REVIEWS:
Just Me - Oh, but I haven't gotten to the weird part yet! LOL Glad you enjoyed the Shrek joke. Faith will go through tremendous change quickly - still good though!
Kim - If I write a bad chapter will you let me know? LOL
CBS - Glad you're enjoying both stories - good to hear from you!
Manticore - Where have you been? Glad you found it - hope you enjoy the rest.
Sink - Glad you liked the joke also! Tara leaving so fast - hopefully it will become crystal clear in the next two chapters.
Quick replies to reviews so chapter can be posted!
CHAPTER 9
"Faith, I'm sorry you have to sleep on the couch. We'll try to figure something out to make you more comfortable." Tara apoligizes tothe slayer, as she makes the couch up with sheets a pillow and blanket.
"I ain't complainin' Blondie." Faith grins at the Wicca. "So, I have to wear this thing all the time?" She pulls the necklace up to look at it.
"Yes, please. It's the only think that repels Willow's magic. If you notice it getting worn or you break it, let me know right away so I can fix it, okay?" Tara states softly.
"Sure thing." Faith nods. "Hey, Blondie. What's to keep Red from just magicking herself into your room? Shouldn't someone be with you there, too?"
Tara snaps her head up looking at Faith. "W-well, umm, Buffy is in the next room. You're h-here. You b-both have the slayer hearing, so you should hear if anything happens." Tara stutters out.
Faith raises her hands "Hey, hear me out. I'm kinda playin' devil's advocate here, ok? What if we're asleep, she pops into your bedroom, knocks you out, rips off your charm and whammy's you? I mean, I don't think it's gonna happen, but it's a kind of what if, thing. Personally, I would rather someone be with you 24/7." Looking down at her boots Faith grins slightly. Looking back up with a flirty grin at the blonde she states "And it's not like it would be a hardship or anything, I mean I did kinda spend the last coupla years in jail. Sleep in the same space as a woman named Big Bertha, having you for a roomie? Cake walk."
Tara actually giggles slightly at the slayer, realizing that she's more joking with her than anything about the Big Bertha thing. But she was right about Willow. "We'll wait until Buffy gets home, and talk to her. See what she thinks. But, you do have a point, Faith. Thanks for thinking of my safety."
Plopping down on the couch, Faith pulls her boots off before propping her feet on the coffee table, grabbing the remote and turning the television on. "I wonder if there's anything good on. Been forever since I've actually been able to choose my own programs."
Tara shakes her head smiling slightly. "Are you hungry Faith?"
Faith looks up with a grin "Always."
Tara laughs quietly. "Let me see if I can get you something. Anything you don't like?"
"I'm a human garbage disposal. You can grab everything out of the fridge, throw it in one huge pile on a plate and I'll eat it." Faith smirks at the blonde. "I'll eat anything!"
Blushing slightly at the flirting note in the slayer's last comment Tara quickly heads to the kitchen and makes her a couple sandwiches, grabbing a bag of chips and a soda she quickly gives them to the slayer.
"It's not much…" Tara trails off as Faith waves her hand at her, already grabbing a sandwich and chomping it.
"It's great." Faith mumbles around a full mouth before quickly swallowing. "I could probably eat a cow. The pen wasn't too good for feeding a hungry slayer. They don't understand our metabolism rate." Faith looks down at her loose tank top and baggy leather pants.
Faith quickly works her way through the sandwiches and the bag of chips. Downing the soda she grins. "Thanks Tare! That'll keep the hungers away for a little while."
"Do you want a couple more sandwiches?" Tara asks in disbelief at how quickly Faith demolished the food.
"Do you mind?" Faith questions.
Shaking her head, Tara grabs the plate and empty containers, standing up to head into the kitchen.
Faith watches her leave before standing up to follow her into the kitchen. "You know you don't have to wait on me, don't ya?"
"I don't mind." Tara softly replies pulling the ingredients out of the refrigerator.
Faith sits down on a stool watching the blonde intently, like she's trying to figure her out. "You really are a genuinely nice person, ain't cha?" Faith finally blurts out.
Looking up at the slayer with shocked blue eyes Tara stutters "E-excuse me?"
