Reviews:
Just Me - Yeah, yeah, no pun, right!
Midnight Emerald - Was there more than one B/T/F story? Because if there is, send it to me! I thought I was the only one so far that wrote one!
Sink - Hopefully this will surprise you! LOL I've gotta be mean to the characters before they get their happys - you know that! LOL
Chapter 10
Xander frowns as he runs into Willow outside the Espresso Pump. "Hi. What's up?"
"Got a call to meet Tara here." Willow answers quietly.
"Same here." Xander nods his head looking questioningly at the redhead. "Any idea why?"
"No." Willow shakes her head nervously. "This place hasn't exactly been a good place for Tara and me to meet. Last time we met here, she told me we were finished."
"I'm sorry." Xander frowns at his best friend.
"It's okay, more or less." Willow sighs, before smiling softly. "I actually went out on a date Friday night."
"Really? Who's the lucky lady?" Xander questions grinning.
Willow blushes as she looks down. "Christina, she's in my Physics class." Looking back up, she sighs. "Let's go see what's going on."
"Would rather not." Xander mumbles to himself, as they walk into the shop.
Tara glances up, watching as Willow and Xander walk into the shop. "They're here." She nervously looks across the table at Anya. The two women had switched to a free standing table from the booth they originally were sitting at, to make things be on a more even footing.
Anya unconsciously stiffens, finally it's hitting her, this is the first time she'll have seen Xander since before the wedding disaster. Glancing from her hands up into Tara's eyes, she takes a deep breath seeing the support in the warm blue eyes. Smiling briefly, Anya relaxes a tiny bit.
Xander looks towards Tara, seeing her sitting with another woman. Frowning as he walks closer, he finally realizes that it's Anya. Eyes wide, he turns towards Willow, seeing the realization crossing her face that both their ex's are sitting there waiting for them.
"Easy, Xander." Willow whispers quietly, reaching out to clasp his arm. "You knew sooner or later you would run into her."
"Yeah. But why with Tara? And why did she want you here?" He mumbles, as they walk towards the table.
"We're about to find out." Willow looks at Tara, noticing that her ex-lover seemed somewhat nervous in her own right. Walking up to the table, Willow nods towards Tara, quietly whispering. "Hello."
"Hi." Tara smiles quickly towards Willow as she sits down, while watching an obviously petrified Xander slowly ease into the other chair across from Willow. "Hello, Xander."
"Hi." Xander squeaks out looking at Tara before sliding a glance towards Anya.
"Hello, beady eyes." Anya narrows her gaze on her ex.
"Anya." Tara softly says the ex-demons name.
Anya glances towards Tara before nodding her head. "Xander." Anya nods towards Xander, before glancing towards Willow. "Hello, Willow."
"Hello." Willow nods her head, feeling more uncomfortable by the minute.
Tara bites her lip before looking up, eyes making brief contact with Anya, before looking towards Willow. "As you probably already figured out, there's a reason we asked both of you here." She shifts her eyes from confused green eyes to Xander's wide brown eyes.
Anya taps her finger on the table before speaking up. "We decided it would be best to tell you before you found out some other way."
"Easy, Anya." Tara whispers watching Anya intently.
"Sorry." Anya shakes her head, sighing quietly. "There's no easy way to do this."
"No, there isn't." Tara admits softly. "Just so you both know, we aren't doing this out of spite, or because we're trying to make you feel bad."
Anya nods her head silently agreeing with Tara. Sighing, she glances towards Willow, seeing a dawning realization in the redhead's eyes, before glancing towards Xander. "Simple and to the heart of the matter, Tara and I have decided to date."
Xander's eyes open wide in disbelief looking at his ex. "You…Tara….?" He squeaks out, before turning his gaze towards Tara.
Tara bites her lip as she watches Willow look towards her with an indescribable look on her face.
"You're dating this, this inconsiderate, fuc…" Willow starts before she's interrupted.
"WILLOW!" Tara hisses out loudly. "You will not say what you're about to. I will NOT put up with you talking that way about Anya, or anyone else for that matter. You may not like her, but this is my life and my decision. We are only telling you so that we don't happen to run into each other, if Anya and I are out together. We're doing it out of consideration for you and Xander. Both of you have been a big portion of our lives and thought you deserved to know."
