Tara curiously, wondering what her lover has planned.  Licking her lips as Tara sets out a bottle of lube on the dresser, she grins hugely at the sight of the harness she pulls out. 

Tara glances up into the mirror, chuckling at the huge grin on Buffy’s face.  Reaching down into the drawer, she shifts around to find the curved dildo, attaching it firmly on the inside for herself before reaching back in for the small butt plug.  Considering the item for a minute, Tara takes a deep breath before attaching it inside, deciding to try it, thankfully the item not being much bigger than Buffy’s finger. 

Buffy digs her fingernails into her own thigh as she watches what Tara’s doing, understanding the hesitation and surprised when Tara decides to continue with the item.  Debating with herself for a minute, Buffy finally speaks softly.  “Can you wait for that?”  Looking down at the floor when Tara turns questioning eyes on her, Buffy shrugs.  “I’d like to actually be the one inside you like that for a long period of time, instead of an inanimate object.”  Buffy admits quietly.  “And with only the one time that we’ve experimented…”

Tara considers Buffy for a few minutes before unhooking the item and laying it back in the drawer before grasping the next item.  Locking it in place, Tara threads the ends through each of the little buckles to the places where they usually need to be before stepping into the harness.  Glancing up in surprise as Buffy appears in front of her.

“Let me.”  Buffy kneels on the floor in front of Tara, gently pulling the harness the rest of the way up long, silky legs.  Stopping before the dildo reaches Tara’s center, Buffy let’s her fingers trail over her lover’s sex.  Leaning forward so her forehead is resting against Tara’s stomach, Buffy smiles as fingernails scratch gently over her scalp.  Pressing a kiss against the flesh, Buffy slides her fingers into her lover’s slick center, stroking in and out a few times, closing her eyes at the feel of the clenching muscles.  As more of her lover’s desire eases out, Buffy glides her fingers out of the witch, chuckling softly at the loud whimper she receives.  Making sure the dildo is positioned properly, she eases it into Tara.

Tara tilts her head back, whimpering as Buffy practically takes forever to ease the dildo home within her body.  When it’s finally seated properly, Tara releases the grip she has on Buffy’s head, just now realizing that she’d been holding on for dear life to keep from bucking against her lover as the curved end settles perfectly against her g-spot. 

Buffy stands and grabs the lube.  Tossing it up in the air and catching it, she hurries back to the bed automatically climbing onto it with her ass in the air.

“No, Buffy.  Turn around.”  Tara orders softly following the slayer and easing onto the bed as Buffy does as asked, handing the lube to her in the process.  Flipping the top, Tara squirts a good amount into her hand before liberally coating the thinner dildo after dropping the lube to the side.  “About time this is used in the proper way.” 

Buffy looks at the item and tilts her head.  “Did we ever actually use this one?”  Buffy grins as Tara rolls her eyes.  “I thought we pretty much went to the big mothers!”

“Brat.”  Tara growls watching as Buffy chuckles and shifts her feet flat on the bed, her legs spread while easing up and down wiggling her eyebrows.  “Definitely a brat.”  Tara eases gently between her lover’s legs, her hand still coated with the lube she teases Buffy’s rosebud with the slick digits.

“You don’t have to…  Ooooohhhh.”  Buffy whimpers, her eyes closing as Tara gently but firmly slides two fingers inside her, stretching and preparing her for the dildo’s entrance.

“I’ll ride you long and hard, but from now on you are going to be properly prepared.”  Tara let’s her lover know, gently sliding in and out of Buffy’s body, the tightness of her lover’s hole making her whimper.  Searching within, surprised when she doesn’t feel any scarring from the rough treatment she’d given the slayer. 

Buffy rotates her hips at the pleasurable feel of the slick fingers alternately sliding in and out and searching within her body.  “What are you…”  Whimpering as Tara wiggles a third finger inside her, Buffy forgets what she was going to ask.

“You feel so good.”  Tara whispers, her own body rocking slightly as she wants to slide home within her lover and pound into her for hours, though knowing she probably won’t last that long and now that she doesn’t have to control the Slayer, she won’t use her magical abilities to prolong her stamina.  Gently easing her fingers out of Buffy she double checks the dildo to make sure it’s still coated.  One quick glance at Buffy’s clenching sex, and the glistening desire there, Tara settles above Buffy and gently guides the dildos to her lover’s entrances.  “No more hurting you, Buffy.  Not really hurting you, I promise you.”  Tara whispers, placing one hand beside Buffy, the other grasping her left hip. Slowly easing her hips forward, Tara closes her own eyes for a second at the feel of sliding gently into her lover instead of slamming into her. 

“You promised…”  Buffy starts, looking up into loving blue eyes.

