Fresh Start by Kinetic-Kid

Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: Definitely no money being made. All characters belong to Joss Whedon and ME. I own nothing except whatever characters I may make up for this story.
Distribution: The Mystic Muse: http://mysticmuse.net
Kinetic-Kid's Site: http://www.kinetic-kid.com
Oh yeah, anywhere, anytime. Just make sure I get credit and let me know where it is.
Feedback: Please Please PLEASE. I live for feedback. I get irritable and upset if I don't get any and I might not continue writing. Of course, if you don't like the story and think it sucks you may not want me to continue!
Spoilers: Pretty much everything – if you haven't watched BTVS – why are you reading the fanfic?
Author's Notes: This is an Alternate Universe!
Pairing: Faith/Tara

Summary: A pardoned slayer, a stubborn witch…what will happen?

Tara frowns heavily as she watches her hurt and angry ex-lover stride away, her mind tripping back to roughly a year earlier, and the things that had happened that culminated in this moment. Smiling softly as she feels a strong, warm body brush gently against her back and two strong arms wrap around her middle to comfort her. At the husky tone whispering that everything was going to be okay, Tara relaxes back into her lover's arms and let's her mind drift back.

"It's for the best, Willow." Buffy looks at her redheaded friend wincing at the angry look that gets thrown her way.

"Oh, great. It's best for me to fly to another country, because I can't control the magic." Willow throws her hands up in the air. "I haven't done one spell in three months…I'm pretty damn sure I have control of the magic."

Buffy looks to the rest of the group for help, sighing quietly in relief as Tara slowly steps forward.

"Willow, we know you haven't done any magic in three months, and that's wonderful. But denying that part of you is going to eventually eat away and you'll tip over the edge. You need to learn from the ground up how to control the magic, not to let it control you." Tara speaks softly, trying not to irritate her ex-lover.

Willow narrows her gaze on Tara, hesitating for a moment, looking at Buffy and Xander shifting nervously behind her girlfriend…ex-girlfriend, thankful that they at least didn't have Dawn and Anya here with them. "If I learn to control the magic properly, will you take me back?" Willow finally asks the one question everyone was afraid she'd put voice to.

"I…" Tara looks beseechingly at the redhead, not wanting to flat out dash all the redhead's hopes, though knowing in her heart that she could never be with Willow again.

Willow swallows as she sees the answer on Tara's face. "When's the flight?" Willow tears her gaze away from her ex-lover…Realizing for the first time that Tara really, truly is her ex-lover and that there is no chance of a reconciliation because of her own actions, her addiction.

"You can get on the flight that leaves in four hours." Buffy offers seeing the heartache in her best friend's eyes, along with the realization that she would never have Tara back.

Willow nods her head in acceptance before striding from the room and practically running up the stairs.

Buffy looks at Tara seeing the dejected slump to her shoulders before turning her gaze to Xander. "Please check on Wills."

Tara wipes at the tear that was slowly streaking down her face. "It's best that she knows that way she won't be using that as a reason to get better." Tara whispers.

"Are you going to be okay?" Buffy cautiously wraps her arms around the Wiccan, still uncomfortable with a lot of physical touches.

Tara feels the sob working its way out of her chest. "I'll always love her, Buffy. But I can never be with her again."

"Shhh. I know, I know." Buffy unconsciously rocks the blonde Wiccan as she thinks about the conversation they had had just a couple weeks earlier. Where Tara had broken down and told her exactly what had happened between the two women and her reason for leaving. Understanding completely the reason why Tara would never be able to trust Willow again.

"I should go." Tara releases a deep breath, trying to calm down, patting the slayer's arms that are wrapped around her, smiling at the oddness of Buffy comforting her. "Thank you, sweetie."

"We can all use hugs." Tara turns and smiles sadly at Buffy. "Are we still on for Tuesday and Thursday coffee dates?"

"Definitely." Buffy nods, smiling. "Still meeting up with Dawn for every other Saturday milkshake and movie fests?"

"Definitely. If I need to be here, just let me know." Tara chuckles as she reaches out to grasp Buffy's shoulder, gently squeezing it before grabbing her purse to head out the door. "You know where I am if you need me."

"Same here." Buffy calls out after the quickly departing Wiccan, sighing quietly at the thought of the kind woman, knowing that Tara will come in a heartbeat if she needs her. Slowly turning on her heels, Buffy jogs up the steps to check on Willow and Xander.

"This is your chance to do what's right." Angel stares at the dark-haired slayer, watching her look at the pardon in her hand as if she's afraid it will bite her.

"Why? Why'd they do it? I should be in here until they have to bury me six feet under." Faith raises her eyes to stare into the vampire's dark eyes. "Why'd they give me a pardon, Fang? I don't fuckin' deserve it."

Angel sighs quietly as they walk towards his convertible. "Everyone deserves a second chance, Faith. And do you honestly feel like you're making up for what you did by being in there?"

Faith tosses her small bag of items in the back seat before hopping in the vehicle, leaning against the door to stare at Angel as he climbs in and starts the car. "I can't ever make up for what I did, Fang. I fuckin' killed two men, held Red at knifepoint, almost choked Boy Toy to death, let alone torturing Wes, poisoning you and about making B flip her wig. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. We won't even get into the other shit before Sunny Hell." Faith stares out over the back of the car as Angel pulls away from the Maximum Security Prison that had been her home for the last two years. "Why'd they stand up for me, Fang? I thought the Council wanted me dead then they talked on my behalf with the review board."

Angel sighs quietly and reaches across the car to open the glove compartment, pulling out an envelope, dropping it in Faith's lap before shutting the glove compartment and settling himself back against the seat. "All I know is that they told me there are some serious rumblings of something big coming, and they wanted to make sure they had every available tool at their disposal to fight it. And since they consider you a tool instead of a human being…" Angel shrugs as he drives into the night, heading towards Sunnydale.

"I don't wanna go back there." Faith admits quietly as she turns the envelope over in her hand.

"Then don't." Angel turns to look at Faith, watching as a look of disgust and self-hatred crosses her face.

"Got to. Gotta make things right." Faith whispers as she slides her finger under the flap of the envelope and pulls out the sheet of paper.

Angel flips on the light, seeing the quick look of thanks come from Faith before her attention is riveted back on the letter.

Faith silently folds the letter and replaces it in the envelope, leaning over the back of the seat and placing it with her pardon as she shifts to stare out at the night, ignoring the wind whipping her hair around her face and the silent regard of the vampire beside her.

Faith sighs heavily as she slowly walks up the steps to the Summers' residence. After Angel had dropped her off outside her apartment building, he'd turned around and left heading back to LA to not push being out when the sun rises. The first thing she'd done as soon as she walked in the apartment was to strip and take a long, hot shower. Something she'd missed in the pen was hot water and the freedom to take a long shower, instead of a quick, lukewarm, three minute shower.