Willow snaps her mouth shut in surprise at her lover…ex-lover. Willow looks down as she clenches her jaw tightly. "Why her?" She growls roughly, before glancing up with angry eyes. "Out of everyone in Sunnydale, why Anya?"
Xander sits there stunned, looking from one woman to the other. He's completely at a loss as to what to say, or do, as he silently listens to Tara and Willow.
"Because she cares for me and will never willingly hurt me. And honestly? I believe there's an extremely good possibility that I will love her deeply." Tara explains softly. "I already love her, Willow… as more than a friend."
"You always stuck up for her. How long, Tara?" Willow hisses out angrily. "How long have you had feelings for her? Was your breaking up with me permanently, just an excuse to get with Anya?"
"Enough!" Anya snarls looking at Willow, finally having enough. "Nothing went on between us before. We went on our first date last night. You have absolutely no right to be angry with her. As far as I'm concerned, if anyone should be angry, it's her! You gave up any right to be angry or upset when you fucked her over. Now apologize for being a bitch and take it like a woman!"
Xander whimpers quietly, before running a shaking hand through his hair, speaking up softly. "Willow, don't ruin your friendship with Tara over this." Xander looks up with sorrow filled eyes. "Think before you say anything else. We both know nothing went on between them before. And until I fucked up so royally two weeks ago, Anya probably never even contemplated dating or seeing anyone else."
All three women turn surprised eyes towards Xander.
Xander blushes looking back down. "We caused our own problems, Willow. They're just continuing on with their lives. As are you." He glances up making meaningful eye contact with Willow. "As should I. We screwed up beyond belief with both of them. We have to live with that. Hopefully one day all of us can be friends. Until then, have a wonderful day." Xander looks sorrowfully at Anya. "I'm sorry for being an idiot." He whispers, before quickly pushing back his chair to leave the coffee shop.
Willow sits beside her ex-lover and Anya in stunned silence, as her best friend since kindergarten, smacks her across the face with a few home truths. Feeling a tear finally slide down her cheek, Willow shakes her head. "I can't really deal with this right now." She admits softly, glancing up making brief eye contact with sad blue eyes. "I'm sorry. I never should have said what I did." Glancing towards Anya she nods her head. "Sorry." Willow murmurs, before hurriedly walking from the coffee shop, leaving Tara and Anya sitting quietly alone at the table.
Tara stares after the redhead for long moments, contemplating everything that was just said. Finally glancing back towards Anya, Tara tilts her head, finally smiling crookedly. "Very surprising."
"Yes, very." Anya nods her head in agreement. "Who would have thought beady eyes had it in him?" Sighing quietly, she slowly inches her hand across the table towards Tara's hand. "Sorry if I jumped in there when I shouldn't have. I couldn't stand her accusing you of something that would never have even occurred to you."
"That's okay." Tara smiles softly meeting Anya's hand in the middle of the table, clasping it gently. "You were more worried about how things were going to go with Xander. Then he turns out to be the voice of reason, actually helping with Willow." Tara frowns looking down at the table. "I'm sorry for what she was going to say."
"You have nothing to be sorry for, Tara. We both knew that she was going to have some not so nice things to say about me. It just surprised me when she turned on you." Anya admits. Sighing deeply, she looks towards Tara. "Feel like heading home?" Anya smiles briefly.
"I probably should." Tara smiles back, searching Anya's brown eyes. "Are you okay?"
"I think so." Anya glances down briefly. "I almost feel bad for thinking all those evil, mean things about him."
"Come on, sweetie. Let's walk." Tara suggests softly, standing and watching Anya as she nods her head, smiling softly as they lace their fingers together as they walk out of the shop into the late afternoon sunshine. "Xander really is a sweet guy. He just screws up occasionally. Maybe he wasn't grown-up enough to be married."
"Maybe not." Anya softly agrees. "Maybe in a few months I can be friends with him."
"I hope so." Tara eases her hand from Anya's grasp, gently wrapping her arm around the woman's waist. "I don't want to lose anyone's friendship. It's so hard finding friends that are as close as all of us are."
