Shades of Gray

Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Willow, Tara, Xander, Giles and all other characters who have appeared in the syndicated series Buffy The Vampire Slayer, together with the names, titles and back story are the sole copyright property of Josh Wheldon, Fox and Mutant Enemy. No copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fan fiction. All other characters, the story idea and the story itself are the sole property of the author. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Please contact the author for permission to reproduce this story on any other fan fiction site.
Distribution: The Rainbow Writer's Homepage: http://www.therainbowwriters.com/
Mystic Muse: http://mysticmuse.net
Spoilers: Season 7.
Feedback: All feedback is welcome.
Pairing: Willow/Tara    Buffy/Other    Faith/Dawn

Part 11

Buffy carefully adjusted the temperature of the tap before she flicked it up to the shower, the hard thumping of the water against the tub filling the room. She turned looking to see as Owl finished lighting the last of the half-burnt votive candles they'd found on the side.

"How's the water?" Owl asked smiling.

"Hot, I think I've discovered the best time to take a shower in this house." Buffy smiled back. "You ready?"

"I think so." She nodded licking her lips, loving the way Buffy looked in the candlelight.

Buffy continued smiling as she slipped the curtain back and moved in groaning when the hot water struck her body.

"Mmmmm now that's a noise I love." Owl walked a little closer.

"Mmmm it's so hot, I forgot what hot water was." Buffy turned letting the stream slide down over her tipping her head back to soak her hair.

"You know I could just stand here watching you and I'd be happy." Owl smirked.

"But you wouldn't be clean or enjoying the hot water." Buffy teased flicking out a few droplets.

"Maybe not, but I'd have my fourth orgasm in as many hours." Piper grinned.

"Five." Buffy stuck her head out smiling. "You lost count." She pointed out feeling very, very proud of herself, after all when before could she have ever boasted that feat?

"Hey I'm impressed you managed to keep a tally." Owl arched her eyebrow.

"I always keep track of things that are important to me." Buffy picked up the body wash and soaping it up in her hand began to wash herself slowly.

"Then you need to add the one I had this afternoon dreaming about you to the list." Owl winked.

"What happened in your dream?" Buffy asked feeling bold as she lathered down her arms.

"You and I, making out, hot loving." Owl listed.

"So why aren't you getting in here to wash my back?" Buffy questioned her with a smirk.

"Because right now I'm as wet as the shower is." Owl shifted in her place a little.

"Get in here Piper." Buffy turned rubbing suds down her stomach.

Chuckling softly Owl took long strides to the shower and got in moving her hand to rub over where the suds still lingered a little.

"I don't like it when you make me wait." Buffy pointed out stepping closer.

"Sorry." Owl smirked, reaching to draw Buffy closer.

"Don't, I know you do it on purpose." Buffy looked up smiling at her. "Letting me think, decide what I want before you press any choices on me. I know what you do Piper."

"I like you in control and comfortable." Owl admitted.

"And what else do you like?" Buffy took her soapy hands running them down Owl's shoulders.

"I like touching you, I like watching water stream over you hot body." Piper replied. "I like the taste of your skin, the smell of your heat."

"The way we move together?" Buffy questioned picking up the body wash and getting lots on her hands, making up stiff bubbles before she began washing Owl's breasts.

"Love that, whether it's slow and sensuous or harder and less rhythmical." Owl moaned gently as she spoke her body responding to Buffy's touch.

"And you liked being inside me with Myst?" Buffy whispered as she wiped around hard nipples.

"God I loved that." Owl admitted with a growl.

"Me too." Buffy admitted letting trails of bubbles slid down Owl's stomach, catching in short hairs before they slid down her legs.

"You did didn't you?" Owl checked her voice dipping lower.

"Yes." Buffy nodded. "I... before I met you I would have never believed that I could have enjoyed something like that."

"They always say you should learn something new everyday." Owl winked and widened her stance a little letting suds slip down her inner thigh.

"Have you learned anything?' Buffy questioned letting her fingers following the bubbles downwards.

"Yes." Owl nodded her breath catching slightly.

"What?" Buffy questioned her fingers working the soap into Owl's hips before dipping to cup between her legs making more bubbles with her fingers.

"Mmmm, mmm" Owl groaned in time to the rhythm with which she pushed her body forward into Buffy's hand. "That you're even more amazing than I thought you were."

"Well I know one thing you learned for sure." Buffy grinned as she dipped her middle finger up sliding against Owl's center.

"Ahhh what's that." Owl gasped out in a short pant.

"I'm not as straight as you thought I was." Buffy growled flicking up against it harder.

"Oh believe me, I never thought you were straight." Owl shook her head. "You're way too beautiful to be straight." She smirked, letting her breath out in short hot gasps as Buffy touched her.

"Oh you didn't." Buffy questioned sliding her finger around and around as she explored Owl's wet soapy body.

"Well I hoped you weren't." Owl admitted rolling her hips a little.

"So you made a point of gallivanting around in your boxers as much as possible in front of me?" Buffy reminded her pressing her finger up under the sensitive hood and then swirling in tight.

"I like my shorts." Owl's teeth caught hold of her lip as her clit stiffened and throbbed.

"Admit it, you like strutting around. You know how good your body is." Buffy wiped the bubbles down off one of her breasts lowering her lips to the water-stiffened nipple.

"Mmmm." Piper couldn't stop the grunt and moan that the movement caused inside her. "I… I like to keep in shape."

"Mmmm I can tell." Buffy swirled in the other direction matching it with her tongue.

"Then again you can talk." Owl tried to keep her concentration. "With all your strap tops and see through look at my gorgeous body tops."

"I do not flaunt." Buffy pulled her lips back. "Are you saying I flaunt?" She flicked her finger faster.

"No I'm saying you're gorgeous." Owl gave her a charming smile, her hips pushing forwards and back in time with Buffy's movements.

"Mmmmm thank you." Buffy stretched up and kissed her.

Owl kissed her strongly in return, sliding her hands onto the Slayer's slender hips and gliding them up and down the curves of her hips over and over.

"You're beautiful too." Buffy broke the kiss slipping her hand lower to press two fingers into Owl's dripping body. Owl groaned loudly and her hips flared forward as her hands tightened on Buffy's hips. Her tight body clinging instantly to Buffy's fingers. "I figure I should get you really in need of a shower." Buffy teased as she pumped her fingers in and out easily.

"By making me all hot and sweaty?" Owl shivered with pleasure.

"Yes." Buffy nodded slipping in a third finger boldly and moving her hand down to encourage Owl to brace her foot up on the tub side. In instant agreement Piper lifted her leg and put her wet foot up onto the tub edge. "Too much?" Buffy checked softly as she pressed her fingers in and up before she pulled back out completely only to press in again, the potential's wet and soapy pussy making the maneuver easier.

"No, its fine, its more than fine." Piper released one side of Buffy's hips to brace her arm against the wall.

"I have small hands." Buffy pointed out using the strength in her fingers to brace them outwards stretching muscles deep inside and using her middle finger to rub against the delicate but amazing spot she had first found.

"Ahhhhhhh oh God Buffy." Owl's hips thrust forward and danced as Buffy toyed inside her.

"Mmmm my spot." The Slayer smiled as she found it easily, pleased with her memory. She rubbed over it strongly feeling the press against her outer fingers.

"Mmmmm maybe we should forget the shower, go back to the room and you can wear Myst." Owl panted her eyes blinking closed, her breath coming out in fast pants as she felt her body tremble and clench.

"After the shower, you're not distracting me again." Buffy growled slipping her fingers together again to stroke in and out of her body fast as she dipped to suck hard on a taut nipple.

"OOooooohhh Goddddddddd." Owl tightened unbelievably hard inside gripping Buffy for all she was worth as she panted fast and hot.

Buffy kept up the fast pace, her tongue winding over and over as she curled her thumb up bumping it into the potential's center. Owl's fingers curled, as if literally trying to find a grip within the tiled walls, as she felt her body spark and tremor.

"Christ Buffy, YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS!" She tipped her head back into the water flow as her orgasm pulsed out of her exploding body.

Buffy drew out the orgasm into a long flooding wave of pleasure, waiting until she felt Owl's legs starting to quiver and go weak before she slowed and pulled out.

"Now you need a shower." She grinned feeling very wicked.

"God you're good." Surprising herself Owl reached forward, albeit with trembling arms and lifted Buffy a little in the air and held her tight. The Slayer laughed as she hugged Owl back feeling her form rise off the tub floor. "You going to wash my back." She laughed as she carefully put Buffy down and stepped back into the full force of the yet

"Yes." Buffy smiled and picked up the body wash beginning to wash the potential's long back.

"We should shower at this time more often." Owl smirked letting the hot water soak over her happily.

"Book me in." Buffy used the face cloth to clean down her hips and down the back of her thighs.

"Mmmmm you don't have to book to be in me baby." Piper winked.

"Mmmmm do I actually have to move?" Tara turned over sleepily and ran her hand over Willow's bare stomach.

"I wish I could say no baby but by the sounds of it the house is all up which means First focus begins." Willow snuggled closer.

"Did you want breakfast in bed sweetie?" Tara kissed the top of red hair.

"Mmmmm I could, I mean I can start doing more research on the staff in bed right?" Willow pointed out.

"Easily." Tara nodded. "So could I." She agreed. "When I have breakfast."

"Is that a baby please get me breakfast?" Willow looked up smiling at her.

"No, no, I'm going to get my baby breakfast, what would she like?" This time Tara kissed her lips.

"Mmmmm bacon and eggs, need fuel after last night." Willow smiled wider. "Using up all that important energy."

"Sounds great." Tara eased towards the side of the bed. "Fruit juice or milk?"

"Mmm fruit juice." Willow licked her lips.

"If I'm not back in fifteen minutes its because I've had to cook for the small army in the house." Tara stood up and stretched out her slightly aching body but she reflected it was a good ache.

"I'll come looking for you." Willow smiled reaching down to picked up her laptop and turned it on.

Tara picked up her robe from the back of the door and slipped it on winking at her lover before slipping out into the hall. When Tara reached the downstairs it wasn't quite the chaos she'd expected. Most of the house had already eaten and were out in the backyard watching as Faith went through a hard workout with the new staff. She was definitely putting on a show as she jumped, struck, and flexed into a thousand different poses.

Tara stood in the kitchen for a long moment watching the dark haired slayer, she moved with a style and athleticism that was hard not to watch she was both strong and agile. A combination that made her as attractive as it did dangerous.

Nearby the group who watched Faith the tall form of the Canadian was sitting cross-legged. Obviously trying to meditate but getting nowhere as the dark slayer's movements distracted her focus as well.

Softly behind the blonde footsteps entered the kitchen. Tara turned around to see who it was.

"What am I missing?" Kennedy's voice mumbled the potential rubbed her hand to her temple, having not actually looked up yet.

"Good morning." Tara frowned seeing how under the weather the potential looked. "Faith is just getting a feel for the new staff." She pointed out. "Can I get you tea or something?"

"No." Kennedy mumbled again moving over to get some painkillers from the small pot next to the fruit bowl on the island. She cursed discovering it was empty.

"There's more in the second drawer." Tara advised her moving to get the things she needed for breakfast out of the fridge.

"I know." Kennedy snapped. "I have been here longer than you." She pulled the drawer open frowning as the contents clattered around in it.

Tara gave her a strained smile as she moved with the eggs and small remaining portions of bacons to the stove, taking a frying pan out of the dish rack.

"Do you have to cook?" The potential scowled as she grabbed a small bottle of water from the fridge and took some pills.

"Yes." Tara nodded. "Did you want anything?"

"Yes but you've made damn sure I'm never going to get it." Kennedy mumbled under her breath as she pushed to the back door.

"Kennedy, I didn't do anything. This is Willow's choice, if she had chosen you I would have backed away." Tara said in an even unthreatening voice as she put the bacon in the heating pan.

"Yeah well its easy to say that when you've just got out of bed with her and what, are cooking her an energy building breakfast?" Kennedy spat the words at the blonde.

"Yes, I guess it is." Tara nodded softly. "But you also don't know anything about me. If it was necessary I would do most anything to keep Willow happy." She looked at the potential. "Including seeing her with a snotty, self centered brat like you."

"I don't have to hear this from you." Kennedy growled.

"But yet I have to stand around while you make comments about me and put me down?" Tara questioned her tone back to normal. "Is that what you expect?"

"What you do is up to you." Kennedy shrugged. "But Willow might not like you mouthy."

"Don't worry Kennedy, I'll tell her we talked and tell her what I said to you but it might surprise you that I haven't been trying to at least be civil to you because she asked me. I was trying to be civil because I hoped I wouldn't have a reason to not be." Tara shrugged back.

"Do you ever get tired of being so fucking perfect?" Kennedy glared at her.

"Do you ever get tired of being so arrogant?" Tara accused back.

"I don't need this." Kennedy pulled open the back door stalked out into the yard and slammed it behind her

The blonde watched her leave with a sigh; she knew this territorial stand off was far from over but right now she just wanted to concentrate on making breakfast.

"Mmmm something smells great." Buffy's voice commented as the blonde Slayer came into the kitchen dressed in white linen blouse and pants.

