Willara4ever: Tara can't help but break Willow and make her all sappy. Faith has arrived, let the fun begin!
Disclaimer: I do not own any of these Characters, just borrowed them and wish I did own them.
Rating: PG-13 This Chapter
Feedback: Pretty please…it helps me improve
Authors Notes: Thank you to Willara4ever for always being willing to read or help when I get writers block...life's drama's do NOT help with writing, but having great helpers/collaborators does!
Chapter 12
"So, did both of you get hit on the head?" asked Faith as they walked back to the Summers' house.
"Not that I'm aware of, why do you ask?" asked Tara who was walking in-between Faith and Willow, but had her arm tightly wrapped around Willow's waist.
"Let me see, it is night, dark, you are in Sunnydale, oh and it is still a Hellmouth, and you both are outside, unprotected."
"Faith I can take care of myself," said Tara.
"And I've lived here my whole life, been best friends with the resident Slayer for nine years," added Willow.
"Will, what are you doing out here anyway? I told you I just needed to get some air," Tara asked as she lovingly squeezed Willow around the waist.
"You were upset, I was worried. I'm sorry but I don't like it when the woman I love goes out after dark upset," said Willow catching Faith smirking out of the corner of her eye.
"And do you have it happen often that the woman you love goes out upset after dark," Tara asked jokingly with an eyebrow raised.
"No, most of them know better than to worry me like that," Willow said back with a smile.
"I'm sorry I worried you Sweetie. I love you too," Tara, said conceding that she wouldn't be able to convince the redhead that she should have stayed, she knew with the roles reversed she would have done the same thing.
"Let's get inside and go into my office to talk before we go and deal with the others," said Willow as she led Tara and Faith into her office.
"Great work guys," said Dawn who was still standing watching the path that Tara had taken to leave.
"Don't start Dawn. We have every right to speak our mind and how we are feeling," said Buffy from her spot in the chair.
"Yes, you do, but you had and have no right to gang up on her," said Dawn glaring at both Buffy and Xander.
"The kid is right," Anya added who was now standing next to Dawn and glancing between the others in the room.
"Ahn, please," said Xander running his hand through his hair and letting out a deep breath.
"Please what? Don't call you and Buffy on being jackasses? Don't voice how I feel since you both don't seem to have a problem voicing your feelings; or is it that I am not allowed to because it is you two I am questioning and not Tara? Don't you guys see that she does feel a great deal of remorse for what she has done, for what she has taken from Willow?"
"I guess I don't see that Anya. I don't understand why you are spending so much time defending Tara, she abandoned you as well. The only person here she didn't abandon was Dawn," snapped Xander sitting forward on the couch.
"Hey, she left me as well, but I forgave her when I went to London and she and I talked, and I mean a good heart to heart talk. You two haven't even given her a fair fighting chance to talk or try to understand why she did what she did. Hell, you haven't even asked about her life in London," Dawn said with a steely gaze at them.
"Dawn, it isn't that we don't want to give her a chance, it is that there is no reasoning or explaining why she kept Ceri hidden for all those years and why she won't even consider moving here to keep OUR family together," said Buffy.
"She has a business, friends, and a life in London Buffy. Tara moved on with her life, she doesn't want her and Willow's daughter growing up on the Hellmouth. Is that really what this is about?"
"Yeah, Tara, Tara, Tara," snapped Xander. "I am tired of it being what Tara wants. What about what Willow wants or what is truly the best and safest for everyone."
"What do you mean?" asked Anya.
"Nice office Red," said Faith as she sat down in the plush leather chair and watched Willow and Tara sit closely together on the couch across from her.
"Thanks," Willow said glancing around the room.
"I'm still surprised that you are here," Tara said as she wrapped an arm around Willow and pulled her close and kissed the side of her head.
"Like I would be anywhere else when my best friend needs me," smiled Faith.
"What all did Kelly tell you?" asked Tara.