"Being here on the Hellmouth, with everything we've gone through, doesn't give us much of a choice." Anya hesitantly eases her arm around the witch, resting her hand on the woman's hip.
Tara smiles as Anya's arm wraps around her. "I mean, staking and beheading demons does have a tendency to bring people closer together." Tara jokes softly.
"And let's not even discuss being covered in gory demon parts." Anya shivers, before laughing.
"Gory, stinky, oozy demon parts." Tara chuckles, squeezing Anya gently. "Do you want to come to the house?" She questions softly as they walk.
"I don't think so." Anya shakes her head glancing towards Tara. "It's Sunday night, you probably have studying to do. Plus I kind of want to think about what happened today." Anya admits softly.
"It's a lot to take in." Tara agrees as the two slowly come to a halt. "I guess this is where we go our different ways." Tara looks off in the distance to where Anya's apartment building is, before shifting her eyes towards the ex-demon.
"Yes, heading in our two different directions." Anya smiles, looking over the witch's features for a few, long moments. "I would say I had a wonderful time…" Anya trails off, laughing self-consciously.
"I believe the time we spent alone together, was wonderful." Tara smiles softly. Effectively separating what happened with Xander and Willow, from their time spent together. "I'll see you tomorrow after school."
Anya smiles hugely as she realizes she'll get to see Tara the following day. "Yes you will, as I will get to see you."
Tara hesitates a moment before leaning in to brush her lips softly over Anya's. Gradually easing back, she looks intently in Anya's eyes for a few seconds, before closing the distance to kiss her more firmly, capturing the ex-demon's bottom lip between her two lips, caressing it briefly with her tongue and pulling on it ever so gently, before releasing the soft flesh. Stepping back Tara smiles. "See you tomorrow, Anya."
Anya stands there nodding her head silently, surprised and dazed from the simple caress. "Tomorrow." Anya hoarsely agrees, watching as Tara smiles before turning to head towards Revello Drive. "Wow." Anya whispers quietly before running her tongue over her bottom lip, getting just a hint of the witch's flavor. Feeling more lighthearted, Anya grins happily as she strolls back to her apartment.
Tara smiles softly as she lets herself in the house. Closing the door quietly, she hangs her keys on the hook glancing into the empty living room. Frowning, she looks quickly in the kitchen before slowly walking up the stairs. Seeing Buffy's bedroom door open, she doesn't see Buffy. Walking the couple steps across the hallway, she watches as Dawn bounces at her desk as she writes, headphones obviously blasting out music. Chuckling, Tara knocks loudly on the door frame.
Dawn quickly reaches for the CD player, clicking it off before pulling the headset down around her neck. "Hey!"
"Hi, Dawnie." Tara smiles at the teen. "Do you need any help?" Tara offers, leaning against the frame.
"Nah, I about got it covered." Dawn smiles. "How did things go this afternoon? What movie did you see?"
"We actually didn't go see a movie." Tara admits softly as she walks in the room, to sit down on the bed. "We went walking around Sunnydale before we stopped at the Espresso Pump for tea." Tara glances down, picking at the bedspread for a few moments. "We decided that it would be best to let Willow and Xander know what was going on, so it wouldn't be a shock if we happened to run into to them while we were out."
Dawn's eyes widen in surprise. "That's why she called." Dawn whispers.
"Why who called?" Tara looks up, watching Dawn.
"Willow called. Buffy headed out about an hour ago to do the best friend thing, at least that's what she said." Dawn admits. "I take it things didn't go that good?"
Tara shrugs, frowning. "Could have been better, could have been worse." Tara smiles briefly. "Xander actually did better than I thought he would. Anya and I decided that since we are actually planning on seeing each other, it was best that we talked with them. That way they wouldn't think you and Buffy were possibly trying to hide our relationship from them."
"I hate to say it, but is it really any of their business who you two date?" Dawn questions. "I mean, HELLO! They screwed up. If you wanted to date the Goodwrench Man, you could!" Dawn throws her hands up in the air. "You know, if you like, liked guy's that is." Dawn admits, blushing.
