18 months later
Buffy was once again standing on the balcony of the Bronze and surveying the crowd writhing below her. She did her best to ignore Faith, who was prancing around and having the time of her life. It had been three weeks since they last hooked up, and Buffy swore to herself that she was never going to do that again. If she spent too much time watching Faith, she was worried that her resolve might break.
As much fun as sex with Faith might be - Buffy wanted to be in an actual relationship, and that was never going to happen until she stopped having meaningless sex with the other slayer.
It would be no problem as long as Faith continued to find other random people to sleep with.
"Hey there, pretty girl."
Buffy whipped around, berating herself for not at all noticing that someone had been up there with her. "Tara!" Then she practically shouted with glee once she realized who it was.
Tara was relieved by Buffy's reaction to her. There was more than a little chance that Buffy would be angry or, even worse - apathetic to seeing Tara again.
"How have you been?" Tara wished she had been able to come up with a more clever opening line. She'd had this conversation with Buffy countless times in her head, but she always seemed to imagine Buffy steering the conversation.
Buffy blew out a breath, trying not to overreact to seeing Tara again. "I've been mostly OK. How about you?"
"Well, honestly… I've been really wishing I had looked up what a slayer was a long time ago." Tara knew she must seem like a crazy person with how she was staring at Buffy, but she couldn't help herself. Buffy looked even more incredible than Tara had remembered.
Buffy didn't quite know what that meant, but before she could reply, there was an arm slung over her shoulder. "Woah - who's the hottie, B?"
Buffy rolled her eyes and pushed Faith away. "This is Tara - Tara, this is Faith."
"Damn, B. Now I get it." Faith was not bothered in the slightest about being pushed away and was leering openly at Tara, much to Buffy's annoyance. Faith was pretty much her best friend, but at times like this, she wondered why.
"Faith," Buffy warned, and Faith laughed, not even slightly intimidated by Buffy.
"I get the message." Faith held up her hands and backed away before changing her mind and moving closer to Tara than Buffy would have liked. "Once you're done with, B - give me a call." Then she slid a business card into Tara's back pocket and walked away.
Buffy groaned and shook her head. Faith could be way too much sometimes. She still couldn't believe that Faith had business cards, and even more surprising - it seemed to work.
When she returned her attention to Tara, the other girl was watching Faith walk away with her mouth hanging open. She had seen that look on many people's faces and knew what it meant.
"Um… I can get her to come back if you want." It took a second for Tara to tear her eyes away.
"Is she always like that?" Tara blinked a few times, trying to clear her mind and focus all her attention on Buffy.
"Yes, pretty much." Buffy sighed in resignation. Faith hit on everything that moved, making it difficult to find anyone to date in Sunnydale. "Do you want me to go get her?"
"What?" Then Tara realized she had been staring at Faith again, who had joined the mass of bodies on the dance floor. "No, I don't want her to come back."
"Are you sure? I don't mind, really." Buffy said but didn't at all mean it. Even though she was pretty sure she had no chance with Tara, she also didn't want Faith using her the way she used everyone else.
"You don't?" Tara asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Well, I mean… I would advise against it. But she can be a lot of fun. For one night at least." Buffy's shoulders slumped in defeat.
"Buffy?"
"Yeah," Buffy finally managed to look up, expecting to have to call Faith back.
"Can we stop talking about Faith?"
Buffy chuckled, "yes, please."
"Good." Tara motioned to the couch, and Buffy followed her.
"So you were saying something about slayers?"
"Oh yes. So I'm a witch, but I have mostly tried to avoid anything magical since coming to Sunnydale. I had never heard of a slayer… but it didn't exactly sound like a good thing." Tara was glossing over a lot of details. She did plan to eventually explain further, but she didn't want to scare Buffy away before they could even get started.
"We probably could use a public relations department. Kinda clashes with the whole secret identity thing, though." Buffy grinned when Tara chuckled at her joke.
"Wait… we? I thought there was only one?" Tara had immersed herself in all the slayer lore she could find once she realized what they were.
"Oh… yeah… Faith is a slayer too. I died for a bit, then the next slayer died….Faith has been here for about six months." Buffy frowned as she thought about Kendra
Tara was shocked and leaned back on the couch to fully grasp what Buffy was telling her. "Did you die before or after we met?"
"After," Buffy answered without really thinking about it. Her death seemed like the least of her problems at the moment.
