Thank you to everyone who has reviewed especially shadow high angel, you're feedback is always inspiring so yay to you and can't wait to read some of your stories. (-Giddy face-)
Oh and thank you Christine and Justin for listening to me blather on like an idiot! You know I love you guys…lol.
CHAPTER THREE: of swords and feathers
Buffy and Tara entered the Magic Shop only to find Giles hunched over with a large ice pack in place against his lower back while Anya unpacked an opened shipment that had obviously been dropped on the ground, judging by some of the spilled contents littering the floor.
"Giles what happened?" Buffy asked seeing her watcher bent over in obvious pain.
"Well if you must know, I found out the hard way that I'm not nearly as nimble as I once was or thought." Buffy looked around the room and it clicked. The shipments he had asked her to bring in earlier. He must have strained himself carrying them in himself. She sighed in relieve, momentarily thinking that maybe they had been attacked in her absence.
"Giles I would have brought them in." she scolded "You could have just waited until I got back."
"And leave them for someone to steal?!" Anya piped up from behind one of the shelves she was stacking. "Oh no! Back injuries take a lot less time to heal than bankruptcy. And speaking of which, Buffy you're strong why don't you hurry up and bring in the last two boxes." She said as if an after thought. Buffy stiffened and shot her a look. "What?!" The ex Demon exclaimed in surprise. "It's not like I just left them out in the open for someone to steal." She said as if it were obvious. "They're locked away nice and safe in the trunk like all good little money fairing goods should be, don't worry." Anya smiled sweetly at her own little measure of precaution rather proud of herself.
"Anya do you ever think of anything besides money?" Buffy questioned quickly loosing her patience at how Anya seemed to care less about the fact that her watcher was hurt and more about something as trivial as money.
"Of course." Anya said quickly, picking a vase out from one of the boxes to set on the shelf. "I think about sex too," she turned to Buffy smiling "but a wise person will put their money before pleasure. Why do you think prostitutes never…" At this point everyone was starring at Anya slightly open mouthed. "What? What did I say?" She couldn't figure out why the room had grown so quite. She was only being honest. She looked at Buffy who had her fists scrunched into a pair of tight balls and a deeply blushing Tara. Perhaps they had a hard time facing the truth, but that wasn't her problem. She turned her back on the fuming group and continued unpacking the shipment.
"Giles if you don't do something, I will not be held responsible for my actions." Buffy growled to her watcher beginning to loose patience with the ex demon.
"Yes quite," Giles agreed whipping off his glasses to clean them vigorously. "Anya, why don't you take the rest of the day off?" He suggested not knowing what else to do. Anya turned around and eyed him suspiciously from around the shelf. "Please I beg of you." He added under his breath.
"Why, you want to weasel out of paying me for a full days work because you can't face the facts? Because that isn't going to happen. I hear that's against the law in this country…"Giles quickly cut her off.
"No Anya you may still get a full days pay, just please take the rest of the day off." The ex-vengeance demon seemed thoughtful for a moment.
"And I will still get paid?" she questioned considering. At Gile's quick nod she produced a pen from the counter. "Can I get that in pen please."
"Yes, yes just please take the day off." Gile's breathed out in relief. Glad that the girl was being so cooperative.
"Well that's very nice of you Giles, I haven't had a day off in a long while." She smiled handing him the pen and a blank check. "I'm sorry for thinking you were becoming grumpy in your old age and that your cloths were rather old fashioned and stiff looking and…" Anya said beginning to feel guilty for all the evil thoughts she had been feeling towards the older man, and wanting to get them off her chest. Buffy cut her off loosing her patience.
"Giles I'm going to bring in the shipment now before I do something I might regret." Giles sighed half wishing he could do the same.
"Perhaps that would be best, the keys to the trunk are behind the counter." Buffy not trusting herself to say anything else simply grabbed the keys and made a beeline for the door motioning for Tara to join her. She couldn't believe how rude the woman was being, though it wasn't really anything knew…but in front of Tara? She could have killed her.