Afterwards she'd investigated the apartment, noticing that the broken glass was removed and replaced, the apartment cleaned, even fresh sheets placed on the bed. When she realized how late it was, she'd put off going to Buffy's house 'til the morning.

Now as she stares at the closed door, Faith runs a slightly shaky hand through her hair before taking a deep breath and knocking on the door firmly.

Buffy opens the door, staring at the dark-haired slayer with a raised eyebrow. "Are you going to come in, or just stand there?" Buffy questions standing to the side, leaving plenty of room for Faith to come in.

Faith tucks her hands in her pockets and slowly walks into the house, heading towards the living room, standing by the couch, but not sitting down.

"I just fixed some coffee, it should be finished brewing if you want some." Buffy heads towards the kitchen, leaving Faith to follow or not follow as she wished.

Faith stares after the blonde slayer for a moment before shaking her head and slowly following her.

Buffy allows a small smile to cross her face as she feels Faith enter the kitchen. The woman being hesitant and quiet, being in direct contrast to the Faith of old, Buffy wonders how deeply the last two years have changed the slayer. "How do you take it?"

"I still can't cook, but I have cereal, bagels, toast and pop tarts." Buffy offers as she hands the mug to Faith before sitting down at the island looking at the slayer.

"Jesus!" Faith sets down the coffee mug and runs both hands through her hair. "Fuck, B! Yell at me or hit me or somethin', would ya'?"

"Why?" Buffy raises an eyebrow in surprise at the slayer as she watches Faith start to pace back and forth.

"Because I fuckin' tried to kill just about everyone ya' loved! I almost drove you over the edge, treated your friends like shit…A million other reasons. Ya' gotta be pissed at me." Faith finally stops to stare at the slayer.

Buffy calmly sips her coffee as she looks at the slayer, actually seeing the woman. Tilting her head slightly, Buffy's surprised to see self-disgust along with the worry and scared look in the slayer's eyes before the shutters fall. "I think you're beating yourself up enough for all of us." Buffy offers quietly, honestly believing it after seeing the emotions crossing the dark-haired slayer's face.

Faith stares at Buffy, not knowing what to say to that comment as she sits down, finally picking her mug back up, gulping the coffee down wincing slightly at the bitter taste.

Buffy chuckles as she watches the face Faith makes. "My coffee's only slightly better than my cooking."

"I see that." Faith looks up from the cup, allowing a small smile to cross her lips.

"If you think you can do better, you're more than welcome." Buffy waves her mug towards the coffee pot.

"Maybe after this pot." Faith stands and refills her mug, bringing it towards Buffy, silently offering to refill Buffy's mug.

Buffy smiles and holds her mug out, watching as Faith fills it, leaving just a small amount in the bottom.

"You gonna want some more?" Faith questions as she sips some more from her mug, pouring what's left from the pot in her mug.

"Yes, I need to get ready for work, too." Buffy admits, looking at the time. "So we have about an hour before I need to leave."

Faith dumps the used coffee grounds before grabbing the coffee and a new filter, quickly placing the grounds in the coffee pot. Filling the reservoir with water, Faith flips the switch for the coffee to brew. Grabbing her mug, she moves over to sit back down at the island across from Buffy. "So, what'cha want me to do?" Faith finally questions.

"Help out with patrols. Be there for us, and in turn we'll be there for you." Buffy looks seriously at the slayer, watching as Faith looks down at the counter. "Faith, the biggest problems from the past, that we CANNOT repeat, is the fact that none of us talked and opened up. I was hiding Angel, and unwilling to open myself to you as a friend. You felt like an outsider because our group already seemed like a whole and didn't need another slayer. We have to allow each other in, Faith." Buffy tries to explain, frowning slightly. "In here." Buffy taps her chest above her heart. "I don't expect it to happen overnight, but it's something that we all have to work on. It's something I'm learning, also. I'm still not the most open person in the world, ask anyone." Buffy admits, running a finger over the top of her coffee cup.

"It ain't gonna be something I can do easily." Faith admits as she finishes the cup of coffee, looking at Buffy.

"We don't expect it to happen overnight, Faith." Buffy stands, grabbing the coffee pot, replenishing her coffee mug and filling Faith's before sitting back down. "That'll give you something to think about. Now, I have to let you know that Willow is in England trying to get control of her magic. Xander is engaged to the ex-vengeance demon, Anya and I'm living here with my sister Dawn. Our friend Tara, Willow's ex-girlfriend is actually out with Dawn on a girl's day out."

Faith frowns as she tries to sort out what Buffy's telling her. "What about Tweed?"

"He went back to England a while back." Buffy admits quietly as she sips the coffee, smiling at the flavor. "Much better, thanks." Buffy holds up the coffee mug.

"Welcome." Faith runs a hand through her hair. "What's the group say about me being here?"

Buffy shrugs and looks intently at Faith. "I don't know about Willow. She's sequestered within the Coven, I'm not even sure that she's aware of what's going on. I told Xander, he seemed a little gun-shy. Anya couldn't care less, but I'm sure she'll have something to say about you staying away from Xander." Buffy explains, seeing the heavy frown on Faith's face at the last comment, Buffy chuckles quietly. "Not because of that. She says the same thing to everyone, Faith. Dawn's willing to give you a chance, but then again I think she kind of had a crush on you when you were here originally." Buffy quietly laughs at the thought.

"What?" Faith almost drops her coffee cup as she stares at Buffy. "Yo, B! Nothin' happened or is gonna happen. I don't do kids!"

"Easy, Faith." Buffy unconsciously reaches across the distance, grasping the slayer's forearm. "There're a lot of things I would think you capable of, but seducing my younger sister never even occurred to me. Now, to let you know we have Sunday dinners here every week at five o'clock. There will be no excuse not to attend. Don't worry. I'm not the one that cooks." Buffy laughs as she finishes the coffee after seeing the scared look cross Faith's face at the mention of Sunday dinner.

"Worried me there for a minute." Faith admits, relaxing slightly. "What'cha want me to do today? And do I need to bring something for tomorrow?"

"Whatever you want to, Faith. If you want to spend the day getting yourself situated at your apartment, you can. You're more than welcome to go to the Magic Box and use the training room to work out. But be warned, Anya runs the shop and she's extremely blunt and to the point. I pretty much try to ignore it, getting upset or making comments back doesn't do any good. Don't worry about bringing anything tomorrow. You can talk with Tara for future dinners." Buffy explains, grinning. "How about we meet on the east side entrance to Restfield Cemetery around ten o'clock? Tara's dropping Dawn off at a friend's to stay the night, so I can be out late without worrying about Dawn being here alone. We can do a thorough patrol and talk some more." Buffy looks at the clock, sighing quietly. "I need to finish getting ready." Buffy stands and reaches to the key holder on the wall, grabbing down a set of keys. Tossing them to the dark-haired slayer, Buffy looks at the surprised slayer. "I want things to be different this time, Faith. I'm counting on you to meet us halfway."

