Chapter 17
"Dinner good. Information bad." Buffy growls as the group of women sit at the dining room table eating dinner and discussing the Orbs. "Not that I'm not happy you found the information, Anya. I just don't like where this is leading. He'll be like… like Superman or something." Buffy frowns.
"I understand." Anya smiles at the slayer. "But you might want to step up surveillance of him, I can keep an eye out on the happenings in the newspaper, see if there's anything weird going on that could be explained away with the Orbs."
"Maybe you should call Willow, have her hack into the databases and see if there's anything that's happened that the police are keeping out of the newspapers." Tara suggests softly. "I would, but we've not talked since last weekend." Tara winces momentarily, before looking down playing in her fried rice.
"I'll call her. That's not a problem, I actually ran into her earlier this week at the Bronze, so we're on speaking terms again." Buffy admits, grinning briefly. "I guess I need to go out on patrol." Buffy stands gathering her dirty dishes and the empty containers, quickly striding into the kitchen, Phoenix following behind.
Dawn gathers her dirty dishes, smiling at Anya and Tara. "Want me to take your dishes in?"
"You don't have to, sweetie." Tara looks up, smiling. "But I would appreciate it."
Dawn grins as she gathers Tara's and Anya's plates and silverware, taking them into the kitchen. Rinsing them off, she places them in the dishwasher before going to the back door watching her sister leaning against the side of the house while Phoenix runs around the yard. Walking back over to the sink, Dawn wets the dish rag, wringing out the excess water before walking back into the now empty dining room, wiping down the dining room table.
Tara smiles softly as Anya snuggles against her, running her fingers gently through the shopkeepers hair, as they watch a movie they'd picked up while waiting for dinner to be prepared. Tara smiles at Dawn as she sits in the chair.
"Oooh. I wanted to see this." Dawn bounces excitedly.
"It's only a couple minutes in, do you want me to restart it?" Tara offers quietly.
"Nah. I think I can figure it out." Dawn grins as she tucks her feet up under her, getting comfortable as she watches the movie.
Tara chuckles as Phoenix comes running in, jumping up on the couch, panting heavily as she curls up in her lap. "Lap dog, alright." Tara shakes her head, stroking the panting puppy. "And you sure as heck got up here in a hurry. You didn't make mommy mad, did you?" Tara glances up, grinning as Buffy walks into the living room.
Buffy rolls her eyes. "No, she didn't make me mad. I just told her I needed to go on patrol and she came running to you like a bat out of hell. I swear that animal knows what we're saying to her."
Tara chuckles as Dawn looks her way with a knowing smirk.
"I think Tara cast a smart spell on Phoenix. And we know that she understands what we're saying!" Dawn explains, laughing.
"I didn't cast any spells, I swear!" Tara laughs as Phoenix rolls over in her lap, begging for her belly to be rubbed.
Anya watches Tara scratch the puppies tummy. "Lucky puppy." Anya whispers into Tara's ear, making her giggle.
"Play your cards right, and I'll scratch your tummy later." Tara whispers back.
"Don't tease." Anya's eyes light up at the thought. "Movie." She mutters turning her attention back to the television, scooting down in the couch, tilting her head into the crook of Tara's shoulder and chest.
Buffy shifts her eyes away from the two women. "I'll be back later. You guys have fun." Buffy quietly calls out as she tucks away stakes and weapons.
"Be careful, sweetie." Tara comments as Buffy heads for the door.
"I will." Buffy glances over at Tara and Anya, seeing warm blue eyes and curious brown eyes looking at her. "Enjoy your movies."
"We will. Take care of yourself." Anya watches as Buffy nods her head before quickly leaving the house. Raising an eyebrow as she turns her gaze on Tara, she sighs as Tara shrugs her shoulders and turns her gaze back to the television. Placing a gentle kiss on Tara's cheek, Anya shifts her body back into her previous position to watch the movie.
"No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no!" Buffy growls, punctuating each 'no' with a punch in the vampires face. "I am NOT allowing those thoughts in my head!"
"Stake me, please!" The vampire finally begs, his face and body having been used for a punching bag for the last half hour.
