Copyright Disclaimer : Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Willow, Tara, Xander, Giles and all other characters who have appeared in the syndicated series Buffy The Vampire Slayer, together with the names, titles and back story are the sole copyright property of Joss Wheldon, Fox and Mutant Enemy. No copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fan fiction. All other characters, the story idea and the story itself are the sole property of the authors. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Please contact the authors for permission to reproduce this story on any other fan fiction site.
Paring : Willow / Tara - Buffy / Other - Set in Season Seven, but as you will see quickly veers away from the events presented. The First is still the big bad, there is a gaggle of SIT's in town but something very different is about to happen…
Rating : M Contains scenes of violence, sexuality and nudity
Shades Of Grey : Part Fourteen.
Buffy carefully adjusted the temperature of the tap before she flicked it up to the shower, the hard thumping of the water against the tub filling the room. She turned looking to see as Owl finished lighting the last of the half-burnt votive candles they'd found on the side.
"How's the water?" Owl asked smiling.
"Hot, I think I've discovered the best time to take a shower in this house."
Buffy smiled back. "You ready?"
"I think so." She nodded licking her lips, loving the way Buffy looked in the candlelight.
Buffy continued smiling as she slipped the curtain back and moved in groaning when the hot water struck her body.
"Mmmmm now that's a noise I love." Owl walked a little closer.
"Mmmm it's so hot, I forgot what hot water was." Buffy turned letting the stream slide down over her tipping her head back to soak her hair.
"You know I could just stand here watching you and I'd be happy." Owl smirked.
"But you wouldn't be clean or enjoying the hot water." Buffy teased flicking out a few droplets.
"Maybe not, but I'd have my fourth orgasm in as many hours." Piper grinned.
"Five." Buffy stuck her head out smiling. "You lost count." She pointed out feeling very, very proud of herself, after all when before could she have ever boasted that feat?
"Hey I'm impressed you managed to keep a tally." Owl arched her eyebrow.
"I always keep track of things that are important to me." Buffy picked up the body wash and soaping it up in her hand began to wash herself slowly.
"Then you need to add the one I had this afternoon dreaming about you to the list." Owl winked.
"What happened in your dream?" Buffy asked feeling bold as she lathered down her arms.
"You and I, making out, hot loving." Owl listed.
"So why aren't you getting in here to wash my back?" Buffy questioned her with a smirk.
"Because right now I'm as wet as the shower is." Owl shifted in her place a little.
"Get in here Piper." Buffy turned rubbing suds down her stomach.
Chuckling softly Owl took long strides to the shower and got in moving her hand to rub over where the suds still lingered a little.
"I don't like it when you make me wait." Buffy pointed out stepping closer.
"Sorry." Owl smirked, reaching to draw Buffy closer.
"Don't, I know you do it on purpose." Buffy looked up smiling at her. "Letting me think, decide what I want before you press any choices on me. I know what you do Piper."
"I like you in control and comfortable." Owl admitted.
"And what else do you like?" Buffy took her soapy hands running them down Owl's shoulders.
"I like touching you, I like watching water stream over you hot body." Piper replied. "I like the taste of your skin, the smell of your heat."
"The way we move together?" Buffy questioned picking up the body wash and getting lots on her hands, making up stiff bubbles before she began washing Owl's breasts.
"Love that, whether it's slow and sensuous or harder and less rhythmical." Owl moaned gently as she spoke her body responding to Buffy's touch.
"And you liked being inside me with Myst?" Buffy whispered as she wiped around hard nipples.
"God I loved that." Owl admitted with a growl.
"Me too." Buffy admitted letting trails of bubbles slid down Owl's stomach, catching in short hairs before they slid down her legs.
"You did didn't you?" Owl checked her voice dipping lower.
"Yes." Buffy nodded. "I... before I met you I would have never believed that I could have enjoyed something like that."
"They always say you should learn something new everyday." Owl winked and widened her stance a little letting suds slip down her inner thigh.
"Have you learned anything?' Buffy questioned letting her fingers following the bubbles downwards.
"Yes." Owl nodded her breath catching slightly.
"What?" Buffy questioned her fingers working the soap into Owl's hips before dipping to cup between her legs making more bubbles with her fingers.
"Mmmm, mmm" Owl groaned in time to the rhythm with which she pushed her body forward into Buffy's hand. "That you're even more amazing than I thought you were."
"Well I know one thing you learned for sure." Buffy grinned as she dipped her middle finger up sliding against Owl's centre.
"Ahhh what's that." Owl gasped out in a short pant.
"I'm not as straight as you thought I was." Buffy growled flicking up against it harder.
"Oh believe me, I never thought you were straight." Owl shook her head. "You're way too beautiful to be straight." She smirked, letting her breath out in short hot gasps as Buffy touched her.
"Oh you didn't." Buffy questioned sliding her finger around and around as she explored Owl's wet soapy body.
"Well I hoped you weren't." Owl admitted rolling her hips a little.
"So you made a point of gallivanting around in your boxers as much as possible in front of me?" Buffy reminded her pressing her finger up under the sensitive hood and then swirling in tight.
"I like my shorts." Owl's teeth caught hold of her lip as her clit stiffened and throbbed.
"Admit it, you like strutting around. You know how good your body is." Buffy wiped the bubbles down off one of her breasts lowering her lips to the water stiffened nipple.
"Mmmm." Piper couldn't stop the grunt and moan that the movement caused inside her. "I… I like to keep in shape."
"Mmmm I can tell." Buffy swirled in the other direction matching it with her tongue.
"Then again you can talk." Owl tried to keep her concentration. "With all your strap tops and see through look at my gorgeous body tops."
"I do not flaunt." Buffy pulled her lips back. "Are you saying I flaunt?" She flicked her finger faster.
"No I'm saying you're gorgeous." Owl gave her a charming smile, her hips pushing forwards and back in time with Buffy's movements.
"Mmmmm thank you." Buffy stretched up and kissed her.
Owl kissed her strongly in return, sliding her hands onto the Slayer's slender hips and gliding them up and down the curves of her hips over and over.
"You're beautiful too." Buffy broke the kiss slipping her hand lower to press two fingers into Owl's dripping body. Owl groaned loudly and her hips flared forward as her hands tightened on Buffy's hips. Her tight body clinging instantly to Buffy's fingers. "I figure I should get you really in need of a shower." Buffy teased as she pumped her fingers in and out easily.
"By making me all hot and sweaty?" Owl shivered with pleasure.
"Yes." Buffy nodded slipping in a third finger boldly and moving her hand down to encourage Owl to brace her foot up on the tub side. In instant agreement Piper lifted her leg and put her wet foot up onto the tub edge. "Too much?" Buffy checked softly as she pressed her fingers in and up before she pulled back out completely only to press in again, the potential's wet and soapy pussy making the manoeuvre easier.
"No, its fine, its more than fine." Piper released one side of Buffy's hips to brace her arm against the wall.
"I have small hands." Buffy pointed out using the strength in her fingers to brace them outwards stretching muscles deep inside and using her middle finger to rub against the delicate but amazing spot she had first found.
"Ahhhhhhh oh God Buffy." Owls hips thrust forward and danced as Buffy toyed inside her.