Faith stares from the keys to Buffy, watching as the blonde jogs out of the room, silently listening to the slayer's feet pounding up the stairs. "Fuck, me." Faith twirls the keys around her finger before standing and filling her coffee cup again before sitting back down, sipping at the black liquid as she considers everything Buffy had said, still partly in shock.

"Lock up when you leave." Buffy calls out before heading out the door, holding back the laughter until she's away from the house, knowing that she'd pretty much set the other slayer on her ass with her comments and being so relaxed instead of attacking her or bitching. Silently sending a thank you to Tara for her help in making her more centered and in touch with her feelings. Knowing that the Wiccan's calmness had worked on settling her, helping her in regards to all things in her life, especially in listening to Giles and hearing what he had to say, weighing everything instead of just going off on a knee jerk reaction and attacking the slayer. Buffy frowns as she realizes she didn't tell Tara that Faith was coming back to Sunnydale, not that the two women really ever met or knew each other.

Buffy slowly frowns, remembering the worried, scared and hesitant slayer. Not wanting the slayer to not be herself, but also not wanting her to be the woman that shuts herself off completely from everyone around her, either. "God, we're probably going to need a small miracle. Faith needs someone that won't judge her and someone without all the baggage between them that there is with every one of the Scooby's." Buffy shakes her head at her monologue and starts jogging towards work, knowing if she doesn't hurry, she's going to be late.

Tara frowns as she looks at her watch, not having meant to be out this late, having been engrossed in a new novel at The Book Attic, one of the few places that stays open past dusk, smiling as she remembers the crosses worked into the store in the window designs, and even on the handle of the door. Unknowingly the religious mindset of the owner with his decorations providing a natural deterrent to the demons.

Tara frowns as she hears heavy footfalls behind her, grabbing her stake out of her purse while murmuring a spell, ready to cast it at a moments notice as she picks up her pace.

"Look what we have here, boys. A nice tasty appetizer." The lead vampire grins at his three brethren as they close in on the blonde.

Tara bites her lip, knowing that she can handle a couple vampires on her own, but if they attack her at the same time, there is no way in hell she can take them all out. Swallowing hard, Tara hesitates for a second, that's almost her downfall as she turns around to send a fireball at the lead demon, crying out in pain as another vampire snatches her by her hair yanking her into him as he growls angrily.

Faith frowns as her senses go off, having decided to start doing a patrol earlier, working her way towards Restfield Cemetery. Picking up her gate, she breaks into a run as she hears a scream of pain, turning the corner to see three vampires holding onto a blonde woman.

Growling angrily, Faith wades in, grabbing two of the vampires that are standing the closest together, slamming their heads together as hard as she can before spinning around and backhanding the other vampire, sparing a quick glance for the blonde, not seeing any blood, Faith sighs in relief.

Tara stares in stunned disbelief, it taking a few seconds for it to sink in that it's Faith that has come to her rescue. Slowly Tara backs up to allow the dark-haired slayer room to fight the vampires. Frowning as she hears more footsteps heading their way. "Please, Goddess, not what we need." Tara turns quickly looking in all directions, watching as another group of vampires head towards them. Quickly tucking away the stake, Tara quickly incants the fireball spells, sending out the twin balls of flame towards the two leading vampires, even as she hears Faith snarling angrily behind her.

"Fuckin' assholes." Faith quickly stakes one vampire that was still unconscious even as she kicks out the feet of one of the other vampires, and slings a stake into the heart of the third vampire. Grabbing out a spare stake from the back of her jeans at the same time she slams her foot down on the vampire starting to get up Faith kneels, staking him even as she watches the blonde send the fireballs towards the new group of vampires headed towards them. "Fuckin' convention?" Faith snarls.

"I think they heard you were back in town." Buffy yells coming up behind the group of vampires, smirking even as she jumps up into a spin kick, knocking two down as Faith comes in from the other direction swinging.

Tara watches the two slayers take on the last six vampires, stunned at the difference in their fighting skills. Whereas Buffy was controlled in her skills, but not telegraphing any of her movements, moving like a sleek panther from one strike to another. Tara's eyes are drawn irrevocably to the dark-haired slayer's movements, the wildness, the strength and power that seems to explode from the woman. Watching as the strength coils up before she springs into action again, like a snake striking quickly and deadly at its victim.

"Shit! That was my last stake." Faith growls angrily as the stake dusts with the vampire she'd just killed.

"Here, Faith." Tara calls out softly, tossing her stake to the slayer, watching as she reaches up, grabbing it out of the air even as she spins around and slams the stake home through the last vampire's back, dusting him quickly.

Faith flips the stake, catching it quickly as she strides over to the blonde. "Thanks, Blondie." Faith hands it back, unconsciously eyeing the blonde up and down, realizing she looks familiar. "How come ya' ain't runnin' screamin' from here?"

Buffy chuckles as she comes up on the two women as she dusts off her jeans. "Faith, you obviously don't remember Tara from your one meeting with her. This is Tara Maclay, Wiccan extraordinaire and Scooby."

Faith tilts her head at the blonde, trying to place her when Buffy's earlier conversation makes another trip through her mind about Tara being Red's ex. As the realization of what she did in their first meeting sinks in, Faith shifts uncomfortably as she looks down at the ground. "I remember. I was a bitch to her." Faith admits softly.

"What?" Buffy frowns as she looks at Faith, silently asking for a little more clarification.

"When I was in your body, I ran into Red and Blondie here at the Bronze. I made fun of her." Faith looks up into guarded blue eyes. "I made fun of her stutter, and was a flat out mean bitch to her. She didn't do nothin' but just be there and I was being my normal, hateful self."

Buffy sighs as she looks from Faith to Tara, watching as Tara tilts her head as she looks at the dark-haired slayer.

"What would happen if you saw us there together today?" Tara questions the slayer softly.

"What?" Faith frowns at the blonde Wiccan. "I was in a seriously fucked up place at the time, and I wouldn't even think about doing somethin' like that now." Faith answers truthfully. "I can't undo what I did, but I can apologize. I'm sorry I was a bitch." Faith murmurs softly as she looks back down at the ground, unable to keep eye contact with the blue eyes that seem to look into her soul.

Tara unconsciously reaches out and lifts the slayer's chin until she's looking into worried brown eyes. "I accept your apology, and you're forgiven." Tara grins crookedly at the slayer, even as she sees the surprise at the easy forgiveness in the brown gaze.

