Reviews:
CBs - Glad you're enjoying the start to this story!
Dee - SMACK - SLAP - Hope you felt that:) Sorry - no sex yet! You'll just have to wait, my dear! FLUSH - K-K
Arctic - Hopefully this one will turn out good - if not I'll need to hang up my typing fingers and go back to reading instead of writing!
Sink-Regarding Willow - probably more self preservation. Realizing that she's screwed up so many lives - she needs to take a step back and try to come to terms with what she's done. She'll still screw up - of course! Have to liven things up, now don't I? Glad you're enjoying the story! Get personal e-mails occasionally where people are surprised at the totally different story-lines. Hope I can keep it going! So many writers seem to get in a rut - at least the ones that I've read some different stories of. If I do, smack me upside the head!
Gina - Took me almost a month to figure out how I was going to work it, so don't feel bad:)
Whiro - Glad you like! But then again, I don't think you've said one bad word about my stories yet...Are you a glutton for punishment? Mistress Tara needs to visit you, doesn't she:0)
Just Me Prime - Definitely hope everyonecontinues to enjoy! It is definitely a different relationship. Everyone freaked out about my B/T/F ship - doing a B/T/A is probably really going to get them goin!
Screamin - Here it is!
Ook - Yeah, yeah. Nice try! I'm trying to stick to once a week for updates! Working 4 stories at a time - even with waiting until I've worked a few chapters in advance is kind of trying! (Good think I work in advance - a couple stories I haven't worked on in the last two weeks -
Dilvish - I'm really enjoying writing this story. Wasn't too sure to begin with - but I always did like Anya's character and (as per usual) didn't think they'd used her to her full potential!
Wicked - Glad you're enjoying the new story! Great to hear from you!
Chapter 2
Buffy carries down the last of Willow's stuff, slowly walking out to her mom's car. Placing it gently in the trunk, she watches as Willow hugs a teary eyed Dawn. Swallowing, she walks up to the hacker.
Willow smiles sadly at Dawn. "I've got to do this, Dawnie. Hopefully Tara will move back home with you two."
Dawn nods her head, wiping her eyes. "I know. Don't make it hurt any less, but I understand."
"I'll be here next weekend for your birthday party. Be good, Dawnie." Willow's lip cocks up in a half smile.
"I'll try." Dawn nods her head looking down. "Please don't hide away, come and visit."
"I will." Willow hugs the teen once more, before turning to the sad eyed slayer.
Buffy looks at the hacker for a long moment before nodding her head. "I'll give you the time you need. But don't you forget who your friends are. And don't forget, we're family."
Willow smiles tremulously before hugging Buffy strongly. "Thank you, Buffy."
Hugging her back, Buffy feels a small smile cross her face. "You're welcome. If you need me, call. Don't forget to stay in at night. If you get caught out, let me know."
"I will." Willow wipes a tear from her face, after pulling out of the slayer's arms. "Take care of each other."
"We will." Buffy wraps a tentative arm around her sister, and smiles as Dawn pushes into her body, wrapping both arms around her. "I think she'll be okay."
"I hope so." Dawn whispers watching as Willow climbs in the car and waves goodbye to them. "Who's going to call Tara?" Dawn questions quietly.
"Do you want to?" Buffy turns with Dawn to walk back into the house, walking towards the kitchen.
"It might be better coming from you." Dawn suggests looking down. "If she balks, maybe you can use me as a trump card, that I need her here or something."
Buffy smiles, chuckling quietly. "All we would probably have to say, is that we want her here, and she'll come home, Dawn."
"You're probably right, I'll call." Taking a deep breath, Buffy smiles at her sister before picking up the phone. "What's the number?" She punches in the numbers as Dawn rattles them off. Waiting for someone to pick up the phone on the other end, she watches as Dawn grabs a water out of the refrigerator, and heads into the living room.
"Umm, hello. Is Tara there?" Buffy questions after the phone is answered.
"Hold on a minute." Jamie looks towards Tara. "Phone call, Tara."
"Thanks." Tara smiles briefly as she takes the phone from her temporary roommate.
"Hello?"
"Hi, Tara." Buffy smiles at the questioning note in the witch's voice.
"Buffy! How are you?" Tara sits down, surprised at hearing from the slayer. "Is everything okay?"
