Reviews:
Just Me - Gives someone for Buffy to talk to besides herself!
Skye - Oh, Buffy's already wiggled her way into Tara's heart, but Tara's being blind and not seeing it, and of course, the slayer is being thick-headed! Stupid people, don't they know they want each other? LOL
HEY WHERE'S MY REVIEWS - AUTHOR GETTING HUNGRY FOR REVIEWS!
Chapter 12
Tara giggles quietly as she works on her paper, trying to finish it before having to start work in half an hour. "Anya, please!"
"You're no fun." Anya pouts, pulling her fingers away from their teasing past time. "If you put your hair up, I can't help but play with your gorgeous ears."
"You need help." Tara mutters, shaking her head. "My ears are not gorgeous. They stick out too far from my head and are too big!"
"No, they're not. I think they're gorgeous. I bet they would even be considered delectable." Anya considers the ears for a moment, a smirk crossing her face. "Maybe I'll find out just how delectable they are." She quickly leans down, ready to nibble on an earlobe when the bell above the door dings. "Damn it." Anya mutters under her breath, making Tara laugh.
"Poor, baby." Tara bites her lip at the look of disgust crossing Anya's face.
"You better not set that thing down. I won't have it making a mess!" Anya props her hands on her hips as Buffy comes in.
"I'm not. Anyway, she's a very well behaved little girl." Buffy defends the puppy.
Tara grins as she turns around, looking at Buffy and the puppy. Quickly standing she walks over, holding her arms out for the puppy. "No name yet?" Tara questions with a lift of her eyebrow.
"No." Buffy grumbles. "And you are absolutely no help!" Buffy hands the squirming puppy over to Tara, chuckling as it licks quickly over the witch's chin. "She pretty much had a clean bill of health."
"Worms, right?" Tara looks up from where she's scratching the puppy's chin.
"Yeah, how did you know?" Buffy frowns looking at Tara.
"Pretty much all puppy's have worms. They actually get them from their mom's." Tara shrugs. "No big deal."
"When did you get a dog?" Anya questions warily walking up to the two women, watching the puppy curiously.
"Last night. But, I think it was more of a puppy getting Buffy." Tara smirks, her eyes twinkling.
Anya cautiously reaches out a hand, running it lightly down the dogs back. Smiling softly as it turns it head, panting at her. "I swear she's grinning at me."
"You are kind of funny looking." Buffy jokes, quickly jumping back from a hand aimed at her. "Hey! Watch where that thing goes!"
"I was." Anya mutters before turning back to the puppy. "You need to name her. Where did you find her?"
"Downtown behind a bunch of trash cans." Buffy chuckles as Anya wiggles her fingers for the puppy.
"Very dirty and very stinky." Tara hands the puppy to Anya.
"She finds a home with a witch, a slayer and a key? Should be interesting." Anya smirks at the two women before walking over to a chair, sitting down to cradle the puppy against her chest, smiling as she falls asleep.
"Let's see, we have Dawn, Tara and Buffy. We can't have an ordinary name for her, now can we?" Anya gently strokes over the puppy's back.
Buffy looks towards Tara, mouthing, 'we?' Tara smirks and shakes her head.
"So what do you think would be a good name for her?" Buffy questions, sitting down beside the ex-demon.
"She needs a good, strong name." Anya watches the sleeping puppy. "She probably would have died, if you hadn't found her. So, she's risen from the depths of Hell, to live with the angels." Anya looks up, smirking at Tara. "Rising from the fires of Hell, with this being the Hellmouth? Phoenix?"
"Phoenix?" Buffy questions quietly, glancing at Tara, as she sits down at the table across from them.
Tara nods her head, considering the name. "I like it. A Phoenix rises from the ashes to be reborn. Living on the Hellmouth, that has a kind of poetic ring to it."
"Hmmm." Buffy reaches over, gently poking the puppy. "Wake up, little one. I want to see if you like this name."
