JUST TO LET EVERYONE KNOW - SEX SCENES ARE CHOPPED ALL TO HELL AND BACK! FLOW IS FOR CRAP. IF YOU WANT - READ THE UNEDITED VERSION ON MY WEB-SITE. (Click on my name above and then click on Hompage)

Since it doesn't appear a lot of people are actually reading this story - I may just not update it here and update it on the web-page. I have two more chapters ready to load after this one. I'll see what the response is.

Chapter 16

Tara kisses Willow hello when she walks into the house smiling at her red headed lover. As she sets her briefcase down and groaning as she slips out of her heels.

"Honey, why don't you sit down and I'll rub your feet for you." Willow states.

Smiling a lop sided smile Tara looks in the living room. "Oh, Goddess. Thank you." And plops herself down on the couch. "What else came today, besides the living room furniture?" Tara states without really looking around, just leaning her head back and closing her eyes.

"Well, we got the living room furniture we ordered, obviously. We also received the dining room furniture and the mattress and box springs. The actual bedroom furniture will be tomorrow. They didn't have room on the truck for all of it today." Willow eases down on the floor, pulling Tara's feet into her lap, lightly running her fingers up and down the arch of Tara's feet before working from the heel of one foot all the way through the toes, releasing all the stress. Repeating the massage on the other foot, to Tara's appreciative groans.

"So, if everything goes as planned, we will have a real house come tomorrow?" Tara grins her eyes still closed.

"Oh, yes. You could say that." Tara lifts her head and looks at her lover questioningly. "Umm. You didn't notice anything extra here in the living room?"

Tara looks around and seeing the huge plasma screen television hanging on the wall her eyes widen and look at Willow. "Willow, what?"

"Kelly." Willow states, shaking her head. "I made the mistake of mentioning to her yesterday when I showed her around the house that we hadn't bought a television yet. So, early this afternoon, a delivery van shows up, bringing in the television along with a complete surround sound system, DVD player, the works."

Looking around the room, Tara notices the speakers set up inconspicuously throughout the living room. "What are we going to do with her?" Tara asks exasperatedly.

Willow giggles. "We aren't going to do anything with her. I'm gonna sic Buffy on her."

Groaning Tara shakes her head "Won't do any good. I went to talk to Buffy on my lunch break and I couldn't keep her attention more than two seconds. She is completely besotted with my sister. I don't know if this is good or bad news." Tara grins at Willow. "Seeing the way Kelly is, and seeing the way Buffy reacts to her? Goddess."

Getting a huge grin on her face Willow gets up to sit next to Tara on the couch. "Makes you feel good to see both of them happy, doesn't it?"

"Actually ecstatic would be a better word for it. Kelly is just so different than everyone else. The brief period of time I actually was able to get Buffy to speak to me, it was completely mind melding. She was talking about how kind, caring, and sweet Kelly was then she made the comment about her being able to kiss and she was gone. I heard her groan lightly under her breath and she was just staring into outer space, like she was when I first sat down at her desk."

Willow starts giggling, snuggling into Tara's side. "Sounds like me when I realized that I loved you. I missed quite a few lectures thinking about a certain blue eyed blonde."

Tara pulls back in surprise. "My brainiac, 4.0 grade average, can't miss class actually daydreamed through lectures? I don't believe it."

Willow smiles, thinking about that time. "Oh, yeah. Happened quite a bit. As a matter of fact…" Leaning in and kissing Tara lovingly before setting her head back on her shoulder, Willow states "I still get like that quite frequently. I'll be in the middle of a program and the next thing I know, my mind is filled with blue eyes. I absolutely love you."

Tara pulls Willow in tighter to her side, kissing her lightly on the forehead. "I love you too, baby. Now. What are we going to do about Kelly?"

Laughing and shaking her head Willow states "Nothing. What can we do?"

"You might have a point. But she's got to stop this buying. It worries me that she's trying to make up for lost time." Tara frowns lightly.

"Actually, she isn't." Willow says as she gets up to grab the note that she hadn't shown Tara yet. "Here, read this."

Tara & Willow,

Please accept this television and sound system with my deepest love.

If it wasn't for you, Tara, I never would have met my heart.

Thank you.

Love, Kelly

Tears slowly falling from her eyes Tara looks at Willow. "Do you think they might be lucky enough to have what we have?"

Willow smiles a gentle smile, full of love. "I think it could be." Before leaning in and kissing Tara lightly. "We could be rotten and go over to their house and see what they're up to."

