I'm alive! And I've been a bad author. This story hasn't been updated in so long and it's my favorite. The author is ok with fruit throwing at her because she deserves it, as long as it's not tomatoes. Those are just wrong.

Now for my thank you's to the people who reviewed last chapter: Knight Wulf, blue talith, jupitersthunder, Courtney Lynn D., piecesofyourheart, Anne, Lshcub, Rain, General Mac, Celestia GF of the Void, bitten2, and Katrin DKS. My deepest thank you for your wonderful opinions. And my apologies for making you the readers, wait for this update.

Disclaimer: The world doesn't love me enough to let me own BtVS.

Chapter 10

After an entire week with Buffy life still seemed completely dreamlike. Almost as if she was looking down on her own life at a distance. After leaving her old home. They moved out of town quickly but cautiously Buffy taking account of her injuries. She had been nothing but patient and understanding even if she did restrict her to nothing but bed rest. Making sure she ate, slept, and even gave her healing potions she got from a witch she knew.

Sometimes they talked other times simply enjoyed the silence. Tara was shocked to find out that Buffy was actually well over 300. She appeared completely modern except for her extreme dislike for computers. The other blond kept one for business purposes only but other than that she avoided it like the plague. She even scowled whilst using it. Tara had to restrain a giggle from escaping the first time she witnessed Buffy's scrunched face while muttering something about remembering when computers were less complicated. The vampire looked incredibly adorable. Opposite of her usual stony visage.

Tara was also curious which later turned to complete shock, at how different Buffy was from other vampires until the blond vampire explained how she had a soul.

~~Flashback~~

Tara watched as Buffy cleaned the remnants of her dinner. Deciding to throw caution in the wind she asked the one question that had been on her mind since discovering her friends vampiric nature. "Why are you so different from other vampires?" Buffy froze for a brief second before forcing herself to relax. She continued to gather dishes silently before she sighed.

"I was beginning to wonder when you were going to ask that question." Setting everything on the nightstand Buffy ran a pale hand through her hair. "When I was turned because of certain circumstances, because of who I once was," circumstances was said such venom it made Tara wonder what monsters the vampire once faced in her own past. "I was given a gift by a higher beings during my turning. I was allowed to keep the one thing all vampires lose when turned. As a price I must give service to something they wish. A favor if you wish to say." Buffy seem to gaze off into nothing. Tara could see she would have to ask. "W-What did t-they let y-you k-keep?" Buffy sharp eyes caught hers swimming with emotions hidden deep within. Tara's breath caught in her throat as Buffy spoke her next words.

"My soul."

~~Flashback End~~

Buffy continued to explain how another few hundred years later she met another vampire with a soul. His of course was a curse which made him broody according to Buffy.

Today had been her first day out of the mansion since arriving in Sunnydale. The first thing Buffy gave her was a cell phone, which she immediately refused but Buffy wouldn't take it back so she finally had to give in. The second was a warning: Never get caught outside after sunset.

It confused her at first but she understood quickly. Any witch with enough training could feel the dark power flowing from the town, even if it was dormant. With the power coming from here it would attract all kinds of evil beings. Buffy's second advice was if she ever did get caught after sunset call her and stay inside. That explained the reason for the cell phone. Her second warning was:

NEVER under any circumstances invite someone inside. Unlike Buffy any other vampire wouldn't hesitate to drain her dry.

Today Buffy let her out off of bed rest for the first time. Tara pleaded her case about needing to go to orientation and sign up for classes. Buffy reluctantly conceded defeat and let her go but repeated her warnings.

The USC campus was large in her opinion but she knew it was smaller than normal compared to normal sized colleges. It was still all overwhelming. Here she could start anew. Maybe make friends like her mother had hoped for. But that was harder than she thought.

Today after getting up she did her usual duties, taking a shower, brushing her teeth, ect. Walking down the stairs Tara paused to take a look towards Buffy's door. It was closed and silent. Logically she knew that Buffy would be sleeping but it still bothered her not seeing the other blond up and about. Vampires didn't need to sleep as humans they did it only when they felt safe from others during the day while the sun was high and dangerous. Just as she was turning away the door silently slid open.

"Be safe." came Buffy's voice before the door shut with a click. Tara instantly felt warmed. It was like Buffy knew what she was thinking. She continued her way down stairs content and happy. Tara was going to grab an apple before exploring the town but stopped when she realized this would upset her vampire companion. Sighing she made herself some scrambled eggs and drank some of the orange juice from the fully stocked refrigerator.