Buffy finally focuses in on the vampire, groaning loudly at the sight. Pulling her stake from her back pocket, she quickly stakes him. Buffy slowly stands, her brow furrowed as she slowly continues on her second trip around the streets of Sunnydale. Looking up at the bank clock, as she walks by, she sighs quietly. "It's 2:00 o'clock. I guess I can go home now. Anya's probably at home tucked up in bed, and Tara and Dawn are probably asleep." Buffy picks up her pace, quickly striding towards Revello Drive. As she gets closer to the house, she groans quietly at the sight of Anya's vehicle still sitting in the driveway. "Don't do this to me, guys." Buffy begs quietly, before slowly walking up the steps into the house.
Unlocking the door, stepping inside she slowly closes the door behind her and locks it. Seeing the note taped to the back of the door, Buffy pulls it down before quickly divesting herself of her weapons and heading to the kitchen. Setting the note on the counter, Buffy digs around in the refrigerator pulling out some lunchmeat and cheese, along with a water. Making herself a sandwich, she sits down and reads the note.
Buffy,
I hope you don't mind, but Anya's going to stay the night,
since it was late when we finished the last movie. It's a
little after 1:00, I already took Phoenix out. I'll put her in
your room. If you're hurt, or want to talk, you know where
I am. Hope patrol wasn't too rough.
Have a pleasant night, sweetie.
Tara
Buffy unconsciously traces Tara's name at the bottom of the note, as she finishes eating her sandwich. Realizing that Anya must be sleeping in Tara's room, Buffy whimpers quietly at the thought of the two women. Swallowing the last of her water, Buffy quickly cleans up her mess, grabbing the note and taking it upstairs with her.
Buffy hesitates a moment outside her door, looking at the dim light coming from under the witch's door, unconsciously her body moves a couple more steps towards the room. Stopping when she hears Tara giggling as she softly calls out Anya's name. A little squeaked whimper escapes, before Buffy turns and walks into her room, quickly shutting the door behind her. As Phoenix comes running over to her, Buffy smiles softly at the puppy as she reaches down picking her up and burying her face in the soft, warm fur.
"Mommy's probably going to be driven insane. I just want you to realize that, okay?" Buffy softly whispers to the puppy, smiling as she's lapped by a warm wet tongue across her cheek. "You don't mind, huh?" Buffy chuckles quietly before setting the puppy back down on the floor. Getting ready for bed, Buffy watches as Phoenix circles around on her bed before curling up in a ball. "You're a good girl." Buffy quietly whispers as she turns off the light and climbs in bed.
Tucking her hands behind her head, Buffy stares up at the ceiling, tuning out the soft murmurs and laughs coming from the other room that her slayer hearing picks up. Taking a deep breath, Buffy closes her eyes without changing positions, trying to get thoughts of the two women and what they might be doing out of her head so she can go to sleep.
Buffy stares in stunned disbelief as she watches Tara and Anya sit down on either side of her on the bed. "What…Huh?" Buffy whimpers as Tara runs her fingers gently through her hair.
"We were talking, and decided that we've spent long enough playing games with you, Buffy." Anya states quietly and calmly. "We know you like us, and are having very confusing thoughts. I also know that you love Tara." Anya quickly places a finger over Buffy's lips as she's about to protest. "Don't argue. I know things, I see things." Anya runs the finger over Buffy's lips. "I also think you may actually like me in more than a friends way." Anya grins as she leans down replacing her finger with soft lips, caressing over Buffy's lips gently, before slowly deepening the kiss.
Groaning loudly as Anya kisses her, Buffy whimpers as she feels warm hands working their way between her and Anya's body, unbuttoning her pajama top. Reaching up, Buffy runs a hand through Anya's hair, urging the ex-demon down for an even deeper, more erotic kiss, tongues stroking against each other, wrapping around each other for long moments. Whimpering at the loss of Anya's lips, Buffy slowly opens her eyes, watching as Anya shifts back, taking over from where Tara stopped. Arching her body up, Buffy unconsciously helps Anya slide off her shirt, groaning in pleasure as she watches Anya lean down, capturing one aching nipple in her hot mouth, sucking gently.
Tara smiles down lovingly at Buffy. "Tell us you don't want us, that you don't or can't love us, and we'll leave you alone."