Tara starts laughing. "Nope. Not gonna happen. After the way Buffy answered the phone yesterday morning, I am NOT taking a chance of actually being within touching distance if we accidentally interrupt something. After their little act yesterday, I know something was going on, even though Buffy probably thinks she pulled it off. Telemarketers my ass." Tara states under her breath.

"Yeah, but you see. We owe Buffy for all the times she interrupted our Hot Monkey Loving over the years." Willow states pointing out the simple fact.

"The problem with that is, she never realized that she was interrupting something." Shoulders shaking with laughter Tara looks at Willow. "However, I think that is changing quick, with Kelly being here. Kelly will definitely open her eyes."

Willow pouts slightly, "No more clueless Buffy? What is the world coming too?"

Running her fingers through Willow's red locks Tara grins and kisses her lightly on the nose. "Yes, our little girl is finally growing up."

"Are you sure we can't go over there and pick on them?" Willow whines lightly. "We so owe Buffy. Please?"

Tara shakes her head laughing at her lovers pleading. "No, honey. Let's give them some time alone first. After a little while, it'll be fair game, okay?" Tara gives in a little, knowing Willow won't give up without a fight.

Smiling at the idea of future loving interuptus coming at the Slayer Willow gives in. "Okay. For now. Oh, Kelly called earlier this morning wanting to know if we want to go out for dinner tomorrow night. Do you think you'll feel up to it? I know with it being the week before Christmas break, the kids get a little more rambunctious."

Tara smiles at the thoughtfulness of her lover. "Dinner tomorrow sounds lovely. Oh, that reminds me." Tara gets up and grabs the phone before sitting back down again. Hitting the speed dial, while smiling at Willow, who has laid down on the couch with her head resting in her lap. Tara listens to Anya answer the phone.

"Hello Anya….Yes it's a wonderful day…She did?… Really?…. That's wonderful…Yes, she is a great person…Yes we're going to dinner tomorrow also…What?…What makes you say that?…Well, I guess if you're curious…No. You have to ask them yourselves…No, it's not any of our business…Okay Anya… See you tomorrow night. Goodbye." Laughing as she hangs up the phone Tara looks down at Willow and gently starts running her fingers through her hair, loving the soft texture of those beautiful red locks.

"So, Anya thinks that Kelly and Buffy are orgasm buddies, huh?" Willow smirks, knowing how Anya's mind works.

Laughing out loud Tara grins. "Yeah, especially since Kelly showed up at the Magic Box with a glaring love bite on her neck, according to Anya."

Willow's eyes opening wide she jumps up quickly. "You're kidding me! Ooooh! Buffy is going to be in for some serious razzing." Willow crows as she dances around the living room.

Laughing at her lovers antics Tara goes, "Sweetie? If you pick on her too much, you know she'll get you back, don't you?"

Willow stops for a second tilting her head looking at Tara. "Yep. But you know what? It will so be worth it!"

AAAAAAAAAA

As Kelly is pulling the bread out of the oven and setting it on the cooling rack, she feels two strong arms wrap around her waist and a body press against her back. Taking off the oven mitts she places her hands over the slayers arms and gently leans back against her body.

"Mmmm. Smells good. Homemade bread?" Buffy questions, lightly rubbing her face on Kelly's back.

"Yes. Bread, chicken casserole with a lot of fresh vegetables for you, a veggie bake for me, a salad and some cream cheese brownies for dessert." Kelly smiles, lightly running her fingers back and forth across the slayer's forearms.

"You know you don't have to go to all that trouble, don't you?" Buffy questions. "I mean, you aren't here to take care of me."

Turning in the Slayer's arms, Kelly wraps her up, pulling her tight into her body. "But I want to take care of you. And honestly, it isn't any trouble. Whenever we got back home I was always cooking at someone's house, since I didn't bother buying a house for myself. Being gone too much, I usually just bunked down in whatever Officers' Quarters that were open."

"Ooh. Talk about the Marines. So you're an Officer, huh? Did you get to order people around?" Buffy grins, snuggling in tight against Kelly, rubbing her face lightly against the brunette's chest.

"You could say that." Kelly laughs.

Buffy pulls away to look up into Kelly's eyes. "Exactly how far up the chain of command are you?"

"Pretty far." Kelly states leaning down, kissing Buffy lightly on the lips.

Buffy groans as Kelly starts running her hands lightly up and down her back. Shaking her head and pulling back out of the embrace she shakes a finger at Kelly "Nope. Conversation time, no distracting me. How far up?"

Kelly rolls her eyes at Buffy. "What does it matter? It's not like you have to salute me or anything. Unless…?" Kelly wiggles her eyebrows and leers at the blonde. "You wanna play the Marines are invading?"

