FIC: The red headed Slayer 10/?

["jend1205" <jend1205@xxxxxxxxx>]

This part was in no way supposed to be this long but it just kept 
getting longer and longer. It was just supposed to lead in to the 
next part but well here it is. I hope you guys are liking this one. 
I'm having lots of fun writing it. Jen

Author: Jen D
Disclaimer: I don't own just like it. 
Rating: G-R and all points between mostly language and violence
Pairing: Willow/ Buffy
Spoilers: I guess all of the shows this is A/U but some of it might 
come up.


"Hey Will, glad you could make it. Happy birthday," Buffy
told the 
Slayer as she came up to her table at the Bronze.

"Thanks," Willow said, giving the blonde a strong hug,
lingering for 
a moment enjoying the closeness.

"Well the real party is tomorrow at the house, this is just the
pre 
party," Buffy laughed. "So how was patrol?"

"Six vamps and a really ugly demon that I have to talk to your
dad 
about, other then that a pretty slow night. Were is everybody?" 
Willow asked and looked around the club.

"Xander and Cordy took off to dance and Tara is at the bar
getting 
another beer," Buffy said and noticed the scowl that passed over
the 
red head face. "Ok what's with the look?"

Willow turned back to Buffy and sighed, "I don't know, it
just seems 
like she's drinking an awfully lot lately. Since you guys saved
my 
ass six months ago, all she does is drink. I mean I stopped by before 
class the other day and she was having a beer at eleven o'clock
in 
the morning."

Buffy could see the concern on the Slayer face, "You're
really 
worried, aren't you?"

"Yeah, I did a paper for class last year about the rate of
alcoholism 
in college students and it was outrageous. I just don't want to
see 
her screw up her life. She worked really hard to get away from her 
father and brother," Willow sighed and shut up as the blonde
witch 
approached.

"Hey there, Slayer. How was your night of world saveage?"
Tara asked 
as she hugged the smaller women.

"Just a few bumps and bruises, nothing to write home about. So
how's 
things in your world tonight," Willow asked her sometimes lover.

"Pretty good, celebrating. Not only are we celebrating our best 
friends birthday but I also got an A on my English Lit paper. So I 
say we party," Tara, and grabbed the just recently returned
Xander 
and drug him to the dance floor. "I'll bring him back in a
minute, 
Cordy," Tara yelled on their way.

"Apparently an all day party," Willow mumbled.

Cordy watched the blonde and her boyfriend dance for a moment and 
turned to Willow, "What's up with her, Will? Xander and I
were in 
here the other night and she was smashed. We took her home because 
she was going to walk and we all know how safe that is. She'd
been 
some vamps happy meal on legs."

Willow shook her head listening to the story, "Thanks for looking
out 
for her."

"Hey she's our friend too and I like her. I don't want to
see 
anything happen to her but Will this isn't the first time
we've seen 
her like this. Just about every time we see her any more she drinking 
or drunk," Cordy said, looking lovingly at the witch.

"I know and I tried to talk to her about it but nothing I said
sunk 
in. She doesn't want to talk to me about it. I don't know
what else 
to do," Willow said.

"She's going to get hurt," Buffy commented.

"Sometimes you have to hit bottom to get back up," Willow
mumbled and 
watched as the witch stumbled into Xander's arms.    

"We'll just have to be here when she does, then," Cordy
said as the 
pair returned from dancing.

Xander grabbed the bottle of water on the table and drained the whole 
thing in one drink, "Man, you women are going to kill me.
It's tough 
to be the only man in the group."

"Yeah I bet," Willow grinned at him. "Must be hell to
have to be 
around all these sexy women."

"Yeah well since three fourths of them are gay or bi I don't
think 
he'd get very far," Cordy laughed.

"Besides my heart belongs to only you, honey," Xander told
her and 
kissed her cheek.

"Aww that's so sweet," Tara said.

"Disgustingly sweet," Buffy said but the grin on her face let 
everyone know she was teasing.

"You're just jealous," Cordy teased.