The three women laugh quietly as the dog whimpers as it wakes up.
Buffy grasps the puppy, bringing it even with her face, so she's looking it in the eyes. "How do you like the name Phoenix?" Buffy questions. Getting a half growl, half bark, Buffy raises an eyebrow. "Is that a like it, or a don't like it?"
Tara tries to hold back the laughter, not being very successful. "Here, little one." Tara calls, watching as the puppy looks towards her. "Here, Phoenix. Come here, Phoenix." Tara calls softly, laughing as the puppy tries to scrabble away from Buffy. "Sit her down on the floor, let's see."
"She makes a mess, you're cleaning it up." Anya mutters, trying to keep the smile off her face.
Buffy rolls her eyes before setting the dog on the floor, unhooking the leash. "Go see Tara, little one."
"Going to have to use her name, so we don't confuse her." Tara murmurs quietly. "Come here, Phoenix." Tara snaps her fingers, down by the floor, smiling as the dog comes running. Picking her up, she hugs her. "That's a good Phoenix. Yes it is!" Tara baby talks the puppy as Phoenix wiggles her whole back end, lapping the witch's face excitedly.
"Is Dawn coming here after school?" Buffy questions looking up at the clock.
"No, she called. She's working on a project at Janice's. Then she was going to go home." Tara answers, rubbing her nose with the dog's. "Phoenix is a pretty girl. Yes, she is." Tara laughs as the puppy barks.
"I think she likes her new name." Anya nods her head. "Good."
"Thanks, Anya." Buffy smiles at the ex-demon, before standing. "Let me take her home. I'll be back to walk you home later." Buffy clips the leash on Phoenix's collar, before glancing up as the bell above the door announces a customer. Buffy's nose snarls up in disgust.
"Oh, isn't it the slayer and her little friends." Warren growls out looking from one woman to the next.
"Made any new girlfriends for anyone lately?" Buffy narrows her eyes on the man, looking down at the puppy as she growls deeply, her body stiffening. "Good, Phoenix. Yes, that's a good girl." Buffy eyes harden as they look back up at Warren.
"We don't have anything here to sell you." Anya stands walking towards him. "I suggest you leave."
"You're going to turn away a paying customer?" Warren pulls out a wad of cash, waving it around.
Tara glances towards Anya, surprised when she sees the determination on the woman's face. Looking back towards Warren, Tara crosses her arms across her chest and tilts her head. "I suggest you leave, Warren. You're not welcome in this store."
"Bitches." Warren snarls loudly. "Eventually you'll get what's coming to you. You'll regret treating me like this."
Buffy starts to walk towards Warren angrily, when he quickly spins around, leaving the shop. "Damn good thing he left when he did." Buffy scratches behind the puppy's ears as she shakes in her arms. "It's okay, Phoenix. The bad man's gone"
"Animals are very good judges of character." Anya nods her head, walking towards Buffy and the puppy. "You deserve a treat." Anya pats Phoenix's head gently, smiling as the puppy slowly relaxes in Buffy's arms.
"Yes, she does." Buffy eyes light up as she digs in her pocket, pulling out a small package. As the puppy barks and starts squirming, she hands the package to Anya. "If you could get her a piece, please?"
Anya opens the treats, grabbing a piece out. "Yes, Phoenix is a good girl." Anya hands the puppy a treat, smiling as she quickly chews and swallows.
"I wonder what he was coming in here for?" Tara questions softly, frowning. "I really don't trust him."
"I saw him and two other guys in the restaurant down the street, when I went and picked up lunch." Anya admits. "They were all huddled together. I think they were up to something."
"I better keep an eye on them. Do you know who the other two were?" Buffy questions looking at Anya.
"That one, really short little guy, we were at school together with." Anya frowns, trying to think of his name.
"Jonathan?" Buffy's eyes narrow.
"Superstar, Jonathan?" Tara looks at Buffy and as Buffy nods, she shakes her head. "I would think he learned his lesson from that." Tara unconsciously shivers as she remembers being attacked by the demon and spending the night in the storage room.