"Morning." Tara turned trying to shift off the feeling Kennedy had left with her. "It's bacon, I was making Willow breakfast. Can I make you some?"

"Any bacon left?" Buffy asked pulling open the fridge taking from it the milk and the fruit juice.

"Enough for you and her, with eggs and hash browns." Tara nodded.

"How about for Piper too?" Buffy put the two containers down and took some glasses down from the top cupboard.

"Hmmm I could stretch everything out and make omelets." Tara offered trying to make due. "I think we'll need to go shopping again very soon."

"Sounds perfect, should I make coffee?" Buffy looked at the coffee maker.

"That would be nice." Tara smiled at her. "Did you get a good night's sleep?"

"I... I've found a good time to have a shower." Buffy blushed slightly.

"So it was you I heard at three this morning." Tara took out a bowl to start making the omelet. "I bet there was lots of hot water."

"There was, it was great." Buffy enthused as she went about making drinks. She looked out into the back, smiling more when she saw Faith had everyone entranced.

"How is Piper feeling?" Tara asked softly, hoping that Buffy would see both the obvious and hidden question.

"She's great... that is…" Buffy blushed again and looked at the witch. "You're spell was amazing, her hand is fine, and her ribs." She frowned briefly. "Something you learned in Italy?"

"Yes." Tara nodded. "It's really just a certain channeling, her body is doing the real work."

"Where's Will, I don't see her out there or is it her turn on the couch?" Buffy quizzed.

"She's still in bed, already hacking away though. She hopes to get information on the staff." Tara started beating the concoction she had mixed into the bowl.

"Ah..." Buffy smiled. "Are you going to be helping her hack as it were?"

"I'm going to feed her breakfast and then probably do some book research. You know how hopeless I am on that thing of hers, that didn't change in Italy." She laughed. "I might help Zoë with her meditation too, she tries so hard but she just can't focus enough." She glanced out to the Canadian in the yard. "I wish I knew why M wanted her here, it just makes no sense."

"She didn't choose the best non-distracting place in the house did she." Buffy noted. "You can ring her to ask I suppose, M I meant."

"The phones are out." Tara relayed softly. "Giles tried to call them last night, I think with everyone leaving the phone lines must have gone down."

"Ah." Buffy frowned. "Maybe Xander knows something about them, he's kinda handy?"

"I think this might be more of a high wire thing." Tara offered pouring the mixture into another hot pan. "I guess we'll just have to wait for the reason to come to us. Maybe we'll find something in the research."

"Here's hoping so." Buffy nodded. "Oh Tara." She added suddenly remembering something.

"Yes?" The blonde turned to the Slayer.

"I'm not pushing or anything, but Willow mentioned you were thinking of a portable protection shield, it's just I have twelve SIT's turning up in two days and at the moment I have no clue what to do with them." Buffy explained quickly.

"Oh right, the off site shield." Tara nodded. "Yes, I could work on that this morning. It shouldn't take more than a day to get ready. Then you could keep then anywhere that you want."

"Yeah I haven't thought about where to keep them yet." Buffy admitted.

"There's still our place in Anya's building." Tara pointed out. "Might not be big enough for twelve but some of them could stay there."

"Yeah, but it might cause problems with the neighbors there." Buffy frowned. "I don't want to upset people."

"Buffy, I think after what we saw in town yesterday the whole city is deserted. I haven't heard anyone or even seen a car." Tara flipped her omelet.

"God yes, Tara you're a genius." Buffy hurried over and hugged her.

"Sorry?" Tara hugged her back confused.

"The houses, next door, surely if we some how boost the battery, the shield you have around here can be extended right?" Buffy enthused.

"That would make it easier yes." The blonde nodded.

"So say if we used the house on either side, using this as the central spot." Buffy expanded her theory.

"We'd just need harnessing totems to expand the perimeter." The Wiccan thought adding to the theory. "And it would give everyone a better chance to have actual places to sleep."

"Exactly, I know the house that way has an extension, they have five bedroom. I think the one that way is three like here. Though they might have an extension over the garage." Buffy racked her brain making plans.

"I'll start on the totems right after breakfast." Tara smiled at the slayer's enthusiasm.

"You are a whiz Tara." Buffy hugged her again tightly.

"I think this is just about done, are you bringing it up to Piper?" Tara checked as she put the omelet on a plate with some bacon. "I hope you two don't mind sharing."

"No, we don't." Buffy smiled.

"Sharing what?" Owl's voice came from behind the pair.

"Breakfast." Buffy motioned to the plate. "Tara made us breakfast."

"Wow, cool." Piper dressed in a pair of tight shorts and a strap top, smiled and walked further into the room.

"And we had a great idea about using the house either side to house the new potentials that are coming in." Buffy stole some bacon. "She's going to make some portal totem's to widen the shield."

"Right after I make Willow breakfast." Tara laughed lightly as she started on another omelet.

"Even better, so does that mean less to a bedroom?" Owl asked trying to sound casual.

"It should." Buffy nodded. "And no one having to rough it in the basement."

"Can't be bad can it." Owl munched on some bacon. "Woo what's Faith playing with?" The movement caught the potential's eye.

"That's the new weapon, I didn't get a chance to tell you about it. We found a reference to it in the book that Zoë brought." Buffy took a mouthful of omelet.

"New weapon? God what else did I sleep through yesterday?" Owl rubbed her brow slightly.

"You were healing." Tara assured her. "And you better start eating or a Slayer tummy will have it all."

"Nah it's okay Buffy's hungry." Piper smiled at the blonde briefly. "You know that weapon sure looks familiar." She squinted a little at the window.

"It's great, it responds to your movements and needs and it only works for Faith or I." Buffy munched on as she talked. "It has spikes, and a shield, even axe blades."

"God really, wow I never thought it... nah it can't be." Owl shook her head picking up a glass of milk.

"Never thought?" Tara stopped and looked at the potential.

"What? Oh no nothing." She chugged the glass and put it in the sink.

"No never thought what?" Buffy encouraged Owl seeing the flash of surprise on her face.

"Its just something Shanti once told me about." Owl shook her head again.

"Please Piper, if there's something that might help." Buffy reached up putting her hand on the potential's arm. Owl turned slowly to look down at Buffy. "Please." She repeated offering her a mouthful of omelet.

Piper shook her head to the food putting her hand to her stomach slightly as if thinking about this made her feel slightly queasy.

"Sh- Shanti, once told me about this mystical weapon called the, Santermi... something, I can't quite remember." She shook her head.

"What does it do?" Buffy pushed her.

"I don't remember, God I never listened to her when I should have." Piper suddenly growled pulling away from the window.

"It's okay, that gives us something doesn't it Tara?" Buffy looked at the witch.

"Definitely, even a piece of a name means we can find something." Tara nodded.

"Yeah but not as much as if I'd actually listened." Owl shook her head. "I'm not hungry, I need to check the bike." She pushed out towards the front door.

Buffy stood there feeling deflated, her feet stuck in place. Tara slowly turned off the pan and finished serving up her and Willow's breakfast.

"Are you okay Buffy?" She asked softly reaching out and putting her hand on the Slayer's arm.

"Yeah." Buffy nodded tearing her stare away from the door. "I should go tell Giles about the clue."

"Okay." Tara frowned and pulled her hand back. "I think he's in the dining room."

"Thanks for the breakfast." Buffy picked up her plate moving through.

The blonde witch was about to say more when the distinct sound of a bike engine being started resounded from the front of the house and then with a squeal of tires the sound drifted off.

"Giles, we might have a lead." Buffy let her plate clatter as she put it down and she sat across from the Watcher. She waited for him to look up from the book he was buried in. "Owl remembered that Shanti said something about the weapon, its name Santamarsomething."

"Really?" Giles looked up. "I don't suppose she spelled that for us did she?" Giles asked in typical Watcher style.

"No she didn't remember the whole thing, but if Shanti could get info on it you can right?" Buffy pushed him devouring her breakfast.

"Well yes, in theory." Giles nodded closing the book and looking at her.

"Which should tell us what it does or where it's from right?" Buffy didn't look up from her breakfast.

"Well yes." Again he gave the non-committal answer. "But Buffy there is much you possibly don't know about Shanti or Owl for that matter."

"Like?" Buffy looked up at him trying not to snap the word.

"Unlike the majority of Watcher's Buffy Shanti was born and brought up for the first seventeen years of her life in India." He explained and Buffy ate her breakfast using it to keep from interrupting. "She was the youngest Watcher the Council has every called upon to train and work with a potential, she was just twenty two when she took Owl on."

"How old was Owl?" Buffy questioned instantly.

"Just fifteen." Giles looked down at his hands. "There were reasons Buffy."

"Yeah which you should be telling me." She added irritated.

"She was a strong, angry young woman, who needed tempering, one could say taming." Giles pointed out. "The Council felt that Shanti with her Indian teachings and techniques would be good for her."

"I'm waiting for the but." Buffy finished her omelet.

"The but is obvious and you know it Buffy." Giles replied simply.

"They got together, it can't be the first time a watcher and potential or slayer fell in love Giles." Buffy shrugged.

"The pair of them took their relationship too far, Buffy, and whereas no it is not the first time it has happened, it is a line a watcher cannot afford to cross." He scowled slightly. "And when I say it had happened before that is not accurate, never before have a female watcher and her potential engaged in such activities." He clarified.

"That you know of." Buffy huffed. "Not like the Council is really pro anything they consider out of the ordinary."

"The point of that is Buffy that the Council withdrew their advice and their support of the pair. " Giles continued. "Shanti took Owl back to India for a time, there is no knowing what teaching or mysticism she taught her there."

"There's an easy way to figure that out Giles, we ask her." Buffy pointed out and the Watcher pushed the book in front of him away. "And hello at this point isn't any training that Shanti given her going to help us? She's a good fighter."

"Forgive me for pointing this out, but wasn't that her who just left?" He pointed out.

"She wanted to check out her bike, after the accident." Buffy pushed up to stand. "Giles, the First killed Shanti. You know what it's like to loose someone you love."

"I wasn't judging her Buffy, merely pointing out the difficulty in asking her for details. And going back to you point, yes training is good Buffy, what I was referring to was that if this weapon is to be found in ancient mystical Indian texts then it is possible that we have no knowledge of it at all." Giles explained more fully.

"Seems to me that the Watcher's council has yet another flaw." Buffy accused. "They cut themselves off from the one woman who could have opened them up to a wealth of apparently unknowable knowledge."

"It is easy to stand in judgment now Buffy, I have never and will never defend the Council, but taking them apart now is not the issue." Giles pointed out.

"Why don't we just see what we can find out? For all we know info on this thing is as common as anything." Buffy picked up her plate.

"This thing that might be called sannusomething?" Giles raised an eyebrow

"Santima... something" Buffy told him again.

"What do you suggest I do Buffy, pick up an encyclopedia and look under S?" Giles frowned slightly.

"Hey knock knock B, sorry to interrupt if this was a big pow-wow or anything, but the girls are getting pretty antsy about seeing you wield this baby." Faith spoke from the doorway making Giles and the other Slayer look up.

"Sounds good. I need to work out." Buffy dropped the plate back down holding out her hand for the staff.

"Yeah and not liking to make a point or anything B, but Owl would benefit from seeing too, I mean I figure she's tired and all but you know, time training is ground take." Faith handed it over with a wink.

"She's gone for a ride." Buffy informed her knowing she couldn't hide the sadness in her voice.

"A ride?" Faith frowned. "B, the gas pipe on that bike's got a fracture, she shouldn't be riding it anywhere."

"The who what?" The blonde looked back at her.

"The gas pipe, feeds gas into the engine, you know that highly flammable crap that makes engines work." Faith explained again.

"I have to go find her." Buffy cursed and threw the staff back at Faith. "Giles where are your keys?"

"B!" Faith stared at the staff that was suddenly back in her hand.

"On the side but Buffy you can't drive..." He pushed up frowning as the front door swung open.

"I can't catch up with her on foot." She grabbed the keys.

"I can go." Faith hurried after her, still holding the staff.

"Fine drive." Buffy ran out towards the car.

"I mean without you B." Faith paced somewhat slower to the car. "The girls need one of us here, and I've done my bit with the twirl stick."

"Then go back in I'll find her." Buffy pulled the door open.

"B." Faith caught the door. "Now I get that this chick is hot okay, that she's distracting you, relaxing you, but there are five other girls back there that need you too, not to mention Dawn."

"Faith..." Buffy was about to snap at her but stopped herself. "Dawn is behind the shield, so are the others... I need Piper safe."

"What's going on here B?" Faith also softened her voice, looking carefully at the other Slayer.

"I... first I don't have to explain myself to you." Buffy looked at Faith feeling the usual animosity between them melt away with the unusually soft look. "Secondly I don't know... all I know is I can't handle her being hurt or worse."

"And you driving to rescue her is gonna get her safely back here? Faith smiled softly and pushed the staff forward. "I'll get her back B, I promise." She vowed.

"I'm trusting you." Buffy felt her hand grip around the staff.

"Well now there's a first." Faith jumped into he car and gunned the engine to life.