Buffy purses her lips as she looks from Tara to Faith, her mind starting to wander as the two women continue to look at each other for a few minutes, a small smile finally crossing Faith's face as it sinks in that Tara was sincere. "Tara, you know better than to be out here, what the hell were you thinking?" Buffy finally questions, a little rougher than she meant to, watching in surprise as Faith unconsciously shifts closer to Tara placing her body partially between her and the Wiccan. Raising an eyebrow at the move, it takes Buffy a moment to realize Faith wasn't even aware of what she'd done.

"I was reading at the Book Attic, and time got away from me." Tara admits, blushing in embarrassment. "I was trying to hurry back to my apartment, but…" Tara shrugs, frowning.

"Everyone's okay, no worse for the wear, B. Let's walk Blondie here home, and finish patrol." Faith offers quietly.

Tara raises an eyebrow at the dark-haired slayer, surprised at her stepping in to play peacemaker. Everything that she had heard about the slayer having led her to believe the woman would be more inclined to aggravate a situation instead of trying to help it. But something inside her telling her that the woman standing in front of her isn't the same person she was. That she had changed deep within, not just on the surface.

Buffy looks intently at Faith for a few minutes, before nodding her head in agreement. "Yes, she is okay, but she also knows I have this aversion to people I consider family being hurt and putting themselves in danger."

"And when said people do either of those things they know they're in for an ass-chewing." Tara winces as she looks at Buffy. "I also know she does it because she can't stand the thought of losing someone else." Tara continues, smiling softly at the blonde slayer.

"Been enough death." Buffy mumbles, looking into understanding blue eyes for a moment before sighing quietly. "But I'll forget the ass-chewing tonight. But in payment I want peach cobbler for dessert tomorrow."

Tara chuckles and winks at the slayer. "Done. Now, am I going to have the company of two slayers to walk me home?"

"Uh, I can finish patrol, B, if you wanna take Blondie here home." Faith offers quietly, tucking her hands away in her pockets.

"No, we can both go. With that group of vampires we took out, I think it best we stick together to be on the safe side." Buffy offers leaning down to pick up Tara's book bag that she'd dropped sometime in midst of the fight.

"Thanks, sweetie." Tara takes the bag digging in it to grab out two spare stakes, tucking one in her pocket before handing the other one to Faith. Chuckling as the slayer looks at it in surprise, before brown eyes glance up at her with a questioning look in their depths. Not able to help herself, Tara smirks. "It's a stake. A piece of wood carved to a point to be used in killing vampires…I'm sure you can use it for other things, too, but that's the approved and suggested method of use."

Buffy snorts as they start walking down the sidewalk. "I thought you weren't one for the timber, Tara."

"Definitely not. I'd rather take one of those any day over the other." Tara grins wickedly at Buffy.

"Don't tell me your vibrator broke on you and you resorted to using stakes!" Buffy looks mockingly at the Wiccan, grinning as she turns red. "Gotcha!"

"I wasn't the only one in the store." Tara points out her eyebrow rising knowingly at Buffy.

"Thought I would try something a little healthier for me." Buffy admits softly, a vulnerable look coming across her face.

"Shhh. I know, Tara." Buffy shrugs as she looks around. Seeing the questioning look on Faith's face, Buffy sighs heavily. "Something else I guess I should talk to you about…but not tonight."

"Are you two…" Faith questions looking from one blonde to the other blonde, staring at Tara as the Wiccan busts out laughing.

"No. We've just become closer over the last few months. Buffy doesn't play on my side of the fence." Tara smirks at the blonde slayer. "It just so happened I had just went into Sunnydale's one and only sex shop just as Buffy was coming out. After the initial embarrassment on both our parts, we've alluded to the encounter a couple times, but not quite as much as we have tonight." Tara shrugs as she looks apologetically at the blonde slayer.

"If I did swing that way, Willow would probably nail my hide to the wall if I went after Tara." Buffy grumbles, her voice more serious than she meant it to sound.

"I thought you two were broken up." Faith frowns, her gaze turning back to the Wiccan.

"We are." Tara sighs quietly as she unconsciously tips her head forward, hiding her face. "I think she has a problem dealing with the fact that I'm not coming back to her."

"I think it hit home a little more the day she left for England." Buffy offers quietly. "I saw the knowledge in her eyes."

"Why'd you two break up?" Faith frowns looking at Tara. Watching the Wiccan seem to shrink even more at her question, Faith shoves her hands in her pockets and kicks a stone out of the way. "Never mind. Ain't none of my business."

Buffy tilts her head so she can look a little better at Tara, seeing the Wiccan's shoulders slump even more with the dark-haired slayer's words. Deciding not to say anything, because it truthfully isn't her place, waiting to see what Tara will do. Knowing the Wiccan is still hurt from the redhead's actions, even though she was trying to go on with her life.

"No, Faith." Tara starts after a few minutes, running a hand through her hair, straightening slightly as she tucks it behind her ear, glancing at the dark-haired slayer, frowning as she notices the slayer has shifted further away from Buffy's other side, distancing herself from them. "It's just that it's still somewhat a sore subject with me. And I'm afraid it will be for a long time to come." Tara admits.

"Do you want me to talk with her?" Buffy offers after a few seconds. "If you don't want to re-hash it right now…"

"No." Tara smiles and pats Buffy gently on the shoulder. "Thanks for the offer, sweetie. I'm sure you two are going to be discussing a lot of things as it is, you don't need to add in my problems." Tara takes a deep calming breath, situating what she wants to say to give the basic explanation, without going into too much detail. "Since what happened to Willow and I isn't really going to have a bearing on what's going on right now, I'll just give you a little basic idea. Later on if you want, we can get together to go into more detail." Tara offers softly.

Faith looks across Buffy to see blue eyes looking back at her, not hiding what happened, but honestly believing that her problems aren't that big a deal that they all need to be laid bare right at this moment. Slowly nodding her head, Faith splits her concentration between feeling for demons, watching where she's going and looking over at the two women on the one side of her as they walk to Tara's apartment.

"Willow has trouble with dark magic, that's why she's in England. She performed a spell on me…Needless to say she destroyed the trust in our relationship with what she did, and in doing so, she destroyed something that is essential for me to have in a partnership." Tara explains with downcast eyes.

"What…" Faith snaps her mouth shut on the question she was going to ask, realizing it isn't any of her business.

Tara shakes her head, sighing quietly. "We had an argument over magic usage. So, she placed a forget spell on me so I wouldn't remember the argument."

Buffy growls quietly. "But Tara didn't leave her after she found out what Willow did. She gave her another chance, and less than a day later Willow did another forget spell on her."