"Mmmm my spot." The Slayer smiled as she found it easily, pleased with her memory. She rubbed over it strongly feeling the press against her outer fingers.
"Mmmmm maybe we should forget the shower, go back to the room and you can wear Myst." Owl panted her eyes blinking closed, her breath coming out in fast pants as she felt her body trembled and clench.
"After the shower, you're not distracting me again." Buffy growled slipping her fingers together again to stroke in and out of her body fast as she dipped to suck hard on a taunt nipple.
"OOooooohhh Goddddddddd." Owl tightened unbelievably hard inside gripping Buffy for all she was worth as she panted fast and hot.
Buffy kept up the fast pace, her tongue winding over and over as she curled her thumb up bumping it into the potential's centre. Owl's fingers curled, as if literally trying to find a grip within the tiled walls, as she felt her body spark and tremor.
"Christ Buffy, YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS!" She tipped her head back into the water flow as her orgasm pulsed out of her exploding body.
Buffy drew out the orgasm into a long flooding wave of pleasure, waiting until she felt Owl's legs starting to quiver and go weak before she slowed and pulled out.
"Now you need a shower." She grinned feeling very wicked.
"God you're good." Surprising herself Owl reached forward, all be it with trembling arms and lifted Buffy a little in the air and held her tight. The Slayer laughed as she hugged Owl back feeling her form rise off the tub floor. "You going to wash my back." She laughed as she carefully put Buffy down and stepped back into the full force of the yet
"Yes." Buffy smiled and picked up the body wash beginning to wash the potential's long back.
"We should shower at this time more often." Owl smirked letting the hot water soak over her happily.
"Book me in." Buffy used the face cloth to clean down her hips and down the back of her thighs.
"Mmmmm you don't have to book to be in me baby." Piper winked.
-x-
"Mmmmm do I actually have to move?" Tara turned over sleepily and ran her hand over Willow's bare stomach.
"I wish I could say no baby but by the sounds of it the house is all up which means First focus begins." Willow snuggled closer.
"Did you want breakfast in bed sweetie?" Tara kissed the top of red hair.
"Mmmmm I could, I mean I can start doing more research on the staff in bed right?" Willow pointed out.
"Easily." Tara nodded. "So could I." She agreed. "When I have breakfast."
"Is that a baby please get me breakfast?" Willow looked up smiling at her.
"No, no, I'm going to get my baby breakfast, what would she like?" This time Tara kissed her lips.
"Mmmmm bacon and eggs, need fuel after last night." Willow smiled wider. "Using up all that important energy."
"Sounds great." Tara eased towards the side of the bed. "Fruit juice or milk?"
"Mmm fruit juice." Willow licked her lips.
"If I'm not back in fifteen minutes its because I've had to cook for the small army in the house." Tara stood up and stretched out her slightly aching body but she reflected it was a good ache.
"I'll come looking for you." Willow smiled reaching down to picked up her laptop and turned it on.
Tara picked up her robe from the back of the door and slipped it on winking at her lover before slipping out into the hall. When Tara reached the downstairs it wasn't quite the chaos she'd expected. Most of the house had already eaten and were out in the backyard watching as Faith went through a hard workout with the new staff. She was definitely putting on a show as she jumped, struck, and flexed into a thousand different poses.
Tara stood in the kitchen for a long moment watching the dark haired slayer, she moved with a style and athleticism that was hard not to watch she was both strong and agile. A combination that made her as attractive as it did dangerous.
Nearby the group who watched Faith the tall form of the Canadian was sitting cross-legged. Obviously trying to meditate but getting no where as the dark slayer's movements distracted her focus as well.
Softly behind the blonde footsteps entered the kitchen. Tara turned around to see who it was.
"What am I missing?" Kennedy's voice mumbled the potential rubbed her hand to her temple, having not actually looked up yet.
"Good morning." Tara frowned seeing how under the weather the potential looked. "Faith is just getting a feel for the new staff." She pointed out. "Can I get you tea or something?"
"No." Kennedy mumbled again moving over to get some painkillers from the small pot next to the fruit bowl on the island. She cursed discovering it was empty.
"There's more in the second drawer." Tara advised her moving to get the things she needed for breakfast out of the fridge.
"I know." Kennedy snapped. "I have been here longer than you." She pulled the drawer open frowning as the contents clattered around in it.
Tara gave her a strained smile as she moved with the eggs and small remaining portions of bacons to the stove, taking a frying pan out of the dish rack.
"Do you have to cook?" The potential scowled as she grabbed a small bottle of water from the fridge and took some pills.
"Yes." Tara nodded. "Did you want anything?"
"Yes but you've made damn sure I'm never going to get it." Kennedy mumbled under her breath as she pushed to the back door.
"Kennedy, I didn't do anything. This is Willow's choice, if she had chose you I would have backed away." Tara said in an even unthreatening voice as she put the bacon in the heating pan.
"Yeah well its easy to say that when you've just got out of bed with her and what, are cooking her an energy building breakfast?" Kennedy spat the words at the blonde.
"Yes, I guess it is." Tara nodded softly. "But you also don't know anything about me. If it was necessary I would do most anything to keep Willow happy." She looked at the potential. "Including seeing her with a snotty, self centred brat like you."
"I don't have to hear this from you." Kennedy growled.
"But yet I have to stand around while you make comments about me and put me down?" Tara questioned her tone back to normal. "Is that what you expect?"
"What you do is up to you." Kennedy shrugged. "But Willow might not like you mouthy."
"Don't worry Kennedy, I'll tell her we talked and tell her what I said to you but it might surprise you that I haven't been trying to at least be civil to you because she asked me. I was trying to be civil because I hoped I wouldn't have a reason to not be." Tara shrugged back.
"Do you ever get tired of being so fucking perfect?" Kennedy glared at her.
"Do you ever get tired of being so arrogant?" Tara accused back.
"I don't need this." Kennedy pulled open the back door stalked out into the yard and slammed it behind her
The blonde watched her leave with a sigh, she knew this territorial stand off was far from over but right now she just wanted to concentrate on making breakfast.
"Mmmm something smells great." Buffy's voice commented as the blonde Slayer came into the kitchen dressed in white linen blouse and pants.
"Morning." Tara turned trying to shift off the feeling Kennedy had left with her. "It's bacon, I was making Willow breakfast can I make you some?"
"Any bacon left?" Buffy asked pulling open the fridge taking from it the milk and the fruit juice.
"Enough for you and her, with eggs and hash browns." Tara nodded.
"How about for Piper too?" Buffy put the two containers down and took some glasses down from the top cupboard.
"Hmmm I could stretch everything out and make omelettes." Tara offered trying to make due. "I think we'll need to go shopping again very soon."
"Sounds perfect, should I make coffee?" Buffy looked at the coffee maker.
"That would be nice." Tara smiled at her. "Did you get a good nights sleep?"
"I... I've found a good time to have a shower." Buffy blushed slightly.
"So it was you I heard at three this morning." Tara took out a bowl to start making the omelette. "I bet there was lots of hot water."
"There was, it was great." Buffy enthused as she went about making drinks. She looked out into the back, smiling more when she saw Faith had everyone entranced.