"Don't make me regret this Faith." Buffy hissed as she slammed the door closed. With a screech of rubber Faith pulled out of the drive, swung the car and streaked off down the road.

Faith geared the sports car into fifth as she hit the long highway road. The spot in the distance had to be Owl; it was the only explanation of why anything would be on the road. She only hoped that she could overtake her before something horrible happened. Another half mile she was able to pull up behind her and then as Owl slowed beside her.

"PULL OVER!" She screamed at the SIT.

It was obvious from just the position of Owl's hands on the handlebars, that the SIT was tempted to pull back on the throttle and press on harder. After what felt like a long time of looking at the dark haired slayer, Owl geared down and drew over to the sandy roadside. Faith stopped the car still in the road getting out.

"The gas pipe is cracked." She gave a distinct explanation for what she was doing.

"I didn't even notice my level was dropping." Owl pulled off her helmet and frowned as she stepped again from the bike a little.

"The exhaust is probably backing up too." Faith moved around. "I was going to go to the garage and try and loot some parts later for you."

"And then I took off like a bat out of hell." Owl shook her head running an arm around her suddenly aching side.

"I'm prone to it myself, no harm no foul. B was just in a psycho panic you were going to blow yourself up on her." Faith admitted why she'd been in such a hurry to find her.

"I..." Piper frowned slightly, "I wasn't trying to do anything… that is was…" She stopped. "You should have drained the gas tank." She admonished Faith with a side smile.

"Yeah all this shit is my fault, I'm sure if they dig far enough they'll find out I spawned the First or something." Faith laughed. "Why don't we find a trailer or something, haul this piece of shit back and get to work on fixing her?"

"She is not a piece of shit!" Owl scowled playfully. "Well okay right now she doesn't look so great, but she's a real piece of work." The potential relaxed visible for a moment before frowning again. "Could you go look for a trailer, I... I'm heading somewhere." She glanced up the long highway.

"Away from here eh?" Faith looked down the road.

"The motel on the southern approach road." Piper nodded.

"Why would you want to go to that rat motel?" Faith questioned reaching into her pocket for a pack of smokes.

"Some of my shit is there." Owl looked down.

"That's cool. We can go pick it up then hunt for a trailer. Shame to leave her out here in the middle of no where." Faith motioned to the car.

"You're not thinking of lighting up near my baby are you." Owl relaxed again and gave faith a mock scowl.

"Nah I'm waiting for you to get your ass in the car so we can get on the move and then I can light up." Faith moved around to the driver's side.

Shaking her head and smiling Owl crossed and slipped into the passenger seat.

Faith strapped down the last chain giving the small wheel of the trailer a kick. It hadn't taken them long to find one deserted in town on a broken down car. The hardest part had been getting it hooked up to Giles' rental car, but even that she had managed. A little bit of muscle later and they'd managed to get the bike up and secure on the back.

"So you got stuff you want at the hotel?" Faith questioned the potential.

"Not want exactly." For the first time she'd first been stopped Owl appeared edgy.

"Need?" Faith corrected moving into the back and pulling off two of the beers she'd 'liberated' from the closed seven eleven. She tossed one to Owl.

"More like hoping will be useful." Owl caught it and flipped it upright.

"Anything that gives the research crew a clue is super useful." Faith encouraged her to get in. The potential got in clipping up her seatbelt, Faith didn't bother as she put the car into gear and pulled out on the way to the motel.

"How's your ribs?" She asked sipping her beer as she drove.

"They've kinda taken a dip since leaving the house." Owl admitted the stiff feeling that encased her body

"The beer will help till we can get you back to magic Tara." Faith encouraged glancing at her.

"Its probably just physiological." Owl admitted taking a sip of her beer.

"Well being in Sunnydale with the First means lots of physiological pressure." The dark Slayer nodded. "You should come out and bang on a few Bringers if you're up for it, really works out the kinks."

"Yeah that sounds like fun." Piper agreed with a nod. "As does a night of loud music and copious alcohol." She laughed.

"Hey we could take over the Bronze, get the sound system going, and the kegs." Faith wiggled her eyebrows. "Make a real ladies night of it."

"I'm not sure that that'd be safe are you?" Owl hated to sound like a party pooper but she couldn't ignore the obvious facts.

"Okay, okay, how about we get some kegs and some speakers and have a party at the house?" Faith tried to compromise.

"Now you see that, that is my kind of idea." Owl grinned again.

"Hey we could bring in food too, maybe some chicken to BBQ up. Have a real feast." The dark Slayer got more excited.

"Live a little you mean, I like it." Piper nodded eagerly.

"The girls can only train so much and even the witches need a break." Faith finished her beer and threw it out the window. "I'm sure B would appreciate a little fun time too don't you think?"

"Yeah, it'll be great to see her relax, slip into something casual and party." Owl grinned wider still, looking out of the window taking a big swig of beer.

"We could swing by the mall, you could get her something new." Faith leaned one arm lazily over the steering wheel.

"You think the looters left anything decent?" Piper asked.

"Not much of the town is looted and I'm sure that Penny's and stuff will have security so we'll have to break in." Faith grinned. "Slayer strength comes in handy in just such an occasion."

"So we swing by my motel, pick up my shit, then hit town right?" Owl checked the plan.

"That's the plan." Faith nodded as she pulled into the hotel parking lot.

"Cool, hell looks like a world of trouble reached here too." Piper nodded out of the window to the starkly empty parking lot.

"I think everything in the Sunnydale city limits has been deserted." Faith admitted throwing it into park and getting out.

Owl pushed out to follow her footsteps confidant at first but slowing as they got closer.

"Do you want to get your shit? I'm going to check the front office for anything we can use cool?" Faith saw her hesitation and knew if it was her she wouldn't want to be crowded.

"Thanks." Owl smiled and walked towards the room she still had the key for taking a light breath she pushed on down the corridor with heavy footsteps stopping in front of the plain wood door.

Pulling out the slightly bent key card from her battered wallet she slid it over the door lock and pushed it open weakly and stepped into the room. The standard hotel bedroom was tidy and clean but the was a tatty denim jacket thrown over the chair taking another breath Piper walked in going straight to the wardrobe. Pulling it open, clearly deliberately not looking at anything but at wardrobe. Pulling out a large camouflaged backpack the potential hauled it over to the bed and dropped it heavily onto the mattress.

Undoing the black tie at the top Owl upturned it and literally emptied it onto the bed sending clothes everywhere. Rummaging through the essentials that covered the plan green mattress. Piper pulled free a medium sized rectangular box. Pushing back from the bed she carried it almost reverently towards the door, before stopping. She put it down on the TV unit and then walked back into the room going over to the chair. She picked up the denim jacket. It was obvious as soon as she did so, that the small article of clothing would never fit the tall potential.

Her first action was to bring the soft blue jacket to her nose and breathed in softly. Her fingers rubbing over the denim.

"We need you Sha." She whispered. "We really need you." She crossed back over to the TV unit and wrapped the box in the jacket before stepping out of the room and heading back to the main area.

"Hey lookie what I found." Faith tried to break the tension swinging the shotgun she'd found behind the front counter. "Might come in handy eh?"

"Pump action or double barreled?" Owl didn't really look.

"Pump, and a box of shells." Faith wiggled them.

"Good call." Owl nodded. "Shall we get out of here." She added eager to get far away.

"Yeah we got a party to get ready for." Faith grinned moving to the car.

"Yeah, I hope there was a decent electronics shop in town." Piper tried a large grin.

"There was, and when we get there whatever good they have left is gone." Faith put the shotgun in the back. "Did you get all that you needed?"

"I got all that might be useful yeah, thanks for being here, you know." Owl shifted slightly uncomfortably.

"No worries, we need to stick together." Faith nodded. "Are you sure you don't want any of the other stuff in there?" She glanced through the open door seeing the strewn clothes.

"No." Owl shook her head. "I don't plan on coming back here ever." She underlined.

"Then let's roll." Faith nodded that she understood and pulled open the door getting in.

Owl bounced down onto the seat after placing the jacket bundle down on the floor made sure it was safe before she tried to push it out of her mind.

"So you prefer liquor or beer?" Faith questioned pulling out of the parking lot back onto the road.

"Beer, don't you think, though does Buffy drink beer?" Owl queried.

"B? She doesn't drink." Faith filled in honestly. "Well maybe a wine spritzer at Christmas you know but other than that she's not one for intoxicants as far as I know."

"Then we should get wine." The potential nodded.

"We can get that at the store." Faith shrugged. "Anything else on the list?"

"Decent music system, food, music, ooh we could check if the electric store has those disco light things." Piper laughed.

"And strobes, I love dancing in strobes." Faith actually felt herself smile. "Fuck, I missed being at a good party. Jail sucks for that."

"Well we'll have to make tonight a good one." Piper flashed the dark haired Slayer a smile.

"Definitely, because who the fuck knows how long we got left right?" Faith screamed out the window enthusiastically.

"Anything else you'll need to make it a good night?" Owl asked of the Slayer.

"An eight ball of Mary Jane would do wonders, I'd love to see the underage crowd stoned." Faith laughed.

"Now I know Buffy would be pissed if you did that." Piper shook her head. "I think them drinking will be enough."

"Come on, tell me you've never had a drag?" Faith glanced at her.

"You know I can't do that." Owl smiled as she shook her head.

"What? You're just saying, hell you can tell B later it was just bragging if you want." Faith leaned over and slapped her leg.

"When I was fifteen I was well on the way to growing my own." Owl grinned.

"See I knew it." Faith grinned wider. "And come on who ever got hurt with a little bit of smoke right? We're not talking coke or big H."

"Cause you've never tried that have you?" Piper smirked.

"I didn't say that now did I?' Faith shrugged with a smirk back.

"But you're a good girl now right." Piper leaned over and stole the pack of cigarettes from Faith's jacket pocket

"I'd say I was a Girl Scout, but I got thrown out for eating a pack of brownies." Faith winked at her and held her hand out for one.

"A whole pack eh." Owl winked back and passed her one.

"Then a pack of boy scouts." She laughed as she took a drag.

"And which did you prefer." Owl chuckled reclining her seat a little.

"I'm greedy I like both." Faith gave her a feral grin.

"That explains a lot." Owl flicked the ash off her smoke into the road.

"Does it?" The dark Slayer glanced at her.

"Yeah." Owl nodded. "Like why I like you, and why Buffy finds it hard."

"You've lost me Birdy, try dumbing it down a bit for me." Faith encouraged her.

"Well you're confident, sexual, strong and assured, I like that, and Buffy, Buffy should be all those things but isn't." Owl explained nursing the cigarette.

"That's cause B is the 'good slayer'." Faith explained her view on things.

"Maybe." Piper nodded. "Or maybe its just cause she's never tried."

"No one's ever made Buffy feel like sex was there to be enjoyed, with Angel it was like this huge thing that went wrong and then with cardboard boy it was this expectation. Couple in college have to fuck like bunnies." Faith shrugged. "I don't think she ever let herself enjoy anything."

"Oh I don't know." Owl looked out to the side flicking her cigarette but out.

"Do your best not to hurt her okay, not that I'm expecting you would but you know... I did enough of that to her." Faith added her voice lower.

"Why did you do it?" The potential asked bluntly.

"Do what?" The dark Slayer questioned without looking over at her.

"Hurt her." Piper replied quickly.

"Because I could." Faith answered her voice even. "Because it made me feel something."

"Okay I get that." Piper nodded. "But why Buffy?"

"You got to understand something Birdy, when I was called it was like the first thing they told me. Hey guess what you're the slayer, the second thing was you're never going to be as good as B." Faith cracked her neck. "She was like this fucking messiah to them, and then there was me this second, this not as good they expected going to die any day throw away slayer."

"Wow the council fuck up again huh." Piper shook her head.

"I'm not a great fan, they've tried to kill me about a dozen times." Faith laughed flicking her smoke out the window.

"And then they abandoned you and fed you to the wolves, or was that just me?" Piper shook her head.

"Left me to rot in jail." Faith shook her head. "I heard what they did to you, that was shit." She appraised in her own way. "I guess no one can expect either of us to be choked up that they got nuked."

"I hope not." Owl admitted. "'Cause I certainly didn't shed a tear."

"Wish I could have seen, you know sit on a rooftop nearby with a drink and watch it go pop." Faith laughed.

"Yeah, and cheered or something, with a banner that said 'Screw you assholes'" Piper added with a snort.

"That would have been cool." Faith agreed.

"Oh, look I spy strobes." Piper pointed out of the side of the car.

"Full stop." Faith laughed and pulled the car to a shaky stop. "Let's go." She jumped out heading for the store.

Buffy paced in front of the window looking out the front porch. Her forehead was in a firm scowl and her lips were in a solid unmoving frown.

"Coffee?" Tara softly rested her hand on the middle of Buffy's back.

"What?" Buffy jumped visibly as she turned to look at the blonde. "No, I'm fine."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." Tara apologized.

"No, I'm just..." Buffy looked back out the window. "I'm kicking myself for letting Faith go after her now."

"Maybe she had to get gas or to find a trailer to bring the bike back." Tara offered reasons.

"Or they've been killed by Ubers and I'm here doing nothing to help them." Buffy scowled more.

