Reviews:
Delauro - Oh, yeah. Buffy purrs - probably find out why in another 4-5 chapters!
Toniboo - the rest will be in the story eventually - have patience, my dear!
Alyson - Thank you so much for the wonderful feedback. Yes, I plan on finishing all my stories - and writing new ones! Someone shoot me (It always irritates me when someone starts a story and it never gets finished - or it's a year between updates - PLEASE update - or wait until you finish the story first - then put it on here! LOL) Sorry Mini-rant over
Just - really glad you're enjoying the story. Hopefully next weekend - barring any unforseen problems - Shattered Souls will make it's debut here on I will be building on the purring bit - given time.
Sink - The family will probably be making an appearance - but not for a while. Yes it will be interesting as to who will blast them - I have it plotted out in my head (the sick place that it is!) I absolutely love B/T ships - to me they would have been a better couple - but that's my opinion! Don't work too hard!
Dee - SMACK! The boss can be a bitca, huh? Maybe you should threaten to strike...After all I don't think I could work for a slave driver...:) Kissage is always of the good - Loved Joyce in the show - wanted her to play a more pivotal roll in the story - definitely didn't think they used her character to the max they should have! Evil I am - and hands will eventually start to wander! As will other things - mwaaahaaahaaa
Kim - Faith will EVENTUALLY work her way into a serious part in the story - at least I'm planning on it happening - with my Muse - who knows!
Silvermist2 - Thank you so much for the kind words! Glad to hear from a new reviewer - hope you continue to enjoy the story!
Arctic - Thanks for the FB!
Chapter 7
Joyce opens the door and closes it gently behind her, as she comes home from work. Walking into the kitchen, she sets the pizza boxes down before frowning, wondering where Tara and Buffy are, as she walks into the living room. Stopping in her tracks at the sight of Buffy and Tara asleep on the couch, with Buffy's arms wrapped around the woman. Taking a moment to look at the adorableness, Joyce eases back out of the room, smirking. Grabbing the disposable camera that she keeps on hand, she tiptoes back into the living room. Taking a couple pictures, she chuckles as she pockets the camera.
Walking over and sitting in the chair, she crosses her legs and clasps her hands in front of her. Raising an eyebrow she coughs loudly, and bites back a laugh, as both women jerk as they wake up.
"Oh, Goddess!" Tara shifts up, pulling her hand out of Buffy's. "I am s-so sorry." Tara mutters standing up.
Buffy groans and rolls over, placing her face in the pillow they had been laying on. "Mom, that just isn't nice."
Joyce laughs and reaches out, as Tara goes to walk by her, placing a comforting hand on the young woman's arm. "It's okay, Tara." Standing up, she smirks at her daughter. "Pizzas are in the kitchen as are the movies." She heads upstairs to change.
Tara blushes deeply looking from Joyce's retreating back, to Buffy.
Buffy watches Tara, standing to quickly walk towards the witch. Wrapping her arms around the taller woman, she hugs her tight. "It's okay. Mom was obviously laughing at our expense. If you didn't see the glint in her eye, trust me, it was there."
"You sure?" Tara whispers quietly, feeling uncomfortable about the situation.
"Positive." Buffy presses her lips against Tara's temple. "She might pick on us for a while to come, but she's okay." Buffy smiles, as Tara wraps her arms around her waist. "Want to see what mom rented?" Buffy questions.
"Sure." Tara agrees, releasing Buffy before they head into the kitchen. Tara grabs down plates, as Buffy grabs the movies, looking at them.
"Mom!" Buffy groans out looking at the movies.
"What's wrong?" Tara questions, walking over to Buffy.
"Look at what she rented!" Buffy mutters handing over the movies, shaking her head.
"Beauty and the Beast, Charlie's Angels." Tara laughs as she looks at the last movie. "Witches of Eastwick?"
"I got a variation." Joyce smirks as she walks into the kitchen, grabbing a plate and flipping one of the pizza boxes open.
"Is it too late to ask for a new mother?" Buffy whines.