Faith looks down, embarrassed. "I said you're an actually nice person. Why would she treat you like that? If I had someone that treated me like you do? I'd worship the ground you walked on and do everything in my power to make ya' happy." Faith mumbles.
"Faith." Tara starts, not really knowing what to say to the other woman.
"Don't bother, just running off at the mouth is all." Faith states roughly, already shutting herself off, before grabbing the plate and soda and taking it back into the living room, leaving a stunned Tara standing in the kitchen.
AAAAAAAAAAAA
"Faith makes a good point." Buffy states after she gets back home and they bring up Faith's argument. "Either myself or Faith should probably bunk down with you each night, just to be on the safe side." Buffy smiles slightly at Tara. "Sorry about you not having much personal space. But I can't stand the idea of something bad happening to you."
Faith looks up watching Buffy, seeing the way she's looking at Tara. 'Does B have a crush on Blondie?' Faith wonders. 'Buffy got me out of jail to help protect the woman. She's super protective of her, she sat down close to her.' Faith starts to think looking over at the blonde Wicca. Shaking her head Faith realizes whether Buffy wants to admit it or not, she cares deeply for the other woman. "I can crash on the floor in the room, if you want. Ain't that big a deal."
Buffy glances from Faith to Tara. "Tara, it's up to you. We can alternate out, take turns. Whoever does the slaying gets the bedroom and the other can sleep on the floor in you room until we figure out something better."
Tara nods at that idea. "Actually, in case we go to bed early, the idea of whoever goes on patrol being able to sleep in a bed is a good idea. But you, actually neither one of you should have to sleep on the floor. If you don't mind, the bed is big enough for two. We could share." Tara shrugs slightly looking from one slayer to the other. "Of c-course I-if you d-don't w-want to share w-with m-me I'd understand." Tara stutters horribly, realizing with her being gay that they might think she was hitting on them.
Both slayer's reach for the Wicca, Buffy lightly wrapping her arm around her shoulder, Faith grasping her hand. "Tara, I can't speak for Faith, but I would feel honored to share your bed…ummm…that didn't quite come out the way I meant it." Blushing, Buffy looks at Faith for some help.
Faith shrugs her shoulders "Can't help you there B."Smirking at the slayer before looking at the blonde Wicca "I don't have a problem bunking down with ya."
Buffy narrows her eyes looking at Faith. 'Is Faith flirting with Tara? And how do I feel about that? And why would I feel anything about that? I like men…' Trailing off on those thoughts, Buffy starts thinking about her feelings for Tara. Yes, she loves the blonde Wicca. Yes, the idea of harm coming to her makes her stomach clench up in knots. Looking the blonde over Buffy realizes that she's falling in love with Tara. 'My God. When did this happen?'
"I need to get something to drink, do either of you need anything, while I'm up?" Buffy asks, quickly standing moving towards the kitchen.
"Nah, I'm okay B." Faith states, still lightly holding Tara's hand, looking up at Buffy.
"No, thanks." Tara softly smiles her thanks at Buffy.
Nodding her head Buffy quickly goes into the kitchen. Standing in front of the refrigerator, thinking. 'I'm falling in love with my best friends ex-girlfriend. I'm falling in love with a woman that is the kindest most gentlest soul in the world.' Leaning her head against the refrigerator door Buffy feels tears start to fall from her eyes. 'She'll never want to have anything to do with me. She would be crazy to think of me in that way. I mean, who would want me after I fucked Spike? Spike, an evil undead creature, doesn't even have his soul and I fucked him. It wasn't even love, at least that would make some sense.'
Thinking about the past couple months, the help the blonde had given her, the caring person she was Buffy shakes her head. Would it be taking advantage of the blonde? Would she even consider dating someone like her?
Tara smiles softly at the dark slayer. "I'm going to see what's taking Buffy so long."
Faith nods her head "I'm gonna go ahead and sleep down here tonight, since you got it all fixed up for me. We can decide tomorrow what cha' want to do."
"Thank you, Faith. I'm glad you decided to stay." Tara gets up to check on Buffy. As she walks into the kitchen she sees Buffy leaning against the refrigerator door, her shoulders slightly shaking.
Quickly crossing the room, Tara gently lays her hand on Buffy's shoulder. "Buffy, are you okay?"