"She said that you had a rough time with Xander the other night and that things had been tense since then and you were dreading tonight. She knows you T, she knows when you aren't telling us the complete truth and when she should read between the lines. As much as I hate to admit it, that woman is really good at reading between the lines."
"Yes, she is. So you just jumped on a plane and came here?"
"Yep, and you can't tell me that you wouldn't have done it for me if the roles were reversed," Faith said sticking her tongue out at the blonde.
"You are right; I would have done the same thing. So, were you stalking outside or what?"
"Actually I had just arrived in Sunnydale and was making my way here to B's house when you called."
"I have a question," said Willow who had watched the interaction between the two and realizing how much Faith had changed and how close the two really were.
"What is it Sweetie," Tara said smiling at her girlfriend.
"Who is Kelly? I am starting to wonder if I should be jealous or something."
"Oh, Sweetie no, I'm sorry. She is the one taking care of the stores while I'm here. Kelly is one of the few people I truly trust. I met her while I was at University and we shared some classes together. When I opened my first store she came to work for me and became my right hand for a while."
"Why just for a while?"
"Oh she bailed to go work with Jackie, her wife," smiled Tara.
"You'll like her Red, she looks out for Tara and Ceri," said Faith.
"Well, if she looks out for you both, I like her already," said Willow leaning her head on Tara's shoulder.
"I don't know what it means, but I trust her with their lives," said Faith who received surprised looks from both Willow and Tara.
"I'm glad to hear that, finally," said Tara.
"I don't trust people easy, and you and Ceri are family, I am even pickier when I choose people I trust when it comes to you two," Faith said as a blush slowly crept across her face.
"I know and it really means a lot to me that you're here," smiled Tara.
"It means a lot to me as well Faith," Willow added.
"Well, I don't like the idea of anyone upsetting Tara and if there is a chance that Ceri could be affected by it I'm REALLY not OK with it."
"None of us in this room are OK with Ceri being affected in a negative way," said Tara.
"So, any idea on how we go about fixing this," asked Faith.
"I don't know. Buffy and Xander really let it go tonight on how they feel."
"So, give me the breakdown of what happened."
"OK," Tara said with a sigh dreading going over the nights events.
Tara paced around the room recounting everything that had gone on over the evening. She went over what had happened in the room after Willow and Anya left and what had transpired after Dawn went and got Willow from the kitchen.
"Wow, B and Xander are really pissed about this aren't they," Faith said as she got up and moved to stop her from pacing.
"Yeah, that is one way to put it," Tara said raising a hand to stop Faith from coming too close, she knew she was on the edge of tears and it wouldn't take much to push her over the edge.
"Baby, I told you I don't care what they think and what they want. This is my choice not theirs," said Willow who made her way over to Tara and wrapped her into an embrace not leaving her an option on if she would accept it or not.
Tara clung to the redhead as tears started to stream down her face.
For Willow and Faith, seeing Tara cry was one of the worst sights and feelings. They both cared so deeply for her and felt the need to protect her from all the bad the world had to offer.
"Tara, please, don't cry. You know what that does to me," said Faith placing a reassuring hand on Tara's back.
"And me," added Willow squeezing her tighter.
"I don't want to cry, I just want things, I don't know, better," sniffled Tara.
"Well, do you want me to talk to Xander and Buffy," offered Faith.
"Yeah, that will go over well. You defending me; they'll just see it as something more than it truly is."
"What? There is nothing more to read into it. You have never looked in my direction that way because you have been too into Willow. Anybody who knows you knows that the only person you have and will ever want is the one holding you now," said Faith causing the other two to blush.
"Baby, I don't care if they read more into it; I know the truth. I know you love me, I know that Faith isn't a threat to our relationship…" started Willow.
"Wait, relationship? Does someone have information they are withholding? Did you get laid blondie?" asked Faith in rapid fire.
"Seriously Faith," Tara giggled. She moved from Willows embrace to grab a tissue off the desk, wipe her eyes, and nose.
"Hello, I dropped everything and came here and you are holding out details?"
"You are going to bring that up now? While we are dealing with high emotions and Buffy and Xander," asked Tara.
