Reviews:

Tiny - You're going to have to go to either Different Endings or What If for Buffy/Tara smoochies - this is going to take some time! LOL

Goodtwin - Thanks for the compliment - always happy to entertain and write (hopefully) an interesting story. Tension - hey, tension is good. Eventually they're gonna get their 'groove' on! Always like a strong Tara. That's why most of my Tara's will take on that characteristic. I thought she was heading that way on the show until Joss and ME decided in their infinite wisdom killed her off. (DAMN THEM!)

Just Me - Come on, now! Gotta have a little fun with the ladies!

Sunshine - Thanks for the praise - this story was definitely a challenge for me - hopefully I will be able to pull it off! Banter is good! Like the banter:)

Youarelovely - No, the story is nowhere near finished! LOL But if you enjoy Buffy/Tara stories and you haven't already, you might want to check out my other story What If.

Dee - get a life! Snort - Disclaimer is right!

Word - Thanks!

Chapter 6

Tara smirks at Richard, who's standing by the door waiting for Buffy to come downstairs. Turning her head she watches the slayer quickly come down the stairs. Biting her lip, Tara can't help but decide to embarrass the woman before she goes out on her date.

"Okay, dear. Here's you some cab fare home, in case things don't work out." Tara starts holding out $20. "Be sure and call me, if you need me. Remember, you're supposed to be home by 10:00, it is a school night." Tara leans in and brushes her lips quickly over her cheek. "Have a good night, sweetie, and don't do anything I wouldn't do." Tara flutters her eyelashes at the slayer, grinning crookedly.

Buffy stands in front of the witch, blushing then groaning deeply. "You are so going to pay for this." She growls. Snatching the $20 out of the witch's hand she mutters. "Just for that I'm keeping the $20."

Tara laughs as Buffy urges a completely confused Richard out of the house. "Have a good time, Buffy."

"Thanks, Tara." Buffy smiles back at the witch, hearing the sincerity in her voice.

Tara chuckles as she closes and locks the door.

AAAAAAAAAA

Tara grins as Buffy comes into the house. Closing the book she's reading, she raises an eyebrow in question at the slayer.

"Aarghh! No more going out on dates that Xander tries to hook me up with." Buffy grumbles before plopping down on the couch beside the witch.

"What was so wrong with him?" Tara wonders out loud.

"He was sweet, kind and super nice. And about as smart as a fence post! Now, I know I'm not the brightest person in the world, but compared to him I'm a thousand watt light bulb." Buffy whines.

"Well? How was the movie and ice cream?" Tara hopes at least something salvaged the slayer's night.

"Movie was so, so. Ice cream was good." Buffy grins looking over at the witch. "Next date is yours. We have to find someone for you."

"I don't think so." Tara shakes her head, grinning. "The few women I've met who are lesbians, I wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole." Tara smirks.

"Oh? Where have you met these lesbians?" Buffy watches as Tara blushes a light pink.

"Before Willow, I went to some of those on campus meet and greets. Most of the women that showed up were definitely hard core butch. I kind of felt like I was an all you can eat buffet, surrounded by twenty starving women." Tara shudders at the remembrance.

Buffy blushes deeply before coughing. "All you can eat buffet. Tara, you have a way with words that puts pictures in my head that just don't belong there." Buffy growls, laughing before quickly heading up the stairs. "I need to get ready for patrol."

"Sorry." Tara bites her lip, realizing what she said and the connotations it could have.

After a few minutes, Buffy trots down the stairs shaking her head at the witch. "I don't think I ever realized how rotten you were, until recently. It's definitely an eye opening experience." Buffy watches as a wicked look crosses the witch's face. "Don't even say anything, I can tell you're going to do something else to embarrass me on purpose." Buffy quickly heads out the door while making the statement, closing it behind her on Tara's laughter.

AAAAAAA

"You look beautiful." Tara murmurs as she makes a minor adjustment to Anya's wedding dress. Realizing the last month just flew by. Between school, working at the store, helping with the wedding and just being there for both Summers' girls, Tara's life has been very full indeed.

"Are you sure I shouldn't have gone with the veil?" Anya questions worriedly, looking in the mirror at the tiara she's wearing.

"Positive. You're like a fairy princess." Tara smiles as she backs away.

