Chapter 5: Surf's Up

*****Three Days Later*****

Buffy was helping her mother move things into her new gallery. The storage truck from Sunnydale had arrived driven by movers. Keith—her mother's new special friend—was helping unpack.

Willow and Tara arrived with coffee and donuts. "We brought sugary goodness," Willow said, holding up the box of donuts."

"That's the best kind of goodness," Buffy said, grabbing the box and sitting down on a newly unloaded table. "You two are the best."

"Since Xander hasn't moved here yet, we thought we'd lend you a hand," Willow said. "Why didn't the movers unload?"

"They would have, but it cost more," Buffy said. "Since I'm stronger than any mover, I told Mom not to have them do so. I didn't know she'd have a special male friend already."

"You gotta keep the mystical muscles on the down low," Willow said with a grin.

"Yes, I know," Buffy said. "I'm trying, but it's not easy."

"Dick said he'd be here to help, too," Tara said.

Keith came in carrying a box and heard the name. "Dick Casablancas?" he asked.

Tara nodded. "Yes. Do you know him?" she asked.

"Yes. He was one of my daughter's chief tormentors in high school. His brother was a serial killer that tried to kill Veronica, so you could say I know him quite well," Keith said grimly.

Willow exchanged a look with Tara. "I'm sorry. I wouldn't have asked him to help if I knew that," she said.

"He-He's in our summer class and has-has been very nice to us," Tara said, feeling anxious.

"It's fine," Keith said. "Veronica fell in love with his best friend, and even though she and Logan could never make it work, I know he still cares deeply for Veronica. Logan is Dick's only real family as his dad is in jail for fraud. Dick's mother lives in another country with her new husband."

"He's had it rough," Tara said. "Guys like him usually don't see me, but he does. He's been a gentleman."

"He knows you're dating Willow, right?" Keith asked, giving her a gentle smile. There was something about Tara that made a man want to protect her. Did Dick actually respond to that or was he planning something nefarious with her? Keith couldn't help but worry.

"He knows," Willow said with a grin. "He said he's never been friends with lesbians. I think that's our appeal. We find him amusing, but don't worry. Anyone that tries to hurt Tara will regret it." A disturbing gleam came into her eyes at her proclamation.

Somehow, Keith believed the young lady. At first glance, Willow came across as an intelligent, friendly young lady—similar to Tara. However, when she got that look in her eye, he felt a chill. Willow was much stronger than she appeared and probably well able to handle Dick or any guy like him.

"Not if I hurt him first," Buffy said.

Keith grinned. "Such strong women—I love it," he said, winking at Joyce.

Joyce smiled warmly at him. He was so great—she was having trouble not being suspicious. Ted had seemed great, too.

"Did Mom mention that I'm an expert in several forms of martial arts?" Buffy asked Keith.

"No," Keith said in surprise. "She just said you were gifted and capable."

"Which she is," Joyce said before picking up a small box and moving to the back room.

"Well, Beethoven was gifted at playing the piano," Buffy said. "I'm gifted at kicking ass—I mean butt."

Tara giggled. Trying to pass off a slayer as just a gifted fighter seemed ludicrous, but they had to come up with some reason to explain Buffy's physical abilities.

"Really? Maybe you can show Veronica some moves when she returns," Keith said. "She's about your size, but she carries a taser. Unfortunately, there's been a few situations where self-defense would've come in handy."

"I'll be happy to," Buffy said, flashing Keith a beaming smile. She really liked this guy. He had a cool job and experience both winning and losing. His wife left him for another man—a married man at that. His daughter sounded like a girl Buffy would really like, so she hoped this new romance blossomed. Buffy had always wanted a sister.

The man under discussion did arrive and brought Logan, who was anxious to have a do-over with both Buffy and Willow.

"Help has arrived," Dick said, already carrying a box he'd grabbed from the back of the truck. Logan had one, too.

"Great," Buffy said. "Put those against the wall. Mom will tell us where to move stuff after we unload."

Logan put his down and looked at Keith. "Good morning, sir," he said. He'd always hoped Keith would like him, but he never felt he'd gotten the approval he sought from the man he greatly admired.

"Good morning, Logan, Dick. It's nice of you two to lend a hand," Keith said cordially.

"Always happy to help pretty ladies," Dick said, wiggling his eyebrows at Tara, who laughed in amusement.

"My mother would've been very excited to have an art gallery in town," Logan said to Buffy. "She was a collector."

Joyce came back into the room, overhearing. "I wish I could've met her as I love other art lovers," Joyce said. She held out her hand to Logan. "Logan, it's good to see you again. Thanks for your help."

"Glad to help. That's Dick. You met him at the beach with me," Logan said, pointing to him. The woman was warm like all of the women from Sunnydale. Genuine warmth still managed to catch him off guard—it made him ache for his mother, who radiated warmth and kindness.

