BTVS Tornado of Souls 8/8 - B/F W/T - PG-13

[Dana Hunter <carrkjar@xxxxxxxxx>]

Tornado of Souls
Part 8

Author: Frau Hunter Ash
Copyright © 2002 by Hunter Ash. All Rights Reserved.
Email: carrkjar@xxxxxxxxx Feedback welcome!!
Homepage Addy: http://www.hunterash.com/

Disclaimers: The characters and show all belong to
Joss Whedon, Fox, Mutant Enemy, Kuzui, and God only
knows who else. The storyline, however, is the sole
property of the author. This story cannot be sold or
used for profit in any way. Copies of this story may
be made for private use only and must include all
disclaimers and copyright notices.

F/F romance: the story assumes a loving and sexual
relationship between people of the same gender and may
even include 3 at the same time <G>. If this offends
or is illegal for you, then please leave. Come back
when you are older, have an open mind, moved, or
changed your laws.

Spoilers: Up to Season Three  to Faith, Hope and
Trick.

Summary: Willow and Tara discover mutual attraction
as everyone adjust to Buffy and Faith's relationship.
Returning to Sunnydale isn't easy for the group.

Rating: PG-13 (US) 13 (UK) M (AUS)

Author's Note: pairings: B/F, X/An, W/T

* * *

Giles sat at the interrogation table and waited
patiently. The trained Watcher showed no emotion as
Robert Johnson, rogue Watcher, Hunter and fanatic was
escorted into the room.

Giles reflected that the cultured Englishman certainly
looked different in an orange jail jumpsuit, complete
with leg and waist chains connected to his handcuffed
hands.

The jail guard sat Johnson down and then closed the
door behind him.

"Did the Council arrange our little meeting here?"
Johnson asked after several moments of silence and a
contest of wills.

Giles resisted smiling, having won the first round.

"Yes," Giles admitted. The Englishman was well versed
in mind games, as were all Watchers and Council
members but sometimes the truth worked better.

"And am I going to find myself being transferred to
England on some sort of charges so the Council can get
their hands on me?" Johnson asked calmly.

"No, they're content to let you rot here in a
California prison," Giles resisted obviously smirking
as Johnson looked surprised.

"A trial will mean the truth comes out! They wouldn't
dare risk that!" Johnson protested.

"You might want to plead guilty by reason of mental
defect then," Giles smirked, and was delighting when
Johnson turned red. "Shall we get down to it, then?"

"What are my choices?" Johnson asked.

"I'm about to give them to you," Giles nodded. "On
the surface, you're looking at attempted murder of a
young college student visiting a sick friend. You
haven't told the detectives why you attacked Buffy.
There isn't much doubt that you attacked her, with
independent witnesses of nurses, guards and us. Your
friends' prints are on the handcuffs and yours are all
over the knife covered with Buffy's blood."

"I know all that," Johnson snapped.

"I've spent the last three days talking with the
Council and explaining things," Giles continued.
"Including Buffy's condition. They agree that she has
been a remarkable Slayer and see no reason to change
things. As long as we promise to take appropriate
precautions on Full Moons as we were doing with Oz."

"You've hidden him already?" Johnson smirked. "You're
a Watcher turned traitor, protecting the monsters."

Giles sighed.

"I know that Hunters usually concentrate on vampires
because of the advantage of being able to hunt them in
the daytime," Giles commented. "I also know that
Hunters usually avoid hunting werewolves because
they're usually not alone."

"You've been studying Hunters as well as Slayers,"
Johnson commented, his voice flat.

"Yes," Giles nodded. "You understand that werewolves
usually aren't alone, correct?"

"Yes, there's usually three or more if Hunters come
across them," Johnson admitted.

"Then understand this, the werewolves find each other
and form packs," Giles explained, trying to put it in
terms that Johnson could understand. "Buffy belongs
to a pack and each pack is part of a larger group.
Getting the picture?"

"You're saying they're more organized than we
thought?" Johnson demanded.

"Yes," Giles nodded. "Just like some vampires have
formed clans and such. Tell me, what happens to
Hunters when vampires and werewolves learn their
identities?"

Johnson actually turned pale but attempted to hold his
composure.

