Reviews:

Dee - you know we're dealing with the clueless slayer, here! Riot act for Tara! SNORT Chuckle Glad to see the thumbs and not the..a finger.

Just - Spike's gone, for now. As for what's going to happen next - wait and see! MWAAAHAAAHAAA :)

Screamin - goodness, goodness and more goodness!

Sink - Odd pairing - yes, I agree. But hopefully I'll pull it off. We'll see. This story will probably be quite a bit longer than say, DE and AWILA - It's going to take longer for things to come around to where I want them.

Chapter 5

"Have a good time, Dawnie." Tara smiles, waving as the teen climbs into the car with Janice. Turning around, Tara heads back into the living room to finish dusting before looking up as Buffy comes pounding down the stairs. "Dawn's already gone."

"Kind of figured." Buffy nods her head, running a brush through her damp hair. "God, I think we're going to need to get something to cut the grease and dump it in the shower drain." Buffy grumbles.

Tara laughs quietly as she passes the slayer to put up the furniture polish. "Want something to drink?"

"A soda would be good." Buffy admits sitting down in the corner of the couch, relaxing. Leaning her head back against the back of the couch, she smiles. "God, it feels good to have the rest of the day and nothing that has to be done."

"Doesn't happen too often, does it?" Tara hands the slayer the soda and sits at the other end of the couch. "I put a roast and vegetables in the oven for dinner tonight. I hope that sounds okay."

"That sounds wonderful." Buffy smiles closing her eyes. "Should we look into buying a crock-pot? Might that make things easier?"

"Actually, it probably would." Tara admits. "I can always throw something in it in the morning, that way you guys would be able to come home to a hot meal."

"Then we'll look into buying one." Buffy sinks further into the corner of the couch, shifting her body so she's facing more towards the witch. Opening her eyes, she pins the blue eyes of the witch with her hazel eyes. "I want a truthful answer. No beating around the bush. How often did you buy the bastard blood and cigarettes and exactly how much money did you spend?"

Tara pales at Buffy's words, looking down at the couch. Glancing back up, she sighs at the slayer's serious look. "A couple times a week and probably roughly around $1,000 total." Tara admits quietly.

"Fuck." Buffy growls loudly, jumping off the couch and pacing back and forth. "Nobody knew about it, did they?" Buffy turns her eyes to the witch, watching as she shakes her head. "Dawn just lucked into seeing you that one night, obviously."

"I tried to be careful about it." Tara whispers. "We needed the help, everyone was getting hurt and people were dying. I figured if he helped us save just one life, it would be worth it."

Buffy collapses in the chair across from Tara looking at the witch. "Where did the money come from, Tara?"

Tara blushes looking away.

"Tara?" Buffy makes the name a question.

"My mom left me some money, that was the last of it." Tara whimpers as she sees the angry face of the slayer.

"Damn it!" Buffy growls loudly. "This is fucking stupid." Buffy runs into the kitchen grabbing the phone, punching in a long sequence of numbers as she paces back into the living room. "Damn, pick up the fucking phone!" Buffy yells, pacing back and forth.

Tara swallows, watching the angry slayer stride from one end of the room to the other.

"Giles, I want the fucking Council to send $1,000 to Tara." Buffy growls into the phone, as Giles picks up on his end.

"Well, hello, to you, too." Giles mutters into the phone. "Now, why would they want to send that kind of money to Tara?"

"Because she fucking paid off Spike to help with patrols when I was fucking dead, is why. And since the Council didn't deem it worthwhile to send someone here to help out, they can dig in their pockets and pay her the fuck back." Buffy yells into the phone. "Hell, they should do more than that, but I know I'm barking up the wrong tree to get any help from those assholes." Buffy snarls.

"Ummm, well, uhh." Giles stops stunned, not knowing what to say.

"That's all the life savings she had. Make it so she has it back, understood?" Buffy growls into the phone lowly.

"I'll see that it's taken care of." Giles sighs. "How are things there?" He questions quietly.

"Been better, been worse. Tara's moved back into the house, Willow's moved out, they're over. The wedding is still on between the demon and Xander. I'm getting better slowly. Dawn is actually, more or less, happy at this stage of the game." Buffy runs down things quickly.

"Well, I guess that about covers it." Giles blinks at the quickness with which the slayer answered.

"Yes, it does." Buffy nods her head slowing down her pacing. "Thanks for getting this taken care of, Giles. It isn't right for her to be out of her life savings, because of my calling. How are things with you?"