"They'll be back soon, Faith's a slayer Buffy, she can look after herself." Tara tried to help the situation.

"She didn't take the staff." Buffy shook her head. "And it's not Faith I'm worried about."

"Owl?" The blonde checked unnecessarily.

"She was upset that she couldn't remember the name, remember what Shanti had told her." Buffy nodded still staring out the front walk.

"If anything had happened Faith would have come back, asked for help." Tara reasoned.

"Did Willow have any luck? With the reference." Buffy turned looking at Tara.

"Nothing yet, I should have ask Owl for the spelling of what she could remember. Willow is doing a wider check on the history of staves." Tara explained. "But its a bit of a race against time, with the phone lines being down, its only a matter of time before the ISDN cable goes too."

"Don't." Buffy shook her head. "I mean ask her, I don't think she remembers anything or she would have told us."

"I won't." Tara shook her head softly. "Did you want to come and help with the research?" The witch offered. "It's a little before five, I thought I could start cooking about five thirty."

"How did the totem go?" Buffy asked thinking of the other serious thing on their plate.

"We can do it." Tara nodded with a smile.

"That's great." Buffy felt one weight come off her shoulders.

"I think between us, we can extend the shield to the surrounding two houses." Tara explained.

"Everyone will love you for that." The Slayer nodded.

"The round bellied statue will be fine for one harnessing focus, and I was thinking about the little stone pig in the yard for the second." Tara asked for the permission.

"That's fine." Buffy nodded.

"Why don't you take a couple of SITs next door and see what's there." Tara suggested softly. "Keep yourself busy."

Buffy nodded again stiffly and moved towards the basement to round up anyone who wanted to go with her.

"Hey what ya doing Tar?" Owl's head suddenly poked round the back door and looked at the blonde in the kitchen, she was grinning brightly.

"Owl." Tara looked up breathing a sigh of relief. "Are you okay? You've been gone for hours."

"Have we?" The potential looked at her watch. "Crap we have." She suddenly lost her smile. "Where's Buffy?"

"She's next door checking out the expansion house." Tara informed her gently. "Owl, she's been worried about you." She indicated in the same non-threatening tone.

"Worried about me?" This stopped the potential's retreat to hurry around there.

"Buffy worries, it's this thing she does." Tara nodded as she went back to put more cheese on her three oversized lasagnas.

"Oh right." Piper stopped completely. "You can stop doing that by the way, Faith and I bought stuff for the BBQ, oh and a BBQ come to think of it."

"Wow, you two were busy." Tara smiled at her. "I can put them in the freezer for another day."

"We bought a few things, we thought, you know with the weapon and the good news from you and Willow, that we could have a party." Piper explained but it was obvious that she was distracted.

"I think that's a great idea." Tara was forced to admit. "Everyone needs a little time to relax, especially now we can keep the First out of the house."

"We got a music system, strobes and rainbow lights." Owl continued her list. "Oh and drinks."

"You should go get Buffy, she can help you set stuff up." Tara encouraged her.

"She won't want to see me." Piper's head dropped. "I'll just go help Faith with the gas."

"What?" Tara was thrown by the admission.

"I let her down, worried her, I'm best to steer clear." Owl explained her reasoning.

"Hey you're back. I thought I saw Faith out front." Willow came in carrying an empty cup and gave Tara a kiss on the cheek.

"Yes, they brought the things for a disco and a BBQ." Tara smiled at her fiancée.

"Thank Goddess." Willow grinned. "Now that you're home Buffy will stop pacing a big bad groove in the carpet."

"Should I go find her?" Piper asked for direction quietly.

Both Willow and Tara nodded together.

"Okay." Piper took a breath and then pushed out of the house.

"Hey Owl, you're back." As the potential walked up to the door of the five-bedroom house next door it opened and Vi walked out.

"Hey, yeah, Buffy still inside?" She checked.

"She's upstairs clearing out some of the stuff to make room for the newbies." The SIT nodded. "Is dinner on yet I'm starved?"

"Getting there, how does BBQ and dancing in the yard sound?" Owl tried to smile.

"Fantastic, I would kill for BBQ." The girl's slightly southern accent gave her away as she rushed towards the other house.

Pausing Owl backtracked to the car for a moment, picked something up and then went back to the house. Slowly entering it and heading up stairs where the SIT had indicated Buffy was.

The blonde Slayer's nervous energy was obvious as she took armfuls of clothes out of the dressers and stuffed them into a closet trying to erase the leftover possessions of the former occupants.

Piper leaned softly on the doorpost watching for a moment.

"Buffy." She said quietly.

"Piper." The Slayer turned around sharply, though it wasn't anger as much as sheer relief and a measure of disbelief that she was imagining the voice.

"Let me help you with that, the ski jacket looks like its about to stage a revolt." She pointed at the over sized white puffer jacket.

"Why would anyone in Sunnydale need that?" Buffy commented stepping aside to let Owl deal with the unruly clothing.

"They like to go off on expensive holidays." Piper pushed and shoved it down. "Or they play dress up now and again."

"A holiday would be nice, I went skiing once when I was eleven. Dawn and I never got off the bunny hill." Buffy watched her close the closet door and went to sit down on the edge of the bed.

"I bet you just did it to stay with Dawn." Piper watched her move.

"That and I was afraid of the big hill." Buffy admitted putting her hands in her lap.

"I bet Dawn never knew that." Piper stayed at a distance.

"Dawn thinks it was because of the instructor." Buffy snorted.

"Cute was he?" Piper smiled slightly.

"Your usual blonde ski bunny." Buffy looked up at her. "Are you okay?"

"Kinda." Piper replied with a soft roll of her shoulders. "Are you?"

"Sorta." Buffy shrugged back shifting over.

"What's up?" Piper crossed and eased down on the edge of the bed.

"I don't know." The Slayer looked down at her hands.

"Can I help?" Piper gave a lopsided frown.

"Tell me why I can't be mad at you? I want to be mad at you for running out and leaving me to worry for hours and hours but all I feel is relief to see that you're safe." Buffy looked up into dark eyes.

"Because... because your heart is too big to be angry, when all you feel is relief." Piper replied softly.

"You didn't leave because you were mad at me did you?" Buffy asked her, feeling so weakened by the words.

"No, no Buffy no." Piper couldn't restrain her self from reaching out and cupping Buffy's cheek. "I left to... to try and make something better. Something that I messed up." She frowned at her own inadequacies.

"We can find the name Piper, you don't have to remember it. I don't remember most of the names or the prophecies." Buffy leaned a little into her hand.

Pulling her hand away Piper pushed up and went back to the door, picking up what she had taken from the car. She brought it over to Buffy and held out the jacket wrapped shoebox.

"What is this?" Buffy asked softly as she took it in her hands.

"It's..." Piper took a step back, frowning slightly. "It's all of Shanti's things, that I saved from the apartment." She turned away. "I think there's a book, a diary or something in there, it… it might help."

"Oh Piper." Buffy looked up and down between them.

"I can't look... that is you'd have to go through it and see." Piper took a step towards leaving the room. "It might at least have the name."

"Piper." Buffy put the package down softly and moved to follow her. "You did this for us?" She asked in a whisper seeing how painful it was for the potential.

"We-We bought barbeque, and music, kind of a party thing we thought." Piper didn't turn and continued to move away.

"Did you get pork chops?" Buffy tried to change the subject.

"And white wine." She stopped and turned with a nod.

"Sounds great." Buffy smiled at her softly.

"Oh God Buffy forgive me for this but..." Piper pushed forward suddenly and gathered the Slayer to her pressing her lips full onto Buffy's soft slightly open ones.

The Slayer whimpered as she was caught up and kissed, her eyes closed immediately as she looped her arms hard around Piper's body kissing her back almost desperately. Piper tightened her grip sliding one hand up to cup the back of Buffy's head, the other at her hip as she pressed their bodies together. Buffy pressed back, pushing up on her tiptoes to press even closer. Breaking the hot kiss by only moving her head back a little Piper blinked at the Slayer.

"I'm sorry Buffy, I didn't mean to make you worry." She punctuated her apology with quick kisses.

"I know... you had to... go out." Buffy kissed her back each time any thoughts of the hours of worry melting away.

"But I should have waited, should have talked." Piper kissed and continued to apologize making the kiss at the end of her sentence deep and hot as she slid both hands down over Buffy's ass.

"I'm not good at that either." Buffy groaned as she flexed against the potential's hands.

"Legs up Baby, around me." Owl encouraged squeezing her tighter. "I got you."

Buffy hopped up encircling her waist around Owl's body. Supporting her instantly Owl squeezed her hands into soft ass cheeks and walked slowly from the room they were in to the one next door, carrying Buffy over to the bed and then lowering her onto it, covering her neck, throat and lips with kisses.

Buffy groaned, tipping her head up so that Owl could reach more of her throat. Piper moaned softly and drew her tongue in a soft line round Buffy's neck breaking it with kisses over her jaw line back to her mouth. Buffy wound her hand down the Potential's back pulling at her shirt. Owl stopped for a moment and pulled back panting lightly.

"Are you sure?" She whispered tenderly.

"I want you." Buffy stated surely. She pulled it up over Owl's head giving her no choice but to pull it off.

Wiggling out of it the potential felt it fall to the floor before she pressed right back to Buffy.

"Oh God Buffy." Owl groaned pressing back to the Slayer's hot body, her lips hard over her lover's.

"Yes." Buffy pressed her hips back up, unsnapping the potential's bra and moving her hands around to massage roughly over full breasts.

"I'm sorry baby, I'm sorry." She kissed her over and over grinding her hips down pressing Buffy into the mattress.

"I know I know." Buffy pressed back with her feeling the almost desperate heat rising between them.

"You don't, you don't." Owl kissed and moved her body more desperately. "I let Sha down, and now you, I'm so sorry." She felt hot tears in her eyes as she continued to move against Buffy.

"No, Piper... honey." Buffy opened her eyes seeing the emotion on her lover's face she pulled her hand back up cupping Piper's cheeks. "You didn't, it was the First Piper not you that hurt her." She kissed her again and again her eyes open. "And I was worried you wouldn't come back, you did, you didn't let me down, you came back."

"I was never going to leave you." Owl shook her head hard tears toppled over her long eyelashes as she pressed her lips to Buffy's.

"I'm sorry I didn't have faith in you." Buffy whispered kissing her back caught between the pleasured ache that was building as they pressed into one another and the sting of tears that she felt in her own eyes.

"It's okay." Piper shook her head. "You will next time." The kiss this time was softer, less frantic but no less passionate.

"I was afraid." Buffy whispered meeting the kisses.

"What of?" Piper asked her voice hushed.

"You were going to die." Buffy's voice was almost silent.

"For you, maybe, instead of you, every time, without you beside me or near to me." Piper stopped and shook her head. "Never."

The blonde's lip shivered as she slowly brought her mouth forward, closing her eyes and spilling tears onto her cheeks as she tenderly pressed her lips to Piper's. The potential's eyes closed to as the sweet kiss lingered.

"I don't want to scare you Buffy, but I think I could fall in love with you." Piper whispered opening her eyes and catching a tear on her finger.

"Don't say it..." Buffy's voice was shaky as she pressed her cheek to Owl's. "Don't say it until you're sure."

"And if I'm sure?" Piper breathed.

Buffy moved her lips back the short distance and meshed their lips together again.

"Was that a still don't say it Owl?" Piper pulled back her voice in no way judging or angry.

"I don't think I can say it back..." Buffy breathe out of her nose looking away. "I just... I can't."

"Shush." Owl pressed her hand up into Buffy's hair. "It's ok." She lightly turned the Slayer's head back. "This might sound crazy Buffy, but I know love. I've felt it, recently, before it was taken form me and thought that hurt, it hurts so much it's hard to breath sometimes. At least it lets me know what love feels like, its still fresh for me, it's still easily open for me." She tried to explain how come it was that she was sure.

"I believe you." Buffy nodded softly.

"I know what love feels like for me." She clarified. "And I don't need you to say you love me, if it's not what you feel."

"Everyone I love goes away." Buffy shook her head again.

"My track record isn't so hot either." Owl replied. "I'm 1 for 1, you?" She tried to smile.

"Much worse than that." Buffy frowned but then saw the accepting almost strangely amused look and it made her somehow feel a lot less alone in the horrible situation.

"Are you trying to make me smile?" She reached up running her thumb over the potential's bottom lip.

"Is it working?" Piper smile extended the area the Slayer had to trace.

"Why is it every time I think that no one can understand how I feel you reach right through all of it and just know." Buffy gave her a soft smile.

"Luck?" Piper grinned.

"Charmer." Buffy leaned up kissing her again.

"Mmmmmm, do you want to finish this or go party?" Owl asked brushing her fingers over Buffy's side.

"I do want to see your party." Buffy pressed up to her. "Oh and see how good you are at cooking pork chops."

"Mmmm, so you want to go join the gang." Owl moved both hands to Buffy's hips and pulled her up slightly against her.

"Let them get set up." Buffy moved her hands back down to Owl's breasts. Dark eyes flared and then closed as Piper arched her back into Buffy's hands. The Slayer played her thumbs over stiffening nipples, flexing her hips up harder.

