CHAPTER FIFTEEN: can't take a hint
Buffy smiled shyly around a fork full of pancakes as Tara passed her a pitcher of milk. She couldn't believe how assertive she had been in the kitchen, but then again Tara had a strange effect on her. She poured herself a glass and took a sip of milk contemplating the woman sitting across from her.
When she had walked into the dinning room her mom had just winked over a cup of coffee and motioning for Buffy to take a seat. Yeah, yeah she thought laugh it up, but when Tara had made her way in a few moments later carrying the silver-wear all other thoughts became fleeting.
"H-How is it?" Tara asked after everyone else was situated and in conversations of their own. Buffy looked up at her and smiled her cheeks bulging. Tara couldn't help smirking at how Buffy seemed to be shoveling her food down. Buffy swallowed then grinned winking at Tara.
"The food or the view?" Buffy whispered low enough so that no one else would hear her. Tara's breath caught.
"The foo…" Tara paused blushing as Lucinda passed her the plate of eggs with her eyebrow raised, "Uhh or b-both?" Tara asked unsteadily while putting a couple spoonfuls of eggs on her own plate, then sliding it across the table to Buffy. The slayer continued to grin adding a large portion to her own plate.
"Well…" Buffy said casually handing the plate over to her mother never taking her eyes from Tara. "I can honestly say the food is absolutely delicious. But…I do have my preferences." Tara raised her eyebrow not sure if she was following. A few moments passed before Tara gathered the urge to ask.
"And your preference w-would be?" Buffy just smiled setting her fork down on the table and rested her head in her hands, staring intently at the Wiccan.
"Oh Goddess…" Tara breathed covering her face, her heart beating out of control again. Lucinda caught the statement and glanced at Tara, then motioned for Joyce with her eyes to take a look. Joyce gaped for a second at how obvious her daughter was being then shook her head at the two, smothering her grin.
"Alright." Lucinda began getting the group of people's attention. "Now that we are all settled, lets begin introductions shall we." Buffy turned and was surprised to see a few new faces sitting at the table. She hadn't heard them come in. She laughed to herself, thinking that she hadn't exactly been paying the best of attention either. Lucinda motioned to the woman who had been helping in the kitchen. "For those of you who have not been introduced, this is Martha my sister." The slightly younger heavier set version of Lucinda waved shyly to the group then continued eating. "She'll be helping with the cleansing rituals and she knows this place just as well as I. So if you have any questions what so ever and I'm unavailable don't hesitate to ask her."
"And I'm Travis." The boy who had joined the table said piping up. Buffy glanced at the outspoken boy and smiled. He was good looking in a tall, dark and handsome type of way, but admittedly she wasn't interested. Lucinda rolled her eyes at him.
"Yes and this is Travis," she eyed him annoyingly "Making yourself known I see."
"Oh well of course Aunty." He said pouring syrup on his pancakes. "And welcome back Tara…" he said quickly then turning his eyes to Buffy. "And who may I ask is this?" The interest in his voice wasn't lost to anyone, especially Tara who began to bristle.
Lucinda just smirked watching Tara curiously and thinking this boy was really going to have a rude awakening. She hadn't informed any of her peers of the Slayer's arrival. Martha knew of course but the younger two hadn't a clue. They had only been informed that they were going to have a couple of guests for a while.
"Don't mind him," a young woman said playfully smacking the boy upside the head, he groaned sticking his tongue out at her. "Attractive" she said flatly then turned back to Buffy. "He doesn't get out much." The group laughed at the antagonistic interaction between the two. The dark haired girl offered a smile to Tara having noticed her eyes glued to the other blonde and their more than friend like interaction and wondered if this was the infamous Buffy. Her and Tara had only spoken a few times as Tara more or less kept to herself but she remembered Tara speaking of a girl with a glazed look in her eyes on more than one occasion. And unlike her brother Travis she had put two and two together a long time ago. "It's good to see you."
"This is Carmen." Lucinda filled in. "As you can tell the wiser of my sister's children Buffy nodded noticed the similar dark hair and eyes. "Giles I'm sure you remember these three." He nodded taking a sip of tea not missing how Travis was looking at Buffy.
"Yes I do but it's certainly been a while." Travis nodded towards Giles as Carmen continued to watch as Tara turned to glare at her brother. Yes she thought that has to be Buffy.
"The woman across from him is Joyce and beside her is her daughter Buffy." Lucinda continued relaxing into her chair. "The rest of my pupils are off and about with Summer almost near." She informed. "So I ask that you three make them feel welcomed." The three additions nodded easily exchanging greetings. Travis turned his attention back to Buffy and put on his most charming smile.
"Hey Buffy how about after breakfast I give you the grand tour? It's a big house." Buffy looked to Tara who seemed to pale. She grinned, if she didn't know any better she'd say Tara was jealous.
"No I think I've already gotten my tour." She shrugged her shoulders. "Thanks though." He faltered for a moment not used to being turned down. His sister just laughed at him not believing how dense her younger brother was.
"Well how about the grounds? I'm going to be here for a day or so before heading over to another Coven, I would gladly show you around while I'm here. It's not often that we get guests" he said trying again, Buffy shook her head no. "What? You haven't seen them yet have you?" he asked still pushing. "Because even if you have, I know some out of the way places that are absolutely stunning." Lucinda frowned at her nephew, he was terrible. She sighed to herself almost glad that he was just visiting for a day or so.
