REPLIES TO REVIEWS
Sink of Swim - GET OUT OF MY HEAD! You promised! Definitely defending the ones she loves brings out her Momma Lioness. But you gotta wait and see. (I always figured Tara was one to take what was dished out to her, but she would defend to her last breath the people she loves. Kind of the self-sacrificing kind, you know?)
Whiro - Glad to hear from you! If anyone sees anything major flaw wise or even something that irritates where I spelled something wrong, grammar, whatever, let me know. I'll try and make the changes and update the chapter to correct!
Just Me - You can relax - Tara and Buffy are okay. The twist is going to be relationship wise. Thanks for the praise! You can't know how happy it makes me to get reviews! I haven't really decided what I'm going to do with Tara and theCoven. I kind of put it in there for future possibilities. To let you know, there will be a move made by Willow but not for another three or so chapters. By then relationships will be answered also.
Kim - Great to hear from you on both stories. Now that I'm getting a few more reviews for Family I feel a little better about that story. Of course, that was my debut as a Fanfiction writer, and this is only my second story. Hopefully I'll get better the more I write! LOL (If not, somebody shoot me and put me out of everyones misery.)
Chapter 6
As Tara heads down the stairs the next morning, she sees Buffy asleep on the couch. Frowning slightly she walks over gently covering her with the throw.
Waking up Buffy looks confused for a moment before realizing that Tara was trying to cover her up with a blanket. Stretching and yawning she smiles embarrassedly at the blonde. "Good morning."
Tara shakes her head, "I'm sorry I woke you. I didn't mean to make you sleep on the couch, you could have slept upstairs. The bed was big enough for both of us."
Buffy chuckles quietly. "I would rather not have you waking up finding yourself wrapped up in my arms trying to figure out what's going on!"
Tara raises an eyebrow at that. "Waking up in your arms, huh?"
Buffy blushes slightly "Yeah, I kind of like to snuggle and…" Raising her hands in the air "There's no telling where these might have ended up. Bad juju all the way around."
Laughing at the slayer Tara shakes her head. "I'm sure we could have worked around it Buffy. But thanks for the consideration. Are you hungry?"
Smiling at the blondes typical response she nods her head. And laughs as Dawn comes pounding down the stairs.
"Pancakes!" Dawn exclaims bouncing over to the blonde, putting her arm around her shoulders grinning down at Buffy who's sitting on the couch.
Buffy nods her head in agreement.
"Pancakes it is. Why don't you two go get cleaned up while I start making them, then we'll start moving stuff around?" Tara takes a deep breath and smiles, glad to be back in the one place she considers home since her mother died. Frowning slightly thinking about Willow.
"Hey, hey." Buffy states quickly jumping up off the couch. "No serious thoughts just yet. We'll get everything figured out eventually. It might take some time, but hopefully it'll work out." She states hugging Tara and Dawn tightly to her.
"Okay." Hoping Buffy's right, Tara smiles as she pulls away and heads towards the kitchen to make pancakes as Buffy and Dawn head upstairs to freshen up.
"Okay, we got everything of mine switched and the beds are stripped and sheets are in the washer and dryer. As soon as Xander and Anya get here we'll go to your dorm room and pick up your stuff." Buffy states with a smile.
A few minutes later Xander comes in followed quickly by Anya. "So what's up guys. Hi Tara! You and Willow get back together?" Xander looks around and frowns "Where is Willow?"
"Uh, Xander you might want to sit down." Buffy states quietly. "We need to have a serious conversation with you and Anya."
Anya nods her head, knowing what was going. She saw all the signs, she wasn't a vengeance demon for 1200 years for nothing. Looking at Tara and seeing the worry on her face she lightly pats her on the arm. "It will be okay, Tara. We will help in whatever way we can." Any states quietly before sitting down beside Xander.
Tara looks surprised then thankful at the ex-demon. Reaching down to the coffee table, Tara picks up the two necklaces that Buffy had laid there earlier. Handing one to Anya and then Xander, Anya raises her eyebrow in surprise looking up at Tara.
"Is this what I think it is?" Anya asks questioningly.
Looking Anya in the eyes Tara nods her head "Yes it is." Looking over to Buffy then Dawn she takes a deep breath. "We think it would be best if you two wore it at all times. W-W-will…" Stopping trying to keep control, Buffy gently pats her shoulder, motioning her to sit down and glancing at Dawn.
Dawn sits down on the arm of the chair next to the blonde, holding her hand keeping quiet as Buffy explains what has happened. Everything. Her and Tara had discussed how much to let their friends know and they both decided it would be best to tell them everything about Willow and what had happened and was happening.
Xander jumps up "No! She wouldn't ever do that! She wouldn't hurt any of us." He shouts in denial. They had barely made it past the memory spell.
"Xander, please listen to us. Let us explain everything. Remember the spell? Remember how we forgot who we were? That was Willow!" Buffy cries, trying to get through to her other best friend.
Shaking his head Xander sits down. "But, why?" He questions.
Tara looks up at him and starts to open her mouth to answer but Anya beats her to it. Looking Xander in the eye and holding his hand she states bluntly "She is addicted to the power, having control. It will be very hard to reason with her, if we can." Looking at
Buffy she nods her head "Please continue. He will listen quietly until you are done." She states looking at Xander with a warning glare.