“Yes, I know.”  Tara finally buries herself deep inside her lover.  Nestling her hips against Buffy for a few minutes, she continues to look into her lover’s eyes.  Urging Buffy’s leg up, Tara shifts her body slightly, effectively lifting Buffy’s slight weight.  Placing her lover’s leg along her body so she can place a hot kiss along the calf, Tara grasps the other leg to put along her other side and places a hot kiss on the flesh there also.  “I love that you’re so flexible.”  Tara growls softly, trailing both hands down to her lover’s waist before pulling slowly away from Buffy until the heads of the dildos are barely within her lover.  “Because before the week is out, I’m going to have you twisted around in so many damn positions that you won’t know up from down.”

Buffy grasps the covers as with her last word, Tara slams home within her body before jerking back almost immediately and starting a fast paced hard rhythm.  Slamming into her with each thrust, the head of the larger dildo hitting her g-spot every single time with the angle Tara has her at.  Gasping with each thrust, Buffy looks through narrowed eyes as Tara’s body slowly flushes with desire even as the perspiration starts to coat her whole body with her exertions.  Loving the sight, realizing this is something she’s missed seeing with what happened and was needed in the past.  Of course, knowing her lover as she has come to over the past weeks, she realizes that she definitely never received any pleasure from the things she had to do. 

Tara grunts quietly as every time she slams home inside Buffy the dildo inside her presses hard into the bundle of nerves within her.  Feeling Buffy’s fingers clasping her knees firmly, she opens her eyes to make contact with Buffy’s.  Having been trying to hold off her own climax until Buffy reached hers, Tara whimpers as she sees the love and desire looking back at her. 

Swallowing hard while trying to rock her body against Tara’s hard thrusts as much as she can in this position, Buffy clenches Tara’s legs harder as the orgasm starts to work through her body.  As it finally explodes out of her, Buffy cries out arching and clenching tightly on the dildos in her body.

Tara follows Buffy over the edge as she feels the slayer’s orgasm splashing onto her at the same time Buffy’s muscles grasp the dildos and keeps her from moving, effectively pressing the head of the curved dildo inside her against her g-spot releasing her own flood to join her lovers.  Sliding Buffy’s limp legs so they land on the bed, Tara collapses heavily on top of her lover.

Buffy tries to speak, but her throat feels like it’s locked up tight.  Dragging her arms around Tara’s back, she pants heavily as Tara rests against her chest, the woman’s body slick with perspiration.  Pressing her open mouth against the top of Tara’s head, Buffy drops her head back on the pillow. 

Tara continues to pant for long minutes against Buffy’s breast, not knowing how long it takes her to get control of her breathing before she finally presses a soft kiss against the firm flesh.  “I love you.”

Buffy hugs Tara even tighter.  “I love you, Tara.  Completely.”  Buffy whispers the last word.

“I need to ease out.”  Tara grasps Buffy’s hip gently, cautiously shifting her hips to make sure Buffy doesn’t still have a death grip on the dildos inside her. 

Buffy groans, wrapping her legs around Tara’s waist bucking gently against the shifting of the items inside her.  Loving the thought of Tara still being there in the morning, but knowing it’s not a good idea.  Finally unwrapping her legs to let Tara slide out, Buffy watches as she flops over onto her back beside her and fumbles with the buckles.

Tara growls with one stubborn buckle before finally working it loose.  Hearing quiet chuckling coming from beside her, she narrows her gaze on Buffy as the slayer rolls over onto her side to watch her.  Feeling tired on one hand but energized on the other, Tara debates on re-fixing the harness and pulling Buffy on top of her.

Seeing the look of contemplation in Tara’s eyes, Buffy leans down and kisses her firmly.  “You need sleep.  We will definitely have time to play in the future.  I promise.”  As a beautiful soft smile crosses her lover’s face, Buffy brushes her thumb gently under her tired eyes.  Shifting down in the bed, Buffy carefully eases the dildo out of her lover before tossing the items to the floor. 

Tara reaches for Buffy and pulls the slayer down on top of her while wrapping her arms firmly around her.  “Sleep.”

Buffy rubs her cheek against Tara’s chest before doing as ordered and falling into a deep, dreamless, healing sleep with Tara not far behind her.

***

Epilogue

Tara smiles as she watches Buffy and Dani running at the edge of the ocean, it taking a few times before Dani was willing to splash in the water, now the dog follows Buffy out however far the slayer decides to swim.

Turning back to the charcoal grill, she carefully places hamburgers across the small area before looking back at the two, shaking her head as Dani finds a new pastime.  Sitting down on the blanket, Tara watches as Buffy spins Dani around before practically launching the dog out into the water.  Shaking her head at the two’s antics, Tara crosses her legs and smiles happily at the sight.  Glancing up as a shadow crosses her, Tara grins in surprise at seeing Oz and Larry standing there.  Patting the large blanket spread out on the sand as invitation for them to sit.

“Nah.  We saw you and thought we’d just stop by and say hi.”  Larry looks out at the water, shaking his head in disbelief as Dani swims back to Buffy, slinging the rope and growling loud enough for them to hear her this far from the ocean.  “She doesn’t really like that, does she?”

“Watch.”  Tara chuckles, her eyes sparkling with merriment.  When they’d arrived at the beach, Buffy had insisted on being the one to coat Tara’s body with the waterproof sun block, and packing everything to the beach with no help from Tara before she and Dani took off running down the beach to work out some of the kinks, Tara staying behind to set everything up.