"Thank you, Tara." Anya smiles. "I couldn't have done this without you." Taking a deep breath she looks around. "It is a small wedding, but the important thing is, I'm marrying my snuggle bear."

Tara chuckles. "Want me to check and see how everything's going? I can't believe you lassoed Buffy and Willow into being ushers."

"But they look so cute in their little tuxes." Anya smirks. "Buffy actually didn't have a problem. Willow caused the most upheaval about wearing a tux. Please, I would appreciate you making sure everyone is behaving themselves, instead of fighting and ruining my wedding."

Tara nods, smiling as she eases out of the room. Quickly heading out to the main area, she glances around seeing a frowning redhead, and an absolutely livid looking slayer. Frowning, she quickly makes her way to the two women. "What's wrong?" She glances briefly at Willow before settling her gaze on Buffy.

"The son of a bitch disappeared." Buffy growls out roughly. "We don't know where he's gone. He isn't in the building, at all."

Tara's eyes widen as she pales. "You've checked everywhere?"

"Yes. He's nowhere in the building. It's raining outside, so we haven't went out there looking for him." Willow fidgets nervously. "This is so not good."

"No, it isn't." Tara mutters before quickly running to the front doors, walking out under the cover, looking up and down the street. "Damn it, Xander! What are you doing?" She whispers. Biting her lip nervously, she walks back in grabbing up an umbrella, praying she doesn't ruin her outfit.

"Let me do it." Buffy murmurs, quickly reaching the witch and grasping the umbrella. "It won't be as noticeable with my dark slacks if they get wet."

"Thanks, Buffy." Tara smiles distractedly at the slayer.

Buffy nods before running out to where Xander had parked his car. Standing there looking in disbelief at the empty spot, Buffy stares down the road. "Where the hell are you?" She growls. "It's not smart to piss off an ex-vengeance demon, Xander."

Slowly trudging her way back into the building, she looks up into worried blue eyes and shakes her head. "He's gone. The car's gone."

Willow pales and leans against the wall, watching as Buffy collapses on a chair, and Tara rubs her forehead. "What are we going to do?"

"Beat the hell out of Xander when we find him." Buffy growls looking up at the ceiling. "Who's going to tell Anya?"

Tara's shoulders drop at the thought. "I guess I am." She whispers, slowly turning to walk towards the dressing room Anya was waiting in.

"Do you want back up?" Buffy questions standing.

Tara looks at the slayer with sad eyes. "I don't know. I…fuck!" Tara rubs her temple, feeling a full blown headache coming on. "The wedding was supposed to start five minutes ago. Do you think we should wait a few more minutes to see if he shows back up?"

"I hate to say it, but I have a feeling he's high tailed it out of town." Willow whispers. "I ran into him a little while ago and he was very jumpy and distracted. He wouldn't talk about what had him so bothered, I just kind of thought it was normal wedding day jitters."

"On the Hellmouth?" Buffy questions sarcastically. "I somehow doubt it's normal."

"I'll go talk to her. If one of you two would talk to the gathered family, friends and demons?" Tara looks at the filled seats, shaking her head. "Ah, hell." She mutters before slowly working her way to the dressing room.

"I think I would rather tell this group out here a hundred times over, than talk to Anya right now." Willow whispers to Buffy.

Buffy nods her head. "It isn't going to be a pretty sight in there." Turning, she takes a deep breath smiling at the hacker. "So, rock, paper, scissors?"

Willow nods her head as they count out, frowning as Buffy's paper covers her rock. "Damn! Two out of three?" Willow questions hopefully.

"Nope. You get to have the honors." Buffy smirks at Willow.

"Great." Willow mutters as she works her way up to the front to let everyone know the wedding is obviously off.

AAAAAAAAA

Tara takes a deep breath as she pushes open the door, watching as an obviously nervous Anya, keeps running her hands down her dress.

"The wedding is supposed to already be started. What's wrong?" Anya queries loudly, looking into the sad blue eyes of her best friend. "If it's bad, I don't want to know." Anya turns her back on the witch, feeling her body tensing.

"Anya…" Tara stops, trying to think of the best way to say this.

"Tara, just tell me. We are good enough friends, you should know that I prefer the blunt approach." Anya whirls back around, her eyes angry.