"Can we continue this naked." Piper asked hotly.

"Naked." Buffy nodded unlocking her legs.

Piper pulled back off the bed carefully and quickly stripped off the rest of her clothes. Buffy stayed where she was wiggling out of her skirt and boots, peeling off her bra and panties. Kneeling on the end of the bed Piper looked up at Buffy.

"You know I almost don't know if I prefer you in clothes, in bed naked, or in the shower." The potential smirked.

"You're gorgeous all ways." Buffy held her hand out urging her to come closer faster.

Piper reached her hand up and threaded their fingers together but drew up her body slower pausing to press her lips against neatly trimmed blonde hair.

Buffy's body pressed up into the kiss.

"Oh Buffy you smell divine." Owl breathed out softly over the Slayer's body.

"Mmmmmm do I?" Buffy questioned pressing up again.

"Mmmmmm yes." Piper underlined again. "Can I taste?" She whispered.

"Yes." Buffy groaned the soft request making her grow even wetter.

"Oh Buffy." Piper ran her hand up the full length of Buffy's leg easing it open as she lowered her head and drew her tongue the full length of Buffy's lips and clit.

The straight touch on her most inflamed flesh made Buffy groan loudly.

"Oh God Piper." Buffy lifted up more into the intimate kiss.

Piper let her tongue lap over and over soft hot lips then nudged lightly into Buffy's center flicking against the hardness there. Buffy felt the harder stroke and she opened her eyes to see what her lover was doing, as she did her body went rigid and she pulled back.

"Oh please don't stop on my account." The First clapped her hands soundlessly together.

"Buffy what?" Piper panicked instantly and then flipped around standing up.

"Get out." She growled at the apparition.

"What? No invitation to join in?" The First looked at both of them.

"Get out." Buffy pulled the blanket around her body.

"I'm not here to ruin your fun, I just came to tell you this little stay out spell you got your wicked witch to put up isn't going to work for long." The First informed her.

"Is this fun for you?" Owl put her hand on her hip staring at the form of her lover conjured by the First. "Is this what ultimate evil does for kicks? Gets off on watching people make love?"

"Actually I love watching the human form moving, responding, being aroused." The First licked its lips.

"Because you're nothing." Buffy spat at it.

"And you use her body because you know you could never be worthy of such a thing." Owl snarled. "Now get out, you can't hurt us, either of us, your words do nothing."

"I could take other forms Piper, don't taunt me." The First gave her a hard look.

"You think they would hurt me more?" Piper took a defensive stance.

"This rage against the dying of the light is getting so boring." The First sighed. "I'm going to kill you all, one by one, she'll watch you die Piper and not be able to do a thing to stop it. Then I'll kill the renegade and then her." The First smiled at them sickly. "So enjoy the flesh while you can." She disappeared.

"FUCKING BITCH!" Piper picked up her boot from the floor and hurled it with force at the empty doorway.

"It's not worth it Piper." Buffy stood up and moved over to her letting the blanket fall away as she hugged the potential. "It just wants to hurt us."

"I won't let it. Even if I die stopping it I won't let it." Owl snarled at the empty place where the First had been.

"We won't let it." Buffy reached up holding her cheek meeting fiery eyes with her own. "Together we can stop it."

"Together, yeah, all of us, as a unit we can stop it." Piper focused on controlling her angry ragged breath she blinked hotly for a moment.

"No, together we can stop this." Buffy stated again.

"Together?" Owl blinked again thankful to feel her pulse notch down.

"Together." Buffy said again moving to kiss her very lightly.

Piper took a few controlled breaths and felt the tremors in her body settle.

"Does this mean you'll dance with me at the party?" She asked looping her arms around Buffy very lightly.

"I think I can pencil you into my dance card." Buffy smiled at her. "Into all of my dance slots, well other than the cheesy traditional dance with my sister." She leaned to kiss her again.

Part 12

Tara busied around the long table that Faith and a couple of potentials had hauled out onto the decking near the back door. The blonde witch had rustled up salad and cheese squares, along with copious amounts of bread and buns to go with the barbeque. Not to mention the two large bowls of suspicious looking punch that Faith had concocted. One was a lurid shade of blue, the other dark green. Oh and the four kegs of beer that stood on the far end of it, nearest the new BBQ. Xander and Giles stood behind that, carefully watching the food on it sizzle and cook as they flipped it and kept it from burning. The whole yard was filled with the smell of beer and BBQ already and the party hadn't really begun.

Dawn and some of the potentials were blowing up balloons whereas Faith was fiddling with a large extension socket, plugging in and testing the two strobes that she had set up either side of the large sound system. The system itself she had put on the round plastic patio table right at the far end of the garden. She'd fixed one speaker up as far as its cord would allow in the bushes to the right along the back of the yard and the other she had trailed along the left hand fence, again as far as its cord would stretch. The two round rainbow disco light balls that Owl had chosen she placed on the floor directly in front of the system, and had wired them together so they only needed one socket to power them.

It was fair to say that the atmosphere was already high as people carried things to and from the house. Cushions wrapped in big bags to protect them from getting damp, patio chairs placed carefully here and there for those who wanted to enjoy the dancing but not be part of it just yet, it looked a little like a scene from a student all night kegger.

"I'm not sure if I should be scared or not." Buffy looked at Owl as they rounded the corner of the house. "It looks like a grade school party." She laughed lightly.

"You probably should." Owl glanced at her with a smile. "Oh Buffy wait." She stopped and turned back to the car.

"What's wrong?" Buffy turned following where her tall lover was moving as she scanned the lawn for anything out of the ordinary.

"Nothing..." Owl looked up from where she opened the car door. "I picked this out for you, you don't have to wear it or anything, I just… well you know." She crossed back over to Buffy and handed her the Penny's bag in her hand.

"You went shopping? I thought the mall was closed." Buffy eyes lit up when she saw the bag.

"It was, they…" Owl stopped. "They opened especially for me." She gave the Slayer a bright smile.

"What is it?" Buffy didn't open the bag as she moved forward closer to the potential.

"It's a dress." Owl watched Buffy's move smiling more gently. "For the party." She added the explanation.

"I should go get changed then." Buffy leaned up and kissed her. "I'll see you in the backyard." She headed towards the front door with the bag swinging.

Owl just smiled more and strode into the backyard.

"Hey Birdy!" Faith popped her head up. "So much for the helping me out here!"

Owl jogged quickly over and knelt on the floor help to sort wires and flexes.

"Music." A voice announced from above as a pile of CD's was rather unceremoniously dumped on the table with the sound system.

"Spike." Faith pushed up from the floor looking at the vampire that had made the delivery. "Come on vamp, lighten up, its party night, you must enjoy a good party." She picked up the top CD and looked at it.

"I can think of better things to do with my evening." He grumbled putting his hand into his pockets.

"Come on William, you're a good guy now, you have to get with the good guy thing." Faith nudged into his arm lightly. "Come on it'll be a blast."

"Don't push him Faith." Piper glanced over her shoulder at him. "If he wants to spend the night lurking in the cellar, who are we to stop him."

"Oh no." Spike shook his head. "I'm gonna enjoy the party." He turned and walked away.

"He's such a treat." Faith watched him stalk off and moved to settle the stereo in a better place. "Hopefully he'll just drink a keg on his own and pass out."

"Yeah and if we're really lucky he'll break the deck on his landing and stake himself." Owl made a final twist with the insulation tape in her hand and plugged the two rainbow balls in. They began a gentle spin flashing their spots of color around the yard.

"I know he and B had a thing Birdy but I don't think you got to do the jealous other thing, it's not flattering." Faith bent down plugging in the rest of the wires.

"I'm not jealous, I just hate him." Piper summed up pushing up from the ground.

"But come on he's got a good ass." Faith shrugged as she started to order some of the CD's.

"Don't ever let him touch you." Piper said looking seriously at Faith before moving off towards the food table.

Faith watched her retreat with a curious eye before she focused on the stereo again putting a selection of CD's in and getting ready to test it out.

Buffy tried to get the hasty oversized curls in her hair to frame her face properly as she came down the stairs turning the corner into the kitchen. She had to give Piper ultimate credit, the short flowing silk spring dress she had picked out fit her perfectly the scalloped edges at the bottom flowing around her mid calf. The dress itself was white with a light pattern of pink and red flowers, the whole look was very pseudo-Japanese and though she know that Owl hadn't paid for it the fact the price tag had said $459.98 made her feel spoiled.

"Well maybe this party is going to be worth attending after all." The low voice of Spike commented from the basement door. Buffy felt a shiver go up her spine when she heard the way that he hissed his words. She turned defiantly towards him. "Easy now, before you take that the wrong way, I just mean you look good." Spike offered the soft comment.

"Thank you." Buffy managed a smiled. "Owl bought it for me." She pointed out almost wanting to see what his reaction would be.

Almost not wanting to but unable to stop himself the vampire glanced over his shoulder looking at the potential, who had an arm draped over Tara's shoulder and was stealing a square of cheese off the plate she was putting down.

"She'll die, you know that, why do this to yourself?" Spike turned back looking at Buffy shaking his head.

"Because I'm not going to let that happen." Buffy met him squarely.

"You can't save everyone Buffy, when the final battle comes, its going to be everyone for themselves and you can't afford to be distracted." The blonde vampire shook his head slowly again.

"No what I can't afford to be is empty and cold inside." Buffy shook her head. "She makes me want to fight Spike, she makes me want to live. She makes me think that if I had to I could stand toe to toe with a hundred Firsts and fight, try, struggle to win."

"It's just sex Buffy, it's no different to what we had." Spike looked at her stepping forward slightly.

"It's not just sex, but I don't expect you to understand." She shook her head. "And I thought you said it was different Spike, different for you because you loved me?" She caught him on the slip.

"It was, Buffy it still is, I do love you." He reached out for her arm.

"Spike, you don't even see do you? It's not, it was just sex." Buffy stepped out of his reach. "That you're for some unknown reason obsessed with me isn't love Spike, that you let me use you over and over wasn't love Spike, that you tried to rape me wasn't love." She didn't feel any emotions in the words, not because she was empty but because they couldn't hurt her anymore.

"I didn't..." Spike frowned. "I just lost it that day, I wasn't going to hurt you." He tried to spell out calmly.

"You did hurt me Spike, you didn't have to bruise me or break me or hell throw me through a wall like you had before. That I tried to trust you, tried to think maybe you were telling the truth that you could love me, that I could be alive, that it was all just a front to have sex with me, that hurt the most." Buffy spelled out her reasons. "And if we were still together Spike and you lost it again, would you stop this time? Or would you go further to try and prove what a vampire in love can do."

"I'm here, fighting with you doesn't that at least tell you something?" Spike tried to make her understand.

"That tells me now that you have your soul back you regret what happened." Buffy nodded. "It doesn't mean you understand what you did was wrong, or even believe that it was your fault. That's not who you are Spike, soul or no soul."

"You don't love her Buffy." Spike shook his head. "You can't love, remember." The vampires anger level grew steadily.

"I can." Buffy stared at him seeing his temper flaring. "I do." She said softer hearing the familiar footsteps come in behind her through the open door and knowing without turning who would be there.

"You look beautiful." Owl slid an arm around Buffy and pressed her palm flat against the Slayer's flat stomach. "Sorry did I interrupt something?" She blinked up at Spike very briefly before pressing her lips to the side of Buffy's head.

"No Spike was just going out to get a drink." Buffy held the vampire's feral eyes. Almost on cue Faith finally got the sound system working and the evening was filled by loud-excited music. "I imagine Giles and Xander saved the blood for you too." She put her arm down around Owl's.

"You'll see, I'm right." Spike turned and jogged down to the basement.

"You okay?" Owl withdrew her hand slowly and turned Buffy to face her.

"Yes." Buffy smiled looking up at the potential. "So I look beautiful?" She smiled softer.

"You do, more than I could ever have imagined." Owl nodded softly, the heavy base of the music outside becoming slightly lost in the midst of happy banter from the SITs in the garden. "Are you sure you're okay?" She reached up and played with a curl.

"I am, he was just being his usual self." Buffy tipped her head. "He doesn't have any idea, he thinks he can still crawl inside my head... I thought so too, but know I know he can't anymore."

"I thought I should go get changed." Owl smiled and stepped back a little from the Slayer. "You should go out and enjoy the party."

"I hope you got yourself a new outfit too." Buffy reached out pulling at the edge of her T-shirt.

"Maybe." She smirked.

"Hurry up then, I want to know for sure." The Slayer moved to the back door and towards the food table.

"Hey B!" Faith gave a wide grin and jogged over. "What do you think?" She waved her arm over the yard, with its flashing lights, loud music, and five people already dancing on the grass.

"I think that it's amazing." Buffy couldn't help but smile. "I mean you've always wanted your own night club." She chuckled at the SITs already dancing.

"Well you know I always dreamed it'd have a bit more class, oh and a roof, but you know, I'll settle for this right now." Faith laughed. "Don't those two ever give it up?" The dark haired Slayer nodded over to where Tara and Willow were leaning against a tree their arms wrapped around each other sharing little kisses and whispers.