Xander looks back and nods his head in acceptance.
As Buffy finishes telling them everything up to and including the night before, Xander is quietly crying, and Anya is holding him, patting his back.
Looking up at Tara, Anya states "I am sorry that I did not see this before. If you want, I can contact D'Hoffryn and see if…"
Tara jumps up shaking her head, "No Anya. I don't wish vengeance on her, or anyone. We just need to see if we can help her. I'm just afraid she may be too far gone to accept any help."
Nodding her head in acceptance, Anya puts the necklace on and looks at Xander. "It will protect you against any magic she tries to do against you, Xander. Please wear it. We do not know if she has possibly used other spells against the rest of us. It would be best to wear it at all times."
Xander frowns down at the necklace looking back up at the three women. "Can't we do something else besides a necklace?" He mutters quietly shaking his head.
Buffy looks in surprise at the ex-demon, she hadn't explained about the necklaces yet. "How did you?"
Anya looks at Buffy "I know quite a lot, Buffy. I see quite a few things, also. I keep quiet most of the time." Shrugging her shoulders she smiles at Tara. "I wish I had seen this before hand, maybe we could have stopped her before it got this bad."
Tara shakes her head at Anya. "I have tried talking to her about it in the past, multiple times that she was using magic too much. She didn't want to hear it." Looking down at the floor Tara states quietly "she wants it more than she wanted me. You can't fight for someone if they don't see what is wrong and are willing to change." Feeling Dawn squeeze her shoulder lightly Tara looks up smiling sadly.
Buffy looks at Xander "Would you mind taking me and Tara over to the dorm so we can pack her stuff up? I want her to move back in here with me. I'd feel safer having her close by instead of by herself."
Nodding his head Xander stands up. "Can you guys do me something besides a necklace with this thing? I mean, I'll wear it, but..."
Anya looks at Xander frowning. "Xander stop whining. Buffy, that is a very good idea. I can stay here and keep Dawn company while you get her stuff. Would we like to order pizza for lunch?"
Buffy smiles actually grateful for the ex-demon. "We'll order it before we leave the dorm and pick it up on the way back. It shouldn't take too terribly long to pack Tara up with the three of us."
Tara smiles briefly, standing up to follow Xander out of the house with Buffy following behind. "Xander, it was just easier to make necklaces. No one will see it because it hangs down so far. You can carry it with you in a pocket if you prefer. Just don't forget it. I-I'd rather you be safe."
Dropping his shoulders in resignation Xander smiles sadly. "Here you are trying to help protect us and I'm being an ass. Sorry."
Patting Xander gently on the arm Tara smiles softly. "It's okay, Xander."
AAAAAA
Tara stops just inside the door of her dorm room, looking around.
Buffy accidentally bumps into her, not realizing she stopped "What's wrong?"
Tara shakes her head looking for anything out of place. "Willow was here."
"How…?" Buffy states looking at the Wicca's room.
"I can feel magic. She knows I'm the one that did the charms." Tara states walking over to her desk, that still has some of the spell ingredients sitting on it. Closing her eyes she sends her senses out trying to see if Willow had booby trapped anything or taken anything.
Opening her eyes she looks into Buffy's and Xanders' worried eyes. "It doesn't look like she's done anything or taken anything." Shaking slightly she reaches into the closet grabbing out the boxes that she hasn't even had time to dispose of after finally unpacking the rest of her stuff.
Handing one of the boxes to Xander she quietly asks him to fill it with her books as she hands one to Buffy saying just fill it up with any knick knacks and spell ingredients you come across. She heads over to the dresser pulling it open, quickly stuffing her box full of clothes. Grabbing another box, she quickly strips her bed, folding up the sheets and blanket putting it in the box looking around seeing that Buffy and Xander had filled their boxes up. Grabbing her clothes that are on the hangers, she lays them on the bed.
Quickly double-checking all the drawers and the closet, each of them grabbing a box, taking it down to Xanders vehicle before heading back up to make the call for pizza and grabbing the rest of the items.
It's a quiet, solemn group of Scoobies that eat the pizza back at Buffy's house. They had quickly brought in Tara's stuff, taking it upstairs and sitting it on the floor before eating.
As Xander and Anya get ready to leave, Anya surprises Tara by grabbing her in a quick hug. "This is just a friend hug. I am not wishing to have sex with you." She states stepping back smiling.
Tara can't help but laugh. "Thanks Anya. I appreciate everything."
Anya's smile gets even bigger.
Xander leans down and gently hugs the blonde Wicca. "I wish we could do more." He whispers in her ear before releasing her and turning to leave with Anya.
Standing there slightly stunned Tara comes back to herself, feeling Buffy grasp her hand lightly. Looking over at the Slayer she smiles tremulously. "I always thought that if something happened between Willow and I…that I would lose your friendships." Shaking her head, looking at the now closed front door that Anya and Xander had walked through. "I guess I was wrong."
Buffy lightly squeezes Tara's hand. "You're family, remember? Once you're in our hearts, you stay there." Smiling softly she tugs on the hand she's holding. "Come on, let's get upstairs and get you settled."