Faith unconsciously stops and stares at the two women, watching them as they stop and turn to face her, having made it a couple more steps in front of her. "Let me get this right…Red, the woman that loved you, did a spell on you where she reached into your head and took your fuckin' memories from you?" Faith questions hoarsely, her eyes staying on blue eyes, seeing the answer in their depths. Quickly glancing at Buffy, Faith is surprised to see the slight anger on the blonde slayer's face, before her eyes go back to Tara's. "So, she took from you without your permission, in essence, raping you." Faith growls angrily, shaking her head. "I never woulda' thought Red would do somethin' so…"

"Idiotic? Asinine? To the one person she supposedly loved more than anything in the world…her everything?" Tara throws out there to the night air, her tone at once biting and sarcastic before a sad, lonely note hits on the last two words. "Well, believe it. The magic was more important than me." Tara turns on her heel to head towards home.

Faith watches the blonde stride down the sidewalk before turning her gaze towards Buffy. "There was one thing in the big house that was considered worse than murder, B. Care to guess what it was?"

Buffy sighs heavily, before motioning Faith to follow after Tara. "Rape. I never really thought of it that way, before. But you're right, it was a rape. An emotional and mental rape…though it might even be considered a physical rape also." Buffy whispers softly as they follow at a distance behind Tara.

"What'cha mean?" Faith unconsciously stiffens, feeling the anger boiling under the surface.

"I remember after Willow cast the first spell, we were researching a new demon in town, and the two of them snuck off to be together. After talking with Tara, I realize that was after the first forget spell was done, before Tara found out about it. I've come to know Tara better in the months since then, and she never would have been physical with Willow until they had ironed out their differences. So, because of the forget spell, she slept with Willow, so does that count as physical rape?" Buffy glances at Faith, surprised to see the flushed and angry face of the slayer.

"Yeah, that's what I would consider it." Faith growls deeply. "Good thing Red ain't here or I'd give her a piece of my mind. There're things you don't do to loved ones…and rape is definitely one of 'em." Faith stares up at the night sky for a few moments before picking up her gate, to eat up the distance between them and Tara as she feels an uncontrollable urge to protect the blonde Wiccan from any and all things that might try and hurt her.

Buffy blinks in surprise at the dark slayer's reaction even as she watches Faith catch up to Tara, walking just slightly behind and to the left of her. Picking up the pace, but staying behind them, Buffy watches Faith curiously.

"Umm. If ya' want and ever are out at night, or think you're gonna be, could you call me?" Faith offers quietly. When she notices the surprised look coming from the Wiccan, Faith shrugs. "I'll make sure you get to where you need to be. I can give ya' my home phone, but I gotta go get a cell phone. It actually would be a good idea for all of us to get phones." Faith glances over her shoulder at Buffy.

"Cell phones are expensive." Buffy shakes her head at the dark haired slayer, letting her know that she couldn't afford one.

"They got them plans where you can add additional phones for next to nothin'. Maybe one of those walky-talky type things would be good." Faith frowns heavily at the slayer, narrowing her gaze, trying to silently communicate to Buffy that she would take care of it. "Family plans, ain't that what they call 'em?"

"They advertise the hell out of them, but I never checked into them." Buffy sighs, slowly nodding her head at the slayer, but narrowing her gaze on her to let her know they were going to talk about this.

Faith nods her head once, sharply before facing forward again, her eyes being caught by curious blue eyes.

"What's with the silent conversation?" Tara questions with a lifted eyebrow, watching as Faith sighs and looks down.

"How?" Tara tilts her head as she watches Faith, crossing her arms over her chest as the slayer fidgets slightly.

"With the money I have." Faith winces as she can imagine what the next question is going to be, deciding to head it off at the pass. "Yeah, it's blood money, B. It came from the Mayor, but what better way to use it than to help in the fight?"

Buffy snarls her lip as she stares at the dark-haired slayer. "You know how I feel about evil!"

Tara raises a hand as she looks from one to the other slayer, understanding Buffy's knee-jerk reaction to the thought of using the money, but also seeing Faith's point. "Buffy, I know you would be more than happy for Faith to burn the money and never ever have to think about it again, but what good will that do? Wouldn't it be more like thumbing your nose in evil's face by using the money that one of their biggest supporters amassed, to fight the people it was to help?" Tara glances at Faith before turning her gaze on Buffy, seeing the conflicting emotions crossing Buffy's face. "Sweetie…" Tara gently grasps Buffy's shoulder, looking into confused hazel eyes. "Have you ever used or kept a weapon that a demon had used, Buffy?"

"I know, sweetie. You feel that it's wrong and I understand, but you need to think about this. What good would it do to throw the money away?" Tara glances over at Faith looking intently into the brown eyes, seeing something in the depths that she never expected to see, sadness. For a moment, Tara sees into Faith's soul, sees the anger, the hurt, the sadness and the pain before Faith pulls the shutters down again. Turning back to Buffy, Tara squeezes the slayer's shoulder again. "Just think about it, sweetie."

Buffy sighs quietly, studying Tara for a few minutes. "How do you feel on this matter, Tara?"

Tara sighs quietly and shrugs her shoulders. "I see both sides, Buffy. But one thing you have to remember…I've watched what you've gone through over the past few years…are going through." Tara looks intently into hazel eyes. "Use what's available to you, anything you're able to use to help, use it!"

Buffy growls quietly before looking away. "I'll think about it." Buffy finally offers a partial compromise.

"I'll settle for that." Tara pats Buffy gently before glancing again at Faith before heading towards her apartment.

Faith tucks her hands in her pockets as she slowly follows behind Tara, watching as Buffy comes up beside her to walk with her, both slayers flanking the Wiccan. Faith frowns as they walk more towards the worst part of town, tilting her head to look at Buffy as they continue to walk with Tara.

Buffy feels the other slayer's eyes on her and slowly raises hers, seeing the questioning look in Faith's eyes, Buffy just shakes her head, before whispering so only Faith can hear. "Later."

Faith growls quietly as Tara finally turns up the broken sidewalk of a run down apartment building. Faith's nose curls up at the sight of the littered stairs, along with fetid smelling air.

"We've been over this before, Buffy." Tara growls quietly as she makes it up to the second landing, unlocking the door to her small efficiency apartment.

Faith looks from Buffy to Tara, watching the two women before she eases into the apartment, frowning at the small space, swearing it almost seems smaller than most of the motel rooms she's stayed in.

"Would either of you like some water or juice?" Tara offers as she tosses her backpack in the corner.

"Nah, I'm okay." Faith shakes her head, as she looks at the clean, but sparse apartment. What items that were in it, were obviously hand-me-downs from about ten families ago.

"I'm fine. I'll see you tomorrow early afternoon?" Buffy looks at Tara still feeling a slight anger under the surface at the Wiccan's unwillingness to move back into the house.