"Buffy." Tara reaches out and clasps Buffy's forearm, squeezing gently. "It's actually kind of funny." Tara grins crookedly at the slayer.
"Great." Buffy growls out quietly. "My mother and my gir…" Buffy coughs and blushes before continuing. "You and my mom are going to gang up on me." Buffy quickly grabs a plate, throwing a few pieces of pizza on it, and almost running into the living room.
Tara stares after Buffy in stunned silence.
Joyce raises an eyebrow at her daughter's quick exit. "Wellll…." Joyce drawls the word out before looking over at the obviously stunned witch. "So, you're my daughter's girlfriend?" Joyce's lip twitches up on one side before she laughs quietly.
Tara turns dazed eyes back at Joyce. "I-I don't know… But it m-may seem that way." Tara whispers quietly.
"Welcome to the family." Joyce grins before glancing towards the doorway. "It seems my daughter embarrassed herself by almost saying that, so you might want to talk to her." Joyce grabs a water before picking her plate up and heading into the living room.
Tara reaches up and runs a shaking hand through her hair. Glancing up, she watches as an embarrassed Buffy slowly walks into the kitchen. "I need to get something to drink and grab the movies."
"Buffy?" Tara questions quietly, watching as hazel eyes look up at her. "Did you…Do you…" Tara blushes deeply and looks down.
Buffy looks questioningly at the witch, as she finally realizes what she's asking. "I would love for you to be my girlfriend, if you want to be?" Buffy whispers.
Tara reaches out and runs a fingertip over Buffy's bottom lip. "Let me think about this for a minute. Be the girlfriend of an incredibly beautiful, sexy, strong, smart, funny, savior of the world? It sounds like a real hardship." Tara's eyes twinkle at the slayer.
Buffy relaxes and rolls her eyes. "You're picking on me."
"Yes." Tara admits grinning before leaning in, placing a quick kiss on Buffy's forehead. "But I think that's something a girlfriend is allowed to do." Tara grins as she turns and picks up her pizza. "Would you mind grabbing me something to drink?" She questions over her shoulder, as she walks out into the living room.
"I, uh, yeah, uh…" Buffy shakes her head in stunned surprise before grinning. "Girlfriend." Buffy does a happy, little dance, before grabbing a couple waters out of the refrigerator and heading into the living room.
Buffy groans at the end of the movie. "Those moves were all fake, I mean, come on now! Wire city, no one can do those kinds of things."
Tara chuckles quietly before looking at Buffy, with mischief filled eyes. "I don't know, when you jumped up, and tucked into a ball over the vampires the other night, I wouldn't have thought that was possible."
Buffy rolls her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. And speaking of vampires, I need to do patrol."
Joyce shakes her head at the two women.
Tara looks at the time, realizing it's after 9:00. "I guess I should head out with you. You're still walking me back to the dorm, right?" Tara questions as she reaches for her boots.
"Of course." Buffy smiles before reaching for her shoes.
"Why don't you just stay the night? I'll fix breakfast in the morning, then maybe drive you to your dorm, and check out your paintings?" Joyce makes the offer, looking at the two women.
"Sleeping on the couch all night, is not a comfortable place." Buffy looks at her mother questioningly. "Taking a nap on it is okay, but not a whole night."
Joyce shakes her head. "If she wants, she can stay upstairs. Just, no funny business." Joyce narrows her gaze on her daughter.
"I appreciate the offer, but I don't have anything to wear." Tara murmurs quietly, looking down as she ties her boots.
"Would you want to stay?" Buffy questions quietly watching Tara. "Just snuggles." She tries to entice the blonde witch.
Tara looks up grinning briefly, at the last two words, before looking back down. "I wouldn't mind." Tara admits.
"But do you want to stay?" Buffy questions, reaching out, placing a hand on her shoulder. "No pressure, I'll walk you home to the dorm, if you aren't ready to stay. Even though I thought you might want to stay over Thanksgiving and Christmas break." She glances over at her mother, watching as Joyce smiles nodding her head in agreement.