"Great to see you again," Dick said, shaking her hand.

"You, too," Joyce said. "I'm glad that the girls have met some nice guys at the school."

"I don't think anyone's ever accused us of being a nice guy," Logan said with a grin.

"Speak for yourself. The neighbor next door to my house growing up always said I was nice 'cause I carried in her groceries," Dick said with a smug smile.

"Didn't she have a very hot daughter three years older than us?" Logan reminded him.

"Yep," Dick said, popping the p and grinning.

Tara and Willow kept laughing at him, making Keith relax as he saw why they liked Dick. Dick was acting the lovable oaf—he could be decent when he wanted. Keith tried to keep his skepticism to himself.

Buffy went back outside to carry in a large trunk. It didn't dawn on her that she shouldn't be seen carrying it, and all three men were staring at her surprise when she came in with it.

"Buffy, why don't you let me help you with that?" Keith said.

Joyce realized the situation and said, "Oh, don't worry. That one is empty—it's an antique trunk," she said.

Buffy flashed her mother a grateful look and quickly took it to her office and put it out of sight. Willow followed her in there. "Be more careful, Buffy," Willow said.

"Yea, I know," Buffy said. "It's just been so long since I've had to be secret-girl."

"These guys might be a bit open minded," Willow said. "We told Dick we were Wiccans, and he didn't seem phased by it."

"He probably didn't know what you even meant," Buffy said with a grin. "And Wiccan is a far cry from vampire slayer."

It didn't take long for them to get the place unpacked. Logan couldn't help but observe how Keith responded to Buffy's mom.

"So is your mom dating Keith?" Logan asked Buffy when she went outside to shut up the truck.

"I think it's more like getting to know each other at this point," Buffy said. "My mom doesn't really date much, but he seems pretty great."

"He is," Logan said. "When my psycho father tried to burn Veronica alive, he jumped through actual flames to save her. And he still let her date me."

"That's amazing," Buffy said, impressed. "You must make a good impression on some people then, huh?"

Logan grinned. "I don't always make a good first impression, but I'm pretty good by the third or fourth or tenth impression," he said.

Buffy laughed. "I bet," she said.

"Look, I really am sorry for getting so worked up about Willow," he said. "I just don't trust easily."

"Hey, it's okay," Buffy said. "I get it. We all have our baggage. My high school blew up on graduation, and several people died that I knew. Willow's best friend was killed the week we first met. None of us are going to be perfect all the time."

Logan wasn't used to easy forgiveness and found her even more appealing. "So do you and your friends have plans after this? Dick and I were going to go surfing. Have you ever been?" he asked.

"Not in years," Buffy said. "I was born and raised in Los Angeles and did some surfing when I was in middle school. But I haven't done it in years. I would bet money Tara and Willow haven't."

"Do you think they'd come? I really want to get to know Willow," Logan said.

"She's a redhead, so she does burn easily," Buffy said. "But I'm sure she'll come for a bit."

After saying goodbye to the parentals, Buffy and the girls followed Dick and Logan to their favorite beach location, so they'd know where it was. Then they promised to meet them in a half hour and went to get their swimsuits. Tara had a beach umbrella, and Buffy had a cooler for some drinks. When Buffy and her mom tried to have a beach day, it'd gotten interrupted, so she was excited to do something so completely normal.

Logan, of course, stopped at the nearby beach store and bought an extra surfboard that he thought a girl would like. He didn't buy the pink one as none of the girls struck him as that carefree. He went with the purple with gold stars. Dick started to grab a six-pack of beer, but Logan held up his hand. "It's not even noon yet, and we want these girls to trust us," Logan told him.

Dick looked sheepish. "I know," he said. "It's just habit."

They pulled up to the beach. Dick went around and opened his tailgate and sat on it to wait for the girls. Logan came around, leaning against it. "You know I called and spoke to Trina about Willow," he said.

"What did she say?" Dick asked.

Logan shrugged. "You know Trina. 'Oh, yea? That's cool. Tell her I said hi,'" he said, rolling his eyes in disgust.

"Seriously? She didn't seem interested in coming to town to meet her?" Dick asked in surprise.

"She never indicated she would," Logan said. "Before I could pin her down, she hung up."

Dick winced. "So what are you going to tell Willow? She seemed really excited at the thought of a sister," he said.

"Yea, I know," Logan said. "But I can't tell her the truth. When Trina does come to town, she'll be all sunshine and roses with her—trying to earn a new admirer. Hopefully, she won't stay in town long enough to disillusion Willow."

"Let's hope," Dick said. They were silent a long moment. Then Dick asked, "Do you know what Wiccans are?"

"It's a pagan religion—tree huggers and witchcraft," Logan said. "I don't know exactly."

Dick's eyes widened. "Witchcraft? Seriously?" he asked.

Logan looked puzzled. "Why are you asking me about a religion? Planning to take a religious studies class in the fall?" he asked.