Anya looks questioningly at Tara as she shivers and turns pale. "Tara?"
Buffy reaches out, gently clasping Tara's shoulder. "Are you okay?"
"Yes. Just remembering the demon that Jonathan conjured." Tara smiles hesitantly.
"Not good memories for you." Buffy nods in realization. "We should have walked you to your room that night."
"Not your fault, Buffy." Tara shakes her head, smiling a little more confidently. "And that was a long time ago." Tara turns her gaze on Anya. "Do you know the other guy?"
"No, he didn't look familiar." Anya admits, running a hand down Tara's back, comforting the witch. "If they're coming around here, I bet they're up to no good."
"Do you mind keeping Phoenix? I want to do a quick re-con around the area. See if I can find them." Buffy looks first at Tara, then Anya.
Tara looks questioningly at Anya, smiling as she nods her head. "Here, I'll keep Phoenix. Be careful." Tara holds the puppy while watching as Buffy quickly strides out of the shop. "Would you recognize the other guy, if you saw him again?"
Anya nods her head. "Yes, he was a very geeky, sandy haired boy. Here, I'll take Phoenix out front, see if she needs to go to the bathroom. You can get one of the small containers and put some water in it for her."
Tara watches Anya with a bemused look on her face, before chuckling. "Okay, Phoenix now has three mommies. Add Dawn in, the poor thing is going to be so rotten, we won't be able to live with her!"
Striding down the street, Buffy looks intently into each shop, working her way towards the only other magic shop in town. Slowing down as she sees a familiar face. Ducking into a doorway, she waits. Watching as Jonathan walks by, Buffy slides out, trailing him at a distance.
"What are you up to?" Buffy whispers to herself, following him to a warehouse. Searching the outside, she quickly jumps up onto the fire escape, trotting up the steps. Easing in a broken window, she sneaks around slowly working her way to the voices she hears talking. Stopping, she peeks over the edge of the walkway watching the three geeks.
"It's just going to delay us. We'll order the stuff from the shop in LA. The other magic shop doesn't have the items we need." Warren strides back and forth. "Andrew, get it ordered. Jonathan, you need to double check the location of the orbs, make sure they haven't been moved."
"What are you going to be doing?" Jonathan questions gathering the items he needs for the locator spell.
"Don't worry about it." Warren narrows his gaze on Jonathan. "This will give us time to re-check the routes the drivers take. This will work more in our favor. We can get the orbs, then wait till next month, or the month after that, to pull the jobs. That will also give me time to make sure the orbs work." Warren smirks wickedly. "I know the perfect person to try them out on."
Buffy narrows her gaze, waiting for a few more moments. As the three idiots seem to be finished speaking, doing their own thing, she stealthily leaves the building. Walking around the outside, she makes note of which warehouse it is, to keep an eye on it. Quickly jogging back to the Magic Box, she walks in, chuckling quietly as Tara is helping a customer while Anya's playing with the puppy.
Anya glances up at the bell and smiles. Glancing over at the customer, she frowns before looking back at Buffy. "Any luck?" She questions quietly.
"Sort of." Buffy nods to the customer before sitting down beside Anya. "Hi, Phoenix." Buffy chuckles as the puppy rolls onto her back, panting. "Anya wearing you out?"
"She's a very good dog." Anya smiles at the puppy, rubbing her belly. "You can bring her here, anytime."
"Thanks." Buffy raises her eyebrows in surprise, glancing over to a smirking Tara. Sighing, Buffy decides to not worry about it. Watching as Tara rings up the sale, Buffy smiles as the witch wishes the woman a wonderful evening as she leaves.
"What did you find out?" Tara questions, quickly walking over to the table after the customer leaves.