"They're fine." Giles admits quietly, feeling sad at the thought of the kind witch giving away all her money, because they needed help. "I'll try and get this matter taken care of quickly, Buffy."

"Thank you." Buffy breathes deeply, letting some of the tenseness in her body seep out.

"Yes, well. I guess I'll talk with you later." Giles murmurs quietly.

"Yeah, guess so. Thanks again, Giles." Buffy disconnects the phone after Giles says goodbye. Walking back into the kitchen, she hangs the phone back up in the cradle.

After Buffy disappears into the kitchen, Tara stands shakily, not believing what just happened. Deciding she needs to do something, she heads upstairs and grabs all the dirty clothes, lugging the two hampers down the stairs.

"What the hell are you doing?" Buffy growls jumping up the stairs and taking the hampers from her.

"Going to do the laundry." Tara watches as Buffy picks the hampers up and stomps down the stairs.

"I'll do the laundry. You relax, study, take a nap or whatever." Buffy calls over her shoulder as she heads down to the basement, sorting the clothes and throwing a load in the washer. Checking the dryer, she closes the door back before heading back upstairs, seeing Tara curled up in the corner of the couch, watching her worriedly. "Sorry." Buffy mutters plopping down in the chair.

Tara looks down and shakes her head, her arms wrapped around her knees.

"It isn't right. You get pissed at me because I think I'm to blame for everything, but you're basically doing the same thing. You think you need to take care of everyone. Don't. Have you even thought about going out on a date since you and Willow broke up?" Buffy questions quietly.

Tara glances up making eye contact with sad hazel eyes. "No. Not really."

Buffy rolls her eyes at the witch, grumbling under her breath

"Well, we actually have only been completely broken up for a week, Buffy." Tara smiles briefly at the slayer.

"Well, maybe for good, a week. But you've actually been broken up for what, almost four months?" Buffy looks at the witch seeing her nod. "No dates in that time. No…God forgive me for this…orgasm time. And yes, I know that sounds like Anya!" Buffy grumbles, and looks up in surprise as Tara laughs. "Okay." Buffy mutters shaking her head.

"Sorry." Tara grins, her eyes full of laughter. "But, since you mentioned it, are you going to go out with Richard?"

"How did my talking about you having orgasms segue into me and Richard going out?" Buffy questions, her eyebrows rising.

Tara shrugs her shoulders, smirking. "Talking about dates and Anya made me remember Richard. I mean, I'm not a good judge, but I thought he would be considered cute by most women."

"Yeah, I guess so. It's just hard dating someone when you're me." Buffy admits tilting her head back against the back of the chair. "When you can break whoever you're dating in half without breaking a sweat, it makes things difficult. I mean, I'm kind of used to doing what has to be done. You know, being kind of butch." Buffy smirks at the phrasing.

"Do we need to find you a girlfriend?" Tara asks tongue in cheek.

"Maybe that's what I need to do. God knows, I'm not having any luck in the male department." Buffy laughs shaking her head. "Seriously, though, with everything else I've been through recently, I'm really not ready to start dating at this time in my life. Maybe in a few months, we'll see." Buffy looks at Tara, smiling softly. "I have you to talk to and thump me when I try to take on too much. That's good enough for my life, right now."

"I'm not going to thump you." Tara smirks at the slayer as she stretches out on the couch, looking up at the ceiling. "It's kind of nice not having any expectations, isn't it? Clean the house, study, work and go to classes. Free time to laze around and yak about anything and everything with a friend. I don't think I ever really had that before." Tara admits softly.

"Well, I guess we have it now." Buffy nods. "So, what all do you want to do today, friend?"

"I guess I should run to the store, since I have some money, and stock up the cupboards a little bit. They have canned vegetables on sale. I think they had ice cream on sale, too." Tara grins, tilting her head to look at the slayer.

"Want company?" Buffy offers.

"Please. Canned goods are heavy." Tara smiles. "I'd hate to have to call you from the police department to get me out of jail, because they arrested me for stealing a shopping cart."

Buffy chuckles. "No, that wouldn't be of the good. As soon as I would walk into the station, they'd probably throw me in a cell." Buffy laughs good-naturedly. "I'm always to blame for something."

Tara laughs quietly, understanding what the slayer is trying to say. "It's pretty bad, here you are, saving the world and people, from either exploding or ending up dead, and the police think you're actually causing it. That's just not right."

"No. But welcome to my life." Buffy mutters, grinning. "I guess I should get shoes on, huh?"

"It would probably help." Tara nods looking down at her on bare feet. "Me, too. Do you think the roast will be okay, without anyone home?"

