Sacred - Glad you're enjoying and here's the update!
Toniboo - Xander will be showing up eventually, of course Willow won't be showing up until Christmas time.
Delauro - Thank you!
Kim - Glad to hear from you again! Glad you're enjoying this one!
Dee - wishful thinking girlfriend! There's some major kissing coming up in the next few chapters along with some, hopefully, interesting developments!
Just - Happy that you're happy. I kind of liked that description of the Pre-slayer Buffy, also! As for your story if you actually e-mail me I'll send you the first few chapters - that might help you out some! But it's going to start just after the episode 'Dead Things' and go from there!
M14Mouse - Tara was definitely one of my favorite characters. I wish there were more stories of her with either Buffy or Faith. I really enjoy those hook-ups. Glad you're enjoying the story - hope to hear from you again!
Sink - Make it a Peanut Butter cyber-cookie and you got yourself a deal! Personally I think Buffy should hunt down Tara's family and slayer smack their asses! SMACKDOWN Baby! Occasionally on the show Buffy would come across with something really smart - and in depth but no one every gave her credit for it. In my own personal world she's a much smarter insightful person! I think they kind of short-changed her a lot. Oh, well.
Momo - Thanks for the praise.
Chapter 4
"You okay?" Buffy questions Tara after she finishes staking the two vampires they came across in the cemetery.
"I'm fine." Tara smiles at the slayer. "Maybe I should have looked for some pencils to bring with me?"
Buffy chuckles quietly as they continue on patrol. "I'll buy you a couple packs and keep some at the house in case of emergency."
Tara laughs and shakes her head. "Earlier tonight you mentioned about when you d-d-died." Tara finally stutters the word out. Taking a deep breath to help her relax, to help her stuttering, she continues "I know who Giles is, you've mentioned Xander before but who is Angel?"
Buffy sighs and looks up at the night sky, unconsciously twirling the stake in her hand as they walk. "That's a long story. As you know I came here my Sophomore year. I met Xander and Willow. Xander overheard me talking to Giles, who's cover was being the school librarian. Anyway Xander overheard us talking about vampires and things kind of snow-balled from there. Xander and Willow helped me with patrols, research, whatever was needed. Well this was before my senses were really working, I hadn't trained at being a Slayer, I fell through the Watcher's Councils cracks. Anyway about my senses, like now I can feel a vampire a good distance away. Then I really couldn't feel vampires. This guy named Angel would drop by and give me crypt messages about what was going on around town then disappear." Buffy tucks away the stake, and clasps her hands behind her back, looking down at the ground as they continue walking. "I ended up having feelings for him, the tall, dark and handsome mystery guy. Needless to say he was a vampire. With a soul."
Tara looks at the slayer in surprise. "He was a vampire and you didn't know it. But he has a soul?"
"Yeah. We danced around each other for a while, but I fell in love with him. And that is another story in of itself, and I really, really don't come off good in that one. Anyway, there was a prophesy that I would die fighting the Master. I quit, told Giles that I didn't want to die and he could find some other idiot to take over the slaying. There happened to be a vampire attack in the school that Willow and Cordelia found, blood and body parts all over the place. When I saw the fear in Willow's eyes I couldn't run away. I went after the Master. He drowned me and luckily enough Xander didn't accept the prophesy. He shamed Angel into going down into the Master's lair looking for me, he performed CPR, I was pissed and kicked the Master's ass." Buffy shrugs and brushes some dirt off her pants.
Tara walks along in stunned silence, eventually looking at the slayer who's walking quietly beside her looking down at the ground. "You died, and were brought back. Activating…" Tara trails off not remembering the woman's name.
"Kendra." Buffy supplies.
"Activating the new slayer Kendra. You fell in love with a vampire. A vampire with a soul?" Tara questions.
"Yeah, he was cursed with a soul by gypsies for killing the woman, future of their tribe." Buffy frowns before looking up into blue eyes. "And that is another story, which will lead to another one…"
"I have a feeling you have a lot of stories to tell." Tara shakes her head in disbelief. "I guess that's enough to talk about for tonight."
Buffy scuffs her foot over the sidewalk as they slowly work their way through patrol on the way to the campus. "Is this where you tell me you don't want to know me and go running to your dorm room refusing to have anything else to do with me?"