Buffy stiffens slightly, not turning to look at the blonde. Swallowing deeply, do I want to tell her? Would it be wrong to put her on the spot? What if she could care about me? Would it be too soon after Willow? God!
Faith had quietly followed the blonde into the kitchen. Seeing Buffy, Faith smiles sadly. 'yeah, guess she does like the witch.' She can feel the turmoil coming from Buffy, so she decides to speak up for her sister slayer. Hoping she's doing the right thing. "B, tell her already." She roughly growls out before turning back and going to the living room.
Turning to look towards Faith as she leaves the kitchen Tara looks back at Buffy confused. "Buffy, what's Faith talking about?"
Buffy slumps her shoulders. "You may not want to stay here after I tell you." Finally turning to face the witch Buffy looks into those worried blue eyes, that she finally realizes she could spend eternity staring into.
Seeing the tears that were still falling from Buffy's eyes Tara reaches up to gently wipe them away. "Why would I not want to stay here?" She asks quietly.
Buffy searches Tara's eyes before glancing down at her lips. Closing her eyes, she opens them again looking at Tara before quietly stating "Because of this." Buffy slowly closes the distance and brushes her lips across the blonde Wicca's before pulling back to see Tara's reaction.
Tara opens her eyes wide in shock as she feels Buffy's lips press against hers. As Buffy pulls away, Tara lifts her hand to gently press her fingertips against her lips that are tingling from the light caress. Looking into Buffy's eyes in stunned surprise. "Buffy?" She questions in a low voice.
Looking down at the floor, not able to see the possible rejection that could be in Tara's eyes Buffy haltingly explains "I just realized tonight that I've fallen in love with you. When I made the comment about sharing your bed, I actually realized I wanted to. And not just as a friend." Feeling the witch's fingers on her chin, she lets her raise her face so she could look in her eyes.
"Please look at me, Buffy." Tara states softly. "Please continue." Tara watches the emotions crossing Buffy's face.
"I realized when I felt jealous of Faith what it was. I don't know how the hell Faith figured it out so quickly but…I guess it just boils down to this. I love you." Buffy swallows looking into Tara's beautiful blue eyes, praying silently that she hasn't ruined their friendship. She couldn't stand it if she ran the witch off.
"You love me?" Tara questions softly. Starting to feel a small smile cross her face she looks at Buffy, slowly letting the love seep into her own eyes for the slayer. "Are you positive, Buffy?" Tara whispers, her voice slightly husky.
Looking at the love coming from the blonde witch, Buffy starts to smile, realizing that she could and did love her in return. "Oh, yes. I'm very, very sure. You actually…" Buffy trails off as Tara leans in, brushing her lips slowly and sensually over the slayers before easing back away.
"Oh, yes. I love you too. I realized it when you insisted I move back here with you and Dawnie." Tara softly smiles before leaning the short distance in for another gentle kiss.
Buffy groans slightly at the softness of the lips caressing hers. Easing her body closer to the witch, Buffy gently embraces her, pulling her in before applying more pressure to the soft lips pressed against hers.
"Mmm. Buffy." Tara pulls away slightly, smiling before opening her eyes, looking into the hazel eyes she has come to care so much for.
Buffy smiles in return, seeing the love radiating from Tara. Slowly reaching up with a hand, Buffy runs it softly down Tara's cheek before leaning in for another soft brushing of lips.
Tara giggles as Buffy pulls away after kissing her.
"Why are you giggling?" Buffy asks smiling at the witch.
"I guess this means I won't be sharing my bed with Faith?" Tara smirks slightly at Buffy.
"Most definitely not." Buffy smiles back.
Leaning in and kissing the slayer slightly harder than before, Tara eases her mouth open to ease her tongue out to gently trace the slayer's lips, making Buffy moan in response.
AAAAAAAAAAA
Dawn bounces down the stairs looking at Faith, crashed out on the couch, snoring away, shaking her head smiling. Quickly heading to the kitchen to grab a midnight snack, she stops in surprise at the sight before. She starts to grin, watching the soft touching and kissing between her sister and Tara. Nodding her head to herself, she had realized awhile ago that her life would be perfect if her sister and the witch would hook up. She had seen the way they would look at each other when the other one wasn't aware. Good.
