Reviews:
Dee - I am the evil one! Yes, I am! Things are going well, at least I think so!
Word - Tara with anyone just about works!
Youarelovely - Yes, all three of them - should be interesting!
Just Me - LOL Behave! Couldn't actually have Richard and Buffy hook-up, now could I?
CB - Everyone wants poor Xander to get his butt whipped - :)
Chapter 7
Tara sighs quietly, as she walks back down the stairs. Sitting down heavily on the couch, she looks at the living room, groaning. "Maybe tomorrow morning, I'll clean this mess up." She grumbles quietly closing her eyes and leaning her head back. Sighing she thinks over the night, between the crying jags to the griping all three women did about men in general (her griping about her father and brother), finally ending in a food fight. Smiling softly, knowing that Anya was finally starting to come to terms with what happened, but realizing it will still take time and she'll probably break down occasionally, needing a friend to talk to.
Chuckling quietly, Tara thinks about how Buffy had slowly loosened towards the ex-demon, becoming more like a friend to the woman by the end of the night. Tara had watched as surprise slowly crossed Buffy's face as she realized Anya was a sweet and caring woman, once you actually took the time to listen to her, instead of dismissing what she says because of her refreshing bluntness.
Looking back around, Tara frowns before standing to grab a trash bag and slowly walk around the room picking up food, soda cans, wine and water bottles strewn about the living room furniture and floor. Halfway through cleaning up, she looks towards Buffy as she walks in from patrol. "How was patrol, sweetie?"
Buffy chuckles quietly. "I think all the demons were invited to the wedding and decided to high tail it out of town after realizing it was off. I only found one newly risen vampire all night." Shaking her head Buffy sits down to pull off her shoes, finally realizing Tara's cleaning up the living room. "Hey, you shouldn't be doing this by yourself."
"That's okay. Anya's upstairs asleep. I thought I would clean up the mess while waiting for you to get home." Tara shrugs, smiling softly.
"Well, let me help." Buffy hops up gathering up items and dumping them in the trash bag. "I can't believe we ended up having a food fight." Buffy grumbles picking up a smooshed piece of…Buffy tilts her head looking at the item in question, clearly not having a clue what it was. Shrugging her shoulders, she drops it in the trash bag.
"I'm probably going to have to rent a steam cleaner from the store to get some of this stuff out of the carpet." Tara admits.
"It was worth it." Buffy softly states. "All this time I just thought Anya was an uncaring pain in the ass, when she would make her comments. I never realized what was going on underneath."
"She's a very kind and caring woman, Buffy." Tara admits gathering another handful of food off an end table.
"Xander doesn't realize what he had." Buffy shakes her head in disappointment. "And all this time I dismissed her, thinking he could do so much better than an Ex-Vengeance Demon." Buffy states sarcastically. "I think it's her that could do much better, especially since he ran off without another word."
Tara silently agrees with Buffy before saying out loud. "But, as you said, this is the Hellmouth. There very well could be extenuating circumstances."
"Yeah, well, there sort of was." Buffy admits sitting down watching Tara for a moment.
Looking up into the worried eyes of the slayer, Tara tilts her head. "You found him?"
"Yeah, he's staying at one of the hotels on the outskirts of town." Buffy looks down at her hands for a long moment. "He said he'd had misgivings for the last couple months, but that today it finally came to a head, when he imagined what it would be like in the future. He imagined himself as his father, a drunk, abusive man." Buffy looks up in apology at Tara as she mentions the abusive part.
Tara shakes her head and smiles briefly at the look. "It's okay, Buffy. It isn't your fault my family isn't the nicest family in the world. You don't have to tiptoe around it."
"Yeah, well, if I'd known then, what I know now, they wouldn't have left with just a warning." Buffy grumbles loudly, a look of anger crossing her face. "Why didn't you ever tell us what your home life was like, Tara? I mean, I got an inkling that they were very strict, but I never knew that you went through the abuse, until tonight."
Tara sighs, before collapsing on the couch, thinking about the past. "I never really talked about it much. I told Willow bits and pieces over time as it came up, but that's it." Tara shrugs and smiles crookedly at the slayer. "I'm okay now and I try to move forward, instead of wallowing in the past."
Buffy nods in agreement. "I just have to say this, I'm glad you're here. You're a very big part of my life, you probably don't realize how much you've helped me, hell, helped everyone. I want to thank you, for that." Buffy grins. "And I just want to say thank you for putting Anya in your bed instead of mine."