"I was going to make the suggestion. I kind of figured Buffy could bring you to the house Wednesday night, and you could stay through Saturday, before going back to the dorm Sunday, at Thanksgiving. Then I kind of figured, it would be good to have you stay over at Christmas instead of the dormitory." Joyce smiles encouragingly at the young woman.
"You don't mind?" Tara whispers looking up at the older Summers.
"I think I was the one that made the offer." Joyce smiles softly at the young woman. "Buffy, why don't you go ahead and go on patrol. Tara and I can watch the last movie, if she wants. I'm sure I have something she can wear to bed."
"Tara?" Buffy catches the blue eyes, watching the witch.
"I would like to stay." Tara smiles softly at Buffy.
Buffy grins and leans in, kissing Tara quickly. "Then I need to go do a quick patrol, so I can get back here." Standing up, she walks over to her mom, whispering in her ear as she hugs her. "Thank you, so much."
"You owe me." Joyce smirks at her daughter, as she pulls away. "Be careful, honey."
"I will." Buffy looks inquiringly at Tara. "I'll be back in a little while."
"Just be careful." Tara watches, as Buffy runs up the stairs. Frowning, she looks at Joyce.
"She needs to get her gear for patrol." Joyce grins as Buffy pounds back down the stairs.
"I'll try to be back before midnight." Buffy calls as she heads out the door.
Joyce chuckles before turning her gaze on Tara. "Go ahead and get comfortable. Did you want to watch Witches of Eastwick?"
"That's fine." Tara grins at the older woman reaching back down and untying her boots, before sliding them off and tucking her legs back up on the couch, getting comfortable.
Joyce stands up and switches out the movies. Sitting back down in the chair, she glances over at Tara, watching her for a few moments. "She likes you a lot."
Tara turns and looks at Joyce. "It's mutual." Tara admits plucking at her jeans. Glancing back up with serious blue eyes, Tara tilts her head, considering the older woman. "I know she mentioned that she doesn't keep anything from you, but I was wondering if she told you…" Tara trails off frowning.
"She did." Joyce stands and sits down beside the younger woman. Gently wrapping her arm around her shoulders, she squeezes her gently. "If you need someone to talk to, I can be there for you."
Tara bites her lip and nods her head. "What is it about you two?" Tara looks up with a quirk of a lip. "I go years not talking to anyone since my mother…" Tara wipes a hand roughly across her eyes, trying to stave off the tears gathering there. "I go from my normal life of studying and going to class, to having a girlfriend with a wonderful mother, taking me under their wings."
"And you're not used to having people care for you anymore?" Joyce questions quietly. At Tara's nod, she squeezes her shoulders more firmly. "Welcome to the family, Tara. Now you're going to have Buffy, me, Rupert, Xander and Willow, be there for you." Joyce laughs quietly. "As soon as she tells Xander and Willow, I don't think she's talked to either one of them, since she met you."
"Will they…be upset?" Tara hesitates, leaning into the older woman.
"I don't think so." Joyce smiles, and runs her hand comfortingly over the girl's hair. "Xander will probably have the normal teenage boy reaction to this type of thing." Joyce chuckles quietly as she sees Tara grin. "Willow I'm not so sure how she will react. She's a great girl and might be surprised to begin with, but I don't foresee her having a problem. I mean we're talking about a young lady that is Jewish, that came over here celebrating Christmas every year. Not to mention she is a budding witch, I'm sure she'll go nuts over being able to talk with you about spells and things."
Tara laughs quietly. "This is weird."
"You're telling me." Joyce smiles. "I mean, here my boy-crazy daughter, all of a sudden goes completely gaga over a beautiful young woman, with the most gorgeous blue eyes ever."
Tara blushes deeply shaking her head. "I'm not beautiful."
"Yes, you are." Joyce hugs Tara firmly. "And we are going to make you realize that fact. Now I have this urge for popcorn, what about you?"
"That sounds good." Tara nods her head before standing up, following Joyce into the kitchen.