“Damn.”  Oz chuckles as Buffy let’s the rope go and Dani goes sailing out into the water again.  As the slayer turns to them and waves she whistles loudly and trots out of the water with Dani following quickly behind, the rope still in her mouth as she stops to shake her massive body of the water before trotting up the beach, plopping down on her own blanket.

“Hey.”  Buffy grins, wiping the hair back from her face as she smiles at the two men.  “Sticking around?”

“No, just thought we’d say hi since we saw you here, kinda figured you two would be holed up at the house until Saturday.”  Oz admits, chuckling as Tara tosses a rawhide bone to Dani, the big jaws capturing it easily as she growls and shakes her head for a few minutes as if she was trying to kill it before settling down to prop it up between her two front paws and chews happily. 

“We’ve been discussing coming out to the beach for a little while now, and decided it would be a good day for it.”  Buffy plops down beside Tara after Tara flips the burgers.  Pulling the witch so she’s resting against her, Buffy settles her legs on either side of Tara’s hips and nips gently on her shoulder.  “Today is officially play, eat and sleep day.”

“Sounds like a winner.  We’ll let you ladies enjoy.”  Larry nods his head to Oz as the two men stride off.

“Those two confuse the hell out of me.”  Buffy admits, resting her chin on her lover’s shoulder. 

“Hmm?  Why?”  Tara leans back against Buffy, closing her eyes as strong fingers stroke along her abdomen, following one of the scars.

“They’re always together, but they’re not together, if you know what I mean.  Now, the other three I knew were together, and I have a feeling Darian and Jason aren’t going to deal well with Amy being gone.”  Buffy admits quietly, her eyes shadowed at the thought she couldn’t save the young witch.

“It’s not your fault, Buffy.”  Tara runs her hands gently down Buffy’s legs.  “They’re probably already gone.  I overheard them talking about leaving Sunnydale after they helped take out Ethan.  Honestly, I’ll be surprised if Larry sticks around.  If he does, it’ll only be because of Oz.  Oz will stay because of being a Werewolf.  Jenny will stay because Giles will stay to help you.”

“I know I didn’t get to know them that well.  I hate that they are leaving, but anyone that can get out of this hellhole I say leave as soon as they can.  No sense in tempting fate.”  Buffy places a firm kiss on Tara’s neck, letting the witch shift to check the burgers.  Watching as Tara pulls the cheese from the cooler and place slices on each one before grabbing a large platter. 

Tara quickly stacks up two triple cheeseburgers on the buns, handing them to Buffy before placing another six hamburgers on the grill to cook.  Chuckling as Buffy reaches over and grabs one of the bags of chips, popping it open and dumping a good portion on her platter.  “I would love for there to be no Hellmouth.  Let it close up to never be heard from again.”

“Yeah, but it attracts all the demons to come here, with it being active.  So this is the best place for me to be.  We more or less have control of the town again, and if I continue to do patrols every night, and we take out any groups that come in to take over, all the better.”  Buffy mumbles around a mouth full of burger.

“And it did bring us together.”  Tara trails a finger over Buffy’s foot, grinning as she gets a squeak as the foot is pulled away from her teasing touch.  “Hmmm.  I think someone’s ticklish.”

“Don’t you dare!”  Buffy growls playfully, narrowing her eyes on the witch as she continues to eat. 

“Not now.”  Tara chuckles wickedly. 

Buffy finishes the first triple cheeseburger and munches on some chips, watching Tara for a few minutes.  “Are you happy here?”

Tara blinks and turns to look at Buffy curiously.  “I’m happy with you.  And there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”

Buffy’s eyes soften at the heartfelt words.  “I’m changing, Tara.  I don’t know what, how or why, but inside I feel like things are changing.”

Tara looks intently into Buffy’s eyes and slowly nods.  “You are.  But it’s for the good.  I don’t know how I know it, but…”  Tara places a hand over her heart and presses firmly.  “I know it’s the truth here.  So, it’s not going to worry me, and we’ll take it one day at a time.  I’m sure Giles has plenty of thoughts and ideas going around in his head.  He was chomping at the bit to question you, but I think Jenny might have warned him off.”

Buffy chuckles and nods her agreement as she picks up another burger.  “I think you’re right.  And no matter what we face, together we’ll defeat it.”

“Together.”  Tara leans in quickly to press a hard kiss to Buffy’s lips before allowing her mate to eat the second triple cheeseburger as she turns back to the grill, smiling softly at the way her life’s turned out.  ‘Thank you, mama.  I’ve found my heart and my soul mate.  Somehow I have a feeling you knew this would happen.  Thank you for helping me.  I miss you and love you.’

***

Danielle Maclay smiles down at the sight below her.  “Oh, baby girl.  This is just the start of your adventures.  You and your soul mate are going to have a long and fruitful life together.”  Danielle laughs softly as she slowly fades away.

***

The End

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