Tara raises an eyebrow at Buffy before drawling out quietly. "Who said anything about putting her in my bed?"
"You didn't?" Buffy whimpers quietly. "I'll have to sleep on the couch. There's no telling what Miss Grabby Hands will get up to if I'm asleep."
Tara laughs quietly at Buffy, remembering how as Anya worked her way through a couple bottles of wine; she had gotten a little…grabby, definitely is the word. "I don't know, Buffy. She might be able to widen your horizons. After all, we are talking about a woman that has lived for 1200 years. Imagine the things she's seen and done." Tara smirks at the slayer.
"Don't, please." Buffy holds her hand up, closing her eyes. "I don't think my poor little brain can handle even remotely considering what she has done in the past. What she was more than willing to expound on tonight, was more than enough." Buffy shudders in remembrance.
Tara bites her lip watching Buffy. "That's part of what she was, being a Vengeance Demon is exacting vengeance against someone. And I have to admit, she was very creative with some of the wishes." Tara's lip inches up.
"Yeah, yeah." Buffy mumbles opening her eyes and glaring at the witch. "I think you egged her on."
"It made her feel better." Tara shrugs her shoulder smiling. "She was doing a hell of a lot better at the end of the night, than she was earlier."
"That's true." Buffy admits softly. "Which bed did you put her in? Dawn's bed is free tonight, so we can crash in there."
Tara nods her head. "I was planning on sleeping in there. I actually grabbed my sleep wear when I dragged Anya up to bed." Tara chuckles quietly thinking about the drunk, singing woman. "I was able to get a couple aspirin in her before she passed out. I hope that might help with her hangover tomorrow."
"I don't know. She sure hit the booze tonight. She may not wake up for a couple days." Buffy mutters.
"That's a possibility." Tara yawns hugely as the day finally catches up with her. "I think I'm going to go crash."
Buffy nods her head. "I'm right behind you." She stands and slowly turns the lights off as the two women double check the doors and head upstairs. "Have a good night."
"Thanks, Buffy, you too." Tara smiles softly at the slayer before slipping into Dawn's room to hopefully get a good night's rest.
Buffy shuts the door behind her before stripping and pulling on her pajamas. Climbing into bed, she shakes her head, thinking about her best friend Xander. Remembering how he had tried to sound all 'I'm doing it for her own good.' Realizing he was just a scared little boy that should have taken a step back to think about what he was doing, instead of running away and ruining his relationship with Anya. "Is that what we're all doing?" Buffy questions the empty room. "Xander with Cordelia, then Anya? Willow with Oz, then Tara? Myself with Angel and Riley?" Buffy doesn't even consider Spike. It was never a relationship, just two people taking advantage of a situation and each other.
"Yes, technically Oz and Angel left Willow and myself. But Willow more or less ran Tara off, as I did with Riley." Sighing quietly, Buffy shakes her head before deciding she really should sleep, instead of trying to figure out the specifics of the Scoobies and their love lives. Rolling over onto her stomach, Buffy punches her pillow before laying her head down to slowly fall asleep.
Buffy and Tara look up from their breakfast of pancakes and sausage, as a bleary-eyed stumbling ex-vengeance demon makes her way into the kitchen.
"I'll be. I didn't think we'd see you for another, five or six hours, at least." Buffy watches as Anya waves an unsteady hand towards her before opening the refrigerator, pulling out the rest of the orange juice and draining it. Dropping the container in the trash, she opens the freezer, grabbing a full ice tray out to crack and drop on a kitchen towel. Wrapping it up, she runs it under water to make it slightly damp before placing it against her head and plopping down in a chair beside Tara. Buffy laughs quietly at the sight of the woman.
Tara makes eye contact with Buffy, her lip quirked up in amusement before looking back at Anya. "Would you like some more aspirin?" Tara questions softly. Getting a brief nod in reply, Tara bites back her laugh before reaching back and grabbing the aspirin she'd had the forethought to leave out. "How many?" She shakes her head as Anya holds up four fingers. Dropping four aspirin into her hand, Tara stands and grabs a glass to fill with water. Placing the items in front of Anya, she watches as the blood shot eyes make contact with her for the first time.
"If I ever do something that stupid again, please just shoot me." She whimpers quietly as she pops the aspirin in her mouth and chugs the water before laying her head down on the counter top.
Tara holds back a smile and gently rubs Anya's back. "It'll get better. Do you think you can eat anything?"