Pouting Buffy stamps her foot lightly on the floor. "Kelly!"

"Okay. Jeez. I still don't know what it matters. I'm a Brigadier General. I'm basically on leave until my twenty years are up. I have roughly 2 ½ more years to go before I am officially retired. But since I have enough leave built up, I'm using it till I can retire. So right now, I'm on call in case of emergency. They didn't like me being out in the field anyway. But I bitched and threatened that I would do more good there than sitting behind some desk. There does that answer most of your questions?" Kelly states with a small frown.

Buffy stares open mouthed at Kelly. She knows from Riley that a Brigadier General was about as high as you could go. "Why didn't you want to tell me?"

"Because I never wanted to be a damn General! As far as I'm concerned, I'm not one. I just wanted to fight and save people. When they literally forced the commission on me, they tried to make me stay behind the scenes and work behind a desk. I had to go clear to the President to get them to let me continue going out into the field. It still pisses me off." Kelly grumbles looking at the floor. "Plus the fact I was the only damn woman to make it that far. And, God forbid I wanted to have a relationship with anyone. I got enough shit when Sam and I were together before I even made it close to being a General. I only had one other relationship after that, and it was with someone that wasn't in the Forces. Hell, that only lasted six months." Shaking her head Kelly frowns, then smiles. "That pissed them off too!"

"Why would you having a relationship with someone outside the forces piss them off?" Buffy asks questioningly.

"Because, I was supposed to be guarding her from some Demons that wanted to take her to another hell dimension, not getting all hot and bothered with her. Even though, in my defense, I did try to keep it to a strictly business relationship. But damn, she was hard to turn down. Then of course, the fact that she was a high-profile actress, didn't help matters any." Shaking her head Kelly smiles. "That's why I ended up guarding her to begin with. Seems the President has a thing for her and wanted the best, so me and my platoon were ordered to guard her."

"Who is she?" Buffy asks. "Would I know her."

Laughing loudly Kelly goes, "Oh, yeah. You would know her. But I honestly can't tell you who it is. Specific information is classified. They would probably bury me under the stockade if I let that information out."

"So, why aren't you still with her?" Buffy questions.

"It was a physical attraction more than anything, plus she got back together with her ex-husband." Smiling softly Kelly shakes her head. "They fight like cats and dogs, but they really do love each other. I think I was just rebound woman for her while she decided to go back to him." Shrugging her shoulders Kelly grins. "But I'm not complaining. It made me really realize that I was attractive, at least to some people. She was definitely an ego booster. Helped me be more confident about myself."

"I can't imagine you not being confident." Buffy says with a shake of her head. "You seem so together, confident, knowing what you want."

"I have moments Buffy. I have always been confident about my abilities as a person and a witch. I just was less confident about my body, my scars. Sam helped out a lot, then Jolly cemented it." Shrugging Kelly turns to pull the food out of the oven.

"Jolly?" Buffy questions.

"My nickname for her." Kelly turns her head and grins. Before turning back and pulling the salad and salad dressings out of the refrigerator. Setting the island with plates and silverware, Kelly turns back to the loaf of bread, slicing it and spreading it out in a basket, covering it with a towel to help keep it warmth. Grabbing a couple of sodas out of the refrigerator, Setting them down beside the glasses she had gotten out previously.

Setting the food on the island, Kelly sits down across from Buffy smiling. "Did I forget anything?" Kelly questions.

Buffy frowns, looking at all the food and then grins, going to the refrigerator and pulling out the butter.

"Ooops. Looks like I did forget something." Kelly states smiling at Buffy.

"Damn, and here I was thinking you were perfect." Buffy smirks at Kelly.

Shaking her head Kelly smirks back. "Not even close. I can be a total bitch. Trust me."

Buffy tilts her head considering the brunette. 'She always seems so easy going. She's always flirting and joking.' Here Buffy stops and thinks about the night they were attacked by all the vampires. How serious she got and quickly. Then last night at Willie's. Definitely someone to be reckoned with. Nodding her head Buffy states "I can actually see it, now. Not you being a bitch per se. But that you are someone to take seriously when evil is afoot. And now, knowing your position in the Marines, you're used to being the boss, too, huh?" Buffy grins at that. 'Maybe we will have the chance to butt heads in the future. Could make for some interesting times.'

"What are you thinking about Buffy?" Kelly asks, watching the emotions crossing Buffy's face, as she starts digging into her dinner.

Buffy gets this big grin on her face "I was thinking about us butting heads in the future. Maybe getting into arguments and fights. Not literal fights, but arguments. Could make things interesting." Buffy smiles, grabbing a piece of bread and slathering butter across it before taking a bite.