Tara stops, stunned. Turning she watches as Buffy stops and turns back to face her, a sad look on her face. "Why would that make me not want to be friends with you?"
"Hello! Vampire Slayer, in love with a vampire. That in of itself is enough." Buffy waves her hands in the air.
"I-I-in love w-w-with a v-v-vampire?" Tara stutters out horribly, feeling her heart drop at the current tense.
Buffy frowns at the witch, not understanding why she's stuttering so horribly now. "Yeah, I fell in love with him. I mentioned it before."
"B-but you're s-still in l-l-love with him." Tara whispers.
Buffy finally understands and shakes her head vehemently. "Past tense, was in love. Not any more. I'll always care for him. A part of me will always love him, but I'm not IN love with him." Slowly reaching out a calming hand, Buffy strokes down the jacket covered arm.
Tara takes a moment to digest what Buffy told her and smiles softly as she watch's her stroke her arm. Taking a deep breath Tara looks up into the worried hazel eyes of the slayer and smiles crookedly. "So you were in love with a vampire with a soul. But you're not anymore. That was everything big that happened your Sophomore year of high school?"
Buffy smiles and gently squeezes the arm under her hand before shifting and threading her arm through Tara's, urging them to continue walking. "Pretty much. There were fights and stakings. The Harvest when the Master tried to break out of his prison by using Luke as his vessel. Broke that up, unfortunately Xander had to stake Jesse, his best friend that had previously been turned. I still see him get a look occasionally on his face when he thinks about Jesse."
"Wow." Tara whispers.
"Worse things than that have happened." Buffy shakes her head looking down. "So many things that could have been avoided if only I had done what needed to be done. The people that died because of me." Buffy swallows feeling the tears gathering in her eyes as she thinks about Jenny Calendar.
Tara feels the heartache coming from the slayer in waves and without even realizing it reaches out and gently clasps the woman in a soft embrace. "You can't save everyone, Buffy. No matter how much you wish you could, you can't."
"No, but I could have saved quite a few people my Junior year if I had done my job instead of letting my feelings get in the way." Buffy whispers clasping the witch tighter and turning her cheek to lay across the woman's shoulder.
"Another story for another day?" Tara whispers quietly.
"My Junior year may be an all day story and then some." Buffy chuckles sadly. Buffy stiffens and quickly pulls away as she feels a vampire nearing them. Looking around searching the darkness she gets a glimpse of something moving behind one of the trees halfway up the block.
Tara looks at Buffy in surprise as she pulls away from her without saying anything, but as soon as she sees the look on Buffy's face, she realizes she feels a vampire nearby.
Buffy glances back at Tara and smiles as she sees the comprehension on her face. "Let's continue." Buffy shifts her body a little farther away from the witch and pulls the stake out from her pants holding it so it isn't visible.
"So, did you read the chapters for Psych class tomorrow?" Tara smirks slightly wondering when the slayer had time to do any studying.
"More or less." Buffy grins as they close in on the vampire. "I swear Professor Walsh is evil."
Buffy's prepared as the vampire jumps out in front of them, hoping to catch the two women unawares, he looks down in surprise at the stake that's sticking in his chest back up to the blonde opening his mouth as he disintegrates.
"Not too bright." Buffy brushes the dust off her sleeve as she tucks the stake away again.
"I haven't met any vampires that are. It seems when they get turned they lose whatever brains they had." Tara admits quirking her lip at Buffy. "And what's this about Professor Walsh being evil?"
"Her eyes are cold. Always, I have never see any warmth in them for anybody or anything. Then her TA Riley sets my teeth on edge." Buffy shakes her head.
"Really? I overheard some of the other girls talking in class that think he's an absolute…dream boat I believe their phrasing was." Tara giggles as she sees the look of disgust crossing Buffy's face.
"Nope. He's not my type." Buffy states easily, grinning about the thought of what her type is now. Glancing at the witch she sees a questioning look come over her face. Wanting to see if she has the nerve to ask, Buffy waits quietly as they continue strolling through Sunnydale.
Tara watches the grinning slayer, wondering if she should ask when a sideways look at her and a partial smirk crosses her face. Narrowing her eyes slightly, she gets the distinct impression Buffy's almost daring her to ask. Vacillating between asking or not asking the slayer, Tara tucks her hands in her jacket pockets and feels the Celtic Cross charm that she hasn't had a chance to put back on her bracelet. Deciding to take it as a sign, she questions quietly "What's your type?"