"I'll be there." Tara smiles at Buffy, knowing the slayer gets angry every time they have this conversation, also knowing her trying to cut it off at the pass, didn't stop the anger. "Be careful, sweetie." Tara hugs Buffy gently and brushes her lips softly over Buffy's forehead. "Take care of yourself."

"Like I have a choice with you ready to kick my ass." Buffy slowly relaxes and smiles back at the Wiccan as Tara steps away after giving her one more squeeze.

Faith watches the interaction between the two women, still not entirely positive that there wasn't something going on between them. When Tara turns to her and does that damn thing where she seems to be looking in her soul again, Faith unconsciously backs up a step and drops her gaze, not realizing that her thoughts were plain to the Wiccan.

Tara sighs softly as the dark-haired slayer backs away from her even as she breaks off the gaze, having noticed the silent question in the brown eyes about the relationship between her and Buffy. "Be careful out there, Faith." Tara whispers softly, even as she watches the slayer edge her way to the door.

"I don't know why, but for some reason she thinks that you and I are a couple and it's bothering her." Tara explains quietly, staring at the empty doorway.

"Could our lives get any more complicated?" Buffy mutters rhetorically as she waves at Tara before jogging out of the apartment to head after the rogue slayer.

Tara locks the door behind Buffy before turning around and leaning against it as she thinks about the night's happenings. "Yes, Buffy. I think our lives can get a hell of a lot more complicated." Tara runs a lightly shaking hand through her hair in the realization that the dark-haired slayer had struck a chord deep inside her. "Right, Tara. Like that woman would ever even think about someone like you, let alone be attracted to you. She's wild, chance-taking and out to have a good time. One look at her and you know her motto is 'Live Wild and Free and Die Young'. You're everything she's not." Tara shakes her head before slowly getting ready for bed.

"Faith!" Buffy calls out after the slayer, seeing her getting ready to turn the corner and go out of sight. Jogging after her Buffy looks intently at the closed off face, growling angrily, Buffy gets in Faith's personal space, surprising the dark-haired slayer. "You have a problem you need to talk about it. Every time that you hold back from saying what you want to say, it's just going to cause more problems down the road, now what the hell is wrong?"

Faith snarls her lip and backs away from the slayer, before shaking her head. "You ain't gotta lie to me. I know there's something between you two!" Faith waves her hand back towards Tara's apartment.

"Yeah, there is something between us." Buffy admits, her eyes serious as she looks at Faith, actually looking at her, surprised when she sees a flash of pain cross the dark eyes before the shutters fall again. Silently wondering to herself if the pain is over her, or Tara. "Faith, there's a lot of shit that's happened since you've been gone. This is a quick, easy break down and it isn't something I want to tell you, but I have to. I need you to understand that I'm being deadly serious about doing things right this time." Buffy gently grasps the slayer's arm as Faith tries to turn and walk away. "No, Faith. There's been enough running from everyone."

Faith stiffens even more, her body like steel as she crosses her arms and stares at the blonde slayer. "Fine, what'cha got to say?"

"Jesus! Why don't you make this even harder?" Buffy growls angrily as she starts to stride down the street, trying to get control of her anger.

Faith turns and stares after Buffy. Taking a few minutes she realizes that she's falling back into old habits, shutting down, being stubborn and not willing to listen. Things that she'd worked so hard on while she was in prison. "Fuck!" Faith looks up at the night sky. "Nobody said it was gonna be easy." Faith finally starts to jog after Buffy. "Listen…I…Let's talk, okay?" Faith finally whispers.

Buffy swallows hard before slowly nodding her head. Knowing the slayer was apologizing in her own way. "How do you feel about some coffee? Maybe some muffins or bagels or something to go with it?"

"Always up for food." Faith answers, the two women walking quietly to the nearest open coffee house.

Buffy shakes her head as she watches Faith work her way through a big plate of breakfast food. The two women only finding an actual all-night diner open, not realizing it was as late as it was. Sighing quietly, Buffy picks at her own breakfast, before finally deciding to start the conversation.

"I'm going to give you the Reader's Digest version, so be warned. You knew I died again?" Buffy starts and when Faith frowns, but nods, Buffy shrugs her shoulders. "Yeah, well, Willow and the group brought me back from the dead roughly four months later. They thought I was in a Hell dimension…they were wrong." Buffy looks out the window at the night.

Faith frowns heavily, setting her fork down to give her undivided attention to the blonde slayer. "You were in heaven." Faith states, knowing that there was nowhere else the blonde slayer could have been, not Buffy.

"Yes." Buffy nods, glancing back at Faith. "I hid it from the group. Needless to say, coming back here was like being dropped into the middle of hell from where I'd been. I couldn't feel, didn't care and I was always cold." Buffy rubs her arms together even thinking about it. "I did something I'm not proud of. I slept…no slept is too good of a word. I fucked Spike, a soulless vampire with a chip in his head that keeps him from hurting humans." Buffy can't look at the slayer. She keeps her gaze down on the table.

Faith swallows and looks at Buffy, seeing the hurt and self-disgust on the blonde slayer's face.

"Well, needless to say I did or said something that caused a knee jerk reaction in him and he hit me. The chip didn't go off, seems that I came back…different. We fought and fucked like wild animals. Fighting was foreplay for us, more often than not I'd come home bruised and bloody from the encounters. I finally went to Tara, begging her to find out if there was something about the spell that was wrong, not telling her what was happening." Buffy lifts her coffee cup, finishing it and setting it to the end of the table glancing up at the waitress, nodding her head as she catches her eye.

"Was there something wrong?" Faith hoarsely questions, her eyes watching Buffy intently.

"Not really." Buffy allows a small smile to cross her face in remembrance. "Tara researched the spell for me and came back, telling me I just had a molecular sunburn. Just enough of a slight difference in my make-up from being dead and brought back that Spike's chip doesn't think I'm human." Buffy stops and looks up at the waitress smiling in thanks as she fills her coffee cup.

"Thanks." Faith slides her cup over and watches as the waitress fills her cup also before heading back behind the counter.

"Needless to say I broke down, begging her to tell me that I came back wrong, finally admitting to her what was happening between me and Spike. I literally collapsed, burying my face in her lap and crying my eyes out, begging her not to forgive me." Buffy sighs quietly in remembrance. "She didn't forgive me, you know why?" Buffy looks up a small smile on her face.

"She said there was nothing to forgive." Buffy chuckles quietly. "This happened after she and Willow broke up. Ever since then, we get together a couple times a week, just the two of us to talk and hash out whatever problems we have. We've become close over the months since then…Like sisters, Faith." Buffy watches the understanding slowly come across Faith's face. "Just like where she's living. After Willow went away to England two months ago, I've been trying to get Tara to move back into the house, but she won't."