"Well, yes, and sort of." Buffy frowns before sighing. "You aren't to blame, so don't take it that way, okay?"
Tara frowns momentarily. "I'm not to blame for what?"
"Willow's moved back home. She said; she needs to get her head straightened out. And even if she hadn't suggested it, I'd ask this anyway. Will you please move back in?" Buffy unconsciously holds her breath.
"What?" Tara shakes her head, trying to make sense of what the slayer had said. "Let me get this right, Willow moved out, and she wants me to move back in with you guys?"
"Partly. We want you to move back in, also. You're family, Tara. We want you here with us." Buffy looks down at the floor for a long moment. "Please?"
Tara blinks for long moments in surprise. "I…I don't know what to say."
"Say you're packing up your stuff, and I'll walk over to help bring you home." Buffy makes the statement. "Do I need to fight dirty?" Buffy questions half jokingly.
"Fight dirty?" Tara repeats confused.
"Yeah, like saying that Dawn really needs you here, and that I need someone to talk to, that knows everything that I've been going through?" Buffy whispers quietly into the phone.
"Oh…" Tara inhales deeply before nodding her head. "It'll only take me a couple minutes to pack. I've kind of been living out of the boxes."
"I'll leave now." Buffy releases her tense stance. "'Bye, Tara."
"'Bye." Tara hangs up the phone, surprised. Looking up, she sees Jamie looking at her questioningly. "I guess I'm moving back into the house."
Jamie nods her head, smiling. "Kind of sounded that way. You're always welcome, if you need the couch."
Tara smiles crookedly. "Thanks, Jamie. I'm just kind of in shock."
"You're a wonderful person, Tara." Jamie's eyes twinkle with mischief all of a sudden. "And if I didn't have a boyfriend…" Jamie chuckles as Tara blushes. "Need help getting everything together?"
"No, I've got it." Tara bites her lip. "I really appreciate your letting me stay here."
"What? I think I got the good end of the deal. I haven't eaten this good since I left home." Jamie smiles. "You know where I live, if you need me."
Tara smiles as Jamie leaves the apartment for her date with her boyfriend. "Thanks, Jamie." She whispers before quickly gathering her few items, placing them in the box. Looking around the apartment, she checks the bathroom, grabbing her body wash and bathroom kit. Tucking them away in a box, she smiles finally letting it sink in, she's heading back to the house she has come to think of, as home.
"I'm going to help Tara bring her stuff home." Buffy looks at her sister sitting on the couch, smiling at the obvious happiness crossing her face. "You okay here, until we get back?"
"Gosh, yes." Dawn bounces on the cushion. "I'll go upstairs, strip the bed, and clean the bedroom before you guys get back." Dawn yells before running up the stairs, leaving Buffy actually laughing, watching the quick retreat of the teen.
"Wow." Buffy blinks in surprise at actually laughing, and feeling happy for the first time since coming back. "Interesting." Buffy walks to the door, heading towards downtown.
Buffy looks at the three boxes and the bag, sitting on the floor by the door. "This it?" She glances up at Tara.
"That's all." Tara admits, looking at the meager belongings that make up her life. Watching as Buffy lifts each item briefly, before finally settling on the heavy bag, slinging it over her shoulder, and grabbing the two heaviest boxes, stacking one on top of the other, before picking them up.
"Let's head to the house." Buffy smiles briefly, watching as Tara grabs the last box.
"I can carry more than this." Tara offers looking at Buffy.
"I got it." Buffy shakes her head, before walking out of the apartment. Buffy glances over at Tara, as they walk towards her house. "I ran into Spike last night." Buffy starts quietly.
Tara stiffens at the vampire's name, really wanting to stake the son of a bitch for taking advantage of Buffy, when she needed friendship and family, instead of being fucked and abused. Taking a couple deep breaths, she slowly calms down. "What happened?" She questions softly, after getting control of her emotions.
"I ended it." Buffy admits quietly, looking down the road. "Not so sure he's going to leave it at that."
"He will, if he knows what's good for him." Tara growls out quietly.
Buffy blinks in surprise at the witch. "Tara?" She questions hesitantly.
"Sorry." Tara shakes her head, picking up the pace slightly. "I just don't like the fact that he took advantage of you, when you needed friendship."
