CHAPTER TWELVE: SATIN
Life in the Summers' house was a lot quieter now that Willow and Tara were no longer an item. Dawn had taken to dropping hints to either of the two Wiccans every second she had a chance, telling them how much the other missed them and how great it would be when they got back together. Buffy had pulled her aside and gently told her to let whatever was going to happen take its course naturally. Hinting them back to each other wasn't going to work.
This meant that with the two Wiccans on a break, every 'family' meal was very quiet. Buffy was usually the one trying to draw Willow, Tara and Dawn into conversation, but usually it didn't work. Dinners were fine if one of the Wiccans happened to be missing, but with both of them there, it was always awkward.
Weeks passed, and Willow stopped using her magic as a crutch. She began controlling it instead of allowing the magic to control her. She still used the magic to help with patrolling, but if it wasn't magic for the Scoobies, she would stop herself and use normal human means to complete a task.
Tara had to admit that Willow was definitely on the right track. The only problem was that during the weeks that they'd been separated, Willow and Tara had grown apart, and Buffy and Tara had only grown closer.
Tara was glad for her newfound friendship with the Slayer, because ever since the Wiccan had met the shorter blonde girl, she'd known that she wanted to get to know Buffy better. And she was only just now having the chance to do so. They managed to become even closer to each other when Anya decided that she wanted the two blondes to be her bridesmaids. Willow and Dawn were to be Xander's best 'men'.
So, with Anya dragging the two blonde girls around the copious amounts of dress shops in LA, Buffy and Tara seemed to bond even more.
"What do you think of this?" Anya asked, holding up a bright green dress, the sleeves a slightly darker green and going down to the elbows.
Both Tara and Buffy's noses wrinkled in disgust.
"Why don't we put that on the 'maybe' list," Tara said diplomatically.
Unfortunately for the Slayer and the Wiccan, the 'maybe' list of horrible dresses that Anya had proposed was longer than the nicer dresses that Tara and Buffy had found for themselves.
Anya put the dress back down and wandered away.
"Why don't we put that on the 'maybe when hell freezes over' list," Buffy whispered.
Tara giggled and swatted Buffy's arm, and they continued perusing the shelves.
"Ooo! I found the perfect dress!" Anya called from in front of them.
The girls exchanged glances as they rolled their eyes. They'd seen too many 'perfect' dresses. They obliged Anya by walking towards her. However, this time was different. Buffy and Tara exchanged glances as they looked at the dresses that Anya was holding up in each of the girls' sizes.
The bride-to-be had been right. They were the perfect dresses. They were a very pale blue, spaghetti strap dresses that flowed to the ankle. Within minutes, the girls were in the change rooms, staring at themselves in the blue dresses in front of the floor-to-ceiling mirror, Anya looking at them with a pensive look on her face.
"See," Anya finally said happily. "Perfect."
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With the dresses bought and tailored to size, shoes and jewellery organised, the only thing left to organise for the wedding was the hens and bucks nights. Willow and Dawn were taking Xander out, while Tara and Buffy were giving Anya a girls-night-in.
The evening-in had so far consisted of a fair amount of alcohol, many embarrassing stories about Xander, and the two bridesmaids giving Anya gifts.
Some of the gifts were gag-gifts, mostly consisting of lingerie, edible panties and body-chocolate. Both Tara and Buffy had been in hysterics when Anya had, in all seriousness, got a wicked gleam in her eyes at the ideas that had come to her about the use of all the items.
The other gift was a little more serious, and had made the three girls tear up when they'd handed it over. It was a white-gold necklace, a cross adorning the chain. On the back of the cross was engraved 'Anya Harris, Scooby Forever'.
Anya, who had never really felt too much like par of the Scoobies, was genuinely touched by the gift. She'd hugged Buffy and Tara tightly, before announcing that she wanted to play a game.
Many drinks later, the game was continuing.
"Okay, okay, I got one," Anya said, the giggles dying down. "Tara, truth or dare."
Tara wasn't tipsy enough to be that brave. "Truth."
"Who do you thinks sexier: Willow or me?" Anya asked.
"You Anya," Tara replied, managing to keep a straight face. "Definitely you."
Anya smiled happily. Tara winked at Buffy who tried to contain her grin.
"Buffy, your turn," Tara said. "Truth or dare?"
"Truth," Buffy replied.
"Who do you thinks sexier?" Tara asked, a grin tugging at her lips, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "Anya or me?"
"Can I have a third option?" Buffy asked.
"Hey!" Anya cried out.
"I think I'll second that 'hey'," Tara teased. "Alright…out of Anya, Willow and me…"
"Oh…that's not so easy," Buffy said grinning widely. They'd had way too much to drink and it was plain to see that. "I don't think I'd want to decide that without having kissed all three of you."
"Well, Willow's not here," Anya complained.
Tara giggled. She knew they were playing with fire, and it was a sure way to get burnt.
"You'll just have to go back to my original question. Anya or me?" Tara said.
"I'd still wanna compare," Buffy said.
Anya just shrugged and leant across the circle they'd formed on the floor. Buffy hadn't been expecting Anya to actually go through with the kiss, but she rallied quickly. It was short and sweet, and Buffy was just hoping that Anya didn't feel the need to share this story with the rest of the Scoobies.
Anya pulled back and looked to Tara. "Your turn."
Tara looked at Buffy, suddenly feeling far less tipsy than she had been. Slowly, she shifted position and leant across the circle, Buffy meeting her halfway. Their lips met softly, gently, the kiss lingering for long moments as their tongues tangled together. Anya watched in fascination.
Tara finally pulled back, remembering their audience.
"Well…sorry to say this, but my answer is gonna have to be…Tara," Buffy finally said.
Anya pouted and folded her arms across her chest petulantly.
"What does she have that I don't?" Anya asked.
"More what she doesn't have that you do," Buffy replied.
Tara looked at the Slayer, completely confused. "What's that?"
"A significant other."
The girls lost themselves to a fit of giggles before declaring the game over and retiring for the evening. They had a wedding to go to in the morning.