"Ah yes well…" Giles said after hastily filling out the check and handing Anya her pen along with her weekly pay. "There you go. And might I add that my cloths suit me just fine thank you." Anya took the check and shoved it into her purse. "Not that it's any business of yours but they're seen as quite respectable by most people, not old fashioned."
"Respectable?" Anya scanned him up and down as if trying to figure it out. "Perhaps some might find that allusion sexually arousing but personally I do not." She smiled at her signed check and completely missed Giles look of bewilderment. "Thank you Giles and I hope your back heals quickly." At Giles nod she headed out the door thinking of what she could do with her day off. When she came close to where Buffy and Tara were standing by Gile's car she stopped. "Tara it was nice meeting you." She offered Tara a smile putting up her greatest sale's pitch. "And if you ever want to spend your hard earned cash here feel free, your money will always be welcomed and appreciated." Feeling that she had made a good enough impression she turned to leave. "Okay, goodbye you two, I'm off to find Xander and have orgasms. Have a nice night." As she left Buffy groaned a sigh of relief and closed the trunk adjusting the shipment under her arms.
"W-Well she's certainly interesting…" Tara commented trying to lighten the situation and holding the door open for the Slayer who had her arms full.
"Interesting? Try insane." Buffy corrected dropping the last of the shipments on the counter. "I really don't know what Xander sees in her, I mean aside from the obvious sex addicted behavior…and oh god I'm starting to sound like her." She turned to Giles trying to change the subject. "How's your back Giles? Is the ice helping any?" Tara couldn't help but giggle at this. Buffy shot her a look but smiled as Tara turned away blushing.
"It is yes, but I'm afraid I will not be much help in you're training today, though if you feel up to it you could work the bags instead." Buffy audibly groaned. She had never openly admitted this to anyone but she hated beating on anything for long periods of time that didn't move let alone fight back, something about it just gave her the wiggins.
"Giles I hate bag work, can't I just go on an extra long patrol or something…" Tara cringed at that, thinking about Buffy putting herself in even more unnecessary danger. She couldn't place why and knew that it was the Slayer's 'sworn duty,' but it just made her stomach turn.
"A-Actually…" she began, thinking of a possible alternative. "I-I've had a little training in hand to hand combat." Tara hesitantly offered catching a surprised look from Buffy and Giles. "W-We were taught at are c-coven to not to fully rely on magic's to be our only defense."
"Really?" Giles asked shocked at the girl's obvious extent of knowledge. "Lucida hadn't mentioned you having other training as well." He pulled his glasses off and tapped them against his chin. He supposed Lucinda really was advanced, usually the coven stuck to the old ways. No wonder hers had grown so quickly and caused such controversy.
"I-It's really not much…" Tara continued "but I know a little." She blushed catching Buffy's stare "B-Basic sparring, but I could interrogate magic within some of the attacks if it wasn't challenging enough," she saw Buffy's expression change as she looked over to her watcher expectantly, "n-not that we have to it was just a s-suggestion…" she finished nervously.
"Well…" the watcher began. "Now that I think about it…" he smiled at the fidgeting Wicca "that sounds like a good idea, Buffy hasn't had much experience in that realm. Perhaps it would benefit her. What do you think Buffy?" He turned his attention to a now fully grinning slayer. "It might pose as a challenge?" he warned noting her obvious enthusiasm.
"Challenge, shmallenge I'm all for it, hundred percent. It beets bag work by a lot." She looked at Tara who was still beet red. "And besides, I'd like to see what kind of power you really got hiding under there." She rubbed Tara shoulder affectionately "Just promise not to zap me to much alright"
"I-I wouldn't do that" Tara murmured that being the least of her worries. She frowned thinking of all the power the slayer held and grimaced. All of her growing up she had been taught to fear that type of power and now here she was putting herself at the forefront of it. What was she thinking?