"Yes I am," Buffy countered back and looked longingly at
Willow 
sitting next to her.

"Well guys, it's almost midnight, how about I walk everyone
home," 
Willow said, standing.

"Cool everyone but Tara is staying over at my house tonight and
Tara 
is more then welcome to stay too," Buffy said, mirroring the
Slayer 
and standing.

"No, I'm good. Will, you remember Debbie; she said she'd
give me a 
ride back to the dorm. I think she's getting ready to leave now. 
Buffy I'll see you tomorrow for Will's party," Tara
hugged all the 
Scoobies and stumbled to her friend.

"You think she'll be ok?" Buffy asked her forehead
scrunched in 
concern.

`God she so cute,' Willow thought her eyes wondering over the 
teenager. 

"Willow?"

"Will?"

"Hey look a vampire," Xander said into the Slayer ear.

"Huh, what, where?" Willow snapped her attention back to the
group.

"Welcome back. Do you think she'll be ok?" Buffy asked
again.

"I don't think Tara would be dumb enough to get into a car
with a 
drunk driver, would she?" Willow asked scanning the crowd for her 
friend.

"She was pretty out of it," Xander said looking around.

"Damn, can anyone see her?" Willow asked.

"No I think they're gone," Cordy sighed.

"Well fuck," Willow grumbled.





   Willow was in the middle of explaining to Giles the demon she had 
killed on her to the Bronze when her phone rang. Willow looked at the 
Scoobies and shook her head. "Why do I not get a good feeling
about 
this?" She asked before answering. "Hello&this is
she&ok&how bad&ok 
and the other girl&damn&we're on our way&thank you.
That was the 
hospital; I guess she wasn't smart enough after all. Tara was in
an 
accident on her way home. She got banged up pretty bad but she was 
awake when they brought her in. The nurse seemed to think she would 
be ok. I need to go."

"We'll go with you," Giles said going for his coat.

"I'll stay with Dawn. Please call me as soon as you know
something 
definite," Joyce said hugging the distraught Slayer.

"How was the other girl," Buffy asked.

"Dead," Willow said as she walked out behind Giles.

"Oh god," Buffy whispered following the others.






Giles watched his Slayer pacing back and forth in the waiting 
room, "Dear lord child, please sit down. You're making me
dizzy."

"Sorry," Willow said sheepishly and sat down beside Buffy. 

Buffy took her hand and gave it a squeeze, "It's going to be
ok. The 
doctor told us that the CAT scan was just a precaution. She said that 
everything looked good. She's young and in good health."

"And a alcoholic."

"Will, come it can't be that bad, can it?" Buffy asked.

"Yeah and is. She needs to get some help and I think we need to
get 
it together. Jenny, you see it, right," Willow asked the other
person 
who knew Tara as well as she did.

"Sorry Buffy but I agree with Willow on this. It's been going
on too 
long and I do think we need to do something before she ends up
dead," 
Jenny said backing up the Slayer.

Giles watched the interaction before finally speaking, "Have you 
considered maybe an intervention."

"A what?" Buffy asked.

"An intervention is where her friends and family come to together
and 
try to talk to the addict about their behavior. Maybe if Tara hears 
about how much her drinking is hurting the people she loves the most, 
it might make her think," Giles told his daughter.

"Ok but that seems kinda confrontational if you ask me,"
Buffy 
countered.

"Well at this point we don't have to much to lose. If she
hates us, 
at least we did everything we could to help. Buffy, we can only do so 
much and then it's time for Tara to do the rest. I may have super 
human strength but I can't force her to quit drinking,"
Willow told 
her.

Buffy was getting ready to agree when the doctor returned, "Miss. 
Rosenberg, I just wanted to let you know that Tara's back in her 
room. The scan came back fine. I like to keep her overnight just for 
observation but she should be able to get out first thing in the 
morning. I don't want her staying alone for a few days, does she
have 
anywhere to go where someone can look after her?"

Giles approached the doctor, "Yes, my wife and I have a guest
room 
she can stay in. Between all of us, I imagine she will be more then 
looked after."