"No, I hope they never do." Buffy admitted softly looking down to where on the grass nearby she had laid bleeding to death that horrible day. "We have to beat it Faith. No rivalry anymore, no biting at each other, we just have to work together and beat it."

"Hey steady that's sounding kinda like a truce." Faith smirked.

"It is." Buffy turned to her offering her hand. "We can waste time and energy fighting each other Faith or we can fight the First."

"You got yourself a deal, but don't think I'm going to be sticking around to play best buddies when this is over." Faith shook Buffy's hand definitely. "Now grab yourself a beer."

"Don't think I would tell you to go away if you did." Buffy grinned as they slipped into a more comfortable confrontation. She moved over to where Xander was and helped herself to a drink.

"Everyone is so much happier." Willow smiled as she looked into blue eyes.

"Mmmm they are." Tara nodded as she blinked and breathed in contentedly. "Though don't even think of asking me." She glanced at the 'dance floor'. "I still dance like a… well like someone who can't dance." She laughed gently.

"Even if I ask Faith to play something just for us?" Willow pouted.

"Like what?" Tara kissed the pout briefly.

"Like something romantic and slow." Willow followed her lips back kissing her again.

"Mmmm I'm listening, convince me." The blonde leaned a little harder against the tree.

"Something more us." Willow pressed against her. "Maybe our song." She tilted her head to the side.

"Mmmm maybe." Tara swung them together gently.

"So." Anya suddenly approached the two of them and passed them both a plate. "Have you thought about what style your ceremony is going to be."

"We... I don't think..." Willow looked down at the burger. "Outside?" She looked at Tara.

"Definitely." Tara nodded.

"You should think about wearing green, it really suits you, well it really suited the shade of you." Anya smiled.

Willow was thrown off by Anya's blatant and obvious reference to the First's shade. She went pale as she thought about how she'd been flirting with that 'Tara' as they helped Anya get dressed and how she had saved her during the wedding brawl.

"Anya please." Tara scowled at the other woman. "Tonight's a time for relaxing and enjoying ourselves, can we not refer to the past." The blonde drew her lover closer.

"Enjoying ourselves? Before we're all slaughtered?" Kennedy barked out a laugh as she crossed to the food table from the chair she had been sitting on.

Willow listened to it all going on, parts of her mind in different directions. The horror at the memories that Anya had reminded her of, the anger she felt towards Kennedy and her hurtful attitude, the love she felt for Tara.

"We're not going to die." It was Dawn's voice that spoke over the conversation. "And Tara, our Tara, is right, tonight's about relaxing and celebrating friendship, family." The teenager crossed over and took Buffy's hand in hers. "Now anyone who cant handle that, or deal with it, well, the basement's pretty empty, go down and wallow there."

Some of the other SIT's clapped encouraging Dawn. After all they wanted to forget the harsh world outside for awhile.

Buffy squeezed Dawn's hand.

"Well we all heard the nibblet." Spike strode out from the house and walked to behind the sound system. "I'll play DJ for the evening, while you all get your groove on." Spike seemed to look over the selections, pulling out the current CD and exchanging it for something he knew everyone would recognize. "Now we rock." He turned it up to ten and Billy Idol started pumping through the back yard.

"Okay is undead DJ smart?" Faith questioned as she wolfed down a burger and stole another from the pile that Xander was stacking of ready ones.

"Well it's that or Giles." Xander glanced at the Watcher who was leaned back on a chair tapping his foot apparently appreciating the choice.

"Come on Zeppo, lets have a drinking contest." Faith moved over to him pouring out two beers.

"Hey, you'd better save some for me!" From the back door Owl called out. The tall SIT stepped out into the garden, dressed in a brand new pair of blue jeans, with a black belt threaded through their belt loops closed with a large sliver belt buckle, tucked into it she had a crisp white button through shirt, undone low down her breasts.

"Step it up hot birdy." Faith turned handing her a beer. "We're cocked locked and ready to party."

Buffy stuttered a bit where she was dancing with Dawn, her eyes lingering up the tall potential's body as she swallowed.

Owl took the drink and grinned, turning from the dark haired Slayer to look out to where Buffy was dancing.

"It looks great Faith." She flicked her eyes briefly at Faith.

"Yeah she does." Faith growled under her breath, she poked Owl in the side with her elbow. Owl dipped a little to the side, laughing with the dark haired Slayer.

"She is amazing." Piper dropped her voice whispering at Faith.

"She is, you better be ready to take care of her cause if you hurt her there are a whole line up of people ready to kick your ass." Faith took a long swig and put her arm around Owl's shoulder.

"She's has to want me to do that." Owl reasoned patting over Faith's hand. "And I don't think she does."

"Oh she does Birdy." Faith smiled looking sideways at the Potential. "Trust me, if there is one thing in this world I can read it's Buffy Anne Summers. The fact you got her to swing sides is indication enough you mean something big, basically the one point you have to remember about B is..." She turned to the other woman her voice lower. "She'll never ask, she's too gone on this hard core slayer doesn't need help thing. You have to push her and when you do if she does want you too she'll show you without saying it."

"Hey DJ!" Owl tipped her head up and called out to Spike. "All the things she said - the cream disc with the red writing, track 2. Coming to dance Faith."

"Definitely." Faith watched as Spike fumbled with the CD and then the hard beat and a girl's voice filled the back yard. She jogged down to the dance floor moving in with the other SITs as she started her patented sexy dancing.

"Some moves you got there Faith!" Owl called over to her as she too joined the group. She let her hands rise her hips moving freely.

"Should I be jealous?" Buffy teased dancing closer now that Dawn was doing her own thing.

"You don't seem the type." Owl smirked, turning to dance towards the Slayer.

"You're the one who told me I had tension with Faith." Buffy teased doing a twirl showing off she wasn't the only slayer who could dance.

"You don't have to be dancing to prove to me you have moves baby." Piper watched transfixed.

"Don't drink too much I want you conscious later." Buffy blew her a kiss before twirling again.

Owl took a quick swig of her beer and moved to dance closer to Faith again, slightly surprised when Anya joined them.

"Are slayers born with an extra ability and gift of rhythm?" The former demon asked of Faith.

"Mine's natural talent." Faith chugged her beer tossing the cup aside and showing off a bit for her.

"Xander doesn't have natural rhythm, ever." The blonde shook her head joining the dancing.

"Do you?" Faith watched her move circling around Anya. "You need to free it, let yourself enjoy."

"I used to dance." Anya danced a little more freely.

"I can tell." Faith swung behind her, putting her hands on Anya's hips. "You need to feel."

"I'm gonna cook some pork chops." Owl winked and slid away leaving Anya who was pressing back against the dark haired Slayer moving more and more to the song.

Buffy watched her move away, dancing and giggling with Dawn and trying to ignore that Faith was all over Anya.

"I've not seen that dress before." Dawn commented as she danced along happily.

"Do you like it?" Buffy questioned doing another twirl.

"It's really nice, so when did you get it?" The brunette questioned.

"Just today, Owl picked it for me when Faith and her went shopping for all this stuff." Buffy tried to downplay the how.

"Owl, as in that Owl." Dawn took a light step closer to her sister and looked at the potential that had relieved Giles of his apron and was behind the grill.

"Do we have another Owl?" Buffy questioned glancing at her as well.

"No but... why would she doe that, did you ask her to?" Dawn frowned.

"No, I think she was just trying to be nice." Buffy admitted continuing to dance.

"Nice? Why would she want to be nice, and why is she watching us?" Dawn whispered.

"What?" Buffy asked not able to hear her.

"Oh it doesn't matter I'll go ask her." Dawn shook her head and headed off the grass.

"Make sure you don't eat too many burgers." Buffy called laughing lightly, she knew how her sister got a stomach ache when she ate too much.

Dawn nodded and shimmed her way over to the BBQ.

"Hey there, Dawnmiester." Xander grinned. "Want a burger?"

"Yes please." Dawn smiled and picked up a plate. "Can I have cheese on it?"

"Of course you can pretty lady." Owl smiled and promptly made the teenager a burger with double cheese. "There you go."

"Thanks." Dawn worked on putting toppings on it. "Buffy told me you bought her that dress." She looked up at the potential.

"Well kinda." Owl nodded, fixing herself a burger at the same time, while keeping an eye on the pork chops.

"Why?" Dawn took a bite of her burger looking at her.

"Because I couldn't buy it cause there was no teller, so I liberated it." Owl explained leaving her burger to turn the chops.

"No, I know you stole it, why did you steal it for Buffy?" Dawn put more ketchup on her burger.

"Because I thought it would suit her, don't you think it does?" Piper looking at the Slayer.

"I guess." Dawn didn't look at her sister, she kept looking at Piper. "But why did you buy it?"

"You want me to pick you something out next time?" Owl asked at the same moment. Dawn shook her head as she took another bite.

"Are you gay?" She looked at Piper finally asking the blunt question.

Owl was glad that she wasn't eating her burger at that moment of time because if she had have been she would have spat it out across the BBQ.

"Yes, I am." She nodded slowly.

"Do you like Buffy?" Dawn continued to look at her.

"Yes, I like your sister a lot Dawn." Owl nodded slowly. "Is there a problem?"

"No, just you should know if you hurt her I don't care if you're a potential, I'll use a large cudgel and squish your head." Dawn gave her an innocent smile as she took another bite of her burger.

"Use a small one, it'll cause more pain before I loose consciousness and it'll be just as messy." Piper smiled at her.

Dawn looked at her for a moment, very surprised by the comment before she gave a more relaxed smile.

"Oh I will." She nodded.

"I don't want to hurt her Dawn, believe me." Owl glanced up looking straight at Spike. "She's been hurt enough."

"She told you?' Dawn glanced over at him.

"I can't tell you right now exactly why I've not staked him, other than its not what she wants." Piper nodded slowly still looking at the vampire.

"I told him the same thing, well no I told him he'd wake up on fire." Dawn appreciated her sentiment.

"I could hold him down whilst you practice the cudgel maneuver." Piper looked at the teenager with a broad smile.

"I think we need him to fight the First, he's good in stuff like that." Dawn shrugged. "Have you told Buffy you like her?"

"Yes." Piper nodded.

"What did she say?" Dawn questioned her voice low under the music.

"I think you should ask Buffy that Dawn." Piper smiled softly.

"By the way..." Dawn stole a donut and moved down the steps. "You haven't sucked up enough to me yet, I have high standards."

"Noted." She called after her laughing loudly at the confident ultimatum.

Instead of moving to where her sister was chatting with some of the SITs she moved over crawling up on the picnic table behind Tara to sit.

"Can I talk to you?" She questioned softly moving to play with the blonde's hair.

"Of course you can Dawnie." She turned smiling brightly at the teenager.

"Have you noticed anything odd with Buffy?" She ran her fingers through the soft strands.

"Odd?" Tara nibbled the end of the lettuce leaf she poked out of her salad.

"Odd, did you notice she has a new dress?" Dawn began making a braid.

"I didn't think I'd seen it, but then I thought maybe I had just you know, missed it." Tara looked out at the Slayer who was dancing again.

"Owl stole it for her." Dawn filled in.

"Oh." Tara's gaze changed to look at the potential. "That was nice of her."

"She likes her." The teenager pointed out.

"Does she?" Tara asked looking at Dawn.

"Yeah I mean... like her like her, like you like Willow." Dawn leaned closer.

"I don't like Willow so much as love her completely and utterly." Tara pointed out.

"Okay so maybe not that much, but I mean in a girl liking girl wanting to kiss her way. She said she was gay." Dawn explained glancing up to she Buffy had migrated up to the BBQ and was laughing with Xander.

"Well I knew she was gay, her watcher, who was also her lover, was killed by the First a few months before she came here." Tara replied softly.

"Ohhh." Dawn looked up and gulped. "I didn't know, I wouldn't have said what I did if I'd known."

"What did you say?" Tara frowned softly.

"That if she hurt Buffy I'd beat her to death with a cudgel." Dawn gave her a lopsided smile. "She took it well though, suggested I use a small one so she suffered more."

"I think she's a nice person Dawn." Tara smiled and turned to look at Dawn.

"I asked her what Buffy said and she said I should ask Buffy but you know how she is." Dawn frowned.

"She seems in a good mood." Tara nodded over to her sister. "You could try."

"You think?" Dawn looked up to where Buffy was.

"What's the worst she can say Dawn?" Tara challenged.

"I could ruin her night, put her in a bad mood." Dawn fretted.

"No, you couldn't." Tara shook her head. "Would you like me to ask?"

"Would you?" The teenager took the easy out immediately.

"I would, if you really want me to." Tara offered, not surprised that Dawn had jumped at her offer. "Of course I would."

"I'll wait here." Dawn smiled picking up her plate to finish her burger.

Tara pushed up slowly, wondering exactly why she was doing this but a glance at the teenager told her why bright eyes urged her own with trust and complete faith.

"Hi Tara, are you ready for a veggie burger?" Buffy questioned when the blonde approached.

"Mmmm would love one thank you." Tara nodded with a smile.

"Coming right up." Xander moved to put one on the grill.

"You look lovely." Tara said quietly.