Buffy's eyebrows shoot up in surprise. It had taken a while, but the woman finally got up the nerve to ask. Debating on how to answer the question, Buffy tilts her head momentarily. "Hmmm. That's a tough question. My type seems to have undergone a radical change recently." Buffy looks up at the night sky briefly, trying to decide on what to say. "I guess my type is a kind and loving spirit. Someone that would love me just as I am, faults and all. Maybe someone extremely smart that won't make too much fun of my being slayer thick." Buffy raises an eyebrow and slides her eyes towards the witch before looking back at the sidewalk.
Tara hesitates on her next step before continuing the walk, tilting her head to look at the slayer with a wondering glance. "And is this type tall dark and handsome?" Tara holds her breath waiting for the answer.
Buffy's lip quirks up slightly enjoying the fact that Tara seems to be coming out of her shell quite nicely. "No. Not at all. Pretty much the opposite on all counts."
Tara bites her lip and watches the slayer a little more intently as they come into view of the campus. "So this type is short, pale and ugly?"
Buffy stops and turns to look at Tara with a hint of disbelief.
Trying not to giggle Tara tilts her head and with twinkling eyes does the comparison. "Well the opposite of tall is short. Dark is pale and handsome is ugly, right?"
Buffy narrows her eyes briefly then sees the merriment twinkling in the witch's beautiful blue eyes and doesn't fight the chuckle working it's way out. "Are you playing dense on purpose?" Buffy finally asks, watching Tara.
Tara blinks in surprise at the slayer's question, not expecting her to so bluntly put out there what the two had been dancing around.
Buffy swallows and backs up a step. "Forget I said that. Just imagine this conversation hasn't taken place." Buffy mentally kicks her own ass. Way to keep things on a slow even keel.
Tara watches as the slayer literally backs off both physically and emotionally. Seeing the self-condemnation in the slayer's eyes, Tara feels her heart go out to the obviously distraught slayer. "So what would you consider the opposite?" Tara whispers giving Buffy the opening to do what she wished.
Buffy considers the slightly taller woman before taking the step back towards the witch. "Not so tall, maybe a couple inches taller than me. Light coloring, blue eyes. And pretty…no make that beautiful." Buffy whispers quietly. Putting it all on the table to see what happens, Buffy silently prays that she hasn't just shot herself in the foot.
Tara stands staring at Buffy in shock, blinking her eyes trying to let the slayer's words make sense in her fuzzy brain. Knowing she feels something for this woman that she's never felt before for anyone, she looks in confusion at Buffy. "I--I---." Tara stops, not knowing what to say.
Buffy looks down away from the confused blue eyes she was intently watching. "You don't have to say anything. Let's get you home." Buffy slowly turns heading towards the dormitory.
Tara walks alongside the slayer, silently contemplating the younger woman. Seeing the sad look on the slayer's face as they slowly walk up the stairs to her dormitory, Tara makes eye contact with hazel eyes as she holds the door open letting her proceed the woman inside. After walking up the stairs, Tara digs around in her purse pulling out her dorm key. As she unlocks the door she watches as Buffy shifts as if to leave. Reaching out, she clasps the slayer's arm gently. "Come in for water."
Buffy glances up from the milky white hand on her arm to warm blue eyes silently begging her to come in. "Okay." Following Tara in the room, she watches as she gently shuts the door and shrugs off her jacket hanging it up in the closet.
"Can I hang up your jacket?" Tara offers holding her hand out for the jacket and smiles softly as Buffy quickly strips the jacket off and hands it to her. Turning around and hanging it up, Tara walks over to the tiny refrigerator and pulls out two waters, handing one to Buffy. Bending over she unties her boots and slides them off before sitting at the top of the bed crossing her legs and tucking her skirt about her. Looking up she watches as Buffy shifts slightly. "Sit down, please." Tara points to the bed in front of her.
Buffy swallows silently as she kicks her shoes off and sits down Indian style facing Tara. Opening her water she takes a quick sip waiting for Tara to say something, anything.
Picking gently at her skirt, Tara looks up watching Buffy for long moments before whispering "I'm not beautiful."