"Good, Willow you can go see her know if you want," the
emergency 
room doctor told her.

"Can someone stay with her tonight?" Willow asked.

"I think I can arrange it."

"Jenny?" Willow asked turning to the brunette.

"Please," Jenny pleaded.

"Ok, I'm going to go check on her and say goodnight and then
you can 
stay with her," Willow told her and went down the hallway.

Buffy hugged Giles, "Thanks, dad."

"I don't know if I've told you lately or not but I love
you," Giles 
told her and returned the hug.

"I know but it's nice to hear it and I love you too."




Willow sat beside the bed in the hard plastic chair and watched the 
blonde witch sleep. She brushed a strand of hair that had fallen into 
her face off and felt the tear roll down her cheek at the bruises and 
scrapes that marred the girls face. 

Tara opened her eyes and looked into the green eyes of the 
Slayer, "On a scale of one to ten, how pissed off are you right
now?"

"Ten being blow my top, pissed?" Willow asked and then seeing
Tara 
nod continued, "Twenty seven."

"Oh," Tara whispered.

"I am so mad at you right now that I can't even put it into
words."

Tara tried to hide the tears that were welling up, "I'm
sorry."

"I know and incredibly stupid but now's not the time for
this. You 
need to rest. I have to pick up Dawn; Jenny's going to stay the
night 
with you. They said you could get out in the morning, Jenny's
going 
to bring you to stay with Joyce and Giles for a few days until
you're 
up and on your feet."

"I don't want to be a problem for anyone," Tara cried.

Willow brushed the tears from Tara face, "Honey, it's ok.
You're not 
a problem. We all care about you. I know you'd do it for any one
of 
us. We're a family now. An incredibly dysfunctional family but
one 
none the less."

"She's dead, isn't she?" Tara asked.

Willow could see the pain as the awareness dawned on Tara face and 
whispered, "Yeah."

"Oh god. Will?" Tara cried, curling up in the bed.

Willow crawled up in the bed and held the crying girl, rocking her 
and whispering comforting words, "I got you baby&let it
go&I got 
you." Willow could feel the grief and pain roll off the blonde as
she 
finally cried herself to sleep. Willow slipped quietly out of the bed 
and took one last look at the sleeping women before making her way to 
the waiting room.

"She's cried herself to sleep," Willow said dejectedly
and collapsed 
into the nearest chair, emotionally exhausted

Buffy took Willow into her arms, "You ok?"

Willow buried her face into the younger other girls neck and finally 
let her own emotions take control. Buffy held tight letting her know 
that it was ok to cry and to release the things she was feeling.
"We 
could have lost her tonight," Willow sobbed.

"I know but we didn't," Buffy told her hanging on to the
shaking 
women.

Willow looked up and noticed they were alone, relief washed over the 
Slayer knowing no one had seen her breakdown. "Where did everyone
go?"

"Xander and Cordy went down to the vending machines for coffee
and 
Giles and Jenny went to fill out some forms for the hospital."

"Oh. Buffy, I'm sorry for breaking down like this."

"Don't be. Even the big, bad savior of the world needs to cry
once in 
a while," Buffy told her pulling her close.

"Will you go out with me?" Willow asked out of the blue.

"Huh?"

Willow sat up and took the teens hand in hers, "I know we said we 
should wait until you were eighteen but after tonight, I don't
think 
I want to wait. Life's to short and I don't exactly have a
long life 
expectancy."

"No, you decided to wait until I was eighteen, I really wanted no 
part of that," Buffy laughed.

"So is that a yes, well if it's ok with your parents."

"Yes, when and where."

"When&how about tomorrow after the party and the
where&you'll see," 
Willow said and pulled Buffy out of the chair. "Hey Buff?"

"Yes."

"Thanks"

"For?" Buffy asked.

"For being patient," Willow said and gave the blonde a light
kiss on 
the lips, that took on it's own life, leaving them both
breathless.

"Wow"

"I second that wow and raise you a whoa, Nelly"







 The next day Willow found herself pacing the living room of the 
Giles' house trying to come up with the right way to ask
permission 
to take Buffy out.