"You know I wouldn't hurt you right?" Buffy asked guessing that's what was making the witch's mood plummet. When nervous blue eyes rose to meet hers she knew she had hit the nail on the head and offered the frightened witch a soft assuring smile. "Slayer's honor, promise." She whispered taking the witches hand and letting the odd connection they shared travel through. "Besides I need you to be my eyes." She said reminding Tara that she wasn't like the people she had grown to fear as a child, but was a caring, loving, and not to mention beautiful woman. With those thoughts Tara felt her worries ease and offered a lopsided grin to the slayer.
"S-Sorry for being s-stupid…" the slayer put a finger to her lips silencing her.
"Don't be." She turned to her watcher who was conveniently cleaning his glasses at the time and turned back to Tara whispering "Now you're positive, because I want you to know that I would never intentionally hurt you," She glanced at the floor away from the eyes that seemed to pierce through her soul. "But I also don't want you to feel like you have to do this for me." Tara thought about what Buffy was saying and shook her head. She did trust the Slayer and wanted desperately to get past her own fears and be apart of the Slayer's life.
"N-No Buffy I trust you. H-Honest it's just that s-sometimes my past likes to pop up and make m-me doubt would I-I already know." She ran her thumb along Buffy's hand. "A-And I already know that I trust you." Buffy glanced up and saw the trust in Tara's eyes.
"Alright then," She turned to her Watcher. "Okay Giles we're ready."
"Excellent." He put his glasses back on and motioned the two of them towards the training room. "Buffy why don't you show Tara into the training area while I get myself situated. I'll join you in a few moments." Buffy simply nodded and sadly released the witch's hand, instantly missing the contact and led them through a pair of double doors toward the back of the room.
"And this is the training room, where I have conveniently been taught to beet on all the little dust bunnies that go bump in the night." She motioned around the room, at the different mats and weaponry lining the walls. "Feel free to look around, there isn't much, but feel free." Buffy looked down at her jeans and sweater and internally debated on whether she wanted to leave the witch to go change or possibly smell and be a sweat ball for the rest of the day. Sighing she apologized to the witch "I hate to leave you alone in here, but I really need to change and have a spare change of cloths in the back." Tara nodded seeing why Buffy would want to change. "I'll be back in a minute" Buffy called as she trotted away, Tara continued to watch the retreating Slayer until she turned into a small room towards the back. When the slayer had disappeared she allowed herself to glance at the assortment of axes and swords lining the walls and frowned thinking that perhaps she was in a little over her head with this. But when she thought of Buffy and how she had assured her that she'd be gentle, her worries softened. She knew Buffy would never intentionally hurt her and the thought made her smile. Yes she would always fear that kind of power because of her past but she could never fear Buffy. She couldn't explain it but she trusted her completely. When the door opened she turned to look at the smiling slayer and blushed. She was clothed in a pair of wind pants and a tight wife beater that clung tightly around her stomach. Tara's heart began to speed up at the sight, she begged her body to calm down and looked for some type of diversion. She quickly turned, prying her eyes from the slayer.
"D-Do you use these?" Tara pointing to the assortments of weaponry not really interested but looking for something to say instead of starring stupidly "O-Or are they j-just for show?" Buffy grinned at Tara not missing the slight look of interest and pulled one of the swords from off the wall to twirl in her hand casually.
"It depends." She said setting the sword back and pulled down a shorter sword that had definitely seen better days and touched it fondly. "Most of the weapons here are for training but I have a few favorites" she smiled setting the shorter blade back in it's place. "The items I use for patrol are usually kept at my house or in the crate over there." She pointed to a large wooden box in the corner. Tara looked over at the large wooden crate then back to Buffy.
"S-so most of the weapons here are strictly for training?" Tara questioned now noticing how most of the weapons didn't look to be very worn, in fact some of them even looked new.