"How is Piper feeling?" Tara asked softly, hoping that Buffy would see both the obvious and hidden question.
"She's great... that is…" Buffy blushed again and looked at the witch. "You're spell was amazing, her hand is fine, and her ribs." She frowned briefly. "Something you learned in Italy?"
"Yes." Tara nodded. "It's really just a certain channelling, her body is doing the real work."
"Where's Will, I don't see her out there or is it her turn on the couch?" Buffy quizzed.
"She's still in bed, already hacking away though. She hopes to get information on the staff." Tara started beating the concoction she had mixed into the bowl.
"Ah..." Buffy smiled. "Are you going to be helping her hack as it were?"
"I'm going to feed her breakfast and then probably do some book research. You know how hopeless I am on that thing of hers, that didn't change in Italy." She laughed. "I might help Zoë with her meditation too, she tries so hard but she just can't focus enough." She glanced out to the Canadian in the yard. "I wish I knew why M wanted her here, it just makes no sense."
"She didn't choose the best non-distracting place in the house did she." Buffy noted. "You can ring her to ask I suppose, M I meant."
"The phones are out." Tara relayed softly. "Giles tried to call them last night, I think with everyone leaving the phone lines must have gone down."
"Ah." Buffy frowned. "Maybe Xander knows something about them, he's kinda handy?"
"I think this might be more of a high wire thing." Tara offered pouring the mixture into another hot pan. "I guess we'll just have to wait for the reason to come to us. Maybe we'll find something in the research."
"Here's hoping so." Buffy nodded. "Oh Tara." She added suddenly remembering something.
"Yes?" The blonde turned to the Slayer.
"I'm not pushing or anything, but Willow mentioned you were thinking of a portable protection shield, it's just I have twelve SIT's turning up in two days and at the moment I have no clue what to do with them." Buffy explained quickly.
"Oh right, the off site shield." Tara nodded. "Yes, I could work on that this morning. It shouldn't take more than a day to get ready. Then you could keep then anywhere that you want."
"Yeah I haven't thought about where to keep them yet." Buffy admitted.
"There's still our place in Anya's building." Tara pointed out. "Might not be big enough for twelve but some of them could stay there."
"Yeah, but it might cause problems with the neighbours there." Buffy frowned. "I don't want to upset people."
"Buffy, I think after what we saw in town yesterday the whole city is deserted. I haven't heard anyone or even seen a car." Tara flipped her omelette.
"God yes, Tara you're a genius." Buffy hurried over and hugged her.
"Sorry?" Tara hugged her back confused.
"The houses, next door, surely if we some how boost the battery, the shield you have around here can be extended right?" Buffy enthused.
"That would make it easier yes." The blonde nodded.
"So say if we used the house on either side, using this as the central spot." Buffy expanded her theory.
"We'd just need harnessing totems to expand the perimeter." The Wiccan thought adding to the theory. "And it would give everyone a better chance to have actual places to sleep."
"Exactly, I know the house that way have an extension, they have five bedroom. I think the one that way is three like here. Though they might have an extension over the garage." Buffy racked her brain making plans.
"I'll start on the totems right after breakfast." Tara smiled at the slayer's enthusiasm.
"You are a whiz Tara." Buffy hugged her again tightly.
"I think this is just about done, are you bringing it up to Piper?" Tara checked as she put the omelette on a plate with some bacon. "I hope you two don't mind sharing."
"No, we don't." Buffy smiled.
"Sharing what?" Owl's voice came from behind the pair.
"Breakfast." Buffy motioned to the plate. "Tara made us breakfast."
"Wow, cool." Piper dressed in a pair of tight shorts and a strap top, smiled and walked further into the room.
"And we had a great idea about using the house either side to house the new potentials that are coming in." Buffy stole some bacon. "She's going to make some portal totem's to widen the shield."
"Right after I make Willow breakfast." Tara laughed lightly as she started on another omelette.
"Even better, so does that mean less to a bedroom?" Owl asked trying to sound casual.
"It should." Buffy nodded. "And no one having to rough it in the basement."
"Can't be bad can it." Owl munched on some bacon. "Woo what's Faith playing with?" The movement caught the potential's eye.
"That's the new weapon, I didn't get a chance to tell you about it. We found a reference to it in the book that Zoë brought." Buffy took a mouthful of omelette.
"New weapon? God what else did I sleep through yesterday?" Owl rubbed her brow slightly.
"You were healing." Tara assured her. "And you better start eating or a Slayer tummy will have it all."
"Nah it's okay Buffy's hungry." Piper smiled at the blonde briefly. "You know that weapon sure looks familiar." She squinted a little at the window.
"It's great, it responds to your movements and needs and it only works for Faith or I." Buffy munched on as she talked. "It has spikes, and a shield, even axe blades."
"God really, wow I never thought it... nah it can't be." Owl shook her head picking up a glass of milk.
"Never thought?" Tara stopped and looked at the potential.
"What? Oh no nothing." She chugged the glass and put it in the sink.
"No never thought what?" Buffy encouraged Owl seeing the flash of surprise on her face.
"Its just something Shanti once told me about." Owl shook her head again.
"Please Piper, if there's something that might help." Buffy reached up putting her hand on the potential's arm. Owl turned slowly to look down at Buffy. "Please." She repeated offering her a mouthful of omelette.
Piper shook her head to the food putting her hand to her stomach slightly as if thinking about this made her feel slightly queasy.
"Sh- Shanti, once told me about this mystical weapon called the, Santermi... something, I can't quite remember." She shook her head.
"What does it do?" Buffy pushed her.
"I don't remember, God I never listened to her when I should have." Piper suddenly growled pulling away from the window.
"It's okay, that gives us something doesn't it Tara?" Buffy looked at the witch.
"Definitely, even a piece of a name means we can find something." Tara nodded.
"Yeah but not as much as if I'd actually listened." Owl shook her head. "I'm not hungry, I need to check the bike." She pushed out towards the front door.
Buffy stood there feeling deflated, her feet stuck in place. Tara slowly turned off the pan and finished serving up her and Willow's breakfast.
"Are you okay Buffy?" She asked softly reaching out and putting her hand on the Slayer's arm.
"Yeah." Buffy nodded tearing her stare away from the door. "I should go tell Giles about the clue."
"Okay." Tara frowned and pulled her hand back. "I think he's in the dining room."
"Thanks for the breakfast." Buffy picked up her plate moving through.
The blonde witch was about to say more when the distinct sound of a bike engine being started resounded from the front of the house and then with a squeal of tires the sound drifted off.
-x-
"Giles, we might have a lead." Buffy let her plate clatter as she put it down and she sat across from the Watcher. She waited for him to look up from the book he was buried in. "Owl remembered that Shanti said something about the weapon, its name Santamarsomething."
"Really?" Giles looked up. "I don't suppose she spelled that for us did she?" Giles asked in typical Watcher style.
"No she didn't remember the whole thing, but if Shanti could get info on it you can right?" Buffy pushed him devouring her breakfast.
"Well yes, in theory." Giles nodded closing the book and looking at her.
"Which should tell us what it does or where it's from right?" Buffy didn't look up from her breakfast.