"Yeah, it isn't going to be done cooking for quite a few hours yet, is it?" Buffy questions standing up, looking around for her shoes.

"By the door, sweetie." Tara murmurs before heading up the stairs to get her socks and shoes.

Buffy glances by the door and sure enough, her tennis shoes are sitting there neatly. Walking over she grabs them sitting down on the chair she slides them on and ties them quickly. Looking back up as Tara walks down the stairs. Coming to a halt, pulling her boots on. "Do we need to make a list?"

"I don't think so. I'm looking more for stocking the shelves with items we use that are on sale. The only thing we might actually need to buy as a staple is milk, bread and eggs." Tara mentions before heading into the kitchen, opening the refrigerator checking those items. "And butter."

"I think we can remember those without making a list, don't you?" Buffy smiles as Tara walks back out into the living room.

"Yes, I do." Tara picks up her purse, double-checking for her keys and money before opening the door. "Ready?"

"Yep." Buffy nods letting Tara walk out in front of her. "Lead the way, boss woman!"

"Yeah, right." Tara grumbles before laughing quietly.

AAAAAAAAAA

"Maybe we should have borrowed a shopping cart." Buffy grumbles loudly as they finally make it into the house. "I didn't expect you to buy a hundred pounds worth of canned vegetables and soup!"

Tara grunts lugging her bags into the kitchen, dropping them on the floor and leaning against the counter. "Okay, I may have gone overboard a tad. But when they're four for a $1.00, it's hard to pass up."

"Yeah, and if nothing else, we'll have vegetables in the house to eat at any given time." Buffy groans lifting the heavy bags and sitting them on the counter, watching as Tara leans down, grabbing the couple bags of cold product to sit on the island as she opens the refrigerator. Sniffing deeply, Buffy opens the oven, frowning as she notices the roast is covered with tin foil. "How am I supposed to steal a peek at the food, if you got it covered?" Buffy grumbles.

"Pull it out of the oven and take off the foil." Tara states exasperatedly.

"That's almost like work." Buffy smirks, shutting the oven door. Opening the cabinets they usually keep the canned goods in, Buffy quickly sorts the cans, placing them in neat rows.

Tara rolls her eyes as she finishes putting the cold stuff in the refrigerator and freezer. Grabbing out the oven mitts, she opens the oven, bumping Buffy out of the way before reaching in and grabbing the pan out. Shutting the door, she sets the pan on the other mitts she had placed on top of the stove before pulling the foil off.

Buffy's nose really starts twitching and she looks over Tara's shoulder at the roast, with potatoes and carrots piled around it. "Is it done yet?" Buffy questions hopefully.

"No, it isn't done yet." Tara twitches her shoulder up to bounce off Buffy's chin, smirking. "It needs a couple more hours. If you're hungry, grab an apple."

"Ah, man. You're mean." Buffy grumbles collecting the empty bags and taking them to the garage. "If I knew you were going to be this mean, I wouldn't have wanted you to move back in." Buffy grumbles good-naturedly.

"Too late, I'm here now." Tara laughs at the joking slayer. "It'll take a dozen slayers to get me out of here."

"Ha, ha. Very funny, witch." Buffy pouts before heading down to the basement to put the load in the dryer and start another load.

Tara chuckles as she walks upstairs to grab her books, slowly walking back down, she curls up in the chair and starts reading the chapters of one of her assignments.

Buffy comes back up and smiles seeing Tara studying. Yawning, feeling the late night and the early morning shift working at the DMP catch up to her, Buffy collapses on the couch, stretching out.

Tara looks up, seeing Buffy getting comfortable on the couch. "If you want to watch TV, it won't bother me."

"Nah, I think I might just take a nap." Buffy glances over at Tara, turning on her side and pulling the throw down over her.

"You did have a late night last night, then having to work the morning shift this morning." Tara nods at the slayer. "Sweet dreams, Buffy."

"Thanks, Tara." Buffy yawns and shifts her head around on the arm of the couch, getting more comfortable before slowly falling asleep.

Tara smiles softly at the sleeping slayer, knowing how little sleep the woman actually gets. Shaking her head, she sighs before going back to reading her assignment.