"I'm so sorry." Tara couldn't help but tear up, even though it was ridiculous to be this upset or to be blaming herself for Buffy's death.
Buffy was very surprised by Tara's reaction. "Is it OK if I hug you?" She opened her arms, and Tara eagerly moved closer to return the hug.
"I'm so sorry," Tara repeated, and Buffy frowned as she rubbed her hands over Tara's back, trying to calm her down.
"It's OK, really. It was some prophecy thing. I was meant to die, but I'm totally fine now."
Tara squeezed Buffy tight one more time and then leaned back from the hug. "I just… if I hadn't been so dumb before, maybe…."
"Hey - stop that. Worrying about the 'maybes' and the 'what-ifs' is just crazy-making. The world didn't end, and we're both here now. So that is of the good." Buffy smiled and wiped a tear off of Tara's cheek with her thumb.
"Good point." Tara agreed.
Buffy found herself just staring at Tara. She blushed and looked away when she realized that Tara was staring back.
"What did Faith mean when she said that she 'gets it'?" Tara didn't really want to talk about Faith again, but she couldn't help but be curious by the comment.
Buffy blushed and looked away. "I may have mentioned you once or twice."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah, it was a 'one that got away' kind of thing." Buffy was pretty sure her cheeks were now bright red from blushing.
"You felt that way after only talking to me for a few minutes?" Tara couldn't keep the shock out of her voice. She hadn't been able to stop thinking about Buffy, but she never imagined that Buffy ever gave her a second thought.
"Oh, um." Buffy felt ridiculous now. She had spent far too much time pining for someone who wasn't even interested in her. She stood up abruptly and backed away. "It was really nice to see you again, but I should really...". Buffy motioned vaguely to the stairs.
Tara was confused by Buffy's reaction, but she knew she didn't want Buffy to leave. She reached for Buffy's hand and pulled her back to the couch. "That came out wrong. Please stay?"
Buffy returned to the couch, but she put as much space as possible between them. The excitement Buffy had initially felt was gone now, and she just wanted this night to be over.
Tara sighed and slid closer.
Faith picked that moment to reappear, and without a care - she dropped onto the couch between them and spread herself out. "This place is dead tonight."
Buffy winced, knowing what that meant.
"I think I'm gonna head home." Then she stood back up, "think you might wanna stop by after you're done not making a move on this one?"
"Faith," Buffy growled, but Faith wasn't bothered by it.
"C'mon, B. You know you're not gonna do anything." Faith chided with a shit-eating grin. It probably only bothered Buffy so much because she knew Faith was right.
"Faith!" Buffy stood up and stalked towards Faith. "Whatever happens between Tara and me is none of your business, and I told you that I was done hooking up with you!" Buffy hadn't meant to say the second part out loud, but she was frustrated and wanted Faith to go away.
"Jeez, B. Settle down. Can't blame a girl for trying." Then she winked at Tara. By this point, Buffy had had more than enough of Faith's antics.
"Leave Tara alone." Buffy clenched her jaw and grabbed Faith's arm. Directing her to the stairs.
"Hey now, there's no reason to manhandle me. I thought you said you weren't gonna do that anymore." Faith grinned and blew Buffy a kiss. She finally did leave, at least. Buffy tracked her all the way out of the club., just to be sure she was really gone.
She was surprised by Tara suddenly standing next to her.
"I'm really sorry about her." Buffy sighed out.
"Seems like you two have a very complicated relationship.". Tara watched Faith with trepidation. Briefly, she wondered if getting involved with Buffy was worth having to deal with Faith.
"That's for sure." Buffy pushed out a breath. She just wanted this night to end. She had fantasized countless times about running into Tara again. None of their imagined encounters ever went like this.
"Will you walk me home?" Tara asks, hoping that a change of scenery might help move things along.
"Of course," Buffy says and guides Tara out of the club and into the night.
"What are you planning to do after you graduate?" Tara breaks the silence with what she hopes will be an innocuous question.
"I'll be going to UC Sunnydale. Not sure what I'll be majoring in."
Buffy had her attention focused on their surroundings, so she missed the grin on Tara's face. "Maybe you could let me give you a tour sometime?"
"Thanks, but I've been patrolling the campus for a while." Buffy shrugs, not understanding why Tara is pretending to want to spend more time with her.
"I bet you haven't seen the dorm rooms." Tara guessed and really hoped that Buffy would understand what she was too scared to say outright.