"About damn time." Dawn states before turning and heading back upstairs deciding she didn't need anything to eat after all.
Quickly breaking apart to turn and look at the quickly departing Dawn, they look back at each other and start giggling. "I guess we don't have to worry about Dawn being upset." Buffy smiles at Tara.
Tara shakes her head, blushing slightly "How come I have this feeling everyone saw this coming?"
Buffy smiles "I just wish someone had hit me over the head and let me know before now."
Yawning slightly Tara grins at Buffy "I would prefer you to not be hit over the head."
"Tired?" Buffy asks quietly, lightly running her fingers through the soft blonde hair.
"Yes." Tara apologetically smiles at the slayer.
"Come on, then. Let's get you into bed and asleep." Smiling slightly Buffy leans in. "You don't mind sharing your bed with me, do you? I mean, I did warn you before about being a snuggler." Buffy grins raising her hands and wiggling her fingers.
"Oh, no. I don't mind at all." Tara softly comments before leaning in and placing a quick kiss on the end of Buffy's nose. "Come on, let's go to bed, sweetie."
Tara smiles as Buffy comes into the bedroom wearing her sheep covered pajamas. Looking down at herself clad in a tank top and shorts she shakes her head. Definitely not sexy sleep wear.
"Why aren't you already in bed?" Buffy whispers shutting the door behind her.
"I didn't know which side of the bed you wanted to sleep on." Tara softly whispers back smiling slightly at the slayer.
"Doesn't matter." Buffy grins back at the thoughtfulness of the blonde. "Go ahead and climb in, I'll get the light."
Watching Tara get into bed, Buffy appraises the long graceful legs and the shapely body of the blonde witch. Closing her eyes slightly Buffy thinks to herself that soon, she can touch all she wants. Tonight they're just going to sleep. Seeing Tara has settled herself in bed and is laying there watching her with a quirked eyebrow, Buffy smiles shyly before turning off the light and letting her eyes adjust to the darkness.
Slowly climbing into bed beside the blonde, Buffy inches closer to the warm body until they're only separated by an inch. Lightly running her fingertips down the blondes soft neck, Buffy smiles. "Can I have a goodnight kiss?" She whispers quietly and as Tara nods her head, she leans in, pressing her lips to the blondes full lips, flicking her tongue out to gently caress Tara's top lip. Running her tongue first over Tara's top lip then her bottom lip, hearing the blonde groan, lightly opening her mouth, Buffy gently runs her tongue between the Wicca's lips, groaning herself to feel the blonde's tongue coming out to gently stroke against hers. A slow dance of tongues playing in first one mouth then the other, bodies easing closer to each other.
Moaning into the kiss, Tara wraps her arms around the slayer, pulling her tighter to her, easing onto her back so Buffy is lying half on top of her, making her groan in pleasure at the slight weight of the slayer.
Pulling away slightly from the blondes lips, Buffy pants trying to catch her breath. Leaning her head down to the blondes neck she smiles slightly, feeling Tara gently running her hands up and down her back. Finally getting control of her breathing, Buffy leans back up, looking into Tara's eyes. "Now that's what I call a good night kiss."
Tara laughs at the Slayer's comment before hugging her tightly. "Good morning kisses can be nice, also. So can afternoon, evening, before dinner, after dinner…" Tara trails off laughing as Buffy quickly captures her lips again in a quick press of lips.
"So, I can assume that I can get all the kisses I want?" Buffy smiles down at the Wicca.
"Oh, yes. All the kisses you want, anytime you want." Tara smiles. "I mean, you are an excellent kisser, Buffy. I can't wait to see what else you're good at!" Tara states grinning before blushing at her forwardness.
"My, my, Tara the Blonde Wicca. So much for the shy witch. I believe you've been holding out on me. You're actually a sex kitten in disguise, aren't you?" Buffy teases lightly.
Blushing more profusely at the teasing, Tara grins slightly. "Maybe. But I'm not telling." Laughing slightly as the slayer pouts at her teasing.
Snuggling down into the crook of Tara's neck, Buffy whispers "I love you."
"I love you, too." Tara whispers back, running her hands gently through Buffy's hair smiling as Buffy places a gentle kiss on the skin by her lips. "Good night, my love."
"Good night." Buffy whispers before falling asleep.