"Thank you." Buffy smoothed down the skirt a little.

"I hear it was a present." Tara glanced at Piper without moving her head.

"Yes." Buffy looked up at Piper who was discussing grilling techniques with Xander.

"Dawn's asked me to come and ask you something." Tara urged Buffy to move to the long table to get something to go with their food.

"Why didn't she come ask me?" Buffy moved over glancing at her sister feeling a little strange when the teenager avoided her gaze.

"Because I'm not sure she really wants to know the answer." Tara replied honestly.

"Tara, what's wrong?" Buffy turned to her grabbing a carrot stick.

"Well, " Tara took a soft breath. "She found out that 'a' Owl is gay and 'b' she likes you."

"What?" Buffy locked her jaw.

"Calm down." Tara whispered seeing the instant tension. "What she wants to know is what you think to that fact."

"What... what the hell am I supposed to say to that?" Buffy sputtered.

"That's up to you isn't it?" Tara replied casually.

"Is it? If I say that I like her then Dawn is going to erupt. If I say that I don't then Piper is going to think I'm ashamed of her, which I'm not." Buffy pointed out.

"Why would Dawn erupt?" Tara frowned confused.

"Because no matter what I do she erupts." Buffy frowned.

"Does she?" Tara tipped her head a little.

"You think I should be honest with her don't you?" Buffy looked at the other blonde.

"That depends, I think first you need to be honest to yourself." Tara offered assured with her own advice.

"You know me I'm not very good at that." Buffy looked down at the grass that wound up around her boots.

"Do you like her?" Tara asked very bluntly for the witch.

"I..." Buffy looked up slowly. "Yes."

"Then there's your answer, it's not harder than that." Tara rewarded her with a smile.

"Isn't it?" The Slayer shook her head slightly.

"No, its not." Tara underlined softly.

"I know this is going to come out wrong however I say it but announcing I'm in love with Owl is bound to have backlash of some sort." Buffy pointed out in a hiss.

"In love with?" Tara looked up obviously shocked. "I thought we were talking about like."

"I... I meant... I meant the same thing." Buffy turned away picking up another carrot stick.

"No, no." Tara reached her hand out and took Buffy's softly, turning the Slayer around to look at her. "Are you in love with her?" She whispered.

"I don't know what love is Tara." Buffy shook her head. "There was Angel, then Riley, and then..." She shook her head not glancing at Spike. "I don't know about love, I'm the slayer."

"Just because you are the slayer doesn't mean you don't know what love is." Tara shook her head.

"I... I think I am." Buffy whispered breathing out almost as if the admission took a great amount of energy.

"If you are, I think possibly you do need to talk to Dawn." Tara encouraged softly.

"Tara, how can I be? I've only known her for what a week?" Buffy shook her head.

"I knew in ten minutes I loved Willow." Tara replied softly.

"Really loved her?" The Slayer questioned.

"Really loved her, so much so that I fought my own shyness to talk to her." Tara nodded.

"She said she thought she was falling for me." Buffy admitted. "She said she loved me."

"And how did that make you feel?" Tara asked back, her voice gentle.

"It made me cry, I was happy." The Slayer's voice was soft.

"What did she say to that?" Tara smiled at the soft image.

"She said I should take my time, that she wouldn't feel any less because I didn't feel the same." She thought back to their intimate conversation.

Tara took a quick glance at the potential, she was having what looked like a saber fight with Xander but with burnt sausages on the end of kebab sticks. Owl laughed loudly as her sausage flew off and landed on the windowsill. Xander too laughed and gallantly handed his over and speared another one for himself.

"No one's ever said that." Buffy looked up watching them. "Everyone always pushes me, wants me to choose."

"Would you prefer it if she pushed?" Tara asked non-judgmentally. She smiled as Willow went over to join the pair at the BBQ, laughing hard at something Xander said. As she bent over she held onto Piper's arm for support, the tall woman instantly supported her carefully.

"No, I don't want her to push." Buffy shook her head. "I just want her to be her."

"I think we're seeing her." Tara noted softly.

"I don't know how it happened." Buffy continued to watch.

"How what happened?" The blonde asked as Owl suddenly nipped from around the back of the BBQ and reappeared seconds later presenting both Willow and Xander with a drink. On her way back the potential asked Giles if he needed anything. Whatever the Watcher's response was, made the tall woman begin to walk towards the house.

"She just arrived and changed everything, how I feel, how I think... I never thought I would be with a woman Tara." Buffy whispered blushing lightly.

"Scary isn't it?" Tara smiled understandingly.

"Very." Buffy nodded.

"Does she know?" Tara asked as the SIT walked passed them into the kitchen.

"I think so." Buffy nodded. "I hope so." She paused. "I think I've only just started to realize myself."

"Hey there you two are." Willow was suddenly at Tara's side. "Xander said you went to get munchies and then disappeared." She leaned happily against her lover's shoulder

"We were scoring the munchies." Buffy wiggled her carrot.

"The munchies look safe." Willow laughed. "Let's dance." She said hoping that in more of a group situation Tara wouldn't be so reticent.

"Yeah get your girl out there." Buffy smiled at them. "I should go... talk to Dawn."

"But I can't dance..." Tara objected as she felt Willow's hand slip into hers. "Zoë save me." She glanced at the Canadian who was sat on a garden chair munching on some prawns.

"Well if you want to talk to Dawn." Buffy checked at the same time.

"I happen to know you can dance like the wind." Zoë put her plate down standing up and taking her other hand. "Come on Willow, tag team." She started to drag her towards the dance floor area.

"I said save me not sink me." Tara jokingly scowled objecting lightly for most of the way, by the time they got to the grass Tara was laughing and easily fitting in with the rhythm of the beat driven song.

Buffy watched them for a moment before picking up two glasses of wine and moving over to sit next to her sister.

"Hey." She handed Dawn a glass.

"Oh hey." Dawn sounded surprised to see her.

"How come you're not dancing?" Buffy questioned watching everyone nervously.

"Oh I was tired," Dawn looked down at the half-eaten burger on her plate. "And eating."

"I haven't had a chance to have one yet." Buffy admitted. "You okay?"

"There are pork chops." Dawn pointed out.

"I was just about to get some." Buffy looked over. "But Tara said you wanted to talk to me." She took a deep breath.

"She did?" Dawn looked wide-eyed at the dancing witch.

"She did." Buffy nodded glancing up at Tara.

"What about?" Dawn suddenly seemed nervous.

"I thought you could tell me." The Slayer sipped her wine tapping her foot on the bench.

"Did she tell you I talked to Owl?" Dawn looked down.

Just as she mentioned the potential's name, the tall young woman came out of the house carrying a cup of what the teenager presumed was tea, delivering it to the Watcher.

"She mentioned it yeah." Buffy nodded. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"I just asked her if she liked you, and I… I just wanted to know if you liked her too." Dawn blurted out.

"I do." Buffy answered softly.

"But Buffy..." Dawn looked at her sister blinking. "You do know she's gay don't you?"

"Is that a problem Dawn?" Buffy asked her seriously. "Her being gay? Someone being gay?" She tightened her grip on the glass.

"For me?" Dawn squeaked. "Hello, best friends are engaged gay witches." The teenager frowned. "I'm so not seeing I have gay issues glaring up over my head."

"Then why does it matter if Owl is gay?" Buffy questioned smiling at the squeak.

"Because of you." Dawn replied. "I mean Owl 'likes' likes you Buffy, and you liking her too is great and fine and everything, but she's coming at it from a gay 'like' and you're coming at it from, well, Buffy like." She tried to explain.

"Well what if Buffy like was gay like?" The Slayer's voice was tentative.

"Ha, ha very fun..." Dawn stopped as looked at Buffy. "Oh my God." She squeaked in a whisper. "Are you, is she, Buffy are you gay?" The teenager's eyes were wide.

"I don't know Dawn, I just know I like her." Buffy offered honestly.

"Have you kissed?" Dawn pushed for details.

"Yes." Buffy nodded.

"Oh my God." Dawn squeaked again. "Why didn't you tell me, what was it like?" The teenager waved her hand.

"I wasn't sure if you'd be happy." Buffy admitted not sure of the teenager's reaction.

"Buffy she's funny, smart, cute, has a great bike, oh, oh, and a pulse and a heart beat, that like puts her fifteen thousand miles above the last choice." Dawn explained. "So when did you kiss, and do you think you know maybe you'll..." Dawn winked.

"I'll?" Buffy smiled not sure she wanted to guess what Dawn was saying.

"Oh I am so not saying." Dawn blushed and shook her head giggling.

"Mmmm what if I said we had?" Buffy blushed lightly.

"Oh my God!" Dawn squeaked and hit Buffy lightly on the arm. "Wait a minute." Dawn stopped and frowned. "If you have, and 'have', then why aren't you well…" She paused again. "Like Will and Tara?" She motioned to where the two witches were dancing holding one another's hand.

"Because..." She looked up at the two witches. "Well..." She glanced over at Owl. "I hadn't told you." She admitted one reasons.

"But you have now." Dawn shot it down.

"Are you sure you're okay with this?" Buffy checked taking Dawn's hand.

"Well I'm going to have to think about it for a few days, you know get some good mileage out of you both." Dawn grinned.

"Dawn, please." Buffy laughed lightly. "I need to know you're okay with this, I've screwed up so much in the past. I want to do things right, as right as I can."

"Buffy look at her." Dawn nodded out to where Owl was now in the middle of a group of four SITs jumping up to catch a glow in the dark Frisbee that she had obviously brought out from the kitchen with Giles' tea.

"Yes. I know what she looks like Dawn." Buffy glanced up with a smile. "But I want to know what you think."

"No doofus." Dawn hit her leg. "I mean she seems really nice, how can I not be okay with really nice."

"Thank you." Buffy reached around and hugged her.

"Whatever makes you happy makes me happy." Dawn breathed hugging her tightly before she pulled slowly back. "Oh." She added suddenly looking at her sister "Would this be a good time to talk to you about how Andrew and I feel about each other?"

"WHAT?" Buffy's jaw feel open.

"Oh I so had you!" Dawn shrieked with laughter.

"You're evil!" Buffy shrieked back.

"It takes practice." The teenager beamed.

Buffy laughed with her for a moment and then heard a softer song playing.

"I think I have to go ask someone to dance." She smiled at her sister putting down her wine.

"Oh can I clap?" Dawn chuckled.

"No clapping." Buffy stood up. "I'm getting the impression you've been expecting this chat missy."

"Silent cheers?" Dawn did a little wave. "I've been waiting to see you happy Buffy." She added softly.

"She makes me happy." Buffy nodded with a soft smile. "How's my hair?' She fluffed at a curl.

"Curlsome." Dawn gave her two thumbs up.

Buffy gave her a smile back and moved across to where Owl was.

"Do you want to dance?" She asked when the potential had thrown the Frisbee away.

The question obviously came as a total surprise to the SIT who's head snapped instantly from watching the glowing disc fly, to looking at the Slayer.

"Are you asking me?" She forced her suddenly dry throat to swallow wiping her hands on her new jeans.

"I'm asking you." Buffy nodded holding her hands in front of her.

"I'd love to but…" Piper tuned in to the slow pace of the track playing, and a glance at the grass revealed Willow and Tara locked in a soft close dance. A group of SIT's moving off to dance together in a soft circle, with Dawn and Zoë moving to dance with them. She also noted with slight amusement, Faith trying to actually get away from Anya who wanted to dance the slower number with her.

"Piper, please, dance with me." Buffy held her hands out further.

"Buffy this is a slow touchy feel kind of dance." Piper continued. "Do you want to join the others?" She checked the Slayer's meaning, looking down at the out stretched hands.

"No." Buffy shook her head. "I want to dance with you." She glanced to where Tara and Willow were. "Just with you." She underlined.

A soft, charmed smile crossed the potential's lips as she reached down and took Buffy's hands.

"I'd love to." She whispered.

Buffy smiled back walking backwards till they were a few feet away from the witches. She brought Owl's hands to her waist and slid hers up to the potential's neck. Piper had to remind herself to breathe as she felt her hands placed on Buffy's slender hips, her fingers sliding over soft silk.

"You're beautiful." She whispered as they began a gentle sway.

"I told Dawn." Buffy whispered back tucking her head closer to the tall woman's body breathing in to smell the soft scent of her perfume.

"Told Dawn what?" Owl asked curiously her eyes dipping closed as she felt the gentle weight of Buffy's head on her chest.

"That we're dating." Buffy summed up feeling suddenly that the word was inadequate. "That we've made love." She felt her voice shake a bit.

"Oh so that's what caused the repetitious oh my Gods." Owl felt herself smirk, her hands sliding around Buffy's body to hold her to her more tightly, more securely.

"She's happy." Buffy nodded lightly closing her eyes as her cheek rested heavily against the cotton of Owl's shirt.

"And are you?" Owl whispered her voice thick and rich.

"I am." Buffy nodded shifting in closer.

"I'm ready to say it, whenever you're ready to hear it." Owl breathed out feeling her body tremble a little at Buffy's closeness.

"And if I say it first." Buffy questioned pulling back enough to look into dark eyes.