"Hell yes! Red, do you have something to tell me?" Faith asked with a smirk.
"Hey, don't bring me into this…this is between you two," Willow said laughing.
"Thanks for the support and help Sweetie," Tara said now laughing.
"So, relationship? Sex? Come on people," begged Faith.
"Fine, if it makes you happy…yes, Willow and I are a couple again, and yes, I finally got laid," Tara's voice getting softer with each word until the last word was barely a whisper.
"Often," coughed Willow as Tara blushed and Faith laughed.
"Willow!" exclaimed Tara as she turned a dark shade of red.
"What?" said Willow as a huge smile crept across her face.
"That is hilarious. I don't know that I have ever seen you turn that shade of red before T."
"Ugh," said Tara as she looked between Willow and Faith.
"Oh, come here," said Willow opening her arms.
Faith suddenly finding the bookshelf very interesting as Tara walked into Willows arms and felt them wrap tightly around her waist, she looked deep into the redheads' eyes.
"I love you, and I love showing you how much I love you in every way possible," said Willow, the truth coming through in her eyes.
"I love you too," Tara said as she slowly leaned forward and captured Willows lips into a slow and passion filled kiss.
They stood there kissing for several minutes before one of them let out a soft moan of enjoyment.
"Ok, break it up, I draw the line at you two just kissing, and from the sounds of that moan you are going to take this someplace I don't want to know about."
"Sorry," Willow and Tara said together sheepishly as they broke from their kiss and leaned their foreheads together.
"So, is everything ok now?" asked Faith.
"Yep, but no more making me blush," said Tara.
"Nice try, but you are too cute when you blush," Willow giggled.
"You do have a certain cuteness about you when you blush Tara. Sorry I have to agree with Red on this," laughed Faith.
"Thank you both," said Tara sarcastically.
"So, do you want to go out and talk with the others and get this cleared up?" asked Faith.
"Are you coming with us?" asked Tara her eyes pleading.
"Yep, I am here for both of you," said Faith.
"Thank you," said Tara.
"I appreciate it Faith," said Willow.
"You make her happy, that is all I ever wanted for her. Now, let's go get this taken care of," said Faith.
"What do I mean? Ahn, Tara stating that she won't live here in Sunnydale like she said leaves Willow no choice but to move to London to have a relationship with her daughter. She took away Willow's choice."
"No she didn't, Xander. Willow can stay here, she can go to London, she can go wherever she wants. Tara isn't taking any choice away from Willow."
"Anya she is. By stating that she won't move here she leaves Willow no choice but to move to see Ceri," said Buffy.
"So, you both think that she should give up her life in London and move here?" asked Dawn.
"Yes," both Buffy and Xander said together.
"I had no idea you two were so selfish," Dawn said shaking her head.
"Why is it selfish to want our family together? We can protect Ceri and Tara," said Buffy.
"This is a Hellmouth, the danger is greater here than it is in London," said an exasperated Dawn.
"But we can protect them."
"Yes, you can, but why would she move from a safe environment to a dangerous one just because you two can say you can protect them?"
"Dawn, I'm the Slayer…" said Buffy.
"And so am I B," said Faith as the three came into the living room after hearing the last bit of the conversation going on.
"Faith," said Buffy.
"Buffy," said Faith.
Dawn rushed over and gave Faith a hug.
"Hey kid," said Faith as she hugged Dawn back.
"When did you get here?" asked the teen.
"A little bit ago," said Faith.
"Why are you here?" asked Buffy.
"I'm here for Tara," said Faith.
"How did you know?" asked Dawn.
"Kelly talked with Tara earlier," said Faith.
"And then Kelly talked to you," finished Dawn.
"Yep and here I am."
"Why did you think that Tara needed you here?" asked Xander.
"Well, she told Kelly about your encounter the first night she was here and that she was a bit apprehensive about tonight. I figured that she could use some moral support."
"So you just jumped on a plane and came here," said Buffy.