"Basically. Giles likes for me to experiment with different forms but would rather me fight with something I'm more accustomed to. So he keeps the others here." Buffy began to lead them into the center of the room. "Besides all Slayers are different," at Tara's raised brow she continued. "For example I'd rather fight with that short sword than one of the longer ones, I feel more in control." She laughed remembering training with her sister slayer. " And Faith preferred the battle axe above all else." She sat down on the mats and began stretching . "The first time she tried out that axe up there." She looked up from her position on the floor and pointed towards one of the grungier axes. "She took out three vamps in one blow and after that it was love at first slay." She groaned twisting from side to side. "Said she liked the power." She stretched back, then put her legs together and leaned forward. "Personally I don't like them, I feel like I'm being thrown around with every swing."
"S-So you like a-a m-more controlled attack t-then." Tara stuttered trying to avoid looking at the slayer as she stretched and her muscles flexed. She was failing horribly and could feel her face becoming more flushed.
"Yeah." Buffy groaned as she felt the stiffness leave her body. "Something like that." She looked up at a very red Tara and grinned. Maybe her interest wasn't just one sided after all. "So are you about ready?" Buffy asked standing up to roll her shoulders before stretching her back.
"Y-Yes w-whenever you are." They both turned sympathetic eyes to the door as it opened and Giles hobbled in with a chair in one hand and his ice pack in the other. Tara thankful for the distraction quickly walked over to the watcher followed by Buffy who helped the older man down in the chair while Tara relieved him of the ice. When the watcher was finally situated Tara reluctantly handed the ice back to the man thinking of a spell her mother had taught her long ago. "I-I could put a healing spell into the ice if y-you would like," she offered. "I-it won't take the pain away completely but it'll help it to heal faster?" Gile's looked at the young witch surprised and nodded his head gratefully. Tara quickly whispered a few words before running her hand over the ice pack concealing the power within it. Buffy watched Tara in fascination.
"Definitely keeping you around," Buffy said thinking of all the nicks and bruises she accumulated on a regular basis, making Tara blush.
"Thank you my dear" Giles said taking the ice Tara was handing back to him so he could put it on his lower back. "That feels much better." He commented shifting in his seat. "Is that something Lucinda taught you?" he asked curious at how quickly Tara had performed the spell and at how fast it seemed to sooth the sting.
"N-No my m-mother." Tara supplied satisfied that her heart had begun to calm down to a somewhat normal pace and her stutter wasn't so noticeable. "She said that we should never deprive the body of its natural healing properties but there was nothing wrong with helping them along when we could." The Watcher nodded his approval.
"You're mother was a very wise woman may I ask what her name was?" he asked in wonderment thinking that perhaps they had met.
"N-Not at all," Tara looked at Buffy whose face flooded with sadness. "Caroline Maclay,"
"Really?" Giles looked at the woman as if trying to figure something out. "I think I had the privilege of meeting her once. A very wise woman if I recall, tall, light brown hair fair complexioned, and very." He looked at Tara then at Buffy who was looking at him sadly. "I'm sorry I never had a chance to get to know her better." He finished, obviously bringing up bad memories and treading on dangerous territory. "Shall we begin?" He said offering a diversion, which both girls seemed to be thankful for as they swiftly made their way back towards the center of room.
"So." Buffy started trying to bring a smile back to the obviously pensive witch. "How would you like to kick my ass?" Tara offered a half smile towards the Slayer knowing that she was trying to cheer her up and decided to play along, easily falling into a banter with the shorter girl.
"I d-doubt that question is even up for debate slayer." She responded, following the Slayer with her eyes as she began to circle.
"Really? Cuz from what I've heard you're pretty powerful?" Buffy said as if it were obvious. "I'm just hoping you don't turn me into a toad." She said half jokingly.
"I-I wouldn't do that." Tara confesses easily seeing the Slayer shift ready to attack.