Buffy looks up in shock at the witch, expecting anything but that. Feeling the urge to argue with the woman, Buffy hesitates before calming down. Catching blue eyes she shakes her head and makes the statement, letting the truth show in her eyes. "Yes you are."
Tara holds her breath as she sees the truth shining from Buffy's eyes. That to Buffy she is beautiful. "I…I don't know what to say."
"Thank you is the most accepted statement to make in a case like this." Buffy allows herself a small smile.
Feeling her lip quirk up at the slayer, Tara nods her head. "Then, thank you Buffy."
Buffy allows a sigh of relief to escape her before smiling fully at Tara. "You're not going to tell me to leave you alone and to never darken your doorway again?"
Tara tilts her head and smirks. "No, I don't think so. But…" Tara trails off and watches as a questioning look comes across the slayer's face. "What happens now?" Tara continues quietly.
"Depends." Buffy reaches out and runs a fingertip over the top of Tara's hand before slowly pulling her hand away and placing it back in her lap. "Would you consider…dating?" Buffy more breathes the last word than actually giving it voice.
"I've never dated before, Buffy." Tara admits quietly.
"Then it's about time you did. The thing is, would you want to date me?" Buffy finally asks outright.
"Why wouldn't I want to date you?" Tara questions a confused look crossing her face.
"Well, first of all I'm female." Buffy starts wincing slightly.
"You are?" Tara asks in mock horror.
Buffy bites back a laugh, and shakes her head. "I guess that means that isn't a consideration?"
"My mom ingrained in me growing up that love is love no matter where or who it came from. To never turn it away if it's offered. Whether it's the love of a friend, a family member, or as a significant other, they are all equally important. She didn't believe that you couldn't love a person because of their sex or color. She believed you loved a person for who is inside." Tara smiles thinking back to her mothers words spoken so long ago.
"Very, very smart woman." Buffy watches the love cross Tara's face as she thinks about her mother.
"She was." Tara smiles sadly making eye contact with Buffy. "I miss her. She was my friend as well as my mother growing up."
Buffy reaches out and gently clasps Tara's hand in support. Smiling as she feels Tara start to caress her hand. Realizing it was getting late, Buffy sighs and gently squeezes Tara's hand as she releases her grasp and slowly stands up. Finishing the last of her water, Buffy places it in the trash can before turning to face Tara who's standing quietly by her bed.
"You need to finish patrol then maybe sort of finish your reading for Psych class?" Tara quirks her lip up slightly watching the slayer.
Buffy groans and closes her eyes. "Don't remind me. I don't feel like reading five chapters. I'll probably fall asleep before I finish the first one."
Tara chuckles quietly before quickly walking over to her desk. Flipping through the notebooks, she pulls out her Psych one and hands it shyly to Buffy. "I made notes on the most important points for each chapter if you would like to borrow it to read over before class tomorrow."
Buffy looks down in surprise at the notebook. Hesitantly reaching out for the book, Buffy smiles at Tara. "Thank you. Can I buy you lunch in payment?" Buffy offers smiling her thanks.
"You don't have to buy me lunch, but maybe we can go to lunch together?" Tara offers.
"It's a date." Buffy smiles at the phrasing, tucking the notebook under her arm before closing the short distance between them. "You can definitely say no if you want, but…" Looking up into the warm, caring blue eyes Buffy tilts her head smiling softly. "May I kiss you goodnight?"
Tara blinks a couple times before nodding her head, holding her breath as Buffy leans in and brushes her lips gently against hers. Unconsciously raising her fingertips to brush against her tingling lips, Tara smiles.
Buffy pulls back and watches as the smile crosses Tara's face and her fingers press against her lips. Smiling in response, Buffy reaches up and gently touches a fingertip against her cheek. "I need to go."
Tara nods her understanding, not able to say anything just yet. Watching silently as Buffy pulls her jacket down off the hanger and shrugs her arms in it before tucking the notebook away inside. Following her to the door, Tara holds it open as Buffy starts to step through. Reaching out a hand to stop the slayer, Tara smiles as Buffy turns and looks at her questioningly. Leaning in Tara quickly presses her lips against Buffy's again before pulling back. "Good night, Buffy. Be careful."