Buffy whistles, as she walks up the sidewalk to her house. Unlocking the door, she eases it open, before turning and locking it behind her. Walking into the living room, she pouts when she realizes everything but the light is turned off, and there was no sign of her mom or Tara. Shrugging her jacket off, she hangs it up, before turning the light off and heading up the stairs, taking them three at a time.
Seeing the closed door to her mom's room, she eases open the door to her own room, peeking her head in.
"You just going to peek in here, or come on in?" Tara glances up with laughing blue eyes.
"Making sure you were decent before I came in." Buffy explains, walking into the room. "I do kind of need to take a shower." Buffy eyes the witch sitting cross-legged on her bed, smiling in relief. "I was afraid mom was going to give you one of her floor length nightgowns, and I was going to miss out on your great looking legs."
Tara raises an eyebrow, turning a light pink. "I don't know about that, but she asked what I normally sleep in…" Tara glances down at the t-shirt and shorts Joyce loaned her. "And since she didn't have a large enough t-shirt for me to use, she loaned me a pair of shorts."
Buffy grins before walking over to her dresser, pulling out her pajamas. Setting them down on top of the dresser, she bends over and unties her boots before sliding them off. Glancing at Tara before pulling the two additional stakes she had in her pants out, throwing them in her drawer by the bed. "I thought you might have been asleep when I got home."
"Well it is a little after midnight." Tara grins at the slayer. Becoming serious, she looks over the dirty slayer. "Patrol rough?" Tara questions, standing up when she notices a scuff on Buffy's cheek.
"Yeah, ran across a group of six vamps. They got in a few lucky shots, but not anything bad." Buffy watches as Tara comes to a halt in front of her and reaches up, brushing her hand gently over her cheek.
"It's not bad enough for healing, but I can clean it for you, if you get the First Aid Kit." Tara offers quietly.
"You can heal?" Buffy watches as Tara nods her head and smiles. "You are just full of surprises, aren't you?"
Tara looks down. "With your slayer healing you probably don't need it that often, but I can help with anything serious." Tara offers.
"Let me get showered, I'll be back in a few minutes." Buffy smiles, reaching up, ready to brush a loose hair behind Tara's ear, before frowning at her dirty hand. Holding it up in front of Tara's eyes, she shrugs. "Shower time."
"Yes, shower would be of the good." Tara smiles understandingly at the slayer, watching as she grabs her pajamas and walks out of the room, to the bathroom. Sitting down, Tara waits patiently for Buffy to come back into the bedroom.
"Thank you." Buffy watches Tara as she puts the antiseptic in the kit and closes the lid.
"It wasn't anything." Tara shakes her head before sitting down beside Buffy. "So were the six vampires the only ones you came across tonight?"
"Yeah, it was kind of weird. They don't usually run in groups that big. I think a trip to Willy's bar is going to be in order." Buffy distractedly mutters, as long silky legs are just inches from her hands.
"Willy's?" Tara questions watching Buffy.
"Yeah, demon bar." Buffy crosses her arms across her chest. "I get to go in, threaten, and if that doesn't work, beat some demons up. Last resort, I trash the place or thump Willy a couple times."
"Sounds like fun." Tara looks questioningly at the slayer's defensive posture. "What's wrong?"
"Nothings wrong." Buffy smiles softly. "Just have tempting girlfriend…" Buffy grins hugely at saying the word. "Anyway, hands are wanting to wander, hence, my keeping them to myself."
Tara tilts her head, looking into smiling hazel eyes. "Is this maybe a bad idea?"
Buffy shakes her head. "No, I want you here." Buffy reaches over, turning the lamp on, before standing up, to turn the overhead light off. Coming to stand by the bed, she looks down at Tara, feeling slightly nervous. "What side of the bed would you like to sleep on?"
"It doesn't matter." Tara whispers watching Buffy closely. "What side do you normally sleep on?"
Buffy grins and laughs quietly. "Pretty much in the middle. It doesn't matter."
Tara stands up, walking around the bed and pulls down the covers, climbing in before looking up to watch, as Buffy climbs in on the other side of the bed. Turning on her side, she smiles as Buffy stretches. Propping her head up on her hand, Tara plays with the cover, biting her lip. "Your mom is very understanding and open minded."