"Really?" Buffy questions as she throws a phantom punch towards Tara's head, Tara easily caught the punch and whispered something under her breath that cast the slayer back a good ten feet.
"R-Really." Tara said winking at Buffy who was looking down at were she had landed than back up towards her. Shock written across her features.
"That wasn't very nice of you." Buffy said in mock anger after her surprise had worn off, standing quickly.
"Sorry." Tara said innocently. Buffy just snorted and decided something a little less subtle might work to her advantage and began to rush forward, hoping to tackle her down. When Tara understood Buffy's intentions she chanted "Sensus confundomtor," and momentarily dissipated before appearing behind the Slayer making Giles laugh, as his slayer looked around the room confused. When Tara tapped her on the shoulder she whipped around and rolled her eyes at Tara's satisfied smirk.
"You are so gonna pay for that." No longer worried about if Tara would be able to defend herself she began to swing a little more freely.
"Okay," Tara conceited smiling as she caught Buffy's arm mid-swing. "I'll behave." She sent a kick at Buffy's midsection that the slayer easily dodged. "For now." She whispered deciding to lay off the magic for a little while and ducked a deep right hook. As she hit the floor she reached a leg out and made a swing towards the slayer's legs.
Buffy jumped back surprised at the witch's speed. She had said she had known basic sparring but from what the witch had demonstrated so far her knowledge went beyond that of just simple sparring. She glanced at her watcher who seemed just as stunned.
"I think you know more than you've let on," Buffy commented sending a series of punches at the witch who was now backing away while still deflecting each blow and offering a couple of her own in turn. "It's not fair to hold back that kind of information on an unsuspecting slayer."
"S-sorry." Tara said again this time narrowly missing a round house to her side. "B-But I don't have the p-power you have s-so…" She jumped back from a sweep at her legs.
"True but you're magic easily makes up for that." She saw an opening as the witch tried to balance herself and lunged. "Good thing for me that you decided to play fair then huh?." Buffy said knocking the witch to the ground and effectively pinning her. "I win." She stated easily looking down into a pair mischievous blue eyes. Before she could say anything else the Wicca had begun chanting something that sounded almost Latin and then found herself looking up at a now laughing Tara, who was now effectively pinning her to the ground. She groaned at the triumphant look on the witches face. "That wasn't fair." She looked over at her chuckling watcher. "Hey this isn't funny Giles."
"Actually it is rather and quite." Buffy pouted at that. "Just be thankful she only used simple defensive spells against you." He looked at Tara pointedly. "I have a feeling Tara could have damaged a whole lot more than your pride had she tried," Buffy gulped at Gile's warning, knowing it to be true. She hesitantly looked up at Tara who was still pinning her and noticed the warm buzz passing through where Tara had her hands pinned at her sides.
"You wouldn't go hurting lil'ol me now would you?" Tara smiled down at the Slayer and shook her head, blushing at the feelings coursing through her body not to mention their compromising positions.
"Good." Buffy breathed pushing her hips up to toss the witch off of her. Tara's breath caught at the action and she found herself on the floor looking up at a smiling Buffy who was offering her a hand. She took the hand gratefully and allowed Buffy to help her up. When she was standing Buffy backed away and fell into a defensive position. "Cuz I'm not gonna hold back now." Tara shook her head trying to get her hormones under control and tried to focus as Buffy was beginning to circle once again looking for an opening.
"N-Now who's not playing fair?" Tara asked as Buffy began to swing wildly at her forcing her to back up. There was no way she could have effectively blocked the slayers attacks, they were too fast, and even if she had she would have probably been knocked down by the force of them alone.
"Hey if you're gonna use all that witchy mojo I should at least be allowed to tap into mine." Tara smirked as she caught Giles inspecting Buffy's movements calculating, trying to figure out if she was holding back at all. Tara knew she was but also knew she really didn't have a chance in hell to match any of them held back or not, and needed to make a move and fast. She couldn't just keep backing up.