"I was a willing participant, Tara." Buffy whispers.
"No you weren't. Not really." Tara shakes her head, glancing at the slayer. "You just thought that was your only option. Now you know better. Know you have people to talk to, that will be there for you, no matter what."
"I have you, to be there no matter what." Buffy specifies. "You've been a wonderful friend throughout all this, Tara. I want you to know, how much I appreciate your being there for me."
"And I will be, no matter what." Tara smiles briefly. "Remember that, please."
"I will." Buffy acknowledges quietly. "Dawn is cleaning the room, and stripping the bed for you. She was extremely excited at the fact of you coming back home." Buffy grins thinking about her sister.
"She just misses my pancakes." Tara jokes, smiling.
"Nah. She misses you. You've always been there for her. Through everything, you always helped her, no matter what." Buffy continues seriously. "I want to thank you, for taking care of her when I was…" Buffy hesitates, looking up at the bright sunny day. "When I was gone."
Tara gazes at the slayer. "No matter what ever happens, I'll always be there for her, Buffy. You know that."
"Yes I do." Buffy nods smiling. "Of that, I have no doubt, whatsoever."
Tara smiles at the slayer as they continue walking.
"Got everything situated?" Buffy questions from the doorway, watching as Dawn bounces on the bed, as Tara closes the dresser drawer.
"Yes." Tara smiles turning to the slayer. "Thanks for your help, Dawnie."
"Welcome." Dawn stands up, hugging Tara briefly. "I'm hungry."
Tara chuckles, watching as Dawn bounces out of the room. Shaking her head, she glances at Buffy, surprised to see a soft smile on her face. "Doing better?" Tara questions quietly.
"I'm getting there." Buffy nods. "I don't know about you, but I'd rather not eat one of Dawn's concoctions for dinner."
Tara laughs quietly as she follows Buffy out of her room. "She does have a tendency to make some very unusual combinations of food."
"That's a nice way of putting it." Buffy smirks as she heads down the stairs, into the kitchen.
Tara quickly sorts through the kitchen, frowning at the lack of food available. "Well, how do you two feel about soup and sandwiches?"
"That's fine." Buffy murmurs grabbing a water out of the fridge, frowning, as she realizes what Tara noticed. "I gotta go to the store."
"I'll make a list, and go after lunch." Tara opens the soup cans, dumping them in a pot. Turning the stove on, she grabs down plates and the loaf of bread. Pulling the lunchmeat and cheese out of the fridge, she sets them on the counter, watching as Buffy reaches in, grabbing the condiments out, placing them besides the meat.
"I'll throw together the sandwiches." Buffy offers.
"Well, what else am I going to do?" Tara looks around, before grabbing a notepad and pen out of the drawer. Sitting down at the island, she starts making a list for the grocery store. Frowning as she realizes, she doesn't have enough money to get everything, she starts trimming the list down to the essentials. Biting her lip, she thinks before standing up, and walking to the phone. Dialing Anya at the Magic Box, she sits back down at the island.
"Thank you for calling the Magic Box, your one stop shop for all your Magical needs." Anya chirps out.
"Hi, Anya." Tara smiles at the greeting. "I need to ask you something."
"Good afternoon, Tara. What do you need to ask?" Anya smiles, happy to hear from the one person, she really considers a friend.
"Are you still looking for someone to fill in during the evenings?" Tara questions.
"Yes I am. Do you want the job?" Anya asks hopefully, having offered the job to the witch previously, but being turned down, because she didn't want to be around where Willow would show up.
"If you're still willing to have me." Tara smiles briefly. She glances up as she watches Buffy's hands still, from making the sandwiches. Making eye contact with concerned hazel eyes, Tara smiles reassuringly at the slayer.
"When can you start?" Anya questions quickly.
"When do you need me?" Tara throws back at the ex-vengeance demon.
"Want to start Monday? Come by after your classes and we can work out a schedule?" Anya starts thinking about possibilities. "What changed? You turned me down because you didn't want to run into Willow."
"Ummm." Tara looks down briefly, before taking a deep breath. "She and I are completely through. I won't be taking her back. She knows now, and it's pretty much a moot point."
"I am sorry." Anya blinks briefly. "But it is good news for me."
Tara chuckles at Anya. "I'll be by Monday after classes."