"Not a good idea." Anya mutters as she picks up the ice and lays it gently on the side of her face. "Just tell me, did I make a complete and utter fool of myself last night?"
"No more than usual." Buffy pipes up grinning. "Even though, I must admit, woman's hands in new places last night."
Anya slowly raises her head to look from one woman to the next. "Did I?" She questions in a quavery voice.
"Yes, you did. To both Tara and myself." Buffy waves at Tara.
"Damn." Anya grumbles quietly. "That makes me feel bad."
"That's okay, sweetie. We understand." Tara smirks at Buffy while patting Anya on the back.
"What do you understand?" Anya looks up. "I feel bad because I don't remember it. I mean, damn. I felt you and Buffy both up? And I don't remember? I really do need to be shot now." Anya bitches as she dumps the towel in the sink before unsteadily working her way out of the kitchen.
Tara giggles at the shocked look on Buffy's face, before laughing fully. "Did you expect something else from Anya?"
"I guess I shouldn't." Buffy shakes her head, blushing briefly. "How come you're not upset or embarrassed?"
Tara raises an eyebrow after she stops laughing, tilting her head at the slayer. "It is what it is, Buffy. If the worse thing that happens out of all this mess is the fact my breasts got squeezed last night, I'll count my blessings." Tara laughs at the dumb founded look on Buffy's face. Tara quickly leaves the kitchen, before she busts out laughing at the look on the slayer's face. Not seeing Anya in the living room, she quickly walks upstairs and peaks in her bedroom. Seeing Anya laying face first on the bed, she smiles. "You need anything else, sweetie?"
"No, just more sleep. Then I might feel close to human again." Anya moans out. "Did I really feel you guys up?" She opens an eye, looking seriously at Tara.
"You grabbed my breasts a couple times and Buffy's ass, but that was about it." Tara smiles as she leans against the door frame. "Nothing that bad."
"Sorry." Anya looks apologetically at the witch. "For real, not being a smart-ass."
"I know. Don't worry about it, Anya. I'll make sure I return the favor when you're up to it." Tara chuckles as Anya groans. "Go to sleep, sweetie. You can stay here as long as you want."
"Thanks, Tara. Tell Buffy thanks, also, please." Anya whispers softly.
Buffy watches Tara as she leaves the kitchen. Surprised first, at how well the witch seems to be taking what happened. Secondly, wondering at her own feelings as she had joked and carried on with the two women the previous night. Feeling a closeness and a sense of…dare she think it? Rightness with the three of them together. Sighing quietly, she looks down at her empty plate wondering what's wrong with her.
Tara gently closes the door before heading back down to the living room. Finishing picking up the odds and ends she'd missed the night before, she walks into the kitchen and throws them away, looking inquisitively at Buffy. "Something wrong, Buffy?"
"I don't really know." Buffy answers quietly shaking her head. "Something I've got to think about on my own. So what's the plans for today?"
"Well it's Sunday and we're both off. The living room needs to be steam-cleaned, but I hate to wake Anya up with the noise of the machine. So, I guess that means we wait a few hours. Other than that, we don't need to go to the store, the laundry is done and the rest of the house is clean." Tara smirks sitting down. "We have a sink full of dishes to wash and that's about it. So, what do you want to do?"
"I don't know." Buffy looks at Tara lost.
Tara furrows her brows in thought for a moment. "Do you know when Dawnie's going to be home?"
"I told her not to come home until right before dark, unless she had too. I didn't know what all we were going to have to deal with yesterday." Buffy admits.
"Good. Let's get our shoes on and go for a walk." Tara stands walking out to the living room.
"Huh?" Buffy quickly hops off the stool following Tara. "I walk around Sunnydale all the time."
"No, you patrol Sunnydale all the time. When was the last time you actually walked around town, window shopped and maybe sat under a tree watching kid's play?" Tara looks up from tying her shoes.
Buffy stops, looking at the witch with confusion on her face.
Tara tilts her head as she stands watching Buffy for a moment as she obviously thinks about what Tara asked her. "If you have to think on it that hard, it's been too damn long. Get your shoes on, Buffy." Tara softly orders.
Buffy grabs her tennis shoes without any argument, pulling them on and tying them quickly. Grabbing her keys off the hook, she tucks them in her pocket. "Maybe I should get my money?" Buffy starts to head up the stairs.
"I've got cash on me, let's go." Tara holds her arm out to Buffy, grinning.
Buffy hesitates a moment before shrugging her shoulders and looping her arm through the witch's as they head out the door.