"I-I guess that's fair." Tara conceded, beads of sweat beginning to line her brow as she still attempted to get some space between her and the slayer who just kept coming forward. "disolvo." She finally shouted, giving up on the idea of simply backing away from the slayer's assault and sent a blast of blue light crashing into Buffy, making her stager slightly.
"Hey!" Buffy growled rubbing at her stomach "what was that?" she looked at her watcher who was studying Tara closely. "And in what dictionary was that fair?" She turned back to Tara with a pained expression on her face.
"A-Are you okay?" Tara asked concerned. She hadn't thought she had put enough power behind the spell to actually hurt the slayer, just enough to catch her off guard so she could put some space between them. But based on Buffy's actions she was beginning to second-guess herself. She reached out to the slayer "I-I'm s-sorry I-I didn't m-mean f-for…" She was cut off as Buffy's look of pain disappeared and she was once again pinned by a laughing slayer. She looked at Buffy's face and smiled glad she obviously hadn't hurt the slayer, but than narrowed her eyes. "A-And you say I-I don't play fair?" she questioned wiggling to get out from under the slayer. Buffy shut her eyes in pleasure at the movement then forced them open at hearing Tara's whispering. Catching the beginning sounds from the reversal spell that the Wicca had used earlier she quickly covered the witches mouth with her hand.
"Nuh-uh not gonna happen this time." Buffy stated seriously trying to ignore the heat working through her body. "I won." Tara shook her head no and smiled from under Buffy's hand, silently levitating one of the swords from off the wall towards them. Buffy just laughed at the witch's stubbornness. "Gile's common, I won right." The watcher looked confused but than started to openly laugh as he began to see what Tara was doing. "What is so funny about me winning?" Buffy asked not understanding her Watchers behavior.
"I'm sorry Buffy but I'm afraid Tara has bested you." He snorted "Again." Buffy turned a pair of annoyed eyes on her watcher.
"And how exactly do you figure that?" She looked down at Tara. "Hello I'm pinning her…sure I was a little sneaky but…hello I'm the one on top here, doesn't that usually mean I win." Buffy was beginning to get a little flustered. What was she doing wrong. She had won hadn't she?
"Perhaps you should pay a little closer attention to your surroundings Buffy?" Giles suggested seeing the sword resting just behind Buffy's head, poised to strike. Buffy just looked at him as if he were nuts and began grumbling about how her surrounding should have nothing to do with the fact that she had clearly and had undeniably won. Finally giving in she briefly looked to the left and than the right, and not seeing anything she turned her head to look behind her.
"Holy shit!' Buffy hissed lunging off the witch. The blade had been eye level with her when she had turned. No wonder Giles said she hadn't won. She rolled up into a standing position and looked over at Tara who was on the ground laughing hysterically at Buffy's reaction along with her Watcher. "What are you trying to do? Give me a heart attack?" Buffy asked trying to catch her breath while deciding right than and there that she could fall in love with that laugh.
"I think you've been bested Buffy." Giles said his laughter dieing away. "Good show Tara." He looked at the witch thoughtfully wondering at what spell level she was ranked. "What level are you at if you don't mind me asking?" Her laughter softened as well as she sat up thinking about what the man was asking her.
"H-Honestly I don't really know," she shrugged "I left the coven b-before anyone had a chance to put me through my paces." Buffy was only half listening as she glanced at the still levitating sword curiously.
"Would you mind if I tested you?" he tapped his chin. "I'm curious as to how powerful you really are and I need to test Willow sometime soon as well." Tara nodded at the watcher but turned to look at the unusually quite slayer who was slowly inching toward the floating blade. She looked back at the watcher and winked.
"T-Thank you Mr. Giles, I-I never really thought about it b-before but yes that would be nice of you." She focused her energy more closely on the sword as Buffy got closer. "I-If you want I could even help pay for some of the materials."