"Maybe the Goodwrench Woman." Tara smiles, joking with the teen. "I'm hoping eventually things will get back on an even keel. I know it's going to be rough on Willow. After all, she never really liked Anya." Tara winces looking down. "Having Anya and I together kind of put her into a tailspin, I would think."
"It is kind of strange." Dawn admits, her lip curling up in a half smile. "It might take me a little while to get used to the sight of you two together. After all, you and Willow were a couple for two years!" Dawn grins. "Then Anya…" Dawn rolls her eyes. "And Xander were together for roughly three years? So, and I don't mean this in a bad way, but this, is gonna take some getting used to." Dawn shrugs looking at Tara.
"I understand, Dawnie." Tara smiles softly at the teen. "I guess I should hit the books, too." Tara slowly stands. "Did Buffy happen to say when she thought she might be back home?"
"Nah." Dawn shakes her head. "But she took her weapons with her, so she'll probably do patrol before she heads back here."
"Anything in particular you want for dinner tonight?" Tara questions softly as she walks towards the door.
"Pizza?" Dawn questions hopefully. "We haven't had any in like, two weeks."
"If you want." Tara turns, grinning at the teen. "A medium for me and you, a large for your sister. I'm sure she'll eat it when she gets in from patrol."
"Who, the bottomless pit?" Dawn snorts. "She finished off the leftovers from lunch. Then she ate half a container of ice cream! I think you need to keep her away from the ice cream. We hardly ever get any." Dawn whines.
"Sorry, Dawnie. Maybe we should try marking a container with your name, that way you can get to eat a good portion of it." Tara chuckles.
"Like that'll work." Dawn shakes her head. "Pizza in a couple hours?" Dawn questions before grinning as Tara nods her head. "Thanks, Tara."
Tara smiles. "You're welcome, Dawnie." Tara laughs quietly as Dawn turns the CD player back on, pulling the headphones up, before working on her report.
Buffy barely knocks on the door, before Willow's yanking it open, staring at her angrily.
"Did you know?" Willow snarls looking Buffy up and down.
"What?" Buffy takes a step back, surprised at the anger directed towards her. "What are you talking about?"
Willow backs off, seeing the confusion in the slayer's eyes. "Anya and Tara." Willow watches Buffy intently, surprised when she sees a flare of hurt cross the slayer's eyes before sadness quickly replaces it, finally a neutral expression settles.
"They went out on a date last night." Buffy admits softly looking at Willow. "Anya came back to town Friday. She asked Tara on a date, she said yes." Buffy looks at her angry best friend. "What did you expect, Willow? You two are broken up. Did you expect her to stay single and not date anyone? God, wasn't it you that called me just the other day, giddy and babbling about having a date yourself?" Buffy shakes her head, sighing deeply.
"I-I…" Willow's hands come up before falling back down at her sides. "Get in here, Buffy." Willow finally states dejectedly, as she turns from the doorway to walk in the house, collapsing in a chair.
Buffy slowly walks in, closing the door behind her, before sitting on the end of the couch watching Willow.
"I don't know what to think." Willow looks up with sad, haunted eyes. "One minute I'm so angry…" Willow's features darken for a moment before she shakes her head. "The next minute I want to cry. Then I just want to smack myself for being a fucking idiot!" Willow whimpers, burying her face in her hands. "I mean, Anya! She's dating an ex-vengeance demon, Xander's ex-fiancée. I didn't even know Anya liked women! Is she just doing this as a rebound? Is Tara something different for her? Is she going to hurt Tara? How did they even start dating? What triggered it?" Willow rambles off quickly glancing back up at Buffy.
Buffy looks down, feeling guilty. "I can't answer for them, Willow. But…I don't think Anya will hurt her, and I honestly believe it isn't a rebound thing. They really like each other. As for Anya liking women…" Buffy trails off looking up at Willow, wincing. "As it was explained to me, she's over 1200 years old, do you honestly think in that time she's never been with a woman? And as for them dating, I guess you can blame me." Buffy whispers the last looking back down at her hands.
"You?" Willow's eyes open in stunned surprise.
"Yeah, me." Buffy nods her head. "Friday night I was telling Tara she needed to start dating again. She, as usual, was grumping at me to leave it alone. A few minutes later Anya came in and I brought it up to her." Buffy winces, feeling her heart get heavy as she continues. "Anya asked her out on a date, she said yes."