Dick shook his head. "No. Tara and Willow told me that they were Wiccans," he said.

"Really?" Logan said with interest. "I've never met any serious Wiccans. That's cool—they are so different from other girls."

"Witches, though?" Dick asked, worried.

Logan laughed. "Dude, you know there's no such thing as real witches," he said. "It's just New Age stuff—crystals and respecting Mother Earth."

"Do you think Buffy is a witch, too?" Dick asked. "Because it'd be your luck to fall for a girl that could actually turn you into a toad if you broke her heart!"

"Here they come," Logan said, not wanting to touch that crazy statement.

Willow and Tara weren't really interested in surfing, but they assured Logan and Dick they'd be happy to watch them.

"I'm going to join you," Buffy said. "I don't have a board, though."

"That's okay," Logan said, smiling. "I bought you one."

Buffy was surprised but pleased at her board. "That's really sweet of you," she said. "I love purple."

"They had a pink one, but none of you seemed like pink-type girls," Logan said.

"Once upon a time I was," Buffy said.

Logan's mind instantly thought of another blonde pixie girl who was a pink-type girl once upon a time, too.

"Hey, Buffy, are you a Wiccan, too?" Dick asked. "Willow said she and Tara were Wiccans."

"No, I'm not a practicing witch," Buffy said, not thinking. Then she looked at Willow, whose eyes spoke volumes. "I mean, I'm not a practicing Wiccan."

"Logan said it was tree huggers, New Age, and witchcraft," Dick said, giving the girls a quizzical look.

"Come to our dorm sometime, Dick, and we'll tell you all about it," Willow said.

Dick's eyes widened. "Really?" he asked.

"There will be no shenanigans," Willow said, wagging her finger.

Logan snickered at Dick's crestfallen expression. "Give it up, Dick," he said, slapping his friend. Then he grabbed his board.

"Are you ready?" he asked Buffy.

She nodded and turned to Willow. "Wish me luck," she said.

Willow made a pffing soud. "As if you need luck," she said.

Buffy grinned and followed the guys to the water. She paddled out with them and watched as they got a wave each. It was clear the boys were experienced at surfing. To Buffy, it looked fairly uncomplicated, so she didn't wait for any instruction but paddled out to catch a wave.

The water surrounded her; the smell of salt filled her nostrils. She grinned at the pelican she saw dive down for a fish. The world of slaying and death seemed so far away—the hellmouth began to recede. Then she caught her first wave—it was like riding a bike. Her slayerness combined with her natural athleticism had no trouble balancing on the board.

Logan paddled next to Dick to watch Buffy. "She's a natural," Logan commented.

"That girl is so hot she makes my teeth sweat," Dick said, watching. "If you don't ask her out, I will."

Logan grinned. "Doesn't she scream relationship girl? I'm not sure I'm ready for that," he said.

"So talk to her and find out," Dick said, paddling to catch another wave.

They surfed for about a half hour and then went back to the beach to greet Willow and Tara.

"That was impressive!" Tara said, smiling at the trio.

"Buffy was impressive," Logan said, flashing her a look of admiration. "I've never seen anyone just get up on a board and surf who hasn't done it in years. You didn't wipe out once."

"Well, I'm gifted athletically," Buffy said with a shrug. "And I have done it before—it's just been years."

"You girls want to give it a try?" Dick asked, throwing himself down on the sand next to Tara.

"Probably not a good idea since I can't actually swim," Tara admitted.

Everyone looked at her in surprise—even Willow. "Seriously? You can't swim?" Buffy asked. "How is that possible?"

"I didn't grow up near the ocean, and there were no pools at home," Tara said, looking bashful. "There was a lake my dad and brother went fishing in, but they never took me."

"Oh, baby, I wish you told me that," Willow said, reaching for her hand. "I will teach you. There's a pool on campus."

"No, I will!" Dick said. "I have a pool at my childhood home. No one around to stare."

"Thanks," Tara said.

"You know I will be there, right?" Willow said, arching her eyebrow. "Not trusting you alone with my girl."

"Afraid I might convert her?" Dick asked, wiggling his eyebrows.

Of course, they laughed at his blatant come-on. "No, Dick, I'm not worried," Willow said. "Not even a little bit."

Buffy and Tara both kept giggling at the thought of Dick trying to seduce Tara.

Then they were interrupted by a group of five rather large men. "Logan Echolls?" one of them asked. The man had an accent that sounded Eastern European.

Logan stood up, instantly tense as he recognized one of them as a companion or friend of Gorya Sorokin, the guy he'd beat up the last week of school for posting a fake sex tape of Veronica with her boyfriend Piz.

This couldn't possibly be good…

******TO Be Continued******

Of course, I had to bring in Gorya, but this will NOT resemble "Tear Away the Mask" in any way. Thanks for reading. Reviews are super!