"Yes, I know Hunters, Johnson," Giles nodded. "I was
a Hunter, you idiot! It is one of the interesting
facts about my past that drew the Council to me.
You'll never sleep easily again. You might be safe in
the daytime from vampires but werewolves can move
during the daytime. You'll be seeing vampires and
werewolves in every shadow."

"What are your terms?" Johnson asked softly and Giles
nodded. Even prison wouldn't be safe from vampire
controlled ghouls or werewolves seeking the death of
the Hunters.

"If you keep quiet about Buffy's werewolf condition,
the Council will have you transferred to England,"
Giles said calmly. "Once you reach England, the
Council will probably send you into exile."

"And your monster goes free?" Johnson demanded.

Giles' eyes hardened. "After what you attempted to do
to Willow, I could snap your neck in one move, mate.
You don't agree to this and you won't last a year."

"The Hunter compound and other Hunters?" Johnson
demanded.

"They can disband and find other Hunter groups to
join," Giles said calmly. "Their names won't be
released to the wolves or vampires."

"If they won't disband?" Johnson snapped.

"Then they'll find themselves under siege," Giles
responded easily. "We got Willow out of your hands
with a group of werewolves helping us. They live in
the area, they know your camp and have it under
observation. One word from us and they'll take your
camp out."

"You'd let humans be killed?" Johnson demanded.
"Slayers don't kill humans!"

"I'm not a Slayer, remember?" Giles pointed out. "If
you don't threaten my kids, I'll let yours slip away."

"You get Buffy and Faith as Slayers, Willow's yours
again and you even took Sister Tara," Johnson
complained.

"You drove her off when you attempted to brainwash
Willow," Giles countered.

"I don't have a choice here, do I?" Johnson smirked.

"Not if you and your three conspirators wish to live,"
Giles agreed. "The Council is sealing the records on
Buffy's condition, only the High Council will know of
it. You break the silence about Buffy and you'll be
dead within a week."

Johnson hesitated, thoughtfully pondering.

"Alright, I agree," he finally said.

"You and the four others will never return to the
States," Giles pressed.

"Agreed."

"You'll never approach Buffy or any of the other kids,
no matter where in the world any of us end up," Giles
added.

"Yes, agreed," Johnson said wearily. "You agree not to
turn our names over to demons and let the Phoenix camp
disband."

"Yes," Giles agreed.

"Deal," Johnson nodded.

"Buffy and Willow are back in Sunnydale in the
hospital," Giles informed the rogue Watcher. "You
almost killed both of them with that attack. One hint
of any Hunter near them and I'll release your name to
every demon, vampire, and werewolf I can find,
including anyone claiming to be a vampire, werewolf or
demon on the Internet."

"No prison on our side?" Johnson demanded.

"Limited. After your transfer to England, the Council
will take over," Giles explained.

"Acceptable," Johnson agreed.

Giles stood up and knocked on the door. A moment later
a guard let him out of the room and the Watcher made
his way through the maze of doors and papers to get
outside the jail.

The Englishman knew he would be grateful to get out of
Los Angeles and back to Sunnydale. He was very
uncomfortable leaving Buffy and Willow in the hospital
without him but he knew that the bargaining with the
Council and the Hunters had been more important.
Hopefully this would ensure Buffy's future safety from
this group of Hunters.

Willow thought that the Elders and rogue Watchers
hadn't told the entire group of Hunters and trainees
Buffy's name and Tara confirmed it. That gave Giles
hope that he might be able to contain the information
that Buffy, his Slayer, was a werewolf.

Giles stopped at a row of payphones just inside the
doors of the jail and dialed several numbers and
waited patiently.

"Buffy Summers room, please," he asked calmly. He
wasn't surprised when Faith answered the phone.

"Buffy's room," she said into the phone.

"It's Giles, Faith," he said softly.

"Got good news, Handsome?" Faith asked and he could
hear Buffy demanding to know who it was.

"Is Willow there as well?" he asked first.

"Yeah, Red is here," Faith responded.

"Good, I made the deal with both the Council and those
Hunters," Giles explained. "Tell Buffy and Willow, if
everyone holds to their common sense, we won't have
any problems."

He could hear Faith relaying the news and Willow's
squeak of delight and Buffy muttering something.

"Buffy asks if you had to say anything about the
Garous?"

"Only vague references to organized packs of
werewolves," Giles said calmly, knowing Buffy's fears
of "piercing the veil" and having to answer to her
pack and the rest of the Garou nation for letting
outsiders find out about werewolves and their true
nature. "I'm on my way back tonight."

