Second Chance, by Salix Ardens

Rating: PG-13, for mild "inappropriate" slash and het relations. And language too.

Pairing: Willow/Tara, Buffy/Angel. Also Willow/Xander very mild smuttiness for like one second, because that fluke in "Homecoming" makes me cry. With happiness. Then again, Willow+Tara 4EVA!!!

Summary: Takes place at the end of "Seeing Red", but don't worry! Tara doesn't get shot! YAY!!! Also, Spike's "little indiscretion" is severely punished. By Angel. YAY!!!

WARNING: This is not Spike-friendly. To the fullest extent possible. YAY!!!

*****

"Get nice and comfy, slayer. I'll be back. And when I do, things are gonna change." Spike threw down his cigarette, revved his motorcycle, and rode off into the darkness.

The next day, the Summers home was full of sunlight. Warm rays pooled on the floor of the large bedroom. Tara and Willow, after many false starts, had reluctantly gotten out of bed and dressed.

"Huh. Hey, clothes!" Willow felt slightly odd. She'd barely left the bed the past day or so. She couldn't really remember how long it had been since Tara had come back and they had rebuilt the bond they shared in their hearts and souls.

Tara grinned naughtily. "Better not get used to 'em." Life had never been better. Tara was with the only woman she had ever loved or ever would, and she had no plans to leave her again. Tara chuckled as Willow hooked a finger through her belt loop and pulled their bodies together.

"Ooh, yes ma'am." Willow and Tara shared a searing kiss. Neither of them had any thoughts of this perfection ending, and their passionate kiss turned into a simple hug full of love.

Tara opened her eyes, head on Willow's shoulder, and looked out the window. "Xander!"

Willow was in too much bliss to really care about what had just happened, but she figured there was no way for it to be bad. She let go of her girlfriend and walked toward the dresser. "Okay, not quite the response I was fishing for."

"No, he's here!" Tara walked closer to the window and saw Xander walk toward Buffy, who was inexplicably poking the bushes with a stick.

Willow looked up from the dresser drawer, a smile on her face. "Think they're making up?"

Tara turned around. "I hope so. That's the best part." Her face split into a huge grin, and Willow decided she had never looked more beautiful. Of course, she said that about once a minute.

Outside, Xander and Buffy worked out their differences. They had just forgiven the other their varied indiscretions and were hugging tightly on the wooden bench, when an unexpected visitor arrived in the backyard.

"Buffy!" Xander jumped up from the bench. Buffy turned and stood, glaring at Warren, who began yelling in anger.

"You think you can just do that to me? You think I'd let you get away with that? Think again." Warren raised his arm, a gun held in his shaky fist. Buffy had no time to think, and her natural slayer instincts took over as she grabbed the bench and hurled it at Warren. Before he could pull the trigger, Warren was hit with fifty pounds of wood. The gun flew out of his hand and he fell to the ground, clutching his chest. "Oh God!" He screamed and writhed in pain as Buffy slowly stalked up to him.

"I think I broke some ribs," she observed. "Oh well."

Xander looked dazedly at the man lying on the ground. "Um, are bad guys here allowed to use guns?"

"Apparently yes." Buffy grimaced down at Warren. "Do you think we should take him to the hospital?"

"Do you want me to answer that honestly?"

Buffy sighed. "We should really have a stretcher handy at this house."

"Oh my God, Buffy!" Willow and Tara ran down the porch stairs.

"Are you two okay? We heard yelling, and we came as quick as we c- AH! Why is Warren here? And under a bench?" Willow started hyperventilating. Tara rubbed her back.

"Breathe, honey. I don't think he's in much of a position to hurt us." Showing uncharacteristic boldness, she smiled over at Warren. "Hi Warren! Enjoying our furniture?"

"Bitch..." Warren wheezed. "Ow."

"How come it took so long to get here? You were just upstairs, right?" Buffy inquired.

Willow and Tara exchanged guilty looks. "Yeah, but, we, um...hadtoputoclothesbackon."

Xander grinned. "Heh. Could you repeat that, Will?"

"Shut up, Xander."

*****

Later that afternoon, Buffy and Xander sat in the lobby of the hospital.

"We're here way too much."

"Yeah, but at least we're not here for a loved one this time," Buffy said. "I mean, unless...no, I don't think anyone loves Warren."

