Chapter Three

Disclaimer: As many of you can probable tell, and with this being the fan fiction section of the site, I do not own Buffy in any way.

Rating: PG-13

Couples: W/T (obviously), B/S?, F/?, X/?

Summary: Tara was living a happy life in Southern California when her father was elected major of a small town called Sunnydale. With a promise to the public to keep, her father decides to move the two of them there, in the hopes of turning the town around.

Note: There are no vampires, demons, witches or anything of the like. Sunnydale is still the Hellmouth; however, this is just a nickname.

She could see that the window had been smashed open and that whoever was there was escaping. She lunged forward and tackled the one in the back. Tara twisted the other girl around, and couldn't believe her eyes.

In front of her stood the redhead. But why? She continued to simply stare at the other girl, taking in her appearance, praying that this somehow wasn't the same girl. There was no mistaking it though, the two were one and the same.

Tara finally found herself able to speak. "Why?"

Green eyes followed blue. "Why what?" Did this girl honestly not realize what she was doing?!

"Why did you…"

"Break in?" The girl responded sheepishly.

Tara couldn't help but wince as she heard the girl speak. Goddess, her voice is so beautiful. "Yeah."

"We needed the stuff." was the redhead's response. " Please don't turn me in." her voice came out in a fearful whisper. "I don't wanna go to jail."

Before she even realized it, Tara found herself answering the girl. "I won't." This was silly. She should be calling her father. This was the reason they'd come here. To help people like this.

As if reading her thoughts, the other girl asked just that. "Why'd you move to the Hellmouth?"

Tara looked at the girl quizzically. "Hell…mouth?"

"You don't know about it?" Tara shook her head. "It's what we all call Sunnydale."

"Who's we?"

The redhead quickly looked away. "I should go."

As she turned to move away, Tara's hand shot out and grabbed her. "No. Stay." A pause. "Do you have a name? I'm Tara. Tara Giles."

Blush filled the other girl's face. "Willow. Just Willow." She seemed to hesitate. "You never answered my question. Why'd you come here?"

"To help people. To find you."

The smaller girl froze. What did she just say? "Wha-" She could feel her entire face flush.

Tara didn't let go. "You never really answered my question. I asked why. You only gave me half an answer."

"I told you," Willow's face still matched her hair. "We needed it."

Buffy quickly made her way into the old school library. "Faith!" The brunette spun around at the call of her name. "Where's Willow?!"

"Chill B." Faith's eyes darted back and forth. "There was an accident. We were…caught. I got away but-" She was cut off as she felt the other girl slap her.

"I told you she should have stayed."

"Red wanted to come, B. Who was I to tell her no?"

"We're supposed to look out for her Faith!" The small blond tried to compose herself. "You know she's…"

"Yeah, I know." A pause. "It's just, you know, every gal for herself. There was no way that we woulda both gotten away. …Maybe she'll get help."

Buffy glared at her. "People like that don't care about people like us." Within her eyes laid unseen tears.

"I know."

"Look Faith, I…I'm not mad. Okay? It's just Will's one of my best friends. She's like a sister to me. You too…Faith. The day I met the two of you, was the best day of my life."

"Mine too." A pause. "We should really stop with the mushy feelings thing. Let's just break the news to the guys."

"You take Xander and Fred. I'll take Spike and Gunn." The two left.