That question was more in line with the kinds of things fantasy Tara would say to her, and it piqued Buffy's interest. "You're right. I haven't." Buffy's excitement waned at the implication. Did that mean Tara just wanted to hook up with her?
They were almost to Tara's building, and Buffy wasn't quite sure what was about to happen. If Tara asked her inside, should she say no? Buffy knew she wanted a relationship, but since that wasn't going to happen - maybe one night with her dream girl was better than nothing?
"So, what do you think of maybe grabbing some dinner tomorrow?" Tara said each word with precision. They seemed to be having a few misunderstandings, and she wanted this to be clear.
"Like a date?" Buffy was grinning ear to ear now. A date meant something more than a one-night stand.
"Exactly like a date," Tara replied and turned to face Buffy when they got to the door.
"I would love to go on a date with you." Buffy nodded - not caring if she looked over-eager at the moment.
"Would it be OK if I kissed you?"
Buffy was at a loss for words, so she just nodded. Tara smiled and slowly leaned in. Buffy groaned loudly as their mouths connected. The kiss was slow and perfect. Tara kissed her with the type of loving open-mouthed kisses that Buffy had been dreaming about since first spotting the girl.
One of Buffy's hands went to Tara's neck and slid through her hair, the other rested on her hip. Tara's hands went to Buffy's waist, her thumbs sliding over her taut stomach as her shirt rode up.
"Get a room!" Someone shouted from the walkway and then continued to laugh as they walked past the building.
This put an end to the kissing, but they kept their hands where they were. Buffy was barely controlling herself and really wanted to press their bodies closer together.
"That was sooo worth the wait," Buffy whispers, and Tara grins. She couldn't agree more.
"Is being an amazing kisser a slayer thing? Or just a Buffy thing?". Tara regretted the question immediately. The last thing either of them should be thinking about right now was Faith.
Buffy laughed, "Faith is a terrible kisser - so I think I'll take credit."
"For someone so... " Tara paused, not sure what word would best describe Faith. "Seems like she'd be better at it."
"It's more of a patience thing. And a not really caring too much about the other person thing." Buffy shrugged and wondered if it was a mistake to be so honest about the situation with Faith.
"How long have you two been broken up?" Tara bit her lip nervously. Buffy's description of Faith wasn't exactly flattering, but it was hard not to worry a little.
Buffy sighed and wished they could go back to kissing. "I don't think we were ever actually dating. Slaying… kind of amps us up sometimes." Buffy blushed, "And it was just convenient for a while. I just didn't realize we weren't exclusive."
"She cheated on you?"
"Not from her perspective." Buffy shook her head a little. She really didn't want to keep talking about Faith.
"So when was the last time… you were convenient for each other?" Tara winced as she asked the question. It wasn't really her business, but she couldn't help but wonder since the slayers were clearly still close.
"Three weeks. I told her, and I promised myself that it was never going to happen again. Of course, she still asks."
Tara was quiet for a bit as she processed this information.
"Is my friendship with Faith going to be a problem for you… or us? Assuming there is an us." Buffy wasn't sure what she would do if Tara couldn't deal with the friendship.
"Do you want there to be an us… an exclusive us?"
Buffy nodded immediately. "Yes. That is exactly what I want. Faith and I are always going to be spending time with each other - our lives are connected. But there are definitely no feelings and no chance of me accepting her offer."
"Tell me more about how sometimes you get amped up?" Tara asked mischievously.
Buffy laughed, "that might be a second or third date conversation."
"That long?" Tara wished she hadn't sounded so whiny. The truth was that she hadn't even tried to date anyone since meeting Buffy, and the kisses had woken her libido.
"Well," Buffy sighed and backed away from Tara. "I have to tell you a few things about my history first. You might not be interested in the answer to your question after that." Buffy frowned and started to rethink this whole thing. What was the point of getting close to Tara when she knew it wasn't going to work?
Tara moved closer and tried to get Buffy to look at her. "What is it?"
Buffy bit her lip and shook her head. "Can we just wait until after our date tomorrow? I've never done the normal dating thing. I want the chance to take you out and…." Buffy drifted off, afraid that she was making a fool of herself.
"Whatever it is…." But Buffy cut her off before she could finish her platitude.
"Just wait, please? It's probably not fair of me to ask you to give me any kind of chance."
Tara nodded and moved closer again. "OK, I'll wait."