"Well yes." Again he gave the non-committal answer. "But Buffy there is much you possibly don't know about Shanti or Owl for that matter."
"Like?" Buffy looked up at him trying not to snap the word.
"Unlike the majority of Watcher's Buffy Shanti was born and brought up for the first seventeen years of her life in India." He explained and Buffy ate her breakfast using it to keep from interrupting. "She was the youngest Watcher the Council has every called upon to train and work with a potential, she was just twenty two when she took Owl on."
"How old was Owl?" Buffy questioned instantly.
"Just fifteen." Giles looked down at his hands. "There were reasons Buffy."
"Yeah which you should be telling me." She added irritated.
"She was a strong, angry young woman, who needed tempering, one could say taming." Giles pointed out. "The Council felt that Shanti with her Indian teachings and techniques would be good for her."
"I'm waiting for the but." Buffy finished her omelette.
"The but is obvious and you know it Buffy." Giles replied simply.
"They got together, it can't be the first time a watcher and potential or slayer fell in love Giles." Buffy shrugged.
"The pair of them took their relationship too far, Buffy, and whereas no it is not the first time it has happened, it is a line a watcher cannot afford to cross." He scowled slightly. "And when I say it had happened before that is not accurate, never before have a female watcher and her potential engaged in such activities." He clarified.
"That you know of." Buffy huffed. "Not like the Council is really pro anything they consider out of the ordinary."
"The point of that is Buffy that the Council withdrew there advise and their support of the pair. " Giles continued. "Shanti took Owl back to India for a time, there is no knowing what teaching or mysticism she taught her there."
"There's an easy way to figure that out Giles, we ask her." Buffy pointed out and the Watcher pushed the book in front of him away. "And hello at this point isn't any training that Shanti given her going to help us? She's a good fighter."
"Forgive me for pointing this out, but wasn't that her that just left?" He pointed out.
"She wanted to check out her bike, after the accident." Buffy pushed up to stand. "Giles, the First killed Shanti. You know what it's like to loose someone you love."
"I wasn't judging her Buffy, merely pointing out the difficulty in asking her for details. And going back to you point, yes training is good Buffy, what I was referring to was that if this weapon is to be found in ancient mystical Indian texts then it is possible that we have no knowledge of it at all." Giles explained more fully.
"Seems to me that the Watcher's council has yet another flaw." Buffy accused. "They cut themselves off from the one woman who could have opened them up to a wealth of apparently unknowable knowledge."
"It is easy to stand in judgement now Buffy, I have never and will never defend the Council, but taking them apart now is not the issue." Giles pointed out.
"Why don't we just see what we can find out? For all we know info on this thing is as common as anything." Buffy picked up her plate.
"This thing that might be called sannusomehting?" Giles raised an eyebrow
"Santima... something" Buffy told him again.
"What do you suggest I do Buffy, pick up an encyclopaedia and look under S?" Giles frowned slightly.
"Hey knock knock B, sorry to interrupt if this was a big pow-wow or anything, but the girls are getting pretty antsy about seeing you wield this baby." Faith spoke from the doorway making Giles and the other Slayer look up.
"Sounds good. I need to work out." Buffy dropped the plate back down holding out her hand for the staff.
"Yeah and not liking to make a point or anything B, but Owl would benefit from seeing too, I mean I figure she's tired and all but you know, time training is ground take." Faith handed it over with a wink.
"She's gone for a ride." Buffy informed her knowing she couldn't hide the sadness in her voice.
"A ride?" Faith frowned. "B, the gas pipe on that bikes got a fracture, she shouldn't be riding it anywhere."
"The who what?" The blonde looked back at her.
"The gas pipe, feeds gas into the engine, you know that highly flammable crap that makes engines work." Faith explained again.
"I have to go find her." Buffy cursed and threw the staff back at Faith. "Giles where are your keys?"
"B!" Faith stared at the staff that was suddenly back in her hand.
"On the side but Buffy you can't drive..." He pushed up frowning as the front door swung open.
"I can't catch up with her on foot." She grabbed the keys.
"I can go." Faith hurried after her, still holding the staff.
"Fine drive." Buffy ran out towards the car.
"I mean without you B." Faith paced somewhat slower to the car. "The girls need one of us here, and I've done my bit with the twirl stick."
"Then go back in I'll find her." Buffy pulled the door open.
"B." Faith caught the door. "Now I get that this chick is hot okay, that she's distracting you, relaxing you, but there are five other girls back there that need you too, not to mention Dawn."
"Faith..." Buffy was about to snap at her but stopped herself. "Dawn is behind the shield, so are the others... I need Piper safe."
"What's going on her B?" Faith also softened her voice, looking carefully at the other Slayer.
"I... first I don't have to explain myself to you." Buffy looked at Faith feeling the usual animosity between them melt away with the unusually soft look. "Secondly I don't know... all I know is I can't handle her being hurt or worse."
"And you driving to rescue her is gonna get her safely back here? Faith smiled softly and pushed the staff forward. "I'll get her back B, I promise." She vowed.
"I'm trusting you." Buffy felt her hand grip around the staff.
"Well now there's a first." Faith jumped into he car and gunned the engine to life.
"Don't make me regret this Faith." Buffy hissed as she slammed the door closed. With a screech of rubber Faith pulled out of the drive, swung the car and streaked off down the road.
-x-
Faith geared the sports car into fifth as she hit the long highway road. The spot in the distance had to be Owl, it was the only explanation of why anything would be on the road. She only hoped that she could overtake her before something horrible happened. Another half mile she was able to pull up behind her and then as Owl slowed beside her.
"PULL OVER!" She screamed at the SIT.
It was obvious from just the position of Owl's hands on the handlebars, that the SIT was tempted to pull back on the throttle and press on harder. After what felt like a long time of looking at the dark haired slayer, Owl geared down and drew over to the sandy roadside. Faith stopped the car still in the road getting out.
"The gas pipe is cracked." She gave a distinct explanation for what she was doing.
"I didn't even notice my level was dropping." Owl pulled off her helmet and frowned as she stepped again from the bike a little.
"The exhaust is probably backing up too." Faith moved around. "I was going to go to the garage and try and loot some parts later for you."
"And then I took off like a bat out of hell." Owl shook her head running an arm around her suddenly aching side.
"I'm prone to it myself, no harm no foul. B was just in a psycho panic you were going to blow yourself up on her." Faith admitted why she'd been in such a hurry to find her.
"I..." Piper frowned slightly, "I wasn't trying to do anything… that is was…" She stopped. "You should have drained the gas tank." She admonished Faith with a side smile.
"Yeah all this shit is my fault, I'm sure if they dig far enough they'll find out I spawned the First or something." Faith laughed. "Why don't we find a trailer or something, haul this piece of shit back and get to work on fixing her?"
"She is not a piece of shit!" Owl scowled playfully. "Well okay right now she doesn't look so great, but she's a real piece of work." The potential relaxed visible for a moment before frowning again. "Could you go look for a trailer, I... I'm heading somewhere." She glanced up the long highway.
"Away from here eh?" Faith looked down the road.
"The motel on the southern approach road." Piper nodded.
