Chapter Ten

Tara managed to put on a happy face for the rest of the evening. Inside though, she was torn. She was glad this was over and the ties to Willow were cut but hurt that it wasn't done in a more dignified way by Willow. It felt like another nail in the thing Tara thought was there love was driven in to show her it wasn't love at all on Willow's part. As she headed for her room, Buffy stopped her. "Tara I know it's late but," Buffy looked the blonde over not really knowing what to say.

Part of her was thrilled Willow was out of the picture but another part of her hurt for Tara because of how it was all handled. "I thought maybe we could talk." Buffy offered, as she wanted nothing more than to comfort the sad woman.

"I should be happy that my job was done for me. I fretted many a sleepless nights on how I was going to tell Willow how I felt without hurting her then look what she does. Buffy I'm not upset that I wasn't the one to end things but couldn't she have ended it before making out with Faith?" The look on Tara's face was one of anger, betrayal and relief as she spoke to Buffy who stood listening intently.

Buffy pulled Tara into a big hug and wiped a trickling tear from her face. "Tara, Will loved you so much and I'm sure she always will. She can be a royal screw up at times but she means well. I mean, from how she was viewing things, if I know Willow, was that she had to end it before things went further with Faith because she loved you."

"You're probably right," Tara smiled at Buffy genuinely. "Thanks Buffy, you seem to know how to make me feel just a little bit better." Though Tara still was sad, she let what Buffy said sink in and realized that had to be the case and that Willow wasn't doing things how she did them to cause Tara hurt but rather to make it as easy as possible on her.

"Let's get some sleep now," Buffy pointed Tara towards her room. "It's late and has been a long day."

Buffy released Tara from her arms and kissed her on the cheek as Tara made her way to her room. "Slayer, treasure that kiss on the cheek because if you're smart that is all you will ever get from Tara." Spike hissed as Buffy ignored him and went to bed.

- - - - - - - - -

Dawn and Buffy were at a coffee shop that next afternoon. They'd purchased their gifts for the soon to be newlyweds and a few things needed at the house. "So Buff," Dawn beamed. "I think things are getting back to normal around here."

"As normal as they can on a hellmouth," Buffy said as she lazily sipped her drink.

"Well I've noticed you and Tara all chummy," Dawn fished for information from her sister with a smile upon her face.

"Tara is a great person," Buffy said not wanting to seem too excited about the Wiccan to Dawn in the event things didn't work out as Buffy hoped they would.

"Well, there is someone I like and I thought maybe if you and Tara were starting to get something going on," Dawn lowered her head in embarrassment.

"You were hoping I could help things along with you and this someone you like. Does he have a name?" Buffy enquired rather enjoying this time she and Dawn were now able to share.

"I'd rather not say just now," Dawn fidgeted in her seat. "I don't think he likes me anyhow."

"Why not?" Buffy asked as she finished her drink. "You're a great girl, pretty, smart, well most of the time and a Summers girl to boot. He surely has to like you."

"Because he likes you," Dawn blurted out in a moment of bravery, which caused Buffy's eyes to bulge out as she realized who it was.

"No, Spike is out of the question!" Buffy huffed angrily and rose from the table.

"Why is that, because you want to keep everyone for yourself? I see you truly are home!" Dawn shouted before she jumped to her feet and stormed out of the establishment.

- - - - - - -

Buffy walked back home rather briskly. Her anger was boiling tot he surface with each step she took down tot he basement of her house. "Spike, get up and get out!" She shouted and jerked the vampire up by his shirt collar.

"Slayer I haven't done anything yet, what's your bag this time!" Spike shouted but received a slap from the angered slayer in return.

"I want you out of here right now, never come near Dawn again!" She turned her head to see Tara was standing at the foot of the stairs.

"Buffy," Tara said in a calming tone. "Let's go talk about this before you do something you might regret."

"There is nothing to talk about Tara," Buffy's eyes blazed with rage. "He's got himself to close to Dawn and now she likes him! I will never allow that to happen and it would be like him to pull some stupid stunt with her to get at me!"

"Buffy," Tara ventured deeper into the basement and placed her hand on Buffy's arm. "Let me talk to Dawn and at least let Spike stay till sunset."

"Listen to the smart one slayer. After all, she's the one who will be around when your slayer time is ended which could be tomorrow. She will be the one taking care of niblet!" Spike shouted angrily but his words were more to let the fact that it would be bad for Buffy to get involved with Tara sink in. He wanted her to see that he was her only logical choice because her calling eventually was to die again and she wouldn't want to put Tara through that.

"Tara you can talk to Dawn," Buffy said as she looked at Spike. "You find a way to get yourself out of my house now or I will get you out very fast." She pulled a stake from her jacket and readied to plunge it at Spike.

"You know Buffy when she gets like this Spike," Tara spoke softly as always. "I think you should go."

Tara turned towards Buffy who had her feet planted firmly and the resolve look planted firmly on her face. "Buffy, the thing you don't want to do is turn Dawnie against you. I'm afraid you might do just that if you force him out of here so quickly." Tara tried one more time to get Buffy to listen to the voice of reason.

Buffy's jaw lowered and her stance relaxed slightly. "All right Tara, for you I will give him a chance. Be looking for a home Spike and you will tell Dawn it was your idea to leave." Having said that Buffy turned and headed back up the stairs with Tara behind her.

"Buffy," Tara said as she sat next to Buffy on the couch. "Are you all right?"

"I am now, thanks to you Tara." Buffy smiled at the blonde whom she believe to be her savior. "He's right though Tara, my destiny is death and if I go soon, you will be here for Dawnie."

"Buffy," Tara said quietly as she placed her hand on Buffy's arm. "If you want to look at it that way, it is all our destinies to die. I may go first, that's something we can't know for sure. All any of us have is the here and now and we should make the best of it rather than fretting over what may or may not happen in the future."

Spike's words were doing a bang up job on Buffy. She was starting to believe that pulling away from Tara was the best thing to do for all involved due to her calling. In an instant though, the soft words spoken by Tara Maclay erased all the doubt. Buffy had the here and now for however long it lasted and wanted nothing more than to spend her every here and now moment with Tara. "Once again, you're right Ms. Maclay." Buffy smiled as she looked into Tara's blue eyes that she was certain she could stare into for an eternity. "Tara," Buffy was attempting to muster up all the slayer courage she could find for this next venture. "You are one special lady because without even realizing it, you brought me from the brink of spiritual death. You pulled me out of my shell and taught me that people are people, gender doesn't matter." Buffy looked down at the floor then back into Tara's eyes, which seemed to strengthen her as Tara was hoping they would. "Since gender is no longer important to me, if it's not too soon for you, would you like to go out to dinner with me?"

It seemed a year had passed before Tara finally spoke and Buffy had grown more nervous by the second. "Of course I would be honored to go out to dinner with not the legendary slayer but Buffy Summers."

Tara's words warmed Buffy's heart; for a lifetime it seemed people knew her as the slayer first but not Tara. She wanted to know Buffy first and the prospect of that excited Buffy tremendously. So tremendously, that, without realizing it, Buffy placed a gentle kiss on Tara's lips. "You're a great human being Tara Maclay," Buffy said softly and smiled having realized she didn't mind kissing women at all.

TBC.