Tara nods her head. "I know. I just didn't want to blurt it out." Centering herself, she raises her eyes, watching Anya closely. "Xander's disappeared. He's nowhere in the building, and no one knows where he is. He took the car."

Anya blinks as it takes a few minutes for it to sink in. "He left?" She whispers and at Tara's nod, she feels tears coming to her eyes before roughly brushing them away as anger comes quickly following the tears. "Where is the sniveling little, beady eyed bastard? I'm going to eviscerate him! No, evisceration is too good for him. I'll, I'll think of something to do to him." Anya yells out in anger. Before stopping momentarily. "I'm not a demon anymore, I can't do that." Her eyes flashing wildly about, she starts muttering to herself. "Maybe D'Hoffryn will take me back, yes. I'm a woman scorned. Hallie was telling me that things haven't been the same since I left. I'm sure he'll have me back." She looks up with a glint in her eye. "I'll have my revenge on him, yes I will."

Tara's eyes widen as she listens to Anya rattle on. Shaking her head she quickly walks to the woman, clasping her shoulders. "Anya, no! You can't do that. I mean, of course you can do it, but you shouldn't. Don't make a decision like this, in the heat of the moment."

"Why? If I was a vengeance demon again, I could get vengeance on Willow for you. Wouldn't that be wonderful?" Anya questions seriously.

"No, Anya, it wouldn't be wonderful. It would be wrong. Please, please promise me, you won't make a rash decision right now. If he offers you your job back, please think on it." Tara whispers quietly.

"Why? I have nothing here. Xan…he doesn't want me, what does it matter?" Anya starts to cry.

"Oh, Anya. You have me, and even Buffy, Willow and Dawn, also. What about the Magic Box?" Tara questions quietly, wrapping her arms gently around the crying woman. "Please, Anya. Can you do this, for me? Give yourself thirty days before jumping into something you may regret? Take the time to think things through first?" Tara soothingly caresses the back of the sobbing woman.

Anya cries into Tara's shoulder, her arms clenched around her waist tightly. "You're my friend?" Anya questions heart brokenly.

"Yes, Anya. I'm your friend." Tara feels her heart break for the obvious pain she's going through. "I'll be there for you, to take out for coffee and Danishes. If you ever need anyone to talk to, I'll be there. So, what do you say? Stick around, for at least a month?" Tara questions as she pulls back, looking into the bloodshot eyes of the ex-demon. "I mean, if you want to take a few days off and get your head together, that's fine. Just don't do anything you'll regret."

Anya looks into the witch's eyes searchingly before nodding her head. "Thirty days. Not one day more."

Tara smiles softly before whispering. "Thank you. Should we get you changed and cleaned up? Buffy or Willow, were going to break the news to all the people out there."

Anya's eyes flash with a hint of anger. "I still want to do something mean to him."

"Shhh. I know, sweetie. Just so you know, I don't think you were the only one." Tara hugs her briefly again. "Come on, let's get you situated."

Anya nods her head. With Tara's help, it doesn't take her long to get out of her wedding finery, and into the dress she wore on the way to the wedding. Sighing, she watches as Tara zips up the plastic cover around her wedding dress.

"Do you want to go somewhere to get away?" Tara whispers as she quickly changes, hanging her dress up, as she slides her skirt and shirt on. "Or do you want company?"

"I think I might get away for a couple days." Anya hesitantly whispers.

"That's fine. If you want, we'll gather up the items and see about getting them back to the proper guests. I have the paper with the caterer's numbers and the DJ's number, I'll take care of that, also."

Anya sits down heavily. "All that money gone to waste. Why don't you take the food home, you guys can eat it. Whatever you don't want, throw it away." Anya brokenly gets out as the tears start falling again.

"Oh, sweetie." Tara quickly sits down beside the heart broken woman and gathers in her arms, hugging her tightly. Tara glances towards the door as it eases open and Buffy sticks her head in. Tara smiles tremulously at the slayer.

"Everybody's gone home. Dawn got a ride to Janice's for the night. We went ahead and gave most of the gifts back as the people were leaving, so you won't have to worry about that." Buffy hesitantly walks into the room, followed by a nervous redhead.

"Thank you." Tara strokes Anya's back as she buries her head in her neck.