"Cool, because we've got problems back here," Faith
told him.

"Now what?" Giles demanded.

"Red's parents," Faith said, the bitterness evident in
her voice. "They said that if she was hanging with
Buffy or Oz they would disown her and they don't like
Tara or me either."

"Did Joyce explain to them that the pictures were
faked?" Giles demanded.

"Yeah, they didn't believe her," Faith complained.
"They said they're going to pull her out of school and
send her back east to some rabbi run type school."

"Oh God," Giles muttered. "What is Joyce doing?"

"Talking with a lawyer today," Faith told him.

"Good, tell Willow to hang in there," Giles said. "We
just got her back and we're not about to let her go
now."

"Same here," Faith agreed.

* * *

Tara found Willow crying softly as Buffy slept.

"Willow?" Tara asked softly.

The red-haired witch looked up from her wheelchair,
wiping at her eyes. Her head had been resting on the
bed next to Buffy's hand.

"Sorry, just an emotional meltdown," Willow said
softly.

"Wanna me to wheel you outside for some sun?" Tara
offered.

"Yeah, that's good," Willow agreed. "I'm sorry."

"Stop apologizing," Tara said softly as Willow
released the brakes on the wheelchair. "The doctors
say you'll be able to go home soon as long as you
rest."

"Yeah, Buffy should be out by the end of the week,"
Willow nodded. "My Mom and Dad came by again today."

"What?" Tara squeaked. "Wh-what did they want?"

"For me to come home and abandon all of you," Willow
said softly, trying to keep calm. Getting excited
caused her heart to beat fast and her breathing to
quicken and that hurt.

"Wh-what did you tell them?" Tara asked, her own heart
pounding rapidly.

"I couldn't do that," Willow said softly as Tara
wheeled her into an elevator.

Willow was surprised when they went up instead of
down. Tara smiled and wheeled her friend to a
different elevator that was labeled "freight" and they
continued upwards.

Willow smiled when Tara wheeled her out onto the roof
into the sunlight.

"I thought you'd like this," Tara said shyly.

"It's nice, thank you," Willow smiled.

Tara squatted down next to the wheelchair as they
watched the sun playing over the city. The blonde
witch felt her heart skip a beat when Willow slipped a
hand into hers and leaned on Tara's shoulder.

"Tara, what's gonna happen to us?" Willow asked
softly.

"Mrs. Summers says that we can move in with her and
Buffy," Tara said slowly. "If you don't mind sharing a
room, that is. I think Mrs. Summers is going to let
Faith share Buffy's room. Separate beds though."

"No," Willow wondered why her heart was suddenly
pounding again. "I wouldn't mind sharing a room with
you."

"We'll both be declared emancipated adults, go back to
school and figure out the adult stuff later," Tara
smiled reassuringly.

They were both quiet for a few moments, both enjoying
the contact and silence.

"Willow, c-can I ask about&about Oz?" Tara asked.

"Sure, you can ask me anything," Willow nodded. "Oz
was my boyfriend. Only one I ever had, really. Things
got rough when we found out he was a werewolf. We'd
lock him up and watch over him on full moons."

"He couldn't control it?" Tara asked, remembering the
lessons Giles had given them about Garous.

"No, we didn't know about Weres being able to control
it," Willow explained. "Or I wouldn't have run away
when I found out about Buffy. God, Tar, I was almost
willing to kill my best friend!"

Tara wrapped her arms around Willow as the witch began
to cry again.

"I believed she could be evil!" Willow sobbed.

"Shhhh, you believed what you had been taught," Tara
said, trying to soothe her friend. "They worked hard
to convince you."

"They hurt Buffy! They drugged me!" Willow continued
to cry and Tara held her until Willow's sobs subsided
but the hacker seemed reluctant to let go of her.

"Willow," Tara said softly, pulling back slightly.
"I&I've been thinking th-that I might need to leave."

"What?" Willow sat back, her eyes wide with sudden
fear. "No! That would be bad! I&I&why?"

"Will," Tara began slowly. "Th-this is so hard." She
stood up and walked to the edge of the roof. "I&I
like you, a lot."

"That's a problem?" Willow asked, confused.

