TITLE: This Time Around AUTHOR: Christina Jones

RATING: PG-13 (At this point: incomplete)

DISCLAIMER: All Character belong to someone and I get nothing but the pleasure of writing*

DISTRIBUTION: Ask and you might receive SUMMARY: Dawn is back from college (T/Dw).

FEEDBACK: Let me know if I should stick to my day job

NOTES: My First Fan Fic...Not Beta read...let me know whether I should finish it



Walking into the living room, Dawn scanned the place for signs of life. "Man! Doesn't look like Buffy's being here since I left for college", she said aloud. "Hello", a voice rang from upstairs. Dawn couldn't stop the smile that lit her face when she heard Tara descending from the second floor. She turned to face Tara, slightly taken aback by the beauty. "Tara, hi!" They met in a long, loving hug. Dawn had missed the protected feeling the Tara had always given her. "How are you?" Dawn asked Tara kissed her lightly on her forehead. " I'm good. Buffy decided to move in with Willow, so I've had the place to myself", she then touched Dawn's cheek, "I'm glad to have some company. Welcome home." And with that Tara wrapped Dawn in her arms again. Loving the feeling of having the younger woman next to her, but not wanting to freak her out, Tara release her hold, taking Dawn by the hands. "Come on. I'll help you move your stuff upstairs."

As Dawn returned her belongings to their rightful closet space, she thought about how good it felt to be held by Tara. "Wil must have been insane to leave Tara." Willow had come clean to Tara about her feelings for Buffy and chose to be with Buffy instead of Tara. Tara had been understandably hurt, but loved both Wil and Buffy, so she decided to let them be. Dawn shook her head, "I wish I had been here for her. Like she always was for me." "Dawn dinner's ready", Tara called from downstairs. She thought a nice quiet dinner would be great for Dawn. So much had changed in the last 4 years, with Buffy and Willow hooking up, Giles moving back to England, and Dawn being away at school, Tara was starting to feel so lonely. And so hor. "Stop it!" Tara scolded herself as thoughts of Dawn's lips crept into her mind. College had definitely done wonders for Dawn's .umm.physique. A smile inched across Tara mouth. " What are you smiling about?" Dawn inquired as she breezed in to the dining room. Tara forced her eyes to the floor, hoping not to betray any of the many things that were polluting her thoughts. "N-nnn-nothing, just laughing at s-s-ssomething Xander said earlier", she lied. Dawn just smiled and nodded, noting that the Wicca had stuttered for the first time in a long while. She walked past Tara to the refrigerator, grabbing a Pepsi. When she turned around, Tara noticed the rainbow stripe across the front of her white shirt. Dawn, this time, caught Tara looking at her. "What?" she inquired. Tara shook her head, letting her hair fall in her face. Dawn reached up and pushed the blonde locks away, "Tara, are you ok?" Tara stepped out of Dawn's reach, "I'm f-f-fine." Dawn spoke softly, "I knew having me back in the house would be too much." Tara's eyes shot up at Dawn as she stepped forward, "Dawn, this is your home where you belong." She looked back at Dawn's shirt," Your shirt just caught me by surprise, that's all." Dawn looked down at herself, " Ohhhh", she hadn't even thought about what Tara reaction to her shirt might be. " You don't like it?" Tara gave Dawn a lopsided smile, "I like it. It's cute on you." "Thanks" Dawn said, "My ex bought it for me." "Your ex?" Tara was truly out of the loop. "Ex as in ex-girlfriend?" Dawn's eyes dropped to the kitchen tiles, "Uhh. yeah.I thought Buffy would have told you." She suddenly felt very self-conscious. "I'll take it off." Dawn turned to run out of the kitchen. Tara felt like her feet were glued to the floor. "Dawn's a lesbian"

TBC...