"Thank you. I don't drive, so we'll have to walk. I hope that will be OK?"
"That's totally OK." Tara agreed and wished there was some way to get things back to the light and comfortable way they were before.
"Great. I'll be here at 6 to pick you up?" Tara wasn't sure how things turned around to where Buffy was the one taking her out, but she was more than happy to let Buffy take the lead.
"Sounds perfect." Tara smiled and slid her arms around Buffy's waist. "A good night kiss?"
Buffy leaned in, and their lips met for yet another perfect kiss. After a few moments, Buffy reluctantly pulled away.
She watched Tara enter her building with a massive smile on her face. Even though she was pretty sure things would fall apart when she explained about Angel - at least they would have an amazing night together that she could treasure always.
"God - you are so pathetic." Buffy cringed at the sound of Faith's voice.
Buffy wished she was better at ignoring Faith's jibes. "How was any of that pathetic?"
Faith rolled her eyes. "Because you sent her up to her room alone! You could be fu…."
"Shut up!" Buffy snapped and shoved Faith away. "What are you even doing here?"
Faith shrugged and tried to pretend to be disinterested. "Just wanted to confirm that you couldn't seal the deal and see if maybe you'd come home with me."
Buffy rolled her eyes. "Tara is special to me. I want more with her."
Faith blew out a disappointed breath. "Yeah, I know."
They walked in silence until their paths diverged. "You know you can move in with us any time you want." Buffy offered for the millionth time.
"Yea, I know. Just kinda want my own space." Buffy understood what Faith was really saying. When the initial invite was extended, Joyce made it clear that Faith could not bring any of her conquests into the Summers' home.
"I get it. Just think about it. Maybe you could even split time. Move in with us and just use the hotel when you..." Buffy trailed off in embarrassment.
Faith grinned and bumped shoulders with Buffy. "When I what? Pick up some rando to fuck?" Faith's smile widened at Buffy's groan. Getting a rise out of Buffy was one of her favorite things to do. "If you're too chicken to say it - you probably shouldn't be doing it."
"I'm not chicken - I just don't like to be vulgar all the time." Buffy pouted - she should be thinking about her date tomorrow - not being hassled by her supposed best friend.
"I remember some pretty vulgar words you've said." Faith started to dance in front of Buffy, getting dangerously close. "Are you sure I can't convince you…"
"No," Buffy rolled her eyes as she pushed Faith away yet again.
"C'mon! Once you start dating that Tara chick - you'll never get to have fun again!"
Buffy didn't bother to respond to Faith's taunts. She just stared at Faith and waited for her to back down.
"Fine, OK. Yeah. I get it. Just wish I woulda known the last time really was the last time."
"I told you it was."
"Yea, but you said that a bunch of times." Faith pouted, and Buffy almost felt bad for her.
Buffy bit her lip as she considered what she was about to suggest. "Look - I don't know if things with Tara are going to work out, but…."
Faith's eyes lit up, and she moved closer.
Buffy held out her hand to indicate that wasn't what she meant. "I was thinking about taking her to this club in LA., assuming she wants to go - you can come with us."
Faith thought about that for a minute. "What and be like a third wheel?" Faith did like the idea of having a new group of people to explore. But she wasn't sure she wanted to watch Buffy and Tara doing whatever it is that couples do when they're out on a date.
"No, just more like we'd carpool and keep an eye out for each other."
Faith pursed her lips and considered the offer. "And if things don't work out with Tara?"
Buffy huffed and rolled her eyes. "We can go together if the date with Tara doesn't work out."
"That wasn't what I was asking, B." Faith dripped her words with innuendo in a way only she could.
"I know." Buffy rubbed her temples. "We'll see."
Faith hooted in excitement.
"You better not do anything to her!" Buffy did not like Faith's reaction at all. Buffy was relatively sure that Faith wouldn't do anything to sabotage the new relationship. Faith never appeared to be malicious. She just wasn't always aware of how her actions affected other people.
"Aw c'mon, B. I wouldn't do that. I know what she means to you." Faith stuffed her hands into her pockets and looked chagrined enough that Buffy believed her.
"Fine. I'll see you tomorrow for training?"
Faith nodded and headed towards her motel room, leaving Buffy to walk home alone with her torrent of emotions. Chances were slim that she would get much sleep tonight. She was far too excited, plus she had to try on every outfit she owned until she found the perfect one.