"It&it could be," Tara said, turning away from Willow.
"I&I th-think I like you too much."

Willow was confused for a moment and felt her heart
beat speeding up, beginning to realize what Tara might
be implying.

"You&you mean," Willow stammered. "Like Faith and
Buffy like each other now?"

Tara nodded, her head dropping with expected
rejection.

Willow frowned, her thoughts racing faster than she
could keep up with. Thoughts of Oz and warm fuzzies
but not the overwhelming grief over his leaving that
she expected. Comparisons between holding hands with
Oz and holding hands with Tara, of looking into deep
green eyes and blue ones and how her heart pounded
whenever she was near Tara while with Oz it was
comfortable.

Which one made her hands shake, her knees go weak, and
sent a warm feeling through her whole body that seemed
to nest right below the belt. It never felt like that
with Oz, she realized.

"Tara?" Willow said softly, trying to calm her
breathing before she started coughing again.

The blonde witch refused to move.

"Tara, I can't get out of the chair and come to you,"
Willow said firmly but her hands were shaking badly.
"Please come here."

Tara turned with tears streaking her cheeks and slowly
approached the red-haired student.

"It's okay, I understand that we can't be friends,"
Tara said softly, her voice cracking.

"Tara, either get down here where I can look at you or
I'm getting out of this chair and probably get sick
and everyone will yell at me&"

Tara reluctantly squatted down next to Willow's
wheelchair but still wouldn't look at her friend.

"You know what Buffy said to me the first time we went
out?" Willow asked softly, raising Tara's chin with a
gentle finger. "She said 'seize the day'."

Willow, her heart pounding loudly, leaned forward and
let her lips find Tara's as they closed their eyes.

Tara fell back onto her rear, touching her lips with a
surprised expression as Willow eased back in her
chair, touching her lips as well.

"Wow! Electric shock?" Willow mumbled.

"Didn't feel like static whatever," Tara said, her
eyes as wide as Willow's.

"Can we try that again?" Willow asked shyly.

Tara looked surprised again.

"You want to? You weren't wigged?" she asked softly.

"Very not wigged," Willow admitted. "You?" she asked
fearfully.

Tara moved up onto her knees and reached out to gently
touch Willow's hair and move her hand down Willow's
cheek and jaw line.

"You're so beautiful," Tara whispered, her eyes
filling with tears.

"I'm too skinny, I'm a geek, I don't have cool
clothes," Willow began babbling, tears filling her own
eyes.

Tara stopped the babble with her lips.

Willow moaned and moved closer to Tara and the blonde
witch ran her fingers through Willow's hair, pulling
the redhead closer.

The kiss was tentative and gentle but soon became
exploring until the need to breathe broke the two
apart. Tara leaned against the wheelchair, breathing
heavily, her forehead resting against Willow's.

"Oh God," Willow whispered, holding tight to Tara.
"You could do that forever."

"What about Oz, what if he comes back for you?" Tara
asked, her voice cracking again.

"Oz," Willow said with a frown, leaning back into her
chair as she thought. "Oz was comfortable. He was
scared of sex because the werewolf thing and it was
safe with him. I loved him, I still love him. He's so
cool but it doesn't feel like this."

"What does it feel like?" Tara asked softly as Willow
leaned forward to grab her hands.

"Like I'll die if you're not with me," Willow said, a
tear escaping her eyes.

Tara almost knocked the red-head out of the chair
rushing to hug her tightly and kiss Willow again and
again.

* * *

Buffy looked up as Willow wheeled into the room and
did a double-take as she looked at her friend. Tara
and Willow actually looked flushed and there was
easiness about them that the Slayer couldn't place.

"Whoa! B, they figured it out!" Faith grinned, causing
both witches to blush a bright red.

"Figured what out?" Buffy asked and noticed Tara's
hands coming to rest on Willow's shoulders and how her
friend leaned into the contact. The Slayer grinned.

"Will?" Buffy asked softly.

"We&uh, Tara's staying," Willow smiled shyly.

"Complete with snuggles?" Buffy teased.

"To hell with the snuggles, you get past the bra yet?"
Faith grinned as Willow began coughing with
embarrassment.

"Faith!" Buffy scolded, smacking her would-be
girlfriend on the arm.

"I think it's cool," Faith smiled a genuine smile.
"They're right together."