"So you look forward to getting into arguments with me?" Kelly laughs watching the slayer demolish the piece of bread before grabbing another piece.

Swallowing the mouth full of bread. Buffy nods her head. "Oh, yeah. Heated arguments leading to heated sex? What's not to look forward too?" Buffy states while attacking her dinner.

Kelly shakes her head, smiling. Resting her chin on her hand she just watches the slayer eat.

After finishing her first plate full of food, and reaching for seconds, Buffy realizes that Kelly's not eating and just watching her. "What?"

"You do everything like that, don't you?" Kelly asks with a hint of laughter in her voice.

"Like what?" Buffy questions, refilling her plate. "By the way, this is absolutely terrific. What kind of bread is this? It tastes wonderful."

Kelly laughs shaking her head. "It's a honey wheat recipe I came up with a couple years ago when I was experimenting."

Buffy stops eating and points her fork at Kelly's plate. "Aren't you going to eat?" She questions. "Plus, you didn't answer my other question."

"Other question?" Kelly frowns, going back over their conversation, before it hits her. Grinning she looks at the slayer. "The way you're eating. Total focus on what you're doing. You do everything like that, don't you?" Kelly smiles then starts eating her dinner. Grabbing a piece of bread before the slayer decides to eat it all.

Frowning at Kelly grabbing a piece of bread, Buffy reaches over to the basket and pulls it close to her and growls lightly. "Mine."

Kelly raises an eyebrow and smirks. "Fine. That's yours. But that means that you don't get any of the cream cheese brownies I made earlier. And if you're gonna be selfish, you might not get any Parcheesi tonight!" Kelly threatens.

Buffy's eyes get big at the threat of no brownies. But when Kelly threatened the sex, she literally shoves the basket towards Kelly and even grabs the rest of the slice of bread on her plate and hands it to Kelly. Vehemently stating "You can even have the brownies too!" making Kelly laugh loudly.

"Sucker!" Kelly smirks, handing the slice of bread back to Buffy, and pushing the basket back towards her.

Grinning from ear to ear, Buffy finishes the slice of bread while scooping up more of her casserole.

Kelly finishes her dinner and takes her plate to the sink to rinse it off before placing it in the dishwasher.

As she's getting ready to sit back down and watch the slayer finish off her dinner, the phone rings. Shaking her head for Buffy to stay seated she grabs the phone "Summers residence…yes she is….May I ask who's calling?"

"Buffy, a Rupert Giles is on the phone for you." Kelly laughs as Buffy finishes the mouth full of food, grabbing the phone out of Kelly's hand.

"Giles! About time you called me….You can't…But can't you get an earlier flight?…Damn….Oh, that was Kelly…Yeah, she's staying here with me…Long story….Okay short version, she's Tara's half sister….Yeah, yeah. It came as a surprise to us all…Well they don't have the room set up yet….No. She'll be staying here even after they get the room set up….Why?…" Buffy stops and grins mischievously at the brunette before answering Giles. "Because she's great at Parcheesi."

Laughing at the Slayer, Kelly shakes her head.

"No, I'm serious Giles…Are you sure you can't get here for Christmas?….That sucks. I was looking forward to seeing you…Yeah, it's been a couple years since we've all been together…Yeah, plus I kind of wanted you to meet Kelly…" Buffy looks at Kelly with a sad look in her eyes. "Well maybe after the New Year, Giles….I love you too….Yes, I'll give everyone a hug…Bye, Giles." Hanging the phone up with a sad look on her face, she turns and walks around the island to hug Kelly.

"So, I'm assuming that Giles, is a friend and can't make it for Christmas?" Kelly states, rubbing Buffy's back.

"He's like a father to me. He was my watcher growing up, he trained me and helped keep me alive all these years. After the thing with the First, he had to go back to England to re-build the Watcher's Council. This was going to be the first time he was going to get to come home after he went back to England. Damn airlines. They are completely booked for the week, he can't get a flight to the States." Buffy frowns, upset.

"Buffy, I'm sorry. Where in England is he?" Kelly asks, getting an idea.

"Just outside London." Buffy mumbles against Kelly chest, tightening her grip around her.

"I'm sorry, babe." Kelly states quietly, kissing the top of Buffy's head before hugging her hard. "How about some brownies? Chocolate is always a good way to take away the grumpies."

Nodding her head, Buffy pulls away and sits back down.