It was obvious Buffy didn't exactly know what she like and got everything you could find in a grocery store. With the amount of food inside the pantry's and fridge she could feed a small army. The kitchen was much like the previous. Large and professional looking. Buffy had given her full permission to use it whenever she wanted. Tara also took notice of no blood bags inside the refrigerator this time.

Making sure to grab the set of keys left for her she opened the front door and left for college.

So far Tara had managed to register for all of her required classes. So far she was excited for her major and minor classes. History was her major. Learning about the past was something that interested her greatly. Art was her minor. Tara has a deep passion for art along with poetry. Her high school didn't see it necessary to have an art program so she had to make due with what she had drawing on random sheets of notebook paper and other things. Rarely did the chance of painting come along but when it did the feeling was amazing. When they were moving in she had thought her folders full of random drawings were still at her old house till Buffy pulled them from a random bag. When she thanked her the blond vampire simply said, "They looked important so I grabbed them. I hope that's a talent you pursue. It would be a shame if you didn't." before walking off to some other part of the house.

Along with the art class she decided to take a French class. Latin and Spanish class were the only languages taught at her old high school. Because of spells she was pretty fluent in Latin. Spanish was one of the simplest languages in the world to learn. Her mother before she passed taught her quite a bit of the Sumerian language.

The last class she signed up for was a Wicca group. Tara was hoping for maybe a few witches to show up but the hopefuls she did see signing up didn't look too promising. The woman head of the group was shouting something about the moon and Gaia and the sisterhood. A pentagram tattoo was on her right hand and a rather large spice rack behind her. She signed up with a sigh of disappointment. Maybe someone real would be at the first meeting. This town was just full of so much magic.

Walking away from the sign-up table consisting of wanna-be's a magical signature almost knocked her over with its sudden appearance. Looking over a bouncy adorable, redheaded girl walking next to another redhead who she could assume was her boyfriend seeing as they were holding hands, was excitedly talking as fast as she could. Even with her powers suppressed she could still feel this girls' untapped potential. Quickly letting her hold go of her powers she skimmed the surface of the girls aura. There was power there and it had been tapped in but only a small amount. She must be a new to her own powers. Taking a quick glance at the redheads boyfriend Tara could see that he also had a strange aura. Despite his calm unperturbed, outward persona his aura was wild and animalistic.

She chose not to delve any further. Aura reading was invasive.

Turning away Tara managed to get 10 steps out the building door before getting knocked over by another body. Strong hands quickly grasped her waist to keep from hitting the unforgiving concrete below. Tara nearly gasped aloud at the ancient strength rolling from the hands. "Shi- Sorry!" A femininely husky voice called out. Tara looked up to see deep chocolate brown eyes staring at her in concern. Tara quickly began to stutter an apology. "I-I'm s-sorry I d-didn't s-see y-you."

The other woman shook her head and smiled. "Nah I wasn't watchin' where I was goin." Dark hair cascaded around a beautiful face with dimples. Sunnydale was just chock full of good looking people. Good looking people with power. "Oh did two red heads go by here? One would be talking 100 miles an hour and the other really quiet." She asked. Tara nodded afraid of saying something or her stutter becoming more pronounced if possible. "Great! Which way did they go?" Tara pointed in the direction of the Wicca registry area. "Thanks Blondie!" The brunette ran off.

Blondie?

Shaking her head Tara decided not to question why the beautiful brunette decided to call her that. She has been called worse. Tara continued on to visit the college store. Refusing outright to let Buffy buy her books she used the nest egg her mother had kept secretly from her father to pay for them. Buffy had already done so much for her by taking her in, caring for her, even buying her more clothes.

Tara picked up a freshman history book, an art book, and a rather large book filled with various unknown as well as known poets and their least acknowledged works. Seeing as she could come back at any time she bought those three books, completely satisfied with her choices. Leaving the college store Tara saw the brunette walking across the campus again this time accompanied by the redheads. Tara took time to study what she was wearing and blushed. The brunette was wearing tight black leather pants and an equally tight tank top with the voluptuous body to pull it off easily.

Shaking off her blush Tara quickly stuck her head back into her newly purchased poetry book and began to walk in the opposite direction. Unbeknownst to Tara was the brunette had noticed her beginning to walk away. Tara only made it a few steps just to stop when she heard a slightly familiar voice call "Blondie! Blondie!"