"Yeah," Buffy agreed as Willow leaned against Tara's
arm, a gentle smile on her face.

* * *

Faith grinned as Buffy spun with a round-house kick
that almost took a vampire's head off. The blonde
Slayer turned and flashed Faith a smile as they both
staked a vampire at the same time.

"How's it going over there, Faith?" Buffy asked.

"5x5, B!" Faith grinned. "You?"

"He's dust," Buffy grinned and laughed as Faith turned
and ran the few feet between them and tackled her to
the ground. Instantly Faith's lips were on hers and
Buffy's fingers were in Faith's hair, pulling the dark
Slayer closer.

Buffy moaned and drew a leg up between Faith's,
causing the other Slayer to break off the kiss with a
gasp and a flush of her skin.

"Damn, B," Faith muttered. "One touch and I'm dying."

"I am so not going to last a month," Buffy complained.

"Well, we're both minors, what are they gonna do to
us?" Faith teased.

"Let's take this home," Buffy whispered, her voice
going husky with arousal.

Faith jumped to her feet and lent a hand to her
girlfriend.

"Have you seen Red and Tar? They're going just as
insane as us," Faith smirked.

"Yeah," Buffy nodded, linking her fingers with
Faith's. "I always thought of Willow as the ultimate
shy type but with Tara, well, she can't keep her hands
off."

"I know the feeling," Faith whispered, pulling Buffy
into a passionate kiss that left them both breathless.
"B, I know we're young and everything and I've never
dated anybody before&.Christ, what the hell am I
trying to say?"

"Well, I've dated all of three guys and only slept
with one of them," Buffy smirked. "My boyfriend at
Hemry was a joke. Pike was great but got himself
killed by a pack of vampires and&well, you know what
happened with Angel."

"Psycho vampire from hell," Faith nodded. "I know
we're supposed to take things slow and date lots of
people before we grow up and settle down to marriage
somewhere around 23 or something but we're Slayers and
you're a werewolf."

"We live in Sunnydale and the odds of reaching 24
aren't exactly good for us," Buffy agreed. "I love
you, Faith, for as long as you'll have me."

"Cool," Faith grinned, sighing with relief. "I love
you too and I don't want to date anybody else and I
don't want to wait."

"Me either," Buffy agreed, nibbling Faith's neck,
sending shivers down the other Slayers spine.

"Home! Now!" Faith demanded.

* * *

Buffy managed to shut the door behind her in the
semi-darkened house just as Faith grabbed her against
the said door, kissing her brutally. Buffy moaned and
wrapped her arms around Faith, the brunette Slayer
almost pinning her against the wood.

"Faith, Buffy? Can I talk to you?' a voice called from
the family room.

Faith jumped back from Buffy so fast she almost fell
down with a squeak.

"Mom?" Buffy called softly, surprised to find her mom
still up and waiting for them. She helped Faith stay
upright and they walked into the living room where
Joyce was, indeed, waiting for them. She was curled
up in an easy chair, blanket thrown over her legs,
book in lap and a small reading lamp on.

It was obvious she had been waiting most of the
evening.

"How did&.slaying go?" Joyce asked calmly.

"Pretty well," Buffy said cautiously. "Vamps are no
match for two Slayers."

"Good, as long as you two are safe," Joyce nodded. "I
talked with Willow and Tara earlier."

"Yeah?" Buffy asked, sitting down on the sofa, her
body tense.

"I know I've insisted on single beds for each of you,"
Joyce said slowly. "I'm making a very adult decision
here. I've got to go to San Francisco this weekend to
oversee a shipment coming in from Asia for the
gallery."

"Okay, you going to tell us to switch rooms so we're
not tempted?" Buffy asked, trying to keep her voice
from cracking. She so did not want to talk about sex
with her mother.

Joyce Summers had been more receptive of her
relationship with Faith than she had of Buffy's
relationship with Angel but Buffy didn't want to push
her mother either. Two underage lesbian couples in
the house was a little rough for the single parent.

"No, actually I'm leaving my credit card," Joyce
smiled. "I want the four of you to go shopping this
weekend for beds that suit each pair of you."

Buffy's eyes widened and Faith sat down next to Buffy,
heavily.

"You&Mom? You're saying we can&.can sleep in the same
bed?" Buffy squeaked. "Isn't that tempting fate? I'm
strong and the Slayer and everything but sleeping in
the same bed with&with someone I love is a little much
to ask for restraint."

