CHAPTER SIXTEEN: just thinking

Buffy smiled as her and Tara made their way towards the back of the house. She could just imagine Travis's face when she left with Tara, absolutely priceless. She looked around as they moved deeper into the grounds. The back was just as astounding as the front she observed not particularly surprised by this notion. But as they continued on into the property she watched as fluorescent patches of flower gardens dispersed into a more meadow like atmosphere and then eventually into woods.

Tara dutifully pointed out the stable where a few horses were kept along with a decently sized pond on the other side, the property really was beautiful. Buffy watched as Tara ticked off the different land marks as they passed them, continuing down a thin dirt path that had been worn in around the property.

Buffy sighed seeing how at peace Tara seemed out here, not understanding why she would ever want to leave. Well there was Travis, something that would sure give her incentive to leave…but he really didn't seem to pay Tara any mind, not that she was complaining…had roles been reversed she wasn't sure if the young man would have survived the meal. Slayer strength or not, she smirked thinking about how much she had changed in the little time she had known the woman beside her.

"What's that look for?" Tara said catching the glint in Buffy's eyes. Buffy just smiled shrugging her shoulders.

"Nothing important." She said simply. "Just wondering why you would ever want to leave this place?" Tara looked at her suspiciously not really believing that that's what she had been thinking. Buffy caught the look and blushed. For only knowing her a few days she was still surprised at how easily Tara was able to read her. "Which lead to the conclusion that having to live with Travis would have sent me packing too?" Buffy said hoping that that answer would be sufficient. Tara smiled letting Buffy off the hook. "So." Buffy started when Tara hadn't said anything else. "Is that why you left?" Tara shook her head no, her heart beginning to speed up a little.

"No. Honestly me and Travis never really talked…ever. I'd talk to Carmen once in a while but Travis more or less avoided me like the plague." Buffy frowned not understanding why anyone would want to avoid Tara. If they did then it was their loss.

"But why did he never want to talk to you?" Buffy shook her head confused. "I don't get it."

"Well unlike you Buffy not everyone takes loosing to a girl as easily. After the first few months that I was here Lucinda had us working on casting spells, testing our strength." She paused to glance at the Slayer who was watching her intently. "Travis is big headed as I'm sure you could tell…and well let's just say he made an ass out of himself when it was his turn to face me." Buffy grinned thinking back to only a few days ago when her and Tara had spared at the Magic Box. Her body tingled in remembrance of Tara pressed up against her. She shook her head trying to clear her thoughts. Yeah judging by how Travis behaved during breakfast she could see that he would be the type to take it personally. Then again so did any other boy she fought, even Angel. It must be a "Y" chromosome thing she thought.

"Boys are idiots." She mumbled thinking about how even Xander used to get all strung out after a fight, saying that he could've handled it on his own. Yeah right she thought rolling her eyes. Tara raised her brow at that.

"Oh but Travis is so handsome!" Tara sing-songed. Buffy just stared at her stunned then made a puking motion with her finger. Tara nodded her agreement and they both laughed, "Yes well as revolting as he is you have to admit he's nice looking, if even only on the surface?" Tara said pryingly.

"Well whatever he is, it's definitely just on the surface." She sighed finally coming down from her laughter. "But to be honest, he's not my type." Tara looked at Buffy curiously trying to imagine what her type would be…and wondered if she could ever fit the bill. They walked for a few moments in silence, Buffy waiting patiently for Tara to ask.

"U-Umm what is your t-type?" Tara finally said her curiosity getting the better of her. Buffy paused unsure of how to answer the question she had purposely left open and slowed to a stop. For a moment she locked eyes with Tara then allowed her gaze to roam lazily down then up the Wiccan's body suggestively. Tara's breath caught in her throat and Buffy smirked.

"Definitely not him." She breathed out beginning to walk again. Tara stood stock still for a moment at a loss for what to say, then realized Buffy was walking again and quickly forced her legs to move to catch up. When she caught up Buffy took one look at her and chuckled. Tara's face was beat red.