"The DJ just arrived, should I…" Willow trails off looking at her ex-lover.

"Please. When the caterer get here, Anya wants us to have the food." Tara glances down at Anya, noticing this crying fit is slowly tapering off.

"I'll keep an eye out for them. They should be getting here any minute." Willow hurries out of the room, feeling uncomfortable at watching Anya break down.

Buffy hesitates not knowing what to do. "Is there something I can do?"

Anya looks up with blood shot eyes at the slayer. "Find Xander and feed him to a vampire. After he's turned, let me torture him for months before I dust him. That will be a good start."

Biting back a smile at Anya's words, Tara shakes her head. "We discussed this, Anya…"

"I know. Can't I at least think of all kinds of mean and hateful things to do to him?" Anya whines at the witch.

"Briefly, just don't act on them and don't obsess about it." Tara smiles softly at the ex-demon.

"Okay." Anya relents as she snuggles back into Tara's arms. "You are very comforting."

"Thank you, I think." Tara looks up, grinning at the slayer.

Buffy rolls her eyes before smirking. "Careful, Tara."

Anya lifts her head to look at the slayer. "Why does she need to be careful?"

"You're looking awfully at home, curled up against Tara like that." Buffy raises an eyebrow, grinning.

Anya grins and snuggles back into the witch. "Maybe she will wish to have comfort sex with me."

Buffy's eyes get huge and she unconsciously steps back.

Tara chuckles and shakes her head at the ex-vengeance demon. "Anya, behave."

"But I am unhappy and it would take my mind off evil men." Anya glances up, a glint of mischief in her eyes. "Plus, I would really, really like to know if you're a wildcat in the sack. I'm laying odds that you are." Anya nods her head before leaning back down, glancing out of the corner of her eye at the slayer.

"Uh, wha--, uh---" Buffy stutters out, not knowing what to say. Buffy goes from blushing deeply to turning pale.

"Okay, everything's taken care of. I have the food sitting on one of the tables downstairs." Willow comes in, looking from an obviously uncomfortable slayer, to a smirking ex-vengeance demon, to Tara biting her lip, obviously trying to keep from laughing. Narrowing her eyes, she looks back from one woman to another. "What did I miss?"

Buffy points at Anya. "She…comfort…Tara…uhhhh." Buffy groans pressing the heels of her hands against her eyes.

Tara starts laughing and Anya looks up at Willow, seriously. "I just said that maybe Tara would wish to have comfort sex with me, and that I bet she's a wildcat in the sack. Is she?" Anya tilts her head at the hacker.

Willow pales before looking around like a trapped rat. "Ummm…"

"Anya, please." Tara whispers, hopefully, so only she can hear. "This is getting a little mean, in regards to Willow."

Anya sighs and nods her head, leaning against her shoulder. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything by it." Anya apologizes looking at the redhead.

Willow's mouth drops open in stunned surprise at the apology. Not knowing what to say, she slowly eases towards the door. "I'm just going to take one of the smaller platters home with me, since I'm by myself." Willow mutters before turning and running.

"Do you want to go home tonight, sweetie?" Tara softly questions Anya.

"Not really." Anya mumbles.

Tara looks up at Buffy with questioning eyes.

Buffy nods her head in recognition of what Tara is silently asking. "If you want, you can come home with us." Buffy offers quietly.

Anya looks up at the slayer and nods her head. "I would. Thank you."

"I'll call a cab." Buffy murmurs heading out the door.

"That was nice of her." Anya remarks as she slowly stands gently wiping a hand across her still damp cheeks.

"Buffy is a very nice and understanding woman." Tara softly whispers. "She's had a lot of hard knocks in her short life. She just wants someone to share her life with that will love all of her." Tara murmurs as she grabs down the two dresses, gently folding them over her arm. "Pretty much, like the rest of us." Tara smiles sadly at the ex-vengeance demon.

Anya nods in acceptance. "It is probably asking to much, to find love on the Hellmouth, isn't it?"

"I'm starting to think so." Tara admits wrapping her arm around Anya's shoulders. "Come on, let's get you home and into comfy clothes. We'll pig out, eat lots of chocolate, and male bash the night away."

"Promise?" Anya asks hopefully.

"Promise." Tara grins as they walk towards the front doors.