"Why the hell not? That's a fuckin' dump and about the worst place in town to live!" Faith growls angrily, her brows pulled down in a heavy frown.

"I know, but it's the only thing she can afford, and she refuses to move back in because she doesn't want Willow to think she's being replaced." Buffy admits, sighing quietly. "She wants Willow to think that certain things aren't going to change, just because of what she did, and having her home to come back to is one of the big things Tara refuses to take away from her."

"She feels to blame for what Red did, don't she?" Faith looks up from the black depths of her coffee cup she'd been staring into while Buffy talked.

"Yes, she does. She doesn't want to have Willow feel like she isn't wanted, but she's not able to love her like she once did. Tara can never go back to Willow, no matter how much she loves her. And I honestly believe Tara will always love her, but I see a difference in Tara now, that I'm not sure even she sees." Buffy smiles at the thought of the Wiccan.

"She's become more independent and stronger since their break-up. She's finally started to become the woman she should have been, instead of the quiet, unassuming woman she was." Buffy grins at the slayer. "She never would have been sarcastic or a smart-ass before, Faith. She wouldn't have said boo to you and probably would have hid behind me before."

"Yeah, she was kinda…quiet the one and only time we met before." Faith turns to gaze out at the night, remembering the woman, and her own treatment of her.

"Faith, she doesn't hold whatever was said against you. Once you apologized and she accepted it, it's over with as far as she's concerned. Don't let it eat at you. Just be forewarned that Tara has gotten to the point that she is becoming very outspoken and protective…that's not quite right, she's always been protective of the people she considers family. But she's become very outspoken and she'll say anything at the drop of a hat. She isn't even close to the shy, stuttering Wiccan she used to be. Hell, sometimes it still catches me unawares and surprises the hell out of me. Like tonight with the joking about the sex shop." Buffy blushes and shakes her head as Faith turns with a small grin on her face and her eyes twinkling with mischief.

"So, ya' are finally admitting about the HH factor, huh?" Faith relaxes back against the booth, grinning.

"Yeah, yeah." Buffy rolls her eyes, blushing darker. "It wasn't long after that when I had another run in with Spike." Buffy's eyes become distant, remembering the attempted rape, the vampire trying to make her come back to him. Shivering uncontrollably at the remembrance of the attempt and Tara having found her in the bathroom, it not having been that long ago that it had happened.

Faith watches as pain, terror and guilt vie for top billing on Buffy's face. "What happened, B?" Faith questions softly, leaning forward as she becomes serious.

"Spike tried to force me." Buffy finally admits, her mind still replaying what happened that night. "I was hurt from being slammed into a tombstone earlier that night while on patrol. He came into the house while I was planning on taking a long hot bath to try and help my back. He tried to make me see how much he loved me, wanted to show me…" Buffy shivers uncontrollably again. "I finally was able to kick him away, but not before there were some serious bruises on my legs where he'd tried forcing them apart. Tara had come home with Dawn, thankfully she'd already sent Dawn to bed after she felt the pain waves I was giving off…" Buffy shakes her head sighing heavily.

"She's the one that knew you were in my body, Faith. She sees auras, and as she explained to me, when someone that she knows and loves is feeling any kind of emotions strongly within a certain distance, she can feel it. She has a slight empathy thing going on." Buffy explains, running her hand through her hair. "She helped me take a bath, got me in bed and massaged out the majority of the pain in my back. I fell asleep and when I woke up in the morning she had fixed up a breakfast bake for me to put in the oven with explicit instructions, apologizing that she wasn't there but that she had something to do." Buffy shrugs, a small smile playing on her face.

"She go and stake his ass?" Faith questions roughly, the anger in her voice obvious.

"I…" Buffy blinks at the dark-haired slayer as she considers the comment. "I haven't seen him since that night." Buffy blinks in realization, wondering if Tara would have done something like that. "Would she have? I never even thought to ask her."

"You know her better than I do, would she do somethin' like that?" Faith leans in looking at Buffy seriously. "Because if she didn't take his fuckin' ass out, I will." Faith growls, the anger obvious in her eyes as they flash.

"Before I would have said no…but now…" Buffy shakes her head in realization that she honestly doesn't know if Tara would do something like that. "I can't answer that question, Faith." Buffy admits quietly, the surprise obvious in her eyes.

Faith clenches her jaw and she looks out at the night, feeling the uncontrollable anger she always does when she thinks about rape. "You know where he hangs out?" Faith questions looking back at Buffy, watching as the other slayer slowly nods her head. "Let's see if it looks like he's even around." Faith downs the rest of her coffee before digging some bills out of her pocket, tossing them onto the table to pay for their food.

Buffy watches the slayer's angry movements, before her eyes drop to the table, seeing Faith paid more than enough for the food and tip, but knowing better than to say anything to the dark-haired woman.

Faith scowls angrily as she looks at the vampire's empty crypt, before dropping down to the bottom area, not feeling any vampires or demons nearby. Not seeing anything that would say the vampire had been there recently, Faith finally climbs back out and walks out of the crypt, stopping beside Buffy. "Ain't nothin' down there other than his shit. Don't look like anyone's been in there for at least a month. How long since…"

Buffy sighs quietly as she raises her eyes to look at Faith. "Almost a month ago."

"He may have just left town." Buffy offers up the words, but wondering if Spike would have left town, finally deciding no, that he wouldn't, not without some serious reinforcement to make him go.

Faith raises an eyebrow in disbelief at the slayer. "Yeah, right." Faith shakes her head as they start to head back towards Revello Drive. "Ain't seen no other vamps since the group of 'em earlier. That becomin' the norm around here?"

"No. I don't know why they all seemed to congregate there, though they did come from different areas." Buffy sighs quietly, wondering if someone is trying to organize the vampires again.

"Yeah, well, if they were working for someone, they probably weren't countin' on the fact that there're two slayers in town, now." Faith grins at the thought. "We probably put a little spin on their plans by taking out those idiots."

"I hope so. When Tara comes over to the house tomorrow, I'll see if she can't do up the demon locator spell and see if there's anything going on." Buffy runs a hand through her hair as she climbs the steps to the house.

"You gonna ask her about the vamp?" Faith questions, curious as to what the blonde slayer is going to say.

"I…I don't know." Buffy shrugs, her eyes shadowed. "I don't know if it's better not knowing." Shaking off the thoughts, Buffy nods her head towards the house. "You want to come in?"

Faith shakes her head. "Nah. I think I'll head back home. I've got some thinkin' to do." Faith admits, her mind running through the events of the night, along with hitting on things from her past. "See ya' tomorrow." Faith mumbles before spinning around and striding off.