Willow's mouth opens and closes three or four times before she shakes her head.
"I mean, I know fundamentally it isn't my fault. But, she might not have asked her right away, if I hadn't brought it up." Buffy unconsciously rocks slowly back and forth on the couch, not even realizing she's speaking out loud, albeit quietly. "I mean, unless I had asked her out, Anya would probably have asked her eventually, anyway. But of course, I had to be stupid and not tell Tara I liked her. But, why would she like me?" Buffy whispers looking down at her hands. "A stupid idiot that's fucked the undead, afraid to admit she's come to care for someone, because she doesn't want to cause waves…"
"WHAT?" Willow almost screams the word at the slayer. "Y-y-you like Tara?" Willow stands pointing towards the door. "Get the FUCK OUT OF MY HOUSE! It isn't bad enough that the ex-demon bitch wants Tara. You say you do, too? This is just fucking lovely! You don't even LIKE women. You're all with the men. Angel and Riley, remember?" Willow takes the single step to stand over the stunned slayer. "Leave. Don't bother coming back. A friend would NEVER think of hooking up with their best friends ex. It just isn't DONE!"
Buffy stands, finally angry. "You know what, Willow? You don't know fuck all! She isn't yours anymore. She is…was on the market. She can date, love, FUCK anyone she wants to. There is absolutely nothing you can do about it. You can be mad at me all you want, but you know what?" Buffy hesitates shoving her face in Willow's. "I love her, and I would never, ever, have treated her as badly as you did! You had the most wonderful person in the world that doted on you - and you treated her like a fucking commodity. And you did it from the absolute beginning of your relationship!" Buffy shoves a finger in Willow's chest. "You kept her away from all of us, like she was a leper, or something. She didn't deserve to be treated that way. She deserved you to be up front with everyone. Let everyone know that you cared for her." Buffy finally feels her anger starting to ease. Slowly sliding towards the door, she shakes her head at the pale redhead, running a shaking hand down her face. "Our friendship never factored into whether I like Tara or not, Willow. As a matter of fact…no, that's a lie. It factored into it. You're the main reason I never asked Tara out. I didn't want to hurt you. You're my absolute best friend, and maybe, when you've had time to think about things, you'll realize this isn't really about you. It's about Tara, and who she wants to be with. No one's doing this to hurt you. I can't help that I love her, but I'm not acting on it."
Buffy turns to the door, quietly opening it before glancing back at Willow. "When you feel like talking, and maybe are willing to be my friend again, call. I know you're just angry about everything that's happened today, you need time to sort it out. I'll leave you alone until you contact me. But just know, you aren't the only one hurting from those two dating." Buffy finally whispers, before quickly striding out of the house.
Willow stands in the living room staring at the now closed front door. Tears slowly fill her eyes before rolling down her face. "Goddess! What am I doing?" She questions the empty house. Collapsing face first on the couch, Willow sobs heartbrokenly as she thinks about everything she'd said to Buffy. Finally playing over what Buffy said to her, Willow gradually comes to the realization that Buffy has a point…multiple points. First off, Tara isn't hers, and she does deserve to find someone to be happy with. Second, no one can help their feelings. Knowing that she her self, would always love Tara, no matter what. Thinking about it, she remembers how she'd hid her relationship with the blonde Wicca away from everyone, realizing as she thinks about her relationship, how she treated the woman during their time together…she did sort of think of her as being 'hers'. Almost as a piece of property, instead of a human being in her own right. Curling up in a tight ball, it finally hits home, how she raped her girl…ex-girlfriend's mind, basically because she didn't like being wrong. Nodding her head, Willow realizes that's what the original mind-wipe boiled down to. Tara pointed out the fact that Willow was using too much magic, and they had an argument over the fact. Willow didn't think she was… so what does she do? Uses magic to fix it. "Goddess, I am so screwed up!" Willow's body is shaking as she cries. "I'll give it a few days, and then talk to Buffy. Hopefully, she'll let me make things right with her. Then, eventually beg Tara's forgiveness for everything I've done."