"Are you trying to drive me crazy?" Tara asked weakly trying to get control of her body that was practically humming.

"Maybe...just a little" she said laughingly looking at the ground. Tara groaned bumping shoulders against Buffy's playfully.

"You are so bad." Buffy laughed at that, thinking if only Tara knew.

"You don't really think that do you?" Buffy asked jokingly. "Lil'ol me?" Tara ran a hand through her hair.

"You know that's not what I think about you Buffy." She said softly as they came to a ledge of rocks.

"Really?" Buffy asked teasingly sitting down on one. "Then what do you think of me?"

"Um…" Tara eased down next to her and considered the Slayer for what she was. "It's complicated."

"Is it?" Buffy said resting her head against her knees. Tara smiled remembering the conversation she had had with Lucinda.

"No not really…" Tara said growing quite. "Buffy I think you already know what I think." She said softly taking in the Slayers features enjoying the comfort and security she felt in her presence.

"But what if I'm wrong?" Buffy whispered looking down at her weapon worn hands then over to Tara's delicate ones. Tara grinned.

"What do you think?" Buffy rolled her eyes seeing how Tara had just turned the tables on her. Well it was now or never. She looked up into Tara's eyes and began loosing herself in the intensity.

"I…" she swallowed hard her mouth suddenly parched. "I think…I want to k-" she was cut off as Travis came into view and groaned. She was so close. "Argggghhhh….." she glanced at Tara who looked to be on the verge of pulling her hair out.

"There you are!" he said breathing heavily. "I've been looking everywhere for you." Buffy smacked her forehead, wishing he wasn't human so she could just be rid of him. He had the evilness down, and the awful timing to a T, if only he wasn't human. Poof, she thought. So simple.

"Hello Travis." She said blankly.

"You didn't have to run off you know?" he said stepping up next to her and brushing some hair out of her face. "I'm not going to bite." Buffy sighed the non human theory coming to mind again. Vampire she decided, he should be a Vampire. Woods equal branches, she thought, branches equal sticks which are close enough to a stakes. Not to mention sunlight…it all added up. She stared at him willing him to poof. Poof, poof, POOF!!!!! It wasn't working.

"Sorry." She said finally a little too harshly. "Tara was just showing me around." He didn't seem to notice the icy edge to her voice, either that or didn't care.

"I can see that." He didn't even glance at Tara. "Well seeing as I have nothing to do how about you and I do a little exploring of our own." He smiled at her charmingly, making her want to vomit. "I know some great hidden away places that would take your breath away." Tara stood abruptly getting the hidden meaning in his words and practically knocked him down where he stood. She felt the power amplifying within her swelling up to the surface. He didn't wait for a reply before urging Buffy onward with a hand to her lower back. Buffy stopped.

"Um Travis, Tara was kind of already showing me around so…" he paused for a second then looked to the shy woman.

"You don't mind do you Tara?" Without waiting for a response he began ushering Buffy forward.

"Actually I do." Tara said firmly barely recognizing her own voice and stepping forward. Travis stood shocked that Tara had said anything at all. He looked down at the petite blonde before him and grinned seeing an opening to score points.

"Yes you're right how rude of me." He smiled at Tara. "No young lady should be out in the woods alone. You are more than welcome to join us of course." Buffy glanced at Tara feeling the crackle of power in the air.

"Um actually Travis…" she eased away from his possessive position. "Me and Tara were just talking about heading into the training room." She stared at Tara who seemed to relax a little.

"Yes…" Tara started trying to follow where Buffy was headed. "She wanted to see if it was any different then hers at home." Travis turned to Buffy surprised.

"You train?" he said eyeing the shorter woman who couldn't be more than a hundred-twenty pounds if even. Buffy nodded. "Really?" he scoped her up and down. "How often?"