"I thought Red did the babble thing," Faith teased
softly and Joyce laughed, causing Buffy's eyes to
widen even further.

"Actually you should have heard Willow babbling when I
told her the same thing," Joyce smiled. "Both couples
have a limit of $800.00 for bed and stuff and you have
the weekend to&to get acquainted. I'm not going to
demand restraint except at school. I don't want you
giving Principal Synder any excuse to come down on any
of you."

"Wow," Faith muttered, reaching out to hold Buffy's
hand. "Mrs. Summers, Mom, I&I just want to say that I
love Buffy very much. It's not a kid thing."

"I know, Faith," Joyce said softly, seeing the tears
welling up in Buffy's eyes. "I know and I thank you
for telling me."

"How did Willow and Tara react?" Buffy asked, trying
to get her voice back from the twilight zone where it
had ran away to in shock.

"A little bit more wigged about it than you," Joyce
smiled. "Have the beds delivered and don't tear down
the house while I'm gone."

"Mom, I&" Buffy stammered.

"Don't say anything, honey," Joyce said, moving the
blanket and book aside and standing up. "You're
seventeen and Faith almost is. Willow and Tara are the
same age. Some kids get married at your age. Most of
the time the marriages don't work but they don't live
on a Hellmouth and they aren't Slayers. I'd want a
typical marriage for you but I'm going to be more than
satisfied if you're happy with Faith. That's the
important thing."

"I am, Mom," Buffy nodded.

"Then I'm glad," Joyce smiled and hugged both young
women. She headed for the stairs. "I love you,
Buffy."

"Love you too, Mom," Buffy said softly, laying her
head on Faith's shoulder.

"Come on, lover," Faith said gently. "Let's go to bed.
We've got two more days of school before the weekend."

"Remember, full moon next weekend," Buffy frowned.

"We'll watch over you, B," Faith said calmly. "No big
deal."

"I just don't like losing control," Buffy complained.
"I know what happens as the wolf but I can't control
it. It's like I'm watching from far away on full
moons."

"We'll get through it, B," Faith said firmly, leading
Buffy up the stairs. "Just like we'll get through
waiting the next two days."

"Oh God," Buffy whispered. "Now that it's only two
days until I&I can touch you, it feels like forever!"

* * *

Willow smiled and leaned back as warm arms wrapped
around her and lips began nuzzling her neck.

"H-how did you know it was me?" Tara whispered as
Willow turned in her arms.

As expected, Tara had found Willow in the stacks of
the library after school.

"I could sense it was you," Willow said softly,
pulling Tara closer.

"Not at school, remember?" Tara whispered, pinning
Willow against the books. "We just got you back in
and me registered."

"I'm just glad that fight with my parents is over,"
Willow nodded, moving her hands over Tara's ribs and
back, under the blonde witch's shirt. "That was
bitter!"

"I know, baby," Tara said softly, holding Willow
tightly. "They'll come around eventually."

"I don't think so," Willow shook her head. "Telling
them and the court that I'm gay pushed them over the
edge. They might be liberal for everyone else in the
world but not when it comes to me."

"I-I'm just glad we're in California," Tara admitted.
"When they told the judge they were going to send you
to a Readjustment Treatment Program, I thought she was
going to have a heart attack."

"Yeah," Willow smiled slightly. "Now Joyce Mom is our
guardian. I can't believe the last two months. Buffy's
a werewolf but it's okay, I get practically kidnapped
by warped Hunter cultist but that's okay because I
meet you, and now my family disowns me because I have
you."

"I love it when you babble," Tara whispered, moving to
kiss Willow passionately.

"Hey, Will! Giles said you were up&"

Tara backed up into the bookshelf as Willow squeaked
in surprise. Both turned to see a stunned Xander at
the end of the row of shelves.

"Will?" he said softly.

"Xander, I&uh&," Willow stammered and both her and
Tara looked nervous.

"What? Both my female best friends are dykes now?"
Xander snarled.

"Hey!" Willow snapped back. "What's the problem? You
haven't said a word about Buffy and Faith!"

"That's because they can kick my ass," Xander growled.
"You&my best friend forever! Since grade school! What
happened to your feelings for Oz and&and your crush on
me?"