"I've told you Buffy, it's okay," Piper shifted one hand off Buffy's shoulder to tame back a wild curl off her face gazing into hazel eyes "You don't have to say anything you're not ready for."

"I think I'm falling in love with you." Buffy spoke honestly breathing out as a weight lifted off her. "I don't know how, I don't know how you've swooped into my life and made me feel so many things in a week but you have."

It was almost as if the world stopped and just Buffy and Piper were there dancing in the star light, lit by strobes and multicolored circles of light.

"Oh Buffy." Owl whispered leaning her head down close to Buffy's. "I think I'm falling in love with you too." She finished closing the gap between their lips.

Buffy didn't think about the very large audience as she pressed up, meeting the potential's lips, needing the contact to confirm her leap off love's very steep cliff.

"Holy crap." Xander breathed in, the patty slipping out of his burger roll to land back on the grill, as he stared at the grass. Blinking, he rubbed at his left eye and then looked at Giles,

"Did you.... did I... did they..." He squeaked.

"I don't want to know." Giles pushed up and moved abruptly into the house followed almost the next instant by Spike.

With rather great timing Faith lit the end of a long Firework and holding it above her head a large rocket fired off bursting off in the darkening sky. Abandoning his place at the grill Xander skipped round to behind the music system.

"Okay ladies." He said as the slow track died off. "The night is still young, food poisoning from the burgers won't kick in for another hour or so, I say let's party." Throwing on a fast beat dance track he notched up the volume.

Buffy flicked the stereo system off, looking out at the almost empty backyard.

Everyone had slowly filtered inside for bed as the night had gone on. But she had to admit that the whole party had been an odd success even though they were in an empty town waiting for the First evil to bring down an end to the world. She watched for a moment as Owl checked the BBQ was off and then moved to clean up the snack table.

"We can do that in the morning." She walked over to the potential. "Tara mentioned something about having breakfast out here if it's nice."

"Then it would be nice if it was clean for her wouldn't it?" Owl stopped stacking plates and looked at the Slayer.

"If you'd rather be cleaning up than making out on the porch." Buffy teased feeling the two glasses of wine she had bubbling in her head.

"Mmmm would that be making out with my incredibly beautiful girlfriend?" Owl straightened up and smiled broadly at her lover.

"Unless you have another girlfriend hidden out here." Buffy began stacking the rest of the plates. "And if so I could be very, very unhappy."

"No, no I haven't." Piper left her job and moved over to Buffy lowering the Slayer's plate filled hand. "Less tidying, more making out."

"I thought you wanted to clean." Buffy turned to her.

"Not when given such a beautiful alternative. Haven't I told you enough this evening how breathtaking you look in that dress." Owl smiled.

"No, I haven't heard anything about me in this dress at all." Buffy answered in mock seriousness. "I'm starting to think I look fat or something."

"Mmmm let me check that out." Owl moved up and slid her hands over Buffy's slender hips and then down stroking up and down smiling softly. "Nope no trace of fat."

"With all I ate tonight I wouldn't be surprised if there was tons of it." Buffy laughed lightly reaching her hands up to Owl's shoulders.

"Buffy you hardly eat enough to feed a mouse." Owl raised an eyebrow.

"I had two pork chops and salad." Buffy argued with her.

"What about chips? Or those cheeses on sticks? Or maybe a sausage roll?" Owl pushed for more.

"Is this part of the dating thing? You ride me about how much I'm eating?" Buffy laughed looking up at the potential.

"No, no, I'm just saying, you need to look after yourself." Piper shook her head.

"So do you." Buffy reached her hand down to Owl's side. "How are your ribs?"

"Better, they hurt when I was out earlier." Piper admitted. "But they're okay now. Buffy, I… I can't really believe tonight happened." She whispered.

"Neither can I." Buffy whispered back.

"Are you sorry?" Piper had to know.

"No, no of course not." Buffy shook her head instantly. "Are you?" She questioned back.

"No, God no." Piper squeezed her softly.

"Good." Buffy smiled slipping her arms around further. "It feels good... letting everyone know."

"Dawn seemed okay about things." Owl offered.

"She thinks you're cool." Buffy explained laughing. "Apparently you're nice."

"Am I?" Piper gave a crooked grin. "I thought I was hard work."

"Who said that?" Buffy questioned.

"The Council." Piper replied easily. "I read it on my official report"

"They let you see your official report?' Buffy smiled. "Wow I bet if they called you hard work, I must be marked the hardest work of all. Well no maybe Faith is, and I'm a close second."

"No they didn't let me, Shanti did." Piper admitted.

"Did it quantify how thoughtful you are, how logical and how you have incredible self control?" Buffy questioned reaching up to tuck the potential's hair behind her ear.

"Surprisingly enough no." Owl smiled, loving the simple touch as well as the gentle words. "But I bet they didn't mention how beautiful, quick and kind hearted you are."

"No chance." Buffy smiled. "I think mostly they class me as hard headed, irrationally emotional and unwilling to take mindless direction. The last time they came to 'evaluate me' I kicked their asses."

"That's my girl." Piper leaned forward and kissed her head.

"We'll have to start training the new recruits tomorrow." Buffy admitted softly. "You'll help right?"

"If you want me to of course I will, what did you think kinda split them into three teams? Maybe Kennedy and I can co-team leader." Piper offered.

"Kennedy hasn't exactly been co-operative." Buffy sighed softly. "She got pretty drunk again tonight."

"Yeah but maybe if we give her a little, she'll give us some back." The potential offered.

"If you want to try then I'm game." Buffy nodded. "Faith and I need to so some training with the staff too, get good with it."

"I think it might be good for her. When do we get the new lot?" Piper took Buffy's hand and led her over to the closest garden chair. She sat down on it and patted her knee.

"Giles is driving out to pick them up at eleven." Buffy looked at her for a minute and then feeling a bit silly she moved down and sat on Owl's lap. "I feel silly." She admitted laughing lighting as she swung her legs up getting comfortable.

"Silly why?" Owl frowned.

"I'm sitting on your lap." Buffy laughed lightly. "It's new."

"Well you could have sat the other way." Piper arched her eyebrow slightly. "That might not have felt so silly."

"You just love edging on the slayer libido don't you?" Buffy pressed up to stand and then slowly hitched her skirt up higher, kicking off her heels before she moved up straddling Owl's lap.

"Well I did dress up for you when all's said and done." Owl grinned and made sure the Slayer was comfy.

"Dressed up eh? I didn't notice anything special." Buffy faked innocence as she pressed closer.

"Oh well, maybe I should try," She paused. "Harder, next time." She winked.

"I think you tried hard enough." Buffy smiled back. "I think what you need to ask yourself is are you sure you're ready? You've only had a few hours of flaunting to get worked up." She pressed her hips down in a light circle.

Piper's chuckle turned into a groan as she pressed her hips up to meet the circular grind.

"You know your file should have said you were cheeky, wearing this all night."

Buffy teased circling her hips again.

"Cheeky? You think it's cheeky, damn. "She grinned. "I was hoping you'd at least lean towards sexy."

"Hummm lets see." Buffy reached her hand to the buttons on Owl's shirt playing with the first done up one. Piper smiled softly and let her breathing relax as she released her control. "You have been stalking around here all night, with your sexy shirt and your sexy pants and your... well... you know."

"Says the girl, floating around in soft silk." Piper contradicted.

"I'm not wearing Myst am I?" Buffy pointed out.

"I think she would have been hard to hide under this baby." This made Piper laugh as she played with the edge of Buffy's dress.

"I think Giles would have walked out twice." The Slayer noted laughing lightly. She finished fiddling and undid the top button.

"Did you manage to catch him to ask what was wrong?" Piper's mood dipped noticeably.

"Knowing Giles, his proper English sense of duty kicked in and our frivolous night of indulgence reminded him we could have been training, or researching or sitting around worrying." Buffy shrugged. "Don't worry about him, he always does this in a crisis." She leaned in kissing her.

"Mmmmmm worrying about it less and less by the second." Piper kissed her back lovingly.

"Good." Buffy pulled back almost aching as she dealt with the next button. Owl felt her breathing shift higher. "Now... we were talking about how cheeky you were."

"Me cheeky?" She said between breaths.

"You cheeky." Buffy pushed the next button open, spreading back the sides of her shirt. Owl felt her nipples stiffen instantly even though they were still encased in the uncharacteristic sheer silk underwire bra the potential wore. "So tell me what it's like to walk around in her all night." Buffy questioned softly as she traced her fingers over the hard wires.

"Well it started off comfy." Piper smiled.

"Yes." Buffy encouraged with another circle of her hips.

"But then I saw you..." She smiled more. "And after five hours of getting wetter and wetter watching you, dancing with you holding you." Her breath shifted again.

"Really?" Buffy swallowed shifting her hips up a bit.

"Really." Piper nodded. "Buffy what I feel for you isn't just about sex or desire, but God girl, you are hot."

"It's important." Buffy smiled moving her fingers over the silk cups of the potential's bra. "What made you want to put it on?" She questioned circling her hips again.

"I..." She stopped, "I was getting my jeans out of the bag and I looked out of the window, and just watched you dancing out there with your sister, laughing and joking, and I... I wanted a subtle way for you to know I was thinking you, wanting you."

"I know this sounds naive, but a week ago I never knew you could wear such a thing." The Slayer made the soft admission as her fingers swirled over hard buds. "Now I've spent the whole night thinking about that. It's been very distracting."

"Bad distracting?"

"Oh no." Buffy shook her head rolling her thumbs around Owl's nipples. "Makes me wish I'd worn underwear distracted."

"Please tell me you're joking about not wearing underwear." Piper sucked in a breath pushing her breasts into Buffy's hands.

"Would I joke about something like that?" Buffy leaned down kissing her throat.

"Oh God I hope not." Piper tipped her head back groaning.

"I'm surprised you didn't notice." Buffy growled in her ear licking her earlobe.

"Well I tried to dance with decorum, though damn now I'm wishing I'd just held your ass all night." Piper gave a hard shiver.

"Then you would have made Xander's head explode." Buffy laughed licking across her chin.

"I thought he really, really did well, considering." Owl tried to pay attention to the conversation.

"Considering you're bigger and harder than him?" Buffy teased licking over her bottom lip.

"And how would you know that Ms. Summers?" Owl moaned again.

"It's a guess. We could ask Faith to compare." Buffy grinned pulling back and reaching to cup her hands around Owl's breasts.

"Faith's done Xander!" Owl's eyes widened.

"Off topic but yes." Buffy nodded massaging with her hands.

"Wow, I would have thought you know, well tame." Piper laughed.

"Tame? Oh no, she used him and chucked him." Buffy tried to explain. "He's still sensitive about it."

"Oh, ouch." Piper winced. "Okay enough off topic."

"I know this will sound silly but I like talking." Buffy admitted softly as her hands kept massaging and teasing hard nipples. "You're expressive."

"Oh we can talk." Owl underlined. "Just not about Xander and Faith having sex."

"No, I like it when you talk about us." Buffy whispered pushing down the material that kept her from Owl's skin. "When you talk about how you feel."

"You do?" Piper smiled slightly.

"I do." Buffy nodded running her fingertips over soft skin. "I... I like to know what I do to you. God I sound lame don't I." She laughed and blushed. "Again with the I'm supposed to be the Slayer and here I am sounding like a kid."

"You don't sound lame, Buffy there is nothing lame or childish about liking to hear how you affect your lover, how your touch feels, how your body makes them feel." Owl shook her head softly. "What's lame is not having the guts to admit it."

"I admitted it." Buffy noted softly.

"I know, which just shows what I always thought. You're not lame." Owl slid her hands up the sides of Buffy's dress.

"Mmmmm I like not being lame." Buffy arched her back.

"So how did you feel when you felt her." Piper's eyes flicked down to her crotch.

"I felt... I wondered if you had put her on for me." Buffy looked down into lusty eyes. "I wondered how she made you feel, if she made you feel more... I don't know... stronger, more confident."

"Okay need to be honest." Piper breathed. "It made me feel... attached to you, I knew…" She corrected. "I thought, that I wouldn't be able to be with you tonight, other than to chat and if I was lucky be at the food table at the same moment as you, so I wanted to feel, well I wanted to be reminded of what we had."

"That's so..." Buffy paused leaning down closer. "Romantic." She smiled reaching up to rub Owl's cheek.

"You don't think it was stupid?" Piper looked worried.

"How could I think that you wanting to feel closer to me even if you couldn't actually be with me not be romantic?" Buffy looked at her.

"Refer back to you childish reference, you know like carrying around your girlfriend's sock or something." Piper grinned.

"Myst is a little more mature than a sock." Buffy ran her thumb over the potential's lip. "Piper, everyone I have ever been with has pushed and pushed and pushed. They've never given me room to breath, room to get excited about the maybe not pushing the now."

"I want you to have room." Piper whispered suddenly serious. "One thing Shanti gave me was freedom, to be myself, no matter how that might have grated against what even she wanted me to be. No matter what happens between you and I, I at least want to give you that gift too."

"Piper, if things get crazy. If I get crazy when all the First stuff happens I want you to know I'll come back." Buffy rubbed her cheek aga