"Why would you want to go to that rat motel?" Faith questioned reaching into her pocket for a pack of smokes.
"Some of my shit is there." Owl looked down.
"That's cool. We can go pick it up then hunt for a trailer. Shame to leave her out here in the middle of no where." Faith motioned to the car.
"You're not thinking of lighting up near my baby are you." Owl relaxed again and gave faith a mock scowl.
"Nah I'm waiting for you to get your ass in the car so we can get on the move and then I can light up." Faith moved around to the driver's side.
Shaking her head and smiling Owl crossed and slipped into the passenger seat.
-x-
Faith strapped down the last chain giving the small wheel of the trailer a kick. It hadn't taken them long to find one deserted in town on a broke down car. The hardest part had been getting it hooked up to Giles' rental car, but even that she had managed. A little bit of muscle later and they'd managed to get the bike up and secure on the back.
"So you got stuff you want at the hotel?" Faith questioned the potential.
"Not want exactly." For the first time she'd first been stopped Owl appeared edgy.
"Need?" Faith corrected moving into the back and pulling off two of the beers she'd 'liberated' from the closed seven eleven. She tossed one to Owl.
"More like hoping will be useful." Owl caught it and flipped it upright.
"Anything that gives the research crew a clue is super useful." Faith encouraged her to get in. The potential got in clipping up her seatbelt, Faith didn't bother as she put the car into gear and pulled out on the way to the motel.
"How's your ribs?" She asked sipping her beer as she drove.
"They've kinda taken a dip since leaving the house." Owl admitted the stiff feeling that encased her body
"The beer will help till we can get you back to magic Tara." Faith encouraged glancing at her.
"Its probably just physiological." Owl admitted taking a sip of her beer.
"Well being in Sunnydale with the First means lots of physiological pressure." The dark Slayer nodded. "You should come out and bang on a few Bringers if you're up for it, really works out the kinks."
"Yeah that sounds like fun." Piper agreed with a nod. "As does a night of loud music and copious alcohol." She laughed.
"Hey we could take over the Bronze, get the sound system going, and the kegs."
Faith wiggled her eyebrows. "Make a real ladies night of it."
"I'm not sure that that'd be safe are you?" Owl hated to sound like a party pooper but she couldn't ignore the obvious facts.
"Okay, okay, how about we get some kegs and some speakers and have a party at the house?" Faith tried to compromise.
"Now you see that, that is my kind of idea." Owl grinned again.
"Hey we could bring in food too, maybe some chicken to BBQ up. Have a real feast." The dark Slayer got more excited.
"Live a little you mean, I like it." Piper nodded eagerly.
"The girls can only train so much and even the witches need a break." Faith finished her beer and threw it out the window. "I'm sure B would appreciate a little fun time too don't you think?"
"Yeah, it'll be great to see her relax, slip into something casual and party." Owl grinned wider still, looking out of the window taking a big swig of beer.
"We could swing by the mall, you could get her something new." Faith leaned one arm lazily over the steering wheel.
"You think the looters left anything decent?" Piper asked.
"Not much of the town is looted and I'm sure that Penny's and stuff will have security so we'll have to break in." Faith grinned. "Slayer strength comes in handy in just such an occasion."
"So we swing by my motel, pick up my shit, then hit town right?" Owl checked the plan.
"That's the plan." Faith nodded as she pulled into the hotel parking lot.
"Cool, hell looks like a world of trouble reached here too." Piper nodded out of the window to the starkly empty parking lot.
"I think everything in the Sunnydale city limits has been deserted." Faith admitted throwing it into park and getting out.
Owl pushed out to follow her footsteps confidant at first but slowing as they got closer.
"Do you want to get your shit? I'm going to check the front office for anything we can use cool?" Faith saw her hesitation and knew if it was her she wouldn't want to be crowded.
"Thanks." Owl smiled and walked towards the room she still had the key for
taking a light breath she pushed on down the corridor with heavy footsteps
stopping in front of the plain wood door.
Pulling out the slightly bent key card from her battered wallet she slid it over the door lock and pushed it open weakly and stepped into the room. The standard hotel bedroom was tidy and clean but the was a tatty denim jacket thrown over the chair
taking another breath Piper walked in going straight to the wardrobe. Pulling it open, clearly deliberately not looking at anything but at wardrobe. Pulling out a large camouflaged backpack the potential hauled it over to the bed and dropped it heavily onto the mattress.
Undoing the black tie at the top Owl upturned it and literally emptied it onto the bed sending clothes everywhere. Rummaging through the essentials that covered the plan green mattress. Piper pulled free a medium sized rectangular box. Pushing back from the bed she carried it almost reverently towards the door, before stopping. She put it down on the TV unit and then walked back into the room going over to the chair. She picked up the denim jacket. It was obvious as soon as she did so, that the small article of clothing would never fit the tall potential.
Her first action was to bring the soft blue jacket to her nose and breathed in softly. Her fingers rubbing over the denim.
"We need you Sha." She whispered. "We really need you." She crossed back over to the TV unit and wrapped the box in the jacket before stepping out of the room and heading back to the main area.
"Hey lookie what I found." Faith tried to break the tension swinging the shotgun she'd found behind the front counter. "Might come in handy eh?"
"Pump action or double barrelled." Owl didn't really look.
"Pump, and a box of shells." Faith wiggled them.
"Good call." Owl nodded. "Shall we get out of here." She added eager to get far away.
"Yeah we got a party to get ready for." Faith grinned moving to the car.
"Yeah, I hope there was a decent electronics shop in town." Piper tried a large grin.
"There was, and when we get there whatever good they have left is gone." Faith put the shotgun in the back. "Did you get all that you needed?"
"I got all that might be useful yeah, thanks for being here, you know." Owl shifted slightly uncomfortably.
"No worries, we need to stick together." Faith nodded. "Are you sure you don't want any of the other stuff in there?" She glanced through the open door seeing the strewn clothes.
"No." Owl shook her head. "I don't plan on coming back here ever." She underlined.
"Then let's roll." Faith nodded that she understood and pulled open the door getting in.
Owl bounced down onto the seat after placing the jacket bundle down on the floor made sure it was safe before she tried to push it out of her mind.
"So you prefer liquor or beer?" Faith questioned pulling out of the parking lot back onto the road.
"Beer, don't you think, though does Buffy drink beer?" Owl queried.
"B? She doesn't drink." Faith filled in honestly. "Well maybe a wine spritzer at Christmas you know but other than that she's not one for intoxicants as far as I know."
"Then we should get wine." The potential nodded.
"We can get that at the store." Faith shrugged. "Anything else on the list?"
"Decent music system, food, music, ooh we could check if the electric store has those disco light things." Piper laughed.
"And strobes, I love dancing in strobes." Faith actually felt herself smile. "Fuck, I missed being at a good party. Jail sucks for that."
"Well we'll have to make tonight a good one." Piper flashed the dark haired Slayer a smile.
"Definitely, because who the fuck knows how long we got left right?" Faith screamed out the window enthusiastically.
"Anything else you'll need to make it a good night?" Owl asked of the Slayer.
"An eight ball of Mary Jane would do wonders, I'd love to see the underage crowd stoned." Faith laughed.