Joyce watched the Slayer pace and finally decided to speak, "Ok 
Willow, why are you wearing a hole in my carpet."

"Oh&um&well. Buffy, I really need to talk to Joyce and
Giles alone 
could you guys take Dawn out to play for a little while?" Willow 
asked pointing to the rest of the gang that was sitting around 
waiting for Tara to be released.

"Oh yeah are sure?" Buffy asked wondering if she should be in
on the 
conversation with her parents.

"Yeah, I think I need to do this alone," Willow told her and
gave her 
a warm smile. She waited until everyone had left before she began to 
pace the floor again in nervousness.

"Willow! Stop and sit down," Joyce said and pointed to a
chair across 
from the waiting couple.

"Ok&well&here the thing. I asked Buffy something last
night and she 
said yes but I really need to know that it's ok that I asked and
that 
it was ok that she said yes," Willow said in one breath and then 
waited.

"Well for me to be able to answer that I need to know what you
asked 
her," Joyce said.

"Oh&yeah I guess you do," Willow giggled and stood to
pace 
again. "See I really wanted to wait until she was eighteen but
with 
everything that has gone on lately with the Master, me dieing and the 
fiasco with Tara last night I realized that life is so short and I 
could die at any time. I mean it's not like there is a really big
age 
difference, I know that the rest of the world thinks that I'm
twenty-
one, today as a matter of fact. Wow, happy birthday to me. Anyway
I'm 
not really, I'm only seventeen and Buffy will be seventeen in a
few 
months. So anyway can we?"

Joyce sat with her mouth hanging open wondering how the Slayer had 
managed to say all that in one breath, "Can you what?"

"Can Buffy and I go one a date together?" Willow asked,
finding a 
spot on the floor very interesting.

"Buffy's gay?" Joyce asked, not really surprised but
wanting to hear 
the conformation.

"Yes ma'am."

Giles cleared his throat, "And she wants to go out with you?"

"Yes, sir."

"And you what, want our permission?" Joyce asked.

"Yes ma'am."

"When would this date take place?" Giles asked eyeing his
Slayer.

"After the party this afternoon, sir."

Joyce sat back into her husband arms, "Where would you go?"

"Um&I was thinking about a picnic in the park. I figured we
could 
take Dawn with us," Willow squeaked.

Joyce had a hard time controlling her laughter at the nervous look on 
the Slayer face as she turned to Giles, "She can face down the 
nastiest of demons but yet gets nervous in the face of parents."

Giles couldn't contain his chuckle at his wife's comment and
looked 
at his Slayer, "I respect that you came to us and asked for our 
permission first. I must say that I'm surprised that it took this 
long for it to get to this point."

"Well I really did want to wait," Willow said, sheepishly.

Joyce only had one real concern about a relationship between her 
daughter and Willow and decided to voice it, "And Tara?"

"I care about her a lot but my feelings for her don't come
close to 
the way I feel about Buffy."

"You promise to take it slow?" Giles asked Willow.

"Yes, sir. I snail will be able blow by us, I promise,"
Willow said 
excitedly.

Joyce looked at Giles and he nodded his head, "Ok."

"Ok, really?" Willow asked.

"Really," Joyce said and smiled at the happiness on the red
head face.

"All right," Willow yelled and headed for the back door to
tell Buffy 
but stopped and turned to the older couple. "Thanks," she
said and 
bolted out the door.

"Oh young love," Joyce said and settled into her
husband's arms.

"I don't know I happen to think old love is so much
nicer," Giles 
said and kissed the top of Joyce's head.



  Willow hung up her cell phone and turned to the gang, "That
was 
Jenny they're on there way here."

"Are you sure this is the right thing to do?" Buffy asked.

"I think it's the only thing to do," Cordy said and
hugged her friend.

"Yeah I wish my parents had someone to do this for them,
Buff," 
Xander said.

"So you think it's true too?" Buffy asked him. She knew
that if 
anyone could recognize it Xander would.

"Yeah, I see it," He whispered and lowered his