"Yes. Tara would have done it for me without thinking twice, so why shouldn't I do that for her? You don't know the woman she has become. You don't know her anymore and you aren't giving her a chance to show you that person she has become."
"And you aren't biased at all are you?" asked Xander.
"I freely admit that I am completely biased. Tara helped me through some very rough times; she showed me what it meant to have a true friend, a family, someone who will support you because they care. B, you had that all along with your mom and then the Scoobies, I never did. I know why you are fighting so hard against her, I get it, but look at her and Red," said Faith as she waited for everyone to look over at Tara and Willow who were standing near the chair they had sat in earlier. "When was the last time you saw Red that happy? When was the last time she was that at peace? I'm guessing that it was before Tara left. I know the entire time I was around her in London I never saw her look like that, happy, peaceful, and alive."
"What is your point?"
"Xander, my point is simple, you're scared of Willow leaving and that you are going to lose your best and oldest friend. B, you don't want to lose your best friend either. You guys need to look at them, really look at them and then ask yourself if you prefer them like they are now or like they have been for the past five years."
"That is easy for you to say Faith, you live in London where they are going to live, you aren't losing anything," Xander snapped.
"If Tara were to choose to live here with Willow I would miss her like crazy, but I would support her. For me, her being happy and the happiness of their daughter are more important to me than anything."
"It is?" asked Anya.
"Yes, it is," said Faith running her hand through her hair then looking over at Willow and Tara and smiling before looking at the others.
"Why?" asked Buffy.
"Tara taught me what it meant to have a family. She showed me what it is like to love someone so much, that you will give your life and soul for them. She loves Willow and Ceri that way. I won't say I'm not jealous as hell that Red has her, but I won't stand in the way of them either. They're meant for one another."
"Why are you jealous?" asked Willow as Tara knowing the answer stepped behind her and wrapped her arms around her waist and leaned her chin on Willows shoulder.
"T?"
"Lay the cards on the table Faith, it is what you and I have always done," replied Tara as she gave Willows neck a quick chaste kiss.
"I'm jealous because of the love and devotion that she has for you. She never faltered in five years. She is smoking hot, her personality makes you want to be a better person, and she has a heart of gold…"
"You're in love with her," said Xander.
"I was and she knew it. I was in love with her for a couple of years, but she never once led me on or gave me false hope that there could be something. I knew that she was still in love with Willow and that her dedication to giving her daughter the absolute most love and attention was her priority."
"Seriously?" asked a bewildered Buffy.
"Tara told me once that not all actions have negative consequences. She told me that the consequence to her action of giving her heart and soul, her everything to Willow was that she learned and felt what true love was. She told me that she would never be able to explain how much it changed her, but that it gave her a sense of completion. The night she told that was the night I started to get over my being in love with her and started to learn to love her like a sister."
"You said that baby," asked Willow leaning back into Tara's embrace.
"Mmmhmm," Tara said with a soft nod into Willow's neck.
"Let me see if I got this right," started Buffy. "You were in love with Tara, and from the sounds of it you were pretty deeply in love with her and her telling you how much she loved and was devoted to Willow made you stop? I find that a bit suspect and hard to believe."
"It wasn't just her saying it B, it was the look in her eyes whenever she thought about Willow, or when she would tell me about stories of things that went on here after your mom died and then while you were dead. Seeing her as a mother to Ceri, and Dawn; seeing her with the small group of friends that she did let in close. I realized that my being in love with her was just going to cause us both unnecessary pains, so I moved to loving her like my sister. I'm glad I did too. After I got past those feelings, I was able to get to know her even better. The whole time she was teaching me how to become a better person."
"Enough with the Tara love fest," scoffed Xander.
"Why are you so bitter Xander?" asked Dawn.
"Because, she left, she lied and hid Ceri from Willow, now she's trying to just swoop in and take her away from us."
"You are bitter because she left?" asked Willow.
"That and other things," said Xander.
"But you said because she left first and we all know that you lead with the most important in lists like that," said Anya.