"Now I know Buffy would be pissed if you did that." Piper shook her head. "I think them drinking will be enough."
"Come on, tell me you've never had a drag?" Faith glanced at her.
"You know I can't do that." Owl smiled as she shook her head.
"What? You're just saying, hell you can tell B later it was just bragging if you want." Faith leaned over and slapped her leg.
"When I was fifteen I was well on the way to growing my own." Owl grinned.
"See I knew it." Faith grinned wider. "And come on who ever got hurt with a little bit of smoke right? We're not talking coke or big H."
"Cause you've never tried that have you?" Piper smirked.
"I didn't say that now did I?' Faith shrugged with a smirk back.
"But you're a good girl now right." Piper leaned over and stole the pack of cigarettes from Faith's jacket pocket
"I'd say I was a Girl Scout, but I got thrown out for eating a pack of brownies." Faith winked at her and held her hand out for one.
"A whole pack eh." Owl winked back and passed her one.
"Then a pack of boy scouts." She laughed as she took a drag.
"And which did you prefer." Owl chuckled reclining her seat a little.
"I'm greedy I like both." Faith gave her a feral grin.
"That explains a lot." Owl flicked the ash off her smoke into the road.
"Does it?" The dark Slayer glanced at her.
"Yeah." Owl nodded. "Like why I like you, and why Buffy finds it hard."
"You've lost me Birdy, try dumbing it down a bit for me." Faith encouraged her.
"Well you're confident, sexual, strong and assured, I like that, and Buffy, Buffy should be all those things but isn't." Owl explained nursing the cigarette.
"That's cause B is the 'good slayer'." Faith explained her view on things.
"Maybe." Piper nodded. "Or maybe its just cause she's never tried."
"No one's ever made Buffy feel like sex was there to be enjoyed, with Angel it was like this huge thing that went wrong and then with cardboard boy it was this expectation. Couple in college have to fuck like bunnies." Faith shrugged. "I don't think she ever let herself enjoy anything."
"Oh I don't know." Owl looked out to the side flicking her cigarette but out.
"Do your best not to hurt her okay, not that I'm expecting you would but you know... I did enough of that too her." Faith added her voice lower.
"Why did you do it?" The potential asked bluntly.
"Do what?" The dark Slayer questioned without looking over at her.
"Hurt her." Piper replied quickly.
"Because I could." Faith answered her voice even. "Because it made me feel something."
"Okay I get that." Piper nodded. "But why Buffy?"
"You got to understand something Birdy, when I was called it was like the first thing they told me. Hey guess what you're the slayer, the second thing was you're never going to be as good as B." Faith cracked her neck. "She was like this fucking messiah to them, and then there was me this second, this not as good they expected going to die any day throw away slayer."
"Wow the council fuck up again huh." Piper shook her head.
"I'm not a great fan, they've tried to kill me about a dozen times." Faith laughed flicking her smoke out the window.
"And then they abandoned you and fed you to the wolves, or was that just me?"
Piper shook her head.
"Left me to rot in jail." Faith shook her head. "I heard what they did to you, that was shit." She appraised in her own way. "I guess no one can expect either of us to be choked up that they got nuked."
"I hope not." Owl admitted. "'Cause I certainly didn't shed a tear."
"Wish I could have seen, you know sit on a rooftop nearby with a drink and watch it go pop." Faith laughed.
"Yeah, and cheered or something, with a banner that said 'Screw you assholes'" Piper added with a snort.
"That would have been cool." Faith agreed.
"Oh, look I spy strobes." Piper pointed out of the side of the car.
"Full stop." Faith laughed and pulled the car to a shaky stop. "Let's go." She jumped out heading for the store.
-x-
Buffy paced in front of the window looking out the front porch. Her forehead was in a firm scowl and her lips were in a solid unmoving frown.
"Coffee?" Tara softly rested her hand on the middle of Buffy's back.
"What?" Buffy jumped visibly as she turned to look at the blonde. "No, I'm fine."
"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." Tara apologized.
"No, I'm just..." Buffy looked back out the window. "I'm kicking myself for letting Faith go after her now."
"Maybe she had to get gas or to find a trailer to bring the bike back." Tara offered reasons.
"Or they've been killed by Ubers and I'm here doing nothing to help them." Buffy scowled more.
"They'll be back soon, Faith's a slayer Buffy, she can look after herself." Tara tried to help the situation.
"She didn't take the staff." Buffy shook her head. "And it's not Faith I'm worried about."
"Owl?" The blonde checked unnecessarily.
"She was upset that she couldn't remember the name, remember what Shanti had told her." Buffy nodded still staring out the front walk.
"If anything had happened Faith would have come back, asked for help." Tara reasoned.
"Did Willow have any luck? With the reference." Buffy turned looking at Tara.
"Nothing yet, I should have ask Owl for the spelling of what she could remember. Willow is doing a wider check on the history of staves." Tara explained. "But its a bit of a race against time, with the phone lines being down, its only a matter of time before the ISDN cable goes too."
"Don't." Buffy shook her head. "I mean ask her, I don't think she remembers anything or she would have told us."
"I won't." Tara shook her head softly. "Did you want to come and help with the research?" The witch offered. "It's a little before five, I thought I could start cooking about five thirty."
"How did the totem go?" Buffy asked thinking of the other serious thing on their plate.
"We can do it." Tara nodded with a smile.
"That's great." Buffy felt one weight come off her shoulders.
"I think between us, we can extend the shield to the surrounding two houses."
Tara explained.
"Everyone will love you for that." The Slayer nodded.
"The round bellied statue will be fine for one harnessing focus, and I was thinking about the little stone pig in the yard for the second." Tara asked for the permission.
"That's fine." Buffy nodded.
"Why don't you take a couple of SITs next door and see what's there." Tara suggested softly. "Keep yourself busy."
Buffy nodded again stiffly and moved towards the basement to round up anyone who wanted to go with her.
-x-
"Hey what ya doing Tar?" Owl's head suddenly poked round the back door and looked at the blonde in the kitchen, she was grinning brightly.
"Owl." Tara looked up breathing a sigh of relief. "Are you okay? You've been gone for hours."
"Have we?" The potential looked at her watch. "Crap we have." She suddenly lost her smile. "Where's Buffy?"
"She's next door checking out the expansion house." Tara informed her gently. "Owl, she's been worried about you." She indicated in the same non-threatening tone.
"Worried about me?" This stopped the potential's retreat to hurry around there.
"Buffy worries, it's this thing she does." Tara nodded as she went back to put more cheese on her three oversized lasagnes.
"Oh right." Piper stopped completely. "You can stop doing that by the way, Faith and I bought stuff for the BBQ, oh and a BBQ come to think of it."
"Wow, you two were busy." Tara smiled at her. "I can put them in the freezer for another day."
"We bought a few things, we thought, you know with the weapon and the good news from you and Willow, that we could have a party." Piper explained but it was obvious that she was distracted.
"I think that's a great idea." Tara was forced to admit. "Everyone needs a little time to relax, especially now we can keep the First out of the house."
"We got a music system, strobes and rainbow lights." Owl continued her list. "Oh and drinks."