Buffy shakes her head, whimpering loudly. "I can't. I can't tell you I don't want either of you, because it would be a lie." Buffy admits finally. "I love you both, and it's been tearing me apart inside, trying to not have these feelings for you."
"Then stop letting it tear you apart, have the feelings…" Tara leans down, her lips almost touching Buffy's. "Have us." Tara whispers before diving in, kissing Buffy deeply.
"God!" Buffy calls out after Tara finally releases her mouth as the witch continues to kiss and caress across her jaw, before slowly working her way down the column of her neck. Reaching out with her other hand, Buffy runs it down the witch's body, surprised as she comes into contact with warm, firm skin.
Buffy's eyes open as she hears Anya chuckle quietly as she lays more on the bed, pressing her body in against the slayer's side. "Her kisses kind of make you forget everything else that's going on, don't they?"
Buffy swallows and nods her head. "Can I touch you?" Buffy questions hoarsely, arching up as she feels Tara capture one nipple in her eager mouth, alternating nipping it gently, with laving it strongly with her tongue. While the other breast is being kneaded softly, a thumb circling the nipple before being pinched between Anya's finger and thumb.
"Of course." Tara answers for both women as she releases the slayer's breast. "This is going to be a night you won't forget. And, just to let you know, if this is what you really truly want, we want us three to be a couple." Tara grins crookedly at the slayer at the wording. "Or threesome, I guess would be better terminology."
"Triad." Anya corrects softly as she shifts her body down nipping playfully over the slayer's breast, slowly working her way down the woman's ribs and stomach.
"If I don't spontaneously combust first." Buffy cries out softly as she feels two pairs of hands slowly working over her body, teasing, touching and pinching. As she feels two mouths slowly licking and kissing their way across her body, Buffy's hips jerk repeatedly in want. Feeling her arousal reach a whole new plateau, Buffy groans as she feels two hands working their way up her legs, placing teasing circles on the skin as they ever so slowly caress up her body.
Hearing loud whimpering, Buffy tries to figure out which one of her soon to be lovers is making the noise. When it continues unabated, along with a buzzing noise, Buffy jerks awake. Looking around the room, at Phoenix whining by the door and her alarm clock going off, Buffy slams the alarm off while she looks down at her clothed body. "Ah, damn!" Buffy groans loudly, collapsing back on the bed, feeling the arousal coursing through her body. "It's pretty damn bad that my dreams are more arousing than my whole previous sex life." Buffy bitches to the room, before rolling out of bed, grabbing her robe to let Phoenix out. Glancing at the closed door to the witch's room, Buffy bites her lip as her sex clenches in need.
Quickly jogging down the stairs, she lets Phoenix out to use the bathroom, while going back in and making a pot of coffee, glancing out the window, seeing that Anya's car is gone.
"Hey, sweetie. How was patrol last night?" Tara questions as she walks in, covering her mouth as she yawns.
"Killed ten vampires and some little green critter that was trying to make dinner out of this poor cat." Buffy grabs down a couple mugs for coffee.
"Was the cat okay?" Tara questions quickly, and at Buffy's nod, she smiles. "You have to work lunch shift today, don't you?" Tara softly inquires as she walks to the back door, chuckling as she watches Phoenix play in the yard.
"Yeah. Thankfully it's not a full eight hour day. Just need to be there in two hours, working ten till three." Buffy pours coffee in the two mugs she'd prepared, handing one to Tara as the two women walk out on the porch.
"You don't mind Anya staying here last night, I hope." Tara looks towards Buffy, surprised when she sees a deep blush cross Buffy's face. Tilting her head, wondering why the slayer is blushing, she takes a sip of coffee. Knowing that they hadn't done anything to be heard last night, Tara blinks a couple times in curiosity.
"No. That's fine. I'd rather her stay here, than go home alone that late, anyway." Buffy steps down to the yard, kneeling and scratching Phoenix's chest as she comes running over to her.
"I'm going to make chicken burritos tonight for dinner. I hope you don't mind, but I kind of invited Anya over for dinner, then we're probably going back to her apartment afterwards." Tara bites her lip watching Buffy.
"That's fine, just let me know if you're going to be late getting in." Buffy glances back, smiling briefly at the witch. "That way I won't worry."