"Well, Jonathan and Warren are working together. There was another guy with them. I don't know who he is. His name's Andrew." Buffy frowns deeply. "Warren's in charge, of whatever they're up to. He said something about orbs and the fact that us turning him away, gave them the time to re-check the routes of the drivers." Buffy shakes her head. "I don't have a clue what they're talking about."
"Research." Tara mutters. "Even though, what information you gave us, isn't going to be much help. But, I can look for orbs. It'll be at least a pair, since it was plural. That'll narrow it down."
"I need to get home. Phoenix probably needs to be fed, as does Dawn." Buffy mutters rolling her eyes.
"There's a glass dish with a chicken concoction in the refrigerator. Just uncover it and throw it in the oven. The directions are taped to the lid." Tara smiles as Buffy picks up Phoenix.
"I'll be back in a few hours to walk you home." Buffy smiles in thanks at the witch. "Anya, you staying, or do you want me to walk you home?" Buffy offers the ex-demon.
Anya raises her eyebrows in surprise, before turning her gaze on Tara. "Will you be okay here, by yourself?"
"Yes, I'm sure Warren won't be back." Tara grins crookedly at Anya.
"You don't have to walk me home." Anya tilts her head watching Buffy.
Buffy shrugs her shoulders. "I'm kind of weirded out about this. I've got a serious bad feeling, deep in my gut."
"I'll take a couple books home with me, I can do some research after I get there." Anya offers walking over to the books, searching through them.
Tara softly comes up beside the ex-demon, wrapping an arm around her waist. "Is it okay, if I take a few books home to research?"
"Of course." Anya smiles at the witch before reaching back, grasping a couple of the more likely books. "Though I would like to embarrass Buffy, I'm sure you'll get mad at me if I do. So, would you help me get my things out of the office?" Anya whispers into Tara's ear before pulling back and wiggling her eyebrows.
Tara chuckles quietly. "Yes, I'll help you."
Buffy sighs quietly, turning her back on the two women, while petting Phoenix. "Why am I putting myself through this?" She whispers to the puppy who licks gently over her cheek. "Well, you love me, don't you?" Buffy smiles at the puppy feeling a little better.
"I'll be out in a moment." Anya calls to Buffy as she sets the books on the table, before slowly following Tara into the office.
"I'll be here." Buffy answers not turning to look at the two women.
Anya shakes her head at the slayer before sighing quietly. 'I promised to leave it alone.' She thinks to herself as she walks into the office, squeaking as soft lips press insistently against hers. Wrapping her arms around Tara's neck, Anya whimpers as an inquisitive tongue strokes firmly against her lips, seeking entrance. Quickly opening her lips, Anya groans as Tara's tongue strokes softly over hers, twirling slowly around in a dance of desire for a few long moments, before gently easing back to soft, gentle presses of one set of lips against the other.
Reaching up with a slightly unsteady hand, to brush soft fingertips over Anya's cheek, Tara smiles into the dazed brown eyes looking back at her. "Be careful on the way home."
"Way home?" Anya blinks before chuckling. "Good thing Buffy's walking me there, or I might end up in LA after that kiss." Sighing, Anya shakes her head to clear the last vestiges of fuzziness from her brain. "Damn! Can't wait till we get to the orgasms." Anya bites her lip, to keep from laughing.
"Anya…" Tara narrows her gaze on the ex-demon, before chuckling quietly. "Going to have to do better than that, to embarrass me." Tara continues before walking out of the office.
"You're no fun!" Anya calls out to Tara as she leaves the office. Reaching down, grabbing her purse, Anya quickly walks to the table grasping the books.
"Personally, I think I'm a lot of fun." Tara quirks an eyebrow at Anya before laughing quietly. Sitting down at the table, she waves to the two women. "Be careful. I'll see you later, Buffy."
"We will." Buffy nods her head. "I'll be back to walk you home a little before 8:00, as per the norm."
"Thank you." Tara smiles softly, watching as the two women leave the shop. Sighing quietly, Tara goes back to working on her paper, trying to finish it so she can start researching.