"You should go get Buffy, she can help you set stuff up." Tara encouraged her.
"She won't want to see me." Piper's head dropped. "I'll just go help Faith with the gas."
"What?" Tara was thrown by the admission.
"I let her down, worried her, I'm best to steer clear." Owl explained her reasoning.
"Hey you're back. I thought I saw Faith out front." Willow came in carrying an empty cup and gave Tara a kiss on the cheek.
"Yes, they brought the things for a disco and a BBQ." Tara smiled at her fiancée.
"Thank Goddess." Willow grinned. "Now that you're home Buffy will stop pacing a big bad groove in the carpet."
"Should I go find her?" Piper asked for direction quietly.
Both Willow and Tara nodded together.
"Okay." Piper took a breath and then pushed out of the house.
"Hey Owl, you're back." As the potential walked up to the door of the five-bedroom house next door it opened and Vi walked out.
"Hey, yeah, Buffy still inside?" She checked.
"She's upstairs clearing out some of the stuff to make room for the newbies." The SIT nodded. "Is dinner on yet I'm starved?"
"Getting there, how does BBQ and dancing in the yard sound?" Owl tried to smile.
"Fantastic, I would kill for BBQ." The girl's slightly southern accent gave her away as she rushed towards the other house.
Pausing Owl backtracked to the car for a moment, picked something up and then went back to the house. Slowly entering it and heading up stairs where the SIT had indicated Buffy was.
The blonde Slayer's nervous energy was obvious as she took armfuls of clothes out of the dressers and stuff them into a closet trying to erase the leftover possessions of the former occupants.
Piper leaned softly on the doorpost watching for a moment.
"Buffy." She said quietly.
"Piper." The Slayer turned around sharply, though it wasn't anger as much as sheer relief and a measure of disbelief that she was imagining the voice.
"Let me help you with that, the ski jacket looks like its about to stage a revolt."
She pointed at the over sized white puffer jacket.
"Why would anyone in Sunnydale need that?" Buffy commented stepping aside to let Owl deal with the unruly clothing.
"They like to go off on expensive holidays." Piper pushed and shoved it down. "Or they play dress up now and again."
"A holiday would be nice, I went skiing once when I was eleven. Dawn and I never got off the bunny hill." Buffy watched her close the closet door and went to sit down on the edge of the bed.
"I bet you just did it to stay with Dawn." Piper watched her move.
"That and I was afraid of the big hill." Buffy admitted putting her hands in her lap.
"I bet Dawn never knew that." Piper stayed at a distance.
"Dawn thinks it was because of the instructor." Buffy snorted.
"Cute was he?" Piper smiled slightly.
"Your usual blonde ski bunny." Buffy looked up at her. "Are you okay?"
"Kinda." Piper replied with a soft roll of her shoulders. "Are you?"
"Sorta." Buffy shrugged back shifting over.
"What's up?" Piper crossed and eased down on the edge of the bed.
"I don't know." The Slayer looked down at her hands.
"Can I help?" Piper gave a lopsided frown.
"Tell me why I can't be mad at you? I want to be mad at you for running out and leaving me to worry for hours and hours but all I feel is relief to see that you're safe." Buffy looked up into dark eyes.
"Because... because your heart is too big to be angry, when all you feel is relief."
Piper replied softly.
"You didn't leave because you were mad at me did you?" Buffy asked her, feeling so weakened by the words.
"No, no Buffy no." Piper couldn't restrain her self from reaching out and cupping Buffy's cheek. "I left to... to try and make something better. Something that I messed up." She frowned at her own inadequacies.
"We can find the name Piper, you don't have to remember it. I don't remember most of the names or the prophecies." Buffy leaned a little into her hand.
Pulling her hand away Piper pushed up and went back to the door, picking up what she had taken from the car. She brought it over to Buffy and held out the jacket wrapped shoebox.
"What is this?" Buffy asked softly as she took it in her hands.
"It's..." Piper took a step back, frowning slightly. "It's all of Shanti's things, that I saved from the apartment." She turned away. "I think there's a book, a diary or something in there, it… it might help."
"Oh Piper." Buffy looked up and down between them.
"I can't look... that is you'd have to go through it and see." Piper took a step towards leaving the room. "It might at least have the name."
"Piper." Buffy put the package down softly and moved to follow her. "You did this for us?" She asked in a whisper seeing how painful it was for the potential.
"We-We bought barbeque, and music, kind of a party thing we thought." Piper didn't turn and continued to move away.
"Did you get pork chops?" Buffy tried to change the subject.
"And white wine." She stopped and turned with a nod.
"Sounds great." Buffy smiled at her softly.
"Oh God Buffy forgive me for this but..." Piper pushed forward suddenly and gathered the Slayer to her pressing her lips full onto Buffy's soft slightly open ones.
The Slayer whimpered as she was caught up and kissed, her eyes closed immediately as she looped her arms hard around Piper's body kissing her back almost desperately. Piper tightened her grip sliding one hand up to cup the back of Buffy's head, the other at her hip as she pressed their bodies together. Buffy pressed back, pushing up on her tiptoes to press even closer. Breaking the hot kiss by only moving her head back a little Piper blinked at the Slayer.
"I'm sorry Buffy, I didn't mean to make you worry." She punctuated her apology with quick kisses.
"I know... you had to... go out." Buffy kissed her back each time any thoughts of the hours of worry melting away.
"But I should have waited, should have talked." Piper kissed and continued to apologise making the kiss at the end of her sentence deep and hot as she slid both hands down over Buffy's ass.
"I'm not good at that either." Buffy groaned as she flexed against the potential's hands.
"Legs up Baby, around me." Owl encouraged squeezing her tighter. "I got you."
Buffy hopped up encircling her waist around Owl's body. Supporting her instantly Owl squeezed her hands into soft ass cheeks and walked slowly from the room they were in to the one next door, carrying Buffy over to the bed and then lowering her onto it, covering her neck, throat and lips with kisses.
Buffy groaned, tipping her head up so that Owl could reach more of her throat. Piper moaned softly and drew her tongue in a soft line round Buffy's neck breaking it with kisses over her jaw line back to her mouth. Buffy wound her hand down the Potential's back pulling at her shirt. Owl stopped for a moment and pulled back panting lightly.
"Are you sure?" She whispered tenderly.
"I want you." Buffy stated surely. She pulled it up over Owl's head giving her no choice but to pull it off.
Wiggling out of it the potential felt it fall to the floor before she pressed right back to Buffy.
"Oh God Buffy." Owl groaned pressing back to the Slayer's hot body, her lips hard over her lover's.
"Yes." Buffy pressed her hips back up, unsnapping the potential's bra and moving her hands around to massage roughly over full breasts.
"I'm sorry baby, I'm sorry." She kissed her over and over grinding her hips down pressing Buffy into the mattress.
"I know I know." Buffy pressed back with her feeling the almost desperate heat rising between them.
"You don't, you don't." Owl kissed and moved her body more desperately. "I let Sha down, and now you, I'm so sorry." She felt hot tears in her eyes as she continued to move against Buffy.