Buffy stares after the dark-haired slayer for a few minutes before letting herself into the empty house. Silently, Buffy wonders what the future holds for their group.

Faith tucks her hands in her pockets as she walks around Sunnydale, allowing her senses to stretch to their maximum to see if there're any demons lurking about. She starts thinking heavily about everything that happened since she was pardoned from prison. Thoughts of how Buffy was willing to give her another chance, knowing that if she fucks it up this time, there won't be any saving her from the Council.

Faith looks up, surprised to find she's on the block that Tara lives. Looking up at the dark apartment building, she silently wonders about the blonde Wiccan. "What makes you tick, Blondie?" Faith questions the quiet night. "And why the hell do I wanna know?" Faith whispers, dropping her head before striding towards her apartment, not even realizing that the person she was would have went to the Bronze looking for a quick, nameless fuck. Whereas now she's just looking to get home shower and possibly find something to watch on the television.

Faith shifts the bag to her left hand before knocking on the door, looking down at the porch as she waits for someone to open the door.

Dawn opens the door, smirking at the dark-haired slayer, Buffy having filled her in on throwing the slayer for a bit of a loop the day before. "Are you just going to stand there?" Dawn questions, stepping back to allow the slayer in.

"GET OUT OF HERE, YOU DAMN SLAYER!" Tara yells, chasing a laughing Buffy from the kitchen, a spoon stuck out of the slayer's grinning mouth. "Damn slayer. Put up a ward around this room to keep you out of here." Tara bitches as she spins around and heads back into the kitchen.

"You got some! Where's mine?" Dawn frowns at Buffy, seeing the spoon in Buffy's mouth with nothing in either hand.

Pulling the spoon out of her mouth and licking it clean, Buffy shrugs and grins. "I didn't have time to scoop any out, as soon as I dipped the spoon in she came after me."

"Shoot!" Dawn gripes, half debating on whether or not to try her luck in the kitchen.

Buffy smirks at her sister, seeing the look. "I didn't have much luck with slayer speed, but you're more than welcome to try."

Dawn groans before stomping up the stairs. "I guess I'm going to have to wait until after dinner."

"YES, MOM!" Dawn gripes as she makes it to the top of the stairs before turning out of sight.

"Welcome to the nut house." Buffy smirks, before edging slowly towards the kitchen. "I need to get the load out of the dryer and switch the load from the washer to the dryer."

"You come anywhere near the cobbler, I'm going to freeze you until dinner time." Tara threatens, her eyes narrowed on Buffy, watching as Buffy nods her head and eases towards the door leading to the basement, staying as far away from Tara as possible. Tara smirks after the slayer is out of sight, before she raises a questioning eyebrow at the dark-haired slayer. "Same goes for you." Tara warns before turning back to the two large roasters she has on the stove.

Faith's lips twitch up in a slight smile at the warning coming from the blonde, before she sets down the bag on the counter furthest away from Tara. Tilting her head, she watches the Wiccan place what must be equal to twenty pounds of potatoes around two huge roasts in the two large pans.

"Can you get the big bag of baby carrots out of the fridge for me?" Tara questions as she works on maneuvering the potatoes so they'll all fit, leaving room for the carrots, having already chopped up celery and quartered a couple onions to place around the roasts she'd pre-seasoned.

Buffy trots up the stairs, and grins before opening her eyes wide as Tara turns to glare at her. "I'm just gonna…" Buffy waves towards the living room before running out of the kitchen.

Faith chuckles at the slayer before she opens the refrigerator door, blinking at the huge two and-a-half pound bag of small carrots. "Want me to rinse them off?"

"If you don't mind, thanks." Tara grins over her shoulder as she watches Faith shut the refrigerator door before she moves over to the sink. "Buffy said you're not real particular when it comes to food, so I hope you like beef roast with potatoes, carrots plus celery and onion to help flavor it. I also have two, two pound loaves of bread baking in the bread machines, which will be done in…" Tara glances over at the machines. "Another thirty minutes, so I can get two more loaves put in. I have fixings for a large salad, along with the cobbler for dessert."

"Sounds good." Faith grunts out quietly as she finishes rinsing the carrots. "Want me to dry 'em?"

"No need." Tara turns and smiles at the slayer, grabbing a handful of carrots, dumping them around the roast, before turning around, shifting out of the way as Faith brings over her hands filled with carrots, smiling as Faith places them around the other roast. Turning to the sink, Tara picks up the last escapee carrots. Leaning around the dark-haired slayer, Tara tosses them into the pots. "Would you mind covering those and putting them in the oven for me?" Tara questions as she wipes off her hands, smirking as she grabs a spoon out of the drawer and scoops up a bite of the peach cobbler.

Leaning against the counter behind the slayer, Tara holds the spoon out, chuckling as Faith finishes putting the two roasts in the stove, turning around to look at her questioningly. "Only fair." Tara shrugs, offering the spoon to the slayer, surprised when Faith leans forward, wrapping her lips around it instead of taking it from her hand. Swallowing hard as Faith groans low and deep as she slowly savors the cobbler. As the slayer's pink tongue darts out to gather a bit of escaped cobbler off her bottom lip, Tara whimpers quietly and quickly turns away, missing the curious look coming from the dark-haired slayer.

Faith runs her tongue back over her lips again, gathering all the flavor of the sweet, fruity concoction that she can. "That's good, Blondie. Real good." Faith's lips curl up in a half smile as she eases by the Wiccan, stopping directly behind her. "But I ain't gonna chance you turnin' me into somethin', or freezin' me, so I'll stay away until after dinner."

Tara chuckles quietly as she washes her hands. "Might be best for you." Tara bites her lip as she feels the heat literally pouring off the slayer. Knowing from her time around Buffy, that slayers seem to be warmer than normal people, but realizing Faith's heat seems even hotter than Buffy.

"I'm gonna head into the living room. You comin'?" Faith inhales deeply, closing her eyes for a few seconds before finally shifting away from the Wiccan, a small smirk on her face.

"In a few." Tara whispers, clenching her teeth as the slayer's phrasing sends her mind spinning in a completely different direction.

"'Kay." Faith grabs the bag before heading towards the living room, leaving Tara in the kitchen by herself.

"Sweet, Goddess." Tara clenches the sink tightly, her body clenching almost as tightly as her hands. Standing there as she tries to get control of her body's reaction, never having been that easily affected by another person in her entire life. Fighting the urge to literally jump the slayer, almost as if she's a sex-crazed druggy needing her fix, and Faith's her supplier. Moaning quietly as a flash of full lips and a pink tongue comes flitting through her brain Tara tries her damnedest to get visions of the dark-haired slayer out of her mind.

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Fresh Start

by Kinetic-Kid

Copyright © 2008

kwhite14@yahoo.com