"See you then." Anya hangs up grinning from ear to ear, happy to have the witch working for her.
"Why are you doing that?" Buffy questions, looking with concern at Tara.
"We need the extra money. And Anya had previously offered me the job, I didn't want to take it, thinking I was going to run into Willow." Tara admits quietly, finishing making the sandwiches, Buffy had stopped in the middle of doing.
Buffy sits down hard on the seat. "How are you going to do all your studying and everything, while working at the Magic Box?"
"Anya is going to let me study while I'm there. I'll keep a running list of all items that are sold while I'm working. She told me I wouldn't have to worry about stocking the shelves or anything like that, because she usually has time to do it during the day, so it shouldn't be hard." Tara cuts the sandwiches before grabbing down bowls, filling them with the soup. "Dawnie, come get your lunch." Tara smiles as Dawn comes in grabbing her plate and bowl.
"Thanks, Tara." Dawn grins hugely. "Do you guys mind if I eat in the living room, there's this really cool show on the Disney Channel."
"That's fine." Buffy nods at her sister, watching her leave the kitchen. Turning back to watch Tara sit down and nibble on her sandwich, Buffy picks up her spoon, starting to eat her soup. "I'm sorry."
"For what?" Tara looks up in surprise.
"Making it so you have to get a job." Buffy mutters quietly.
Tara sighs, placing her hand over the slayers. "I was already looking for a job, Buffy. The stipend I get for housing isn't that much, and I was going to need something to help. So don't take the blame for something that isn't your fault." Tara explains quietly, before pulling her hand away to continue eating her lunch.
"It's what I do." Buffy sets her spoon down, frowning.
"Then stop it." Tara strongly states the three words, making Buffy jerk her head up looking at her. "Everything is not your fault. You need to stop being so fucking self-righteous and self-centered, and realize that everybody makes their own decisions. Makes their own mistakes. You have enough things to worry about, being the slayer and a sister, don't fucking add everything else to it." Tara growls out before standing, placing the dirty dishes in the sink, and striding out of the room.
Buffy sits in stunned silence, almost feeling like the witch had smacked her across the face with the words. "Is that what I do?" Buffy questions the empty room. Thinking on what the woman said, she realizes she does take the blame for everything that happens. "God, I've been doing it for so long, how am I supposed to stop?" Buffy whispers before sighing. Gathering up her dirty dishes, she runs the water, slowly washing the dirty dishes.
"Do you have to work tomorrow?" Dawn questions as she brings her dishes in.
"Yeah, I have to do morning shift." Buffy washes the dishes Dawn placed in the water before letting the water out. Taking the rag, she wipes down the counters, frowning as she hears the front door shut. Looking out the window, she watches Tara stride down the street with a light jacket on, carrying her purse. "Ah, hell." Buffy mutters. "Is there anything in particular you want this week to eat?"
"I wouldn't mind to have stuff to make shakes." Dawn smiles hopefully.
"I'll see what I can do. Stay in the house, Tara's already left, and I know she's going to need some help." Buffy grins briefly as she grabs her jacket and cash, quickly heading out to catch up to the witch.
"Goddess, I can't believe she wants to take the blame for everything that happens." Tara growls as she sits down, yanking her shoes on. Quickly tying them, she grabs her purse, checking the money, frowning, at the $50 she has, wishing she had more. Sighing she pulls her jacket on before quickly heading down the stairs, and out of the house.
"Like she doesn't have enough to worry about." Tara mutters after a few minutes, as she strides down the street. "I can't believe I went off on her, like that's a big help. I'm sure she wants me in the house, if I'm going to act like that."
Buffy chuckles as she listens to the witch talk to herself. "Actually, I'm glad you did say the things you did." Buffy grins as Tara stops dead in her tracks. Walking up besides the pale witch, Buffy laughs quietly. "Do it more often."
"Goddess, I'm sorry Buffy. I had no right to go off on you like I did." Tara looks down at the ground.
"Don't Tara. You were right." Buffy admits quietly. "Come on, let's go to the store. And if you catch me taking the blame for everything again, call me on it."
Tara looks at the slayer surprised. "You sure? I mean, it isn't really any of my business…"
"Yeah it is. It's what one friend does for another friend." Buffy calmly makes the statement as they walk into the grocery store.