"No, Piper... honey." Buffy opened her eyes seeing the emotion on her lover's face she pulled her hand back up cupping Piper's cheeks. "You didn't, it was the First Piper not you that hurt her." She kissed her again and again her eyes open. "And I was worried you wouldn't come back, you did, you didn't let me down, you came back."
"I was never going to leave you." Owl shook her head hard tears toppled over her long eyelashes as she pressed her lips to Buffy's.
"I'm sorry I didn't have faith in you." Buffy whispered kissing her back caught between the pleasured ache that was building as they pressed into one another and the sting of tears that she felt in her own eyes.
"It's okay." Piper shook her head. "You will next time." The kiss this time was softer, less frantic but no less passionate.
"I was afraid." Buffy whispered meeting the kisses.
"What of?" Piper asked her voice hushed.
"You were going to die." Buffy's voice was almost silent.
"For you, maybe, instead of you, every time, without you beside me or near to me." Piper stopped and shook her head. "Never."
The blonde's lip shivered as she slowly brought her mouth forward, closing her eyes and spilling tears onto her cheeks as she tenderly pressed her lips to Piper's. The potential's eyes closed to as the sweet kiss lingered.
"I don't want to scare you Buffy, but I think I could fall in love with you." Piper whispered opening her eyes and catching a tear on her finger.
"Don't say it..." Buffy's voice was shaky as she pressed her cheek to Owl's. "Don't say it until you're sure."
"And if I'm sure?" Piper breathed.
Buffy moved her lips back the short distance and meshed their lips together again.
"Was that a still don't say it Owl?" Piper pulled back her voice in no way judging or angry.
"I don't think I can say it back..." Buffy breathe out of her nose looking away. "I just... I can't."
"Shush." Owl pressed her hand up into Buffy's hair. "It's ok." She lightly turned the Slayer's head back. "This might sound crazy Buffy, but I know love. I've felt it, recently, before it was taken form me and thought that hurt, it hurts so much it's hard to breath sometimes. At least it lets me know what love feels like, its still fresh for me, it's still easily open for me." She tried to explain how come it was that she was sure.
"I believe you." Buffy nodded softly.
"I know what love feels like for me." She clarified. "And I don't need you to say you love me, if its not what you feel."
"Everyone I love goes away." Buffy shook her head again.
"My track record isn't so hot either." Owl replied. "I'm 1 for 1, you?" She tried to smile.
"Much worse than that." Buffy frowned but then saw the accepting almost strangely amused look and it made her somehow feel a lot less alone in the horrible situation.
"Are you trying to make me smile?" She reached up running her thumb over the potential's bottom lip.
"Is it working?" Piper smile extended the area the Slayer had to trace.
"Why is it every time I think that no one can understand how I feel you reach right through all of it and just know." Buffy gave her a soft smile.
"Luck?" Piper grinned.
"Charmer." Buffy leaned up kissing her again.
"Mmmmmm, do you want to finish this or go party?" Owl asked brushing her fingers over Buffy's side.
"I do want to see your party." Buffy pressed up to her. "Oh and see how good you are at cooking pork chops."
"Mmmm, so you want to go join the gang." Owl moved both hands to Buffy's hips
and pulled her up slightly against her.
"Let them get set up." Buffy moved her hands back down to Owl's breasts. Dark eyes flared and then closed as Piper arched her back into Buffy's hands. The Slayer played her thumbs over stiffening nipples, flexing her hips up harder.
"Can we continue this naked." Piper asked hotly.
"Naked." Buffy nodded unlocking her legs.
Piper pulled back off the bed carefully and quickly stripped off the rest of her clothes. Buffy stayed where she was wiggling out of her skirt and boots, peeling off her bra and panties. Kneeling on the end of the bed Piper looked up at Buffy.
"You know I almost don't know if I prefer you in clothes, in bed naked, or in the shower." The potential smirked.
"You're gorgeous all ways." Buffy held her hand out urging her to come closer faster.
Piper reached her hand up and threaded their fingers together but drew up her body slower pausing to press her lips against neatly trimmed blonde hair.
Buffy's body pressed up into the kiss.
"Oh Buffy you smell divine." Owl breathed out softly over the Slayer's body.
"Mmmmmm do I?" Buffy questioned pressing up again.
"Mmmmmm yes." Piper underlined again. "Can I taste?" She whispered.
"Yes." Buffy groaned the soft request making her grow even wetter.
"Oh Buffy." Piper ran her hand up the full length of Buffy's leg easing it open
as she lowered her head and drew her tongue the full length of Buffy's lips and clit.
The straight touch on her most inflamed flesh made Buffy groan loudly.
"Oh God Piper." Buffy lifted up more into the intimate kiss.
Piper let her tongue lap over and over soft hot lips then nudged lightly into Buffy's centre flicking against the hardness there. Buffy felt the harder stroke and she opened her eyes to see what her lover was doing, as she did her body went rigid and she pulled back.
"Oh please don't stop on my account." The First clapped her hands soundlessly together.
"Buffy what?" Piper panicked instantly and then flipped around standing up.
"Get out." She growled at the apparition.
"What? No invitation to join in?" The First looked at both of them.
"Get out." Buffy pulled the blanket around her body.
"I'm not here to ruin your fun, I just came to tell you this little stay out spell you got your wicked witch to put up isn't going to work for long." The First informed her.
"Is this fun for you?" Owl put her hand on her hip staring at the form of her lover conjured by the First. "Is this what ultimate evil does for kicks? Gets off on watching people make love?"
"Actually I love watching the human form moving, responding, being aroused." The First licked its lips.
"Because you're nothing." Buffy spat at it.
"And you use her body because you know you could never be worthy of such a thing." Owl snarled. "Now get out, you can't hurt us, either of us, your words do nothing."
"I could take other forms Piper, don't taunt me." The First gave her a hard look.
"You think they would hurt me more?" Piper took a defensive stance.
"This rage against the dying of the light is getting so boring." The First sighed. "I'm going to kill you all, one by one, she'll watch you die Piper and not be able to do a thing to stop it. Then I'll kill the renegade and then her." The First smiled at them sickly. "So enjoy the flesh while you can." She disappeared.
"FUCKING BITCH!" Piper picked up her boot from the floor and hurled it with force at the empty doorway.
"It's not worth it Piper." Buffy stood up and moved over to her letting the blanket fall away as she hugged the potential. "It just wants to hurt us."
"I won't let it. Even if I die stopping it I won't let it." Owl snarled at the empty place where the First had been.
"We won't let it." Buffy reached up holding her cheek meeting fiery eyes with her own. "Together we can stop it."
"Together, yeah, all of us, as a unit we can stop it." Piper focused on controlling her angry ragged breath she blinked hotly for a moment.
"No, together we can stop this." Buffy stated again.
"Together?" Owl blinked again thankful to feel her pulse notch down.
"Together." Buffy said again moving to kiss her very lightly.
Piper took a few controlled breaths and felt the tremors in her body settle.
"Does this mean you'll dance with me at the party?" She asked looping her arms around Buffy very lightly.
"I think I can pencil you into my dance card." Buffy smiled at her. "Into all of my dance slots, well other than the cheesy traditional dance with my sister." She leaned to kiss her again.
-x-