"Except maybe Andrew. I mean geez, homoerotic much? Ow," Xander added, as Buffy whacked him in the leg. "There's nothing wrong with being gay! Willow and Tara are gay, and do I mind? No. Do I mind never getting to watch? Yes. Ow. Stop hitting me."

Buffy smiled and leaned back against the hard hospital chair. A young doctor walked up. "Are you the people who brought Warren Meers in?"

"Yup, that's us! Is he going to die? Ow! Stop doing that!" Xander rubbed his bruised thigh.

"Yes, we brought him in. How is he?"

"Well, he has several broken ribs and a broken collarbone. We're doing x-rays now. We think one of his lungs might have been bruised, but it's nothing too serious. He'll be in here for a while, though."

Xander smiled. "So we can go home?"

"Yes, I suppose so. We've contacted his mother, and she's on her way."

"All right, thank you. Xander, let's go."

Xander and Buffy got off the chairs and left the lobby, Xander limping all the way.

*****

Buffy pushed open the door to find a heap of Willow and Tara leaning over the banister. Unfazed, she walked past them and up the stairs. "Hey guys! Been keeping busy?" The two women barely noticed her entrance, and kept on with...whatever they were doing.

As their little make-out session got more and more heated, Willow got an unpleasant feeling in the back of her mind. She pulled away, with Tara whining in protest. They both turned toward the front door.

"Xander!" They yelled simultaneously. "Go away!" Xander giggled and tried to run up the stairs, but couldn't, as his wounded thigh prevented any sudden movement.

"Ow!"

Her anger melting away, Willow frowned. "Are you hurt?"

"Buffy hit me. A lot. Ow." He sat on the stairway and rubbed his leg.

"Wuss. Let's get you fixed up." Willow climbed the first few stairs and hoisted Xander to his feet. "Tara, hon, we can finish this later?"

"Sure we can. It'll be like shampoo! Lather, rinse, and repeat."

"I've got the urge! Heh, I always liked Herbal Essences."

"Personally, I prefer Willow essences." Tara stood on her tiptoes and Willow leaned over the banister as they shared yet another heart-stopping kiss. Xander, who was leaning against the wall, giggled again. The two women pulled apart. "Oh yeah, you should go help Xander. I'll make us some tea."

"Great. Where's the arnica?"

"It's in the bathroom cabinet."

"Thanks." Willow and Tara kissed again before Willow took Xander's arm and dragged him to the bathroom. When they reached it, Xander sat on the toilet as Willow rooted around in the cabinet.

"You know, I can take care of myself."

"Oh yeah? Then what exactly is arnica?"

"Um, kinky lesbian sex toy?"

"You wish. Now take off your pants." Willow froze. "That came out wrong. I meant...well, that is what I meant. But not in the take-off-your-pants way."

"I get it, Will." Xander unbuttoned his fly and pulled his pants off. He sat back on the toilet, clad in boxers with little frogs on them. "Hey! Forgot I was wearing these. They might scare you- how about I take them off?"

"Oh yeah, and then we could have sex!" Willow said sarcastically. Xander raised an eyebrow. "I was kidding! And now I have to rub this gel into your thigh. And wow that was also of the sounding wrong variety."

This was not working very well, Willow thought to herself. "Arnica is a medicine that heals bruises, not any sort of sex toy. Well, you could use it like that, I guess." Xander raised his other eyebrow. "But we're not going to! Because...damn it, Xander! Do it yourself." She chucked the bottle at him. "You know what? While you're in here doing that, I am going to have hot lesbian sex with my girlfriend. So HAH!" She swept out of the bathroom and slammed the door.

"Men. See? I knew I made the right choice," Willow muttered to herself. She opened the door of her bedroom and found every shade drawn, with dozens of candles casting a soft glow over Tara, who lay wrapped in a sheet on the bed.

"Willow? All of my clothes fell off. Help?" If she hadn't been so incredibly turned on, Willow would have burst out laughing. As it was, she just ran to the bed and jumped on it. Tara began taking Willow's clothes off.

"Well, equality in all things! This is what our founding fathers would have wanted."

"Round-the-clock lesbian sex?"

"Well, who wouldn't?" They both chuckled as they fell back and commenced their favorite activity.

Suddenly, Willow pulled away. "Wait, weren't you making tea?"

"What's better, tea or me?"

Willow smiled. "You're better than everything in the universe."

TBC