A/N Thanks a lot for the reviews, by far my most reviewed story thus far which is great! (there are some slight changes in chapter's 2 and 3 though none significant, just elaborations on Tara's thoughts and actions a bit.

Chapter Eight

Spike sat with Dawn in the living room waiting for Buffy and Tara to wake up. He'd crept in that night just after the sun had set. They were watching Passions, which Dawn remembered to tape for him, and eating pizza. "So Niblet, are you fairing ok?"

"I'm better now that Buffy is better," Dawn smiled genuinely at her vampire friend who had gone to great lengths to take care of her when Buffy died. "I think Tara has helped her a lot.

"She's a good witch," he muttered trying to keep up his facade. He was happy Buffy was doing better on one hand; but not happy he was not the one who made her better.

"I'm glad Willow's gone to get help," Dawn said crunching her ice rather loudly. "Maybe she'll get to come back for the big wedding."

Spike laughed, "Nancy-boy will never make it." He chugged down his beer. "A game of cards?" He asked the teen pulling a deck out of his coat trying to find something to do until Buffy woke up.

- - - - - - - - -

Buffy had gone up to sit with Tara till she fell asleep. She didn't plan to fall asleep herself but that's what happened. She rubbed her eyes and stretched feeling a warm comforting feeling having Tara next to her. 'Cool it Summers, this can never happen. Willow will come home and somehow Tara will forgive her and all will be well in the land of true love.'

Tara rolled over and brushed Buffy's arm with her hand. The small contact awoke the blonde immediately. "I-I," she looked at Buffy and gave a small smile to show her gratitude for the slayer staying.

"I fell asleep too," Buffy said groggily, her nose catching the scent of pizza. "Now I'm starving," she rose from the bed trying to get out of the now awkward situation. "Let's go eat Tara."

"Buffy, I'm, I'm not really hungry," Tara said feeling mentally and physically drained.

"I don't recall that being a question," Buffy said taking hold of Tara's hands and pulling her up gently to a sitting position. "Slayer's orders, Tara needs to eat."

For a brief moment, their eyes locked and they were motionless until Tara broke the moment with a relenting smile. "How about you have pizza and I'll have something a bit lighter." Tara offered hoping that would appease the slayer who wasn't taking no for an answer.

"No, think of it Tara," Buffy said grinning down at the wiccan. "Yummy cheese dripping off the pizza into your mouth," Buffy mentally shook herself at the image this gave her. Tara's soft lips with dripping cheese and how she would enjoy helping her clean it off. "Let's go," Buffy said pulling her gaze away from Tara's mouth.

- - - - - - - - -

Dawn and Spike were in the middle of their card game when the two women came down the stairs giggling. Dawn was the first to look up seeing real smiles on both her sister and Tara's faces. She too began to smile noting that this was starting to feel like home again. "Pizza?" Dawn quickly offered getting them plates and racing to the kitchen for drinks.

"Niblet is turning into a fine hostess," Spike said smiling outwardly at the women.

"She's growing up into a great Summers woman, Tara smiled.

"I think she needs to change her last name to Maclay," Buffy said in a playful tone but felt it was partly true. Tara had taken Dawn under her wing quickly and the benefits of that were showing very well.

Dawn returned with the drinks for the two women who were enjoying their pizza. Buffy let a bit of cheese drip down her bottom lip and grinned sheepishly at Tara. "Cheese Tara," she said softly as the blonde started laughing.

"Would you like some help getting that off?" Spike queried licking his lips.

"Get over yourself Spike," Buffy said flicking a pepperoni towards him but purposefully aimed more at Tara.

Tara deflected it with her finger and it hit Dawn on the nose. "Wrong move Tara!" Dawn stood up squirting her bottle of water at the witch who ducked and it hit Spike.

"Food fight slayer style!" Buffy roared with laughter flicking a large piece of ice at Tara and it hit its mark, down the front of her shirt and between the breasts.

The gang didn't see where it went but knew by Tara's blushing reaction. "Bulls eye!" Buffy shouted as Spike prepared to soak the slayer but she ducked and the smelly beer hit Dawn who cringed.

"Tara," Buffy walked over holding her hand out in way of a truce. "Um, you can see through that, to much water." She laughed knowing it wasn't true but was banking on Tara giving a much to quick reaction to think and she did by depositing a strip of cheese with the flick of the wrist down Buffy's shirt. She knew the pizza had cooled enough that it wouldn't burn the slayer but was still drippy.

"This is war Maclay!" Buffy took a fighting stance while smiling broadly.

Tara got up and raced up the stairs before Buffy could launch her half-eaten piece of pizza at the blonde. Dawn smiled as Buffy turned and ran after her leaving Spike to lick his wounds.

She caught up to Tara heading passed the bathroom and remembered her unused, now cold, bath water. Tara had bathed before her nap and Buffy planned to do so once Tara fell asleep but hadn't made it yet.

With slayer reflexes, she grabbed Tara and planned to deposit her in the cool water thus claiming the win. Tara managed to trip her up though and they both toppled in the tub. "You're good witch," Buffy hissed laughing harder than she'd laughed since quite some time before her death. She felt vibrant and free and it was exhilarating to say the least.

"You cheated slayer," Tara pointed at her smiling her beautiful full smile. She too felt alive and free, something she used to dream she would only feel with Willow.

At the thought of Willow Tara's face dropped momentarily. Buffy reached out a hand quickly to touch Tara's arm being certain she'd done something wrong. "Tara?" She questioned with a hesitative voice.

"It's not you Buffy," Tara shook her head. "I-I was having a great time and I needed this really. I just felt bad for a minute, here Willow is struggling to regain some semblance of life and maybe even hoping I'll be here waiting and I-I-I'm laughing and having fun and I didn't think I should do that because she can't."

Buffy quickly enveloped the woman in her arms. "Tara, never feel guilty for laughing because laughter is the most important thing in life. Well one of them, at one time, not so very long ago, I would have killed for some real laughter and you put that laughter back in my soul Tara. Besides, Willow is with Faith and being all stiff upper lipped serious girl isn't her deal."

"Buffy," Tara said smiling being taken aback at how quickly Buffy had erased her somber mood. "We're wet, our clothes are um well, definitely reveling now and I'm cold."

Buffy quickly jumped from the tub playing the part of the chivalrous slayer. She grabbed up two towels and held out her hand as an offering of help for Tara to get out. "Well then come Lady Tara, we can't have you freezing." She said with her best smug look as she led Tara to her room. "I thought it best for you to stay here," she said turning serious for a bit. "I mean, I thought it would be easier for you being as your room was shared with Willow and that we could switch tomorrow if you'd like."

Tara smiled at Buffy with growing warmth deep in her heart that showed on her face just as every emotion did with Tara. "Thanks Buffy," she said.

"You're very much welcome," Buffy said smiling at Tara with rising hopes she was reading Tara's face right. Maybe, someday down the road, it would indeed be Buffy and Tara as a couple and if that is what Tara wanted Buffy would help her find a way over the Willow obstacle. "I'll let you go get dressed and then we can lounge in here with drinks and a movie if you don't want to be alone." Buffy offered giving Tara a hug and light kiss on the cheek unwilling to press her luck at this point.

As Buffy left the room, Tara stood for a few minutes replaying the night and smiling. She knew now that her feelings were growing for Buffy for sure. Buffy made her feel happy inside again, cared for and free of all the heartache she'd endured of late. She still vowed though, she could not attempt to carry on a relationship with possibly Buffy or anyone else until Willow was strong enough for Tara to properly set herself free from her.