AAAAAAAAAA

Tara finishes folding up the second load of clothes, smirking at the slayer snoring away on the couch. Grabbing a pile of clothes, she quietly walks up the stairs and places them on Buffy's bed before walking back downstairs, grabbing Dawn's stack. Shaking her head trying to figure out how the teen can wear ten pairs of jeans in a week's time. Placing the pile on Dawn's bed, she walks slowly down the stairs to put her stack of clothes up. After tucking them away in the drawers and hanging up a couple of the items, she heads down to the kitchen, pulling the roast out. As the fork easily enters the potato she decides to check, Tara grins before pressing the meat, smiling at the firmness. Covering it back with the foil, she turns the oven off and heads back to the living room, to finish writing the paper that's due Wednesday.

AAAAA

Sitting with her legs crossed and her notepad resting on her legs, Tara quickly finishes the paper, flipping her textbook open to double check one point, before closing it quietly and setting the books on the end of the coffee table.

"Finished with your homework?" Buffy questions quietly, making Tara jump. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you."

"You didn't, I just thought you were still asleep." Tara smiles before nodding her head. "I have all my assignments done for next week. All I have to worry about is new homework assignments." Tara smirks.

"That's good." Buffy inhales deeply, her eyes lighting up. "Dinner?" She questions hopefully.

"It's out of the oven. I'm letting the meat rest before we cut it." Tara chuckles as Buffy bounces up and off the couch.

"Meat doesn't need to rest. Meat needs to be eaten." Buffy growls, heading into the kitchen.

Tara rolls her eyes before standing and following the slayer into the kitchen. "Aren't you going to wait for Dawnie to get home? I mean, she should be here within the next half hour."

"No she's not." Buffy grabs down plates. "She's staying over at Janice's tonight. So there." Buffy sticks her tongue out at the witch, for some reason feeling light-hearted.

Tara stares in stunned surprise at the slayer. Smiling at the slayer's playfulness, Tara shakes her head. "Damn, if I'd known that, we could have rented some adult movies to watch tonight." Tara grabs a knife to cut the meat with.

"TARA!" Buffy yells in shock. "You watch adult movies?"

Tara glances up puzzled, before blushing as what she said sinks in. "I didn't mean it like that. I meant more grown up movies, instead of a talking animals movie."

Buffy smirks at the blushing witch. "Riiiight." Buffy states sarcastically. "Here I thought you were all sweet and innocent, and you go around renting X-Rated movies, don't you? I guess it really is the quiet ones you have to watch out for." Buffy bites her lip to keep from laughing.

Tara turns around and narrows her eyes at the slayer. "I can guarantee you I'm not sweet and innocent. And truthfully, I've never needed the extra stimulation that those type of movies give." Tara quickly turns back to cutting the meat as she sees the stunned look coming across the slayer's face. Laughing quietly to herself, she places some meat and vegetables on the plate for Buffy, before taking a smaller portion for herself. Grasping the two plates she turns, seeing an extremely red-faced slayer still standing there stunned.

Buffy finally whimpers and presses the heels of her hands against her eyes. "You win. No more battle of the wits against the witch."

Tara chuckles while placing Buffy's plate in front of her. Sitting down she shakes her head. "Sit down and eat, Buffy. Before it gets cold." Tara starts cutting her slice of meat into bite size pieces along with the potatoes and carrots. Slowly eating her dinner, she watches Buffy plop down on her chair, cutting her meat and potatoes, munching away.

Tara tilts her head for a moment. "You really should give Richard a chance. At least, maybe meet him for coffee or something. You should try to start dating again."

Buffy glances up, considering the witch for a moment. "What about you? Are you planning on getting back into the dating scene?"

Tara slowly chews a carrot. "It's not as easy for me, Buffy. First off, there aren't that many lesbians out there for me to pick from. Second off, I'm not exactly beautiful. So I don't garner the interest, say Willow or you, would get."

"What?" Buffy questions, confused. "What do you mean you're not beautiful? I mean, yeah, I'm not gay, but if I was, I'd jump at the chance to date you." Buffy waves a hand towards Tara. "Look in the mirror sometime. Dark honey blonde hair, bedroom eyes, a figure I would kill for." Buffy shakes her head before spearing another piece of meat. "You're beautiful Tara, believe me." She mutters as she shoves the piece of meat in her mouth and chews roughly, watching as Tara blushes lightly.

Tara blinks in surprise at the slayer. "Well, at least you didn't mention my breasts, like Anya did."

Buffy drops her fork on her plate, her eyes wide. "She didn't?"

"Yes, she did. Said I had beautiful breasts." Tara admits laughing. "She was trying to get a rise out of me. It didn't work." Tara shakes her head as she takes a bite of potatoes.