Buffy grins hugely and nods her head. "Better believe it." Buffy whispers as she practically floats through the door to finish patrol and go back home.
Tara watches Buffy walk down the hallway before backing into her room, shutting the door and locking it. Leaning her back against the door, Tara stares out the window marveling at the unexpected turn of events. How two nights ago she was saved from four vampires by the vampire slayer. And tonight she was kissed by the same woman, but not just a vampire slayer, no a caring, kind, loving woman that thinks she, Tara Maclay, isbeautiful. Realizing her heart is beating a thousand beats a minute, Tara presses her hand against her chest, smiling happily. Shaking her head, she quickly strips and puts on her sleep wear before turning out the light and climbing in bed, falling asleep with the picture of caring hazel eyes in front of her.
Buffy hums happily as she unlocks the door sliding into the house and quietly shutting and locking it behind her, she takes off her jacket hanging it up. Noticing a light on in the kitchen, she walks in and is surprised to see her mother still up.
"Hi, Mom." Buffy smiles and kisses her on the cheek as she walks by to grab a water out of the refrigerator.
Joyce sips her tea as she watches her daughter smiling and humming. Raising an eyebrow Joyce murmurs "Good patrol?"
"Patrol was boring. Came across five vamps. Pretty much all newly risen." Buffy smiles sitting down across from her mom sipping on her water.
"Good walk to the college?" Joyce hints watching her daughter smile.
"Best walk to campus." Buffy admits quietly. "I gave her a run-down of what happened my Sophomore year in high school and she didn't run the other way." Buffy grins at her mom.
"You told her about Angel?" Joyce questions as she sips her tea, watching her daughter surprised at the happiness on her face.
"Yep. I didn't get into everything, but I figure Saturday I'll maybe tell her most of what happened Junior year." Buffy stops smiling and looks down as thoughts of what happened work there way through her mind.
Joyce reaches out and gently covers her daughters hand. "Honey, don't dwell on it. Things happen for a reason. So tell me why you're all happy and smiling."
Buffy blushes and looks down. "Multiple reasons, actually. She agreed to go out on a date with me." Buffy looks up grinning madly.
Joyce blinks in surprise "What happened to going slow, honey?"
Shrugging her shoulder's Buffy leans her chin down on her propped up fist. "Got to talking about what 'types' I was interested in and I made a few comments, leaving it open for her to question more seriously or leave it be and a few minutes later she actually asked if my type was tall, dark and handsome." Buffy smirks in remembrance. "I pretty much said just the opposite." Shaking her head she looks at her mom, smiling. "She's got a wicked sense of humor once she opens up, mom."
Joyce shakes her head and questions quietly. "So how did you end up getting her to go on a date with you?"
"Oh, after clarifying types a little, I asked." Buffy admits quietly. "It just kind of rolled around to it, and I took the plunge. Then when I was getting ready to leave I asked if I could kiss her."
Joyce's eyes open wide. "You didn't?"
"Yep." Buffy smiles at her mom, waiting to see if she'd ask.
"Well did she?" Joyce watches her daughter smirk at her.
"Do you expect me to kiss and tell -- to my mother?" Buffy frowns and sighs dramatically.
"You told me about everything else that happened tonight, you can't tell me if you kissed?" Joyce grumbles quietly.
"We did. A brief brush of lips. Then as I was leaving, she stopped me and kissed me again." Buffy admits quietly while smiling at the thought. "She has the softest lips imaginable."
"Don't over share, dear." Joyce murmurs quietly before chuckling. "Is she coming to dinner tomorrow night?"
Buffy blinks and shakes her head. "I don't know. I didn't ask tonight, but I'll see her in class and we're going to grab lunch at the Cafeteria together tomorrow." Buffy smiles softly thinking about Tara. "And don't worry, mom. We're not gonna jump in the sack quickly or anything. At least not to…you know." Buffy blushes glance at her mother.
Joyce sighs and shakes her head at her daughter. "Just be careful, honey. You're old enough to do what's right." Standing up, Joyce placing her cup in the sink. "Night, honey. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Night mom." Buffy smiles watching her mom leave before glancing back out the window at the night, getting lost momentarily thinking about warm blue eyes. Shaking herself out of her thoughts she picks up Tara's notebook and heads upstairs to get some reading and studying done.