Buffy looks at Tara questioningly. "In a you and me way?" Buffy clarifies, and as Tara nods her head, smiling softly, Buffy grins. "My having a girlfriend is probably the absolute most normal thing about me."
Tara chuckles quietly. "She did make the comment that it surprised her, that her 'boy-crazy daughter', likes a woman." Tara blushes, looking down at her hand.
"Was that her exact wording?" Buffy shifts up on her side, mirroring Tara.
"Not exactly." Tara blushes a darker red.
Buffy reaches up and tilts Tara's face ,so she can see Tara's eyes. "What was her exact phrasing?"
Tara shakes her head. "It was kind of embarrassing."
"She didn't do or say anything to upset you, did she?" Buffy questions worriedly, not thinking her mother would do anything like that, but needing to ask.
"Oh, no, not at all. She was absolutely wonderful." Tara reaches out and runs her hand over Buffy's arm. "She just made a comment about my being b-b-beautiful." Tara blushes again.
"You are." Buffy murmurs, scooting a little closer to the witch. "You're probably tired, aren't you?" Buffy questions watching Tara.
"A little." Tara admits running a finger gently over Buffy's cheek. "You have such soft skin."
Buffy's eyes droop at the caress. "Thank you." Buffy tilts her cheek into the hand now cupping her face. "It's late, and you probably should sleep."
"I guess." Tara murmurs not entirely convinced. "But before we do, I need to do this." Tara leans in the short distance separating them and brushes her lips over Buffy's. Pressing her lips more firmly against Buffy's, Tara slowly deepens the kiss, groaning as Buffy's tongue eagerly twines itself with hers. After long moments of battling, Tara pulls away, resting her forehead against Buffy's, realizing her hand is buried in the slayer's hair and Buffy has a warm hand grasping her waist. Swallowing, Tara finally opens her eyes and looks into the passion filled eyes of the slayer. "I'm really starting to think this may not be a good idea."
Buffy groans before shaking her head. "Very good idea. I just have this feeling with all the heavy make out sessions we've had today, the feelings are a little closer to the surface." Growling, Buffy reaches behind her and shifts just the slightest distance, to turn off the lamp. "And that's why there will be no more kissing right now, I don't want to do something you're not ready for." Buffy debates for a moment, before running her hand back down Tara's side, urging her to lay against her side, while she's lying on her back. "Go to sleep, my beautiful witch." Buffy murmurs, wrapping her arm around Tara's back, and stroking her hand through the silky soft hair. Pressing a kiss against the top of Tara's head, she smiles as the woman relaxes after a few minutes and slowly eases her arm across her stomach.
"Thank you, Buffy." Tara shifts down so her head is on Buffy's shoulder. Squeezing Buffy's waist, she rubs her face against the slayer. "You know it probably wouldn't take much."
"I know." Buffy smiles at the thought of being the one to pull back. "I don't want my hormones, to be the deciding factor of when we make love." Running her hand down Tara's back, Buffy squeezes her gently. "If we need to take a step back and not make out…" Buffy growls quietly at the thought. "Not make out as much." Buffy nods, liking that thought better. "Then that's what we'll do."
"You're an absolutely wonderful woman." Tara whispers. "Thank the Goddess for sending you to me." Tara works her fingers between the slayer's pajama top and bottoms, to stroke over the warm soft skin.
Buffy moans and arches into the fingers stroking over her stomach. Breathing deeply, she reaches down with her free hand, stopping the movement. "Not a good idea." Buffy hoarsely gets out, before threading her fingers with Tara's.
"Sorry." Tara closes her eyes, smiling softly.
"No need to be sorry." Buffy murmurs. "And at any other time, I definitely wouldn't complain, but since we're trying to be good…" Buffy trails off chuckling.
"I'll behave." Tara breathes out, feeling her eyes getting heavy. "'Night, sweetie."
"Goodnight, Tara." Buffy whispers feeling the woman's arm get heavier across her waist.