"I&I grew up and fell in love with&with a wonderful,
beautiful and intelligent woman who&who just happens
to love me back!" Willow shouted.

"Look, Will," Xander frowned. "I know you're grateful
for Tara taking care of you when you were sick and
helping get you out of there, but this&"

"What this?" Willow snapped. "This is more than&than
gratitude! Go away and think before you say another
word."

Xander snapped his jaw shut but looked hurt and
confused.

"Xan, we've been best friends since grade school,"
Willow said, her voice softening. "You came after me
and helped save me, I love you. Please take a step
back and see that."

"Oz hasn't even been gone a month, Will," Xander
protested, his eyes pleading for things to go back the
way they were before Buffy ran away.

"Oz left mentally when he found out about the wolf,"
Willow said sadly. "What I feel for Tara is&is&it's
amazing."

"Amazing?" Xander squeaked as Tara lowered her head,
letting her hair hide her face. Finally his eyes lost
their hardness and he looked at his friend. "I need
some time, okay?"

"Xander?" Willow questioned, her voice cracking.

"I just found out four of the five women in my life
all prefer each other, okay," he said softly. "I'm a
little wigged here."

"He's worried," Tara said softly.

"Worried about what?" Willow asked, obviously
confused.

"Of his rep," Tara said, glancing up.

"Xander?" Willow's voice was one of disbelief.

"Well, it won't exactly put me at the top of the
popularity list," Xander grumbled.

"Is Cordelia rubbing off on you?" Willow demanded, her
face going hard again. "You're worried what others
will say when they find out your best friends are&.are
dykes?"

Xander winced at the term and Willow's eyes blazed.

"Willow," Xander began slowly.

"No, after all these years of Cordelia tormenting me
and you?" Willow snapped. "If this is about your rep
and what others might say, then you've become shallow,
self centered, self righteous and a jerk!"

"Willow!" Xander protested. "I'm sorry! I really am!"

Willow looked unconvinced and walked back to Tara,
intertwining her fingers with the other witch's.

"This is who I am, Xander," Willow said firmly. "I
took on my parents for this, I fought Principal Snyder
to come back to school for this and I'm willing to
lose you for her."

"I'm sorry, I just kinda wigged," Xander said, hanging
his head.

Willow's face softened and she nodded slightly.

"Okay," Willow said gently.

"I need to&to go and do something for awhile," Xander
stammered.

"Okay, we'll catch you later," Willow said calmly and
waited until Xander had left the library before
turning and collapsing into Tara's arms.

"Shhh, we knew it might be hard, baby," Tara said
gently.

"I know, it just hurts!" Willow whined.

"He'll come around," Tara said.

"I know but it won't change what he said," Willow
complained.

"I know, but we all m-make mistakes and say stuff w-we
wish we hadn't," Tara said, holding Willow tight.

"God, you feel so good," Willow whispered, her voice
dropping as her lips went to Tara's neck causing the
witch to gasp.

"You're so beautiful!" Tara whispered back.

Willow pulled back blinking and breathing heavily.
"Gotta get to research or I'm going to attack you."

Tara smiled and nodded, unable to speak.

"This weekend," Willow muttered to herself. "Gotta
calm down."

Tara smiled as she watched Willow scrambling down from
the stacks and out of the library.

She couldn't wait for the weekend either.

* * *

Epilogue

Despite Willows irritation and hurt over Xanders
reaction, within a week the best friends were trading
verbal and physical jabs. The young man presented
Tara with her own Scooby Doo lunchbox as amends.

Buffy and Faith settled into keeping Sunnydale at
least mostly out of the hands of demons, vampires,
sorcerers and Hunters. Three months after becoming a
couple, the two Slayers visited Buffys clan for a
Howl. Buffy told the tale of Angus falling to the
Hunters and presented Faith as her mate and kin.
Faith was accepted by the clan of werewolves.

A year later Faith and Buffy traveled to Arizona to
visit the Get of Fenris clan to fulfill Faiths part
of the bargain. Despite Roberts enthusiasm to conduct
the affair in the old fashioned way, he grinned and
shrugged when Buffy and Faith insisted on the Viking
werewolf being more of a donor than a lover.

Nine months after that, Faith gave birth to a baby
girl and she was named Gillian.




=====
The Viking Bard/Skald "Nothing is ever forgotten"
www.hunterash.com

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