"Okay, explain this to me. How can my telling you you're beautiful, make you blush, but talking about your breasts doesn't?" Buffy questions confused, her eyes inadvertently glancing down to the items in question, before lifting back up quickly.

"Anya talks about sex all the time, Buffy. So her talking about breasts doesn't really bother me. Plus, I knew she was trying to push my buttons at the time, so I didn't fall for it. You, on the other hand, weren't doing any of those things and were being very serious. So it kind of embarrassed me." Tara shrugs looking down at her empty plate. "I'm not used to being told I'm beautiful by a straight woman." Looking up, Tara's eyes twinkle merrily. "But I might be able to get used to it."

Buffy groans looking back down at her plate as she grabs the last bite of meat.

Tara laughs as she places her dirty dishes in the sink. Walking around the slayer, heading towards the basement, Tara stops as the phone rings. Backtracking the slight distance, she picks it up. "Hello, Summers residence."

"Oh, yes. Is Buffy there?" Richard questions hopefully.

"Yes, she is. May I ask who's calling?" Tara smirks at Buffy, already knowing who's calling.

"This is Richard, I was there last night." Richard explains quickly.

"Hold on just one moment, Richard." Tara grins hugely at Buffy as she hands the phone to the groaning slayer. "Be nice." Tara whispers before heading down the stairs to check on the laundry.

"Bitch." Buffy grumbles lowly before putting the phone to her ear. "Hi, Richard."

"Hello, Buffy. Uhhh, I called to see if you might want to go out to dinner and a movie tonight." Richard asks hesitantly.

"I'm sorry. I just finished eating an early dinner." Buffy grins at shooting that bird down.

"Oh, well." Richard hesitates for a moment. "We could go to an early movie, if you like. Maybe stop at the ice cream shop on the way back?"

Buffy looks up, seeing a frowning Tara looking at her, mouthing something to her. Shaking her head, she scowls trying to figure out what she's saying.

"Go out, it won't hurt to see if you like him." Tara whispers quietly, so only Buffy can hear.

Buffy rolls her eyes and sighs. "I'd love to go out to the movies and have ice cream with you tonight."

"Great. How about I pick you up at 6:30? I think most of the early movies start around 7:00." Richard grins.

"That's fine. See you at 6:30. 'Bye, Richard." Buffy disconnects the phone before growling at Tara. "I wasn't going to go out with him!"

"I know." Tara raises an eyebrow at the slayer. "What's the worst that will happen? You don't like him and you don't go back out with him again. At least you'll have seen a movie and gotten a free ice cream out of it." Tara shrugs before taking the dried clothes into the living room to fold.

"You are a pain in the ass!" Buffy yells out to the witch as she stands up, slicing another piece of meat off the roast, dropping it on her plate before spearing a couple more potatoes and carrots. "But you're a good cooking pain in the ass." Buffy mutters to herself as she sits down to eat her second helping.

"If I'm a pain in the ass, what are you?" Tara yells back as she folds the shirts.

Buffy raises an eyebrow while eating her carrot. "I'm a sweet, kind, loving person that would never argue with anyone. I never cause any problems and I'm always right." Buffy smirks waiting to hear what the witch will say back to that.

"What fucking rock did you crawl out from under?" Tara yells in disbelief. "You are absolutely, the most argumentative person I have ever known. Sweet and kind, I'll give you. Loving, I wouldn't know, me lesbian, you straight, remember? As to you always being right? WRONG!" Tara chuckles quietly.

"So the deciding factor is whether or not I'm loving?" Buffy yells out, laughing at the witch.

"Is that an offer?" Tara counters loudly. "Because, I'm not planning on watching you have sex with a guy, I can tell you that!" Tara starts laughing hysterically, imagining Buffy blushing in the kitchen.

"That's not nice!" Buffy yells back embarrassed. "So you would watch me having sex with a woman?"

Tara's eyes open wide in surprise. Not knowing what to say, she sits there in stunned silence.

Buffy slowly walks out into the living room when she doesn't hear anything back from the witch. Seeing the stunned look on her face, she chuckles. "I think I just won a battle of the sparring words with the witch. Chalk one up for the slayer." Buffy chortles before quickly heading up the stairs to get ready for her date.

"Damn." Tara mutters, before laughing quietly. "Yeah, you got me on that one, slayer. But I'm going to ask for a re-match." Tara grins at the thought of how Buffy's becoming a lot happier and more easy going. Not having Spike pushing himself on her the last week, has probably let her become more like her old self, Tara thinks to herself. Finishing folding the clothes, Tara grabs them and running upstairs to put them in their respective owners' rooms.