"It was nice of you to let Anya come here last night." Tara smiles softly at the fact they still had their arms looped through each other, before sighing.
"It wasn't that big." Buffy offers enjoying the day, realizing how much she missed just living life without having to worry about someone getting hurt or dying. "You've become really good friends with Anya, haven't you?" Buffy questions quietly.
"Yes." Tara admits softly. "She's really a wonderful person. Blunt, yes. But she'll always tell you what she thinks. She doesn't believe in hiding the truth."
"Very true." Buffy nods her head in agreement. Smiling softly as they walk into the park watching the kids throwing a Frisbee back and forth, following where Tara leads her.
"I think this is just what Doctor Tara ordered." Tara whispers as she comes up on a big oak tree. Sitting down and leaning her back against it, she pats the ground beside her. "Why don't you lie down and use my leg as a pillow." Tara offers watching the children playing.
Buffy hesitates for a moment before shrugging internally. Lying down on her back, she rests her head on Tara's thigh.
"Look up into the tree, what do you see?" Tara questions softly, as she starts running her fingers soothingly through the slayer's hair.
"Limbs, leaves…" Buffy glances up at a smiling witch.
"Do you see anything else?" Tara glances down at Buffy with a quirk of her lip.
Buffy silently contemplates what Tara is asking her while opening her senses to the world around her. Not realizing she's been just enjoying the day and the sounds for almost an hour, she finally looks into the blue eyes of the witch. "I see life. I actually feel it." Buffy whispers.
Tara smiles softly as she unconsciously runs a finger around the soft skin behind Buffy's ear as she works her fingers back through her hair. Tilting her head back, she looks up into the tree. "There will always be life; we are all tied to it in one way or another, Buffy. You are a part of life. This is what you fight for. You fight for the children's rights to be able to play out here in the park, for a mother to take her baby strolling around town., for a father and son to toss a ball back and forth. Somewhere for lovers to cuddle up together and whisper sweet nothings in each other's ears. You can't forget this, Buffy. If you do, you lose yourself. You have to take time out to enjoy what you make possible."
Buffy slowly sits up and leans in brushing her lips across Tara's cheek. "Thank you."
Tara blushes in surprise at the soft kiss looking at the slayer and smiling. "I didn't do anything, Buffy."
"Yes, you did." Buffy shifts around to lean against the tree beside Tara, her shoulder brushing against Tara's. "Whether you realize it or not, Tara, you've given me my life back."
"I was just there if you needed a shoulder to cry on and an ear to listen to." Tara shakes her head softly. "You did the rest yourself, Buffy. You just needed time to get your bearings."
"If it wasn't for you, I'd probably still be screwing the undead." Buffy admits. "Or I'd be dead. So, please, don't argue. I know it's the truth and no matter how much you want to argue about it, you are the reason I'm doing well. So say you're welcome."
Tara reaches down and squeezes Buffy's hand gently in hers before murmuring. "You're welcome."
Buffy sighs and leans her head against Tara's shoulder as she squeezes Tara's hand back. "Do you think Anya's going to be okay?"
"Given time. I look for her to bounce back quickly. She isn't the type to wallow in self-pity for long. I think last night was a good start to healing her heart." Tara admits smiling.
"So drinking a couple bottles of wine, grabbing your breasts and my ass is a cure all, huh?" Buffy jokes as she laughs quietly.
"I don't know. The next time I'm feeling down in the dumps I'll try it and see if it helps me." Tara's eyes twinkle mischievously at the slayer.
"TARA!" Buffy yells out in shock. "I can't believe you would consider grabbing my ass."
"Why not?" Tara laughs at the slayer. "Anya was right; you have an extremely grab-worthy ass." Tara chuckles loudly as Buffy turns red.
"If you're considering grabbing my ass, you know what that means don't you?" Buffy growls, quickly hopping up to stand in front of the witch. "That means those are up for grabs!" Buffy glances down and points at Tara's breasts.
Tara laughs good-naturedly at the slayer. "You wouldn't do that. Remember, you like the timber!"
Buffy blushes deeply before rolling her eyes. "I guess you have a point." She mutters, though in her heart, she's seriously starting to wonder about possibilities. Shaking the thought out of her head she offer's Tara her hand. "Let's head back towards the house. I want to be there when Anya wakes up."
Tara smiles as she reaches up, letting Buffy help her stand. Grinning in surprise as she laces their fingers together, as they slowly meander their way back to the house on Revello Drive. Stopping and picking up a small steam cleaner that they can carry back to the house.