"Ummm… I wasn't actually planning on coming back home tonight." Tara hesitantly admits, watching as Buffy's back stiffens just the slightest bit.
"Oh, okay." Buffy stumbles over the word, before plastering a smile on her face. Turning she looks at Tara. "I guess I should go shower and get ready for work. Do you want to stay out here for a little while with Phoenix, or are you ready to head back in?"
"I'll go in and fix you some eggs and bacon for breakfast while you're showering. How many eggs do you want?" Tara turns, opening the door as the group makes its way back into the kitchen.
"I'm kind of hungry." Buffy grins self-consciously at the witch.
"Want a dozen? With cheese?" Tara glances up from reaching in the refrigerator.
"That would be perfect. Thanks, Tara. And just to let you know, I really, really appreciate everything you do around here to help out." Buffy's hand, of it's own volition reaches out and tucks a stray strand of hair behind the witch's ear. "I'm going to go get ready for work." Buffy sets down her mug before quickly heading out of the kitchen.
Tara stands there watching the slayer practically run out of the room. "Huh." Tara looks down quizzically at the puppy. "What happened last night, Phoenix?" Tara chuckles before pulling out the food from the refrigerator.
Buffy smiles as she sits down at the island, bumping Dawn gently on the shoulder.
"Hey! Watch that. I'll be calling social services telling them I'm being abused!" Dawn smirks at her sister.
"Some abuse." Buffy rolls her eyes, grabbing a couple piece of toast on her plate along with the eggs and bacon already there. "Tara aren't you going to eat?" Buffy glances at the woman as she stands in front of the stove.
"Yes, I'm just fixing myself a fried egg sandwich." Tara smiles as she gently flips the egg. Pulling the toast out of the toaster, she quickly puts a thin layer of mayonnaise on the bread, a slice of tomato and cheese. As the egg firms a little more, with the yellow being just the tiniest bit runny, Tara turns off the stove and slides it onto the sandwich. Sitting down across from Buffy, she grins.
"Did you leave it extra runny like last time?" Buffy smirks at the witch.
"No, I cooked it longer this time after you making fun of me." Tara wrinkles her nose at the slayer. "You staying around today, or do you have other plans?" Tara questions Dawn before she takes a bite of her sandwich.
"Wondering if I could go to Kaylee's, spend the day and night there?" Dawn looks hopefully at her sister.
"Have any homework, reports are projects that you need to do for school?" Buffy questions as she takes a sip of her coffee.
"No, all done." Dawn grins at her sister.
"Your room cleaned and your clothes in the hamper ready to be washed?" Buffy raises an eyebrow, remembering the pile of clothes on the floor in her sisters room when she went by it a little earlier.
"Umm, it can be in record time." Dawn bounces lightly in her seat, when she sees the acceptance on Buffy's face, she squeals. "Thank you!" Dawn quickly finishes the rest of her bacon before running out of the kitchen and up the stairs.
"She spends more time away from here on the weekends, than here." Tara comments as she finishes her sandwich.
"She's growing up. Wanting to spend more time with her friends than with her family." Buffy sighs quietly. "Pretty soon she'll want to go away to college."
"Driving will be first." Tara raises an eyebrow at the paling slayer, trying not to chuckle.
"God, I hope she doesn't. The only one of us that drives is Xander." Buffy grabs another piece of bacon, munching as she thinks. "I guess I could see if he wants to teach her to drive if she wants to learn." Buffy takes the last piece of toast putting a couple slices of bacon on it, eating it quickly as she sees it's getting late. "I got to go."
"Have a good day, sweetie. Don't forget, chicken burritos tonight for dinner." Tara smiles as she watches Buffy quickly place her dishes in the sink.
"Good. Been a while." Buffy grins at Tara, not able to stop from clasping the witch gently on the shoulder. "Do you need any money for the food?"
"No, I'm okay." Tara smiles at the slayer as she heads towards the kitchen doorway.
"Be good, Phoenix." Buffy looks down at the playing puppy. "I think we're going to need to get more chew toys." Buffy chuckles before quickly heading to work.
"I think your mommy's trying to see how long it takes to drive me insane with her attitude changes." Tara talks to Phoenix as she does the dishes, chuckling as the puppy barks at her. "So, you agree. Glad I'm not the only one that sees it!"