"No that's not necessary but thank you." Tara just grinned at the watcher indicating Buffy; Giles covered his smile with a cough. "Very well I'll keep you up to date then." He smirked and watched as his slayer reached a hesitant hand out to the blade and smiled as it jerked away and rose to swing. Buffy jumped back in surprise and Tara grinned before proceeding to chase the slayer with the sword around the room, laughing as Buffy stumbled about trying to get out of it's reach.
"Giles!" Buffy half whined half laughed dodging as the sword swept again towards her head. "Make her stop!" The watcher just shrugged.
"I'm afraid this is your problem to sort out with Tara." He smirked at the witch thinking he really hadn't seen Buffy this jovial in quite some time and hoped the witch decided to stick around.
"Well you're no help!" Buffy screeched jumping away from a playful jab at her stomach. "Tara stop, this is kind of creepy," She rolled away from another sweep. "You're doing for swords what Psycho did for showers!" she screamed leaping back and trapping herself against the wall. "And I really don't think I can recover from another one of those so please…" She glanced at the witch who just smiled at her and winked playfully. Than faster than Buffy's eyes could follow the sword was flying towards her. She held her breath as the blade came closer to it's target, then almost collapsed in relief as at the last second the blade transformed into a feather, that was to float harmlessly toward the ground barely an inch from Buffy's heart. A little wearily Buffy reached a hand out to the feather and smiled as the blade materialized in front of her, her hand on the hilt. She gave Tara an award winning smile which was returned.
"See I knew you were a good witch." Buffy declared trying to catch her breath and jogging towards the witch who was smirking at the still chuckling watcher.
"My dear I think you gave our Slayer quite a fright with that." Giles said noticing Buffy's quickened breathing.
"Hey I knew she wouldn't have really hurt me…" Buffy said defensively to her watcher. "But if you had a floating sword aiming at your head I'm sure you wouldn't go all 'Bugsy' and sit around to ask 'what's up doc?" Tara giggled at that and Giles just looked at her confused, "Oh never mind." She looked over at Tara "You wouldn't have actually hurt me right?"
"N-Never." Tara stated deadly serious. "B-But I was wondering…t-that is I-if you don't mind…if I-I could m-maybe go with you on Patrol sometime?" She didn't want to crowd the Slayer but she would feel better if she could be there in case Buffy needed her, she just had this deep down need to keep her safe and do whatever she could to help her. Buffy simply grinned and nodded enthusiastically.
"I was actually thinking the same thing but wasn't sure how comfortable you'd be with it." She looked at her watcher. "Giles what do you think? Think she could be a honorary Scooby?"
"Buffy if this young lady can pin you, something even Faith had only ever done twice, and on her first try? How can I say no?" He looked at the young lady with a hint of awe, who also seemed a little shocked at this information and let her hair fall forward to hide her blush. "Besides I think she's good for you." Buffy beamed at this and hugged her watcher who winced a little in pain.
"Buffy, my back it's…" Buffy quickly let her watcher go and gave him an apologetic look.
"Sorry Giles." She turned her attention over to Tara who was once again hiding behind her hair. Frowning at this she leaned forward and pushed some of the veiling hair back behind the witch's ear and locked eyes wit the witch "Well than it's settled." She said touching Tara's face, loving the warm buzz that was passing between them. "You're in." Tara couldn't help but grin beautifully at the slayer. She had wanted so badly to be a part of Buffy's life and now here she was with the slayer giving her free access. She almost cried out in happiness but instead pulled Buffy into a firm hug which the slayer quickly returned.
"T-Thank you Buffy." She whispered into the girl's hair taking in the soft sent of vanilla & almonds. "Thank you." Buffy was a little surprised at the action but figured the witch's life hadn't been too pleasant before this point and found herself more than willing to do anything she could to make it better. She pulled the Wicca closer against her and smiled softly, knowing that she would do everything and anything to keep that smile on her face.
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