Grabbing the leftovers, and putting them on the counter. Kelly grabs two fresh plates down and cuts Buffy a huge piece of the brownie and a small piece for herself. Grabbing a couple glasses she turns and looks at Buffy who is watching her. "Do you want milk?"

Buffy nods her head with a slight grin on her face.

Placing the milk down on the island, Kelly turns back around, grabbing the plates and grins evilly. Placing the small brownie in front of Buffy, she places the huge piece in front of herself before sitting down.

Buffy frowns looking from her plate to Kelly's plate and back. Then looks up into Kelly's grinning face, "Are you picking on me?"

"Well. Can you think of anything to convince me to let you have this brownie instead?" Kelly asks quirking her eyebrow slightly, with a half grin.

Buffy's eyes lighten and she grins as she runs around the island, pulling Kelly around to where she's facing her, and wedging herself between Kelly's legs, she wraps her arms around her neck and starts leaving wet little kisses all around Kelly's face, making her laugh. As Kelly's laughing, Buffy swoops in quickly flicking her tongue out to explore the recesses of Kelly's mouth.

Groaning at the sensation Kelly quickly closes her lips over the slayer's tongue, to suck lightly before releasing and stroking Buffy's tongue with hers.

Pulling back to look at the slayer with hazy eyes, Kelly smiles lovingly. "You can have both pieces, if you want!"

Buffy laughs shaking her head. "Nope. Not going to be completely stingy. I'll let you have some, even though that is a hell of a slice of brownie." Buffy states looking at the brownie that took up a good portion of the plate.

Kelly smiles knowingly at the slayer. Switching the two plates watching Buffy go back and sit down "Like you won't eat it?"

With the brownie halfway to her mouth Buffy raises an eyebrow. "I didn't say that, now did I?" Before taking a bite and closing her eyes in ecstasy. Chewing slowly and swallowing the bite, her eyes pop open looking at Kelly. "Will you marry me?"

Kelly laughs at the slayer. "Oh. So all I am is a meal to you, huh?" Shaking her head, she starts to eat her brownie, watching the slayer demolish her piece and the milk with it.

"Well, what if I said I was serious?" Buffy states quietly. "I mean, after more time of getting to know each other, seeing if we can live together without driving each other crazy, of course. I mean, I don't want to jump into something like that."

Smiling Kelly looks up, thinking Buffy is joking. Losing the smile, she realizes Buffy's serious. "Buffy?"

Looking up into Kelly's eyes. Buffy looks back down, grabbing her plate and glass to take to the sink.

Following Buffy with her eyes, Kelly shifts in the chair, lightly taking Buffy by the shoulders after she sets her dishes down. Turning Buffy around to look in her eyes, Kelly smiles. "I'd love to marry you."

Buffy searches Kelly's eyes, seeing that she was serious, the most beautiful smile crosses the slayer's face before she leans in and gently brushes her lips across Kelly's. "I love you."

"I love you, too, Buffy." Cupping the slayer's check in her hand Kelly lightly kisses Buffy before pulling gently away. "Of course, gay marriages aren't legal in California yet. But maybe in the near future they will be."

"Yeah. I know Willow and Tara wishes they would legalize it. I think they're going to have a hand fasting ceremony sometime. I've overheard them talking about it occasionally. I know it's only a matter of time." Buffy smiles softly at the idea of her two best friends getting married.

"Yep. And you know, we'll have to let them get married first. They would be all kinds of pissed at us if we got hooked up before them." Kelly grins at the thought.

Buffy groans. "You're telling me. I'm still waiting to hear from Willow. I know I'm gonna get an earful about us the next time we talk."

Kelly gives Buffy a questioning look.

"I never, ummm… how should I phrase this?" Buffy looks up trying to think of a polite way to phrase her statement.

"Jumped somebody's bones quite this quickly before?" Kelly states with a smile.

"Well, yeah. But I was trying to think of a nicer way to say it!" Buffy states huffily. "Besides, it's not just the bone jumping. I've never gotten involved with anyone this quickly before. You just flew in under my radar and straight into my heart."

Gently pulling the slayer in for a sweet, gentle kiss, Kelly hugs her tightly. "Well, that makes two of us."

"Time to go patrolling." Buffy grumbles looking out the kitchen window. "This is seriously cutting into my snuggling time."

Laughing at Buffy, Kelly gives her a quick smack on the ass stating "You can have all the snuggles you want when we get back from patrol."

"Hey!" Buffy yells at the smack on her butt. "Be careful! Turnabout is fair play."

Raising her eyebrows Kelly grins.

Shaking her head Buffy heads out of the kitchen to get ready. Hearing Kelly laughing behind her making her swear she's going to do something to get back at the brunette.