"Daily." Buffy said seriously beginning to hate him more and more. He grinned humouredly, thinking it would be a good show if nothing else. He put his hand against her back again noticing the flex of muscles.

"Mmm…" he whispered leaning over to breathe in her ear. "I can see that." Buffy paused suppressing the urge to break the hand touching her back. Buffy looked to Tara who was clenching her fists together.

"Hey!" Buffy said almost to eagerly. "How about a race?" Travis and Tara both looked at her surprised. "I bet I could womp you." Travis laughed.

"Buffy I was the top ranking runner on my high school track team, I hate to be rude but I don't think you stand a chance." Buffy forced herself to smile sweetly.

"What afraid you might loose?" He looked at her then shrugged thinking that maybe she just wanted to see him sweat.

"Okay I'm in." Buffy turned to Tara sensing her uneasiness and winked. Tara's eyes softened though she was still confused on what exactly Buffy was planning. The slayer side of her was weakened wasn't it?

"One rule though." Buffy added. Travis raised his brow watching as Buffy stretched. "Any path can be taken not just the worn one." He laughed.

"Oh you don't know what you've gotten yourself into girlie." He cracked his neck. "I know these woods like the back of my hand."

"Is that supposed to scare me?" Buffy asked watching as Tara blushed when she leaned over to continue her stretch. Travis nodded, himself also admiring the view.

"You're right the stakes aren't high enough." He said thoughtfully pulling off his t-shirt and tucking it in the back of his pants. Buffy frowned as he removed his shirt, a long time ago she might have found him attractive but right he was becoming an annoyance.

"What are the stakes?" she asked almost not wanting to know. "Exactly?" she added. Tara scowled as Travis smirked.

"A date."

"A W-WHAT?" Tara hissed.

"And if I win?" Travis gawked, realizing Buffy really thought she could win.

"If you win?" he said it as if it wasn't even a possibility. "Whatever you want." Buffy looked from Tara then back to him.

"Deal."

"Um B-Buffy." Tara said a little surprised at how confident Buffy seemed. Buffy looked at her seriously, a gold hue filming over her eyes. Tara was struck by power she saw there.

"I won't loose." She whispered back sensing Tara's growing worry. She couldn't explain it but something had just clicked inside of her. "Not to him." She looked to Travis. "Ready?" He winked.

"Very," he purred. She clenched her eyes shut trying to focus on not killing him. "So what do you prefer first." He said teasingly. "The movies or dinner?" Buffy ignored his last comment and started sprinting off into the woods. He watched her for a moment, then glanced back at Tara. "Is she always this feisty?" Tara simply glared. He cocked his head confused. "Whatever. I'll see you at the house." And with that he sprinted off in another direction.

When he was out of sight Tara growled thinking about how he had spoken to her, she didn't trust him. Without warning a ball of energy flew from her fingers obliterating one of the boulders they had been sitting on. She frowned at the amount of power that had been released. "Goddess what have I gotten myself into?" She breathed in deeply trying to gain some semblance of control and prayed that Buffy knew what she was doing.

She gasped as she felt a pair of warm hands cover her eyes, then groaned leaning back into Buffy allowing the current of aggression ease form her system.

"Guess who?" Buffy whispered happy to see the tension leave the witch's body. Tara turned snapping back to reality.

"What are you doing?" Buffy smiled as Tara's eyes widened.

"Coming to you're rescue duh." Tara gaped at her admitting she was glad to have him gone but not at the price he had set.

"B-Buffy he's going to win…" she leaned against the Slayer feeling the hum between them intensify.

"You think so huh?" Buffy said running her hands through the Wicca's hair enjoying the closeness, but also feeling the Slayer in her yearning to move.

"Buffy…" Tara started then stopped as Buffy grabbed her hand.

"You have no faith do you?" Tara looked at her confused then almost screamed as Buffy pulled her up and onto her back.