"No I haven't at least not yet…" She said looking to Tara thoughtfully. "But I plan to." Just not with you she added mentally. Travis smiled victoriously.
"Well then it's settled." Carmen groaned. "Score!" he whispered to himself grabbing another pancake. Martha glanced at her son disappointed in his lack of insight. Even she could sense the developing relationship between the two blondes. But then again Travis always was a flirt. Carmen shared the same thoughts.
"For Goddess sake Travis will you just give it a rest. She's not interested" He looked to his sister perplexed then mumbled a 'mind your own business' and turned back to Buffy, stopping short when he noticed her talking to Tara. Joyce grinned with Lucinda seeing the look of confusion crossing the young mans face.
"Tara." Buffy began ignoring the boy's invitation. Tara pulled hardened eyes from Travis, someone who was quickly becoming her least favorite person and smiled sadly at the lightly blushing slayer, secretly wanting to be the one to have show her around. But whether she wanted to admit it or not he had beaten her to it "Do you have any plans later?" Tara shook her head no and watched as Buffy's blush deepened. "Because well…I was thinking…" she chanced a glance at Travis who took that as an invitation and opened his mouth to talk. She ignored it "Um I don't suppose you'd want to show me around would you?" Tara stared at Buffy her stomach filling with butterflies. Not believing Buffy was turning him down. She had known Travis for over a year and had never seen him get openly rejected by anyone. "You don't have to if you don't want to." Buffy stammered, "I know you didn't get a lot of sleep last night and…."
"I'd love to." Tara blurted out afraid Buffy was about to take it back and was rewarded with an absolutely stunning smile.
"Really?" Buffy asked grinning ear to ear. Tara smiled back beginning to blush.
"Yes really." She looked down at her nearly empty plate than at Buffy. "W-Whenever you want to go is fine." Buffy looked down at her plate that was also bare then back to Tara. Tara noticed the hesitant look on Buffy's face. "W-We could go now if you'd like?"
Without taking her eyes from Tara Buffy quickly began gathering her plates and silver-wear. Tara smiled her heart doing a little flip in her chest as Buffy gathered her plate along with hers and headed into the kitchen to rinse them off. "I-I'll take that as a yes." Tara said to herself surprised at how fast the Slayer had made up her mind. When Buffy came back in she turned to the group quickly.
"Thank you Lucinda the food was excellent." She nodded her acknowledgement to the new comers than turned to her mother. "Mom Tara's going to show me around, we'll be back in a little while." She stopped as Travis choked on his milk then turned to Lucinda again. "You don't mind do you?" Lucinda just laughed at Buffy's eagerness and waved them off.
"Just be back in a few hours you two." Tara sent her thanks and the two made there way out of the dining hall. Travis wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and watched as the pair left gawking.
"And denied." His sister said giggling at her brother's wounded ego.
"Wait…" he started standing then stopped as Lucinda shot him a warning look. He ignored the look and shouted after her. "Buffy I thought you and me were going to…" Giles groaned having tried to ignore the boy's presumptuous nature but seeing as Buffy obviously wasn't interested he decided to step in.
"So Travis tell me about your training…I'm anxious to hear how you've progressed." He looked to Giles as if he were out of his mind.
"Um…" he moved to stand following Buffy with his eyes. Lucinda grinned.
"Travis don't be rude, Rupert hasn't seen you in over three years. The least you could do is chat with him for a while. Catch up?"
"I'm not being rude Aunty it's just…" he frowned as the front door slammed shut. "Sit down sweetie you've hardly touched your food." Martha added realizing what Lucinda was trying to do and joining in on it, her son even she could admit was a little too full of himself. Carmen just stared stunned not believing how they were all ganging up on him. Oh this is rich she thought, relishing her brother's discomfort. But it serves him right.
"I'm not hungry." He said getting aggravated as his sister began to laugh. He set his napkin down preparing to excuse himself when Lucinda's eyes flashed blue. Without warning he fell heavily into his seat. He looked at Lucinda with wide eyes. The rest of the group unaware remained unaware of what had just happened.
"Oh pish-posh." Lucinda said lightly her eyes glaring at her nephew as he squirmed in his seat unable to stand up, her small spell holding him in place. "You must be starving." He looked at his sister who was chuckling then to his mother who was talking to Joyce. Lucinda was much more powerful then he was so fighting back would only prove embarrassing. Not really knowing what else to do he forcefully picked up his fork and speared a sausage, angrily shoving it into his mouth. Lucinda winked at Joyce and Giles. "Now there's a good boy."
"Yes aunty." He growled between bites. Lucinda just smiled happily.
"And Travis since you seem so eager to help around here, how about after you finish eating you take care of the dishes." He glared at her not believing she was doing this. "And no magic this time, some good hands on labor is good for the soul." She pretended not to notice his icy gaze and reached for a plate. "Toast?" she asked him innocently.
I'm glad you all enjoy the story so far, and any and all coments are welcomed as ussual. Thanks for the feedback, it's good to know my hard work is being enjoyed by so many. And those who continue to review you guys ROCK!!!!!
(squidward) you know who you are. sighs pen in hand counting down the days...just hang tight. 9/12/21!!!!!!!