Okay guys,

A short one!!! Thanks for all the feedback, I love them…keep doing it!

Enjoy,

WA

Part 5

Tara entered the kitchen carrying Ariel in her arms

"Good morning" she greeted Giles and Simone who were already there

"Morning Tara" Giles put down the newspaper and kissed the baby's blond head

"Where is Faith?" Tara asked checking her surrounds "I passed by her room and she wasn't there"

"She left very early" Simone informed "she said she wanted to finish something at the council"

"Oh…" the blonde said with a touch of disappointment in her voice

"Something the matter, dear?" Giles asked sensing her tone

"no…I guess" she replied unsurely "I mean…it's been like that the whole week" se stood up and poured herself a cup of tea "I barely see her now"

"It seems that old habits die hard after all" the watcher said missing the disapproving look on the nanny's face

"What do you mean?" Tara asked furrowing her brows

"She's back to her old routine" he explained using his napkin to wipe out his mouth "and here I thought you could be a good influence on her"

"I don't buy that" Tara said shaking her head "something must have happened" she sighed "I'll talk to her"

"Speaking of talking" Giles started "there's something I want to talk to you about"

"Is there a problem?" she lifted an intrigued brow

"Not exactly a problem" he reclined back in his seat "Anya called…she wants to make sure you're coming to the wedding" he told and noticed her body stiffening a little "it's next month"

"I know…Dawn told me" she avoided eye contact

"Are you coming?" he pressed

"I don't know" she stood up, put her cup in the sink and turn to look at him "I have to think about it"

"Very well, then" he nodded at her "let me know your decision so I can book the flight tickets"

"Okay" she kissed her child, grabbed her stuff and left for work

"Do you think she'll go?" the nanny asked intrigued

"No" the watcher shook his head "I don't think she's ready yet"

At five in the afternoon Tara entered the coven's training room for her work out section with the dark slayer. She used to train with Faith three times a week but the rogue slayer had already called off twice this week; she tried to cancel today as well but Tara didn't take it and they were to meet at their regular hour. The blonde was wearing her tight sports bra and a pair of grey sweat pants, after a couple of months training daily, she was getting confidence in her body. She had already beginning to warm up when the door opened and the brunette entered. The sight of Tara stretching caused the brunette's heart to bump up; the blonde was doing a sequence of drills she had taught her "God, she's so damn hot" she took a long calming breath in order to keep her cool

"Hi there" she greeted nonchalantly

"Hey…finally" the blonde turned to look at her "I thought you were going to stand me up"

"No…I always stick to my promises" she said trying to sound aloof "shall we start?" Tara nodded not understanding why the slayer was acting so distant

They trained for forty-five minutes without much talking. Faith had tried hard to keep her mask on but the closeness to the blonde was making the task tougher by the minute so she decided to end the torture

"I think it's fine for today" she stated and the witch looked at her quizzically "stretch a little…you know the drill" she said already gathering her stuff

"Faith" Tara called but the slayer didn't turn "what's going on?"

"What do you mean?" she asked feeling her heartbeat increasing

"Why are you being so…cold?" she asked in a small voice. Faith kept her back to the blonde and closed her eyes tightly

"I don't know what you're talking about" she was praying for the butterflies in her stomach to settle down

"Look at me" Tara requested softly, the slayer complied and had to use all her willpower not to rush forward and kiss the blonde witch

"Listen, T…I'm late for patrol" she lied "we can talk back at the house" before Tara could speak again, she stormed out of the room. The blonde furrowed her brows in confusion and released a big sigh.

During the weekend Tara could not get a hold of Faith, the brunette had conveniently found a trip to Ireland in order to fulfill some duties for the coven. A week later the slayer was hiding in her room like a teenager waiting for Tara and Giles leave for work. The moment she heard the engines running she came into the living room

"Hey there, kiddo" the young blonde started bouncing happily at the sight of the slayer "yeah, did you miss me?" she lowered and lifted the baby in her arms. Ariel screeched "hey easy…you're gonna deafen me" she joked and kissed the baby's tummy "look what I got you" she rattled a green leprechaun doll in front of the little girl

"Well, I'm not an expert but I would consider baby talking as an 'emotional bond'…" the slayer spun and saw a smirking nanny leaning against the kitchen's doorframe

"Oh, shut up" she smiled back to the happy baby "besides, I said I'd avoid Tara…not the kid"

"Mama" Ariel spoke

"Yes…Tara is your mama" she lifted her higher "and you're not gonna tell that I'm avoiding her, are you?"

"Mama" the baby repeated and pointed to the front door. Feeling the blood draining from her face, the slayer turned around and saw Tara watching her closely

"And may I ask why I'm been avoided?" she asked sternly making the brunette squirm with embarrassment