"Buffy what are you doing?" she said tightening her grip around the slayer's neck, as Buffy began jogging towards the edge of the rocky incline. "Are you trying to kill us both?"

"Tara." She shifted her head around to look at the paling blonde Wiccan, her eyes glowing a fiery amber, "Do you trust me?" Tara looked away from the Slayer and down to the steep fall then back. Her mind screamed no, that this was crazy, but her heart was telling her differently.

She thought back to the night all those many years ago when Buffy had saved her, then to only a few nights earlier when Buffy had shoved her out of the way only to get stabbed herself. Yes she thought simply, as crazy as it seemed at this moment yes she did. She wrapped her legs around Buffy's midriff and tightened her hold.

"I trust you." She whispered clenching her eyes shut. Buffy relaxed having felt the Wicca's acceptance before the thoughts had been spoken and adjusted her hold on the girl's legs.

"Hold on." Taking a deep breath she began to sprint. The power mounted inside of her and she welcomed it. As they began to pick up speed Tara frowned realizing something, she opened her eyes and watched as their surroundings became hazed and her eyes gathered moisture against the strong current. This shouldn't be possible she thought shaking her head. But it was, and it was happening. She gulped as Buffy approached a deep incision in the ground that stretched a good twenty feet.

"Buffy how are you doing this?" she had to yell over the wind rushing past her ears.

"I'm not sure." She said honestly, Tara tightened her grip as they neared the gap.

"Oh goddess." She said gripping Buffy tighter. The slayer's muscles tensed in tangent beneath her as she scaled the jump and loosened up once again as she landed lightly. Tara looked back at the jump and paled. "How are you..." Tara started confused. "I thought the slayer side of you was split."

"So did I," Buffy said scaling another jump with ease. "But ever since last night I've been noticing little changes here and there." She shook her head. "I wasn't sure what it meant but it was like I could feel her, the power there right under the surface. And then suddenly it was there and I just had to take it." Tara frowned, thinking about what Buffy had said, without thinking she reached one of her arms down towards Buffy's stomach. "It's healed. I already checked." Buffy said feeling Tara's movement. Tara stopped short and retuned her arm around Buffy's neck.

"Buffy do you know what this means?" Tara said excitedly. Buffy grinned nodding her head.

"Yeah we're about to beat that slime ball." Tara just laughed nuzzling in against the Slayer a weight she hadn't known existed lifting off her shoulders.

"That's not exactly what I meant. But yes that is a plus"

"I know," Buffy said softly more seriously as they rounded the bend by the horse stables, "I know." She slowed to a stop as they approached the back of the house.

Sadly Tara released her hold around the Slayer's neck and eased herself down onto the ground, instantly missing the closeness. "I must weigh a ton." She said blushing as Buffy sprawled herself out on the ground a thin layer of liquid beginning to perspire across her body. The exhausted blonde shook her head no.

"No you don't." she assured patting the grass for Tara to sit down. "It's just the after math of the adrenaline rush." Tara smiled down at the woman lying on the grass before her. "Besides we have to make it look convincing right." Tara nodded then laughed when at that very moment she saw Travis sprinting up from the woods. Buffy sat up and they both giggled waving as he stopped dead in his tracks. "This will be interesting." Buffy commented.

"Yes it will be." She paused looking at the Slayer closely admitting that Buffy looked a lot healthier than when they had arrived. "Are you going to tell Lucinda?" she asked seeing as Buffy wasn't in any hurry to run and tell the others. Buffy stared at her for a moment then shook her head no.

"I will but not yet. I want to be sure this isn't some type of fluke first." Tara nodded her understanding, hoping that it wasn't. She looked back to Buffy and watched as a small smile forming on the slayer's lips.

"What?" Tara asked wondering what had obviously pleased the Slayer.

"Just thinking." Buffy said simply causing Tara to blush.

"About what?" she asked realizing where this conversation had gotten them last time. But unlike last time Buffy didn't hesitate with her answer.

"You."

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