Tara turned, shocked just by the thought that the brunette from earlier remembered her let alone calling for her attention. But without a doubt the other woman was waving and smiling widely in her directing, easily catching up to Tara with a light jog. Slowing down she once again surprised Tara by walking right up to her and put an arm around her shoulder like they were old friends. Taking note of Tara's bewildered expression she stated, "You look like you could use a friend. I'm Faith." Faith gave her another dimpled smile. Tara hastily replied not wanting to appear rude. "T-Tara Mc-McClay."

"Well it's nice to meet ya Tara let me introduce you to my two favorite redheads." Faith led her in the direction of her waiting companions. "The bouncy one is Willow Rosenburg. The quiet one is Oz. Guys this is Tara. I nearly caused her a concussion while searching to see where you two had run off to." Tara blushed not used to being the center of attention. Willow smiled. "Nice to meet you Tara." Oz nodded in acknowledgement flashing her a small smile.

"So Tara are you a freshman to? Not that you look like a freshman or anything-" Faith placed a hand on Willow's mouth. "Ha a successful stop of an oncoming Willow babble." Faith declared triumphantly. Willow turned a slight red. "Y-Yes I-I'm a f-freshman." Tara answered. Willow removed Faith's hand from her mouth to talk excitedly. "That's great. Are you staying on campus like me and Faith?" Tara shook her head. "I'm st-staying w-with a f-friend of mine o-on R-Reynolds St."

Willows jaw dropped Faith stared at her wide eyed and Oz raised a brow. Tara wondered if she said something wrong. "Reynolds St? The same street lined up with mansions?" Faith asked. Tara blushed and nodded. She had noticed while walking down the few blocks to the college that the street did indeed have quiet a few larger than normal houses though most of them appeared uninhabited. Faith let out a low whistle. "Your friend must be well off. If I lived in a shindig like you do I'd this throw a huge party." Faith wiggled her eyebrows playfully. Tara couldn't stop herself from giggling.

This only made Faith's grin enlarge. "Hey guys I gotta giggle!" Tara blushed. Willow decided to save her from further embarrassment by Faith. "Leave her alone. Please forgive Faith she does this to everyone." The brunette instantly denied the claim. "Nope I only do that to people I like." she corrected. Willow grabbed Faith's arm. "Come on we still have work to do." The redhead began dragging Faith to the administration building. "It was nice meeting you Tara! Hope to see you again soon!" Willow yelled over her shoulder. Oz gave her another smile before following his girlfriend and friend.

Tara shook her head in amusement. That was possibly one of the strangest encounters with anyone she has ever had excluding Buffy of course. She was wondering if strange beautiful people had suddenly lost their minds because so far they all seem to want to talk to her. Deciding not to further question this blessing Tara made her way back to her new home.

Unlocking the front door Tara made her way to the kitchen. She was slightly shocked to see Buffy already up and nursing a cup of steaming liquid. Tara felt she didn't want to know what was in that cup. "Coffee." Tara quickly looked at Buffy. Amusement danced in those wonderful eyes of hers. Tara blushed when she realized she had be caught staring. Buffy chuckled. "I can not exactly taste most human foods but I do enjoy caffeine."

Buffy like usual was fully dressed like usual. Tight dark blue jeans tucked into black high heeled boots both of which she was sure was completely in season. She also wore a black silk shirt. They sat at the kitchen counter Buffy softly asking questions about how things at the college went. "I will be back later on tonight. Try to get some sleep. No need to keep vampire hours." Buffy jumped down from her stool. She rinsed her cup in the sink. Tara was surprised to see it was already dark.

Buffy grabbed her black leather coat that reached below her knees and said goodbye. Tara took a quick look at the time. 8 o'clock. Too early to turn in. She pulled out her new poetry book and decided to read by the fire place. As Tara was lulled by poems of old and the warmth of the fireplace Buffy's face drifted forward in her minds eye.

She was definitely having feelings beyond friendly for her vampire roommate. TBC…

It took foooooorever but I finally finished this chapter. It bugged me so I sat down next to my sleeping puppy listening to Shinedown and threatened my muse with no sugar. Needless to say it scared her to coming back to me. I sort of just gave up on the ending of this chapter. I have yet to get my classes for college so I have absolutely no idea how that works.

If there's typos point them out. Once I actually get on a roll with my writing the fewer typos I have.

Now push that button below and tell my your thoughts. Please?