"She could have confided in others of us. We were her family too and she just left us," started Xander.
"You aren't so much mad about me leaving as you are that she left and went on with her life and had a kid and we stayed in the same pattern," said Willow.
"Tara, you're pretty quiet in all this," said Buffy.
"I haven't had anything to say or add. I've known Faith's feelings for years, that wasn't news to me. Xander being pissed that I left, well, honestly it isn't news to me either, though it being a primary reason he's pissed well, that is a bit shocking, but I don't have anything more to add. I'm sorry that I hurt you guys, I've said that numerous times, I can't change what I did in the past, but I can only try not to make the same mistakes in the future. I will not raise our daughter on the Hellmouth; and nothing will change my mind on it. As for keeping us safe, being on the Hellmouth increases the chances of danger. In London, Faith lives in the flat below Giles and I, she is there whenever and wherever I need her. I do have some close friends there as well, they are my family just like you guys are, but I'm not choosing them over you guys, I'll say that now before that even comes up, and we know it will. I love my life in London, I love who I have become. I'm sorry if that is selfish and wrong, but I like confident me better than terrified me."
The room was silent as everyone took in what Tara had said, and what the others had revealed over the night.
Faith leaned up against the railing on the front porch of the Summers' house. She was watching the stars, reflecting on what had just gone on.
"Faith," said Buffy.
"Oh, hi Buffy," said Faith. "I didn't hear you come out."
"I've been practicing my Slayer stealth," Buffy said offering Faith a soft smile.
"I think you have it mastered."
"You OK?" asked Buffy.
"Yeah, I'm fine. It was just an emotional night."
"You and Tara really are close aren't you?"
"She's my best friend and my family. Seeing her upset really bothers me."
"It was a pretty intense night. You are right, at least for me."
"What do you mean," asked Faith leaning back against the railing.
"Well, I'm scared of Willow leaving and us never seeing her again, and you were right we don't know Tara anymore and none of us have given her a chance to show us," said Buffy sitting down on the chair across from Faith.
"They'll be back Buffy you guys just need to have to trust them. As for who Tara is now, you are missing out."
"Are you sure you aren't still in love with her?" asked Buffy.
"Positive, and even if I were, you saw her and Willow, they are meant for one another."
"You know, Tara said you had changed, she wasn't kidding. I like the new you," said Buffy.
"Thanks, I like the new me too. What is it going to take to have you and the others at least try to get to know this Tara?"
"I can't speak for the others, but I'd like to get to know the Tara you know," said Buffy.
"Thanks B," Faith said offering Buffy a genuine smile.
"How long are you going to stick around Sunnydale?"
"Until Tara tells me it is ok for me to go back to London. I know that Xander is going to take a while to convince, I'm hoping that maybe you'll help me with that," Faith said taking Buffy's hand and looking into her eyes.
"I think I can do that," Buffy said.
"I'm going to bed now that everyone is gone," said Dawn.
"Good night Dawnie," both Tara and Willow said as they hugged the teen.
"You ready for bed?" Tara asked Willow.
"I think I'd like to go up to the room, I'm not certain that I'm ready to sleep yet or not."
"And what did you have in mind Ms. Rosenberg?"
"Well, I have a couple of ideas. I'd love to show you and see which you prefer," said Willow waggling her eyebrows.
"Well, how could I refuse that offer; take me to bed," said Tara.
"My pleasure and soon it will be yours," said Willow as she took Tara's hand and led her upstairs.
"Xander, are you going to listen to Faith and try to get to know Tara or are you going to continue being a bitter fool and miss out on spending time with them?" asked Anya.
"Anya, I don't know yet. I need time to think through all that went on tonight."
"Well, I intend on spending time with her, Willow, and Ceri."
"Do what you want. It isn't like I'd be able to stop you anyway," said Xander.
"Xander Harris, I love you with all my heart, but you are so stubborn at times," snapped Anya.
"I love you too Anya, but I told you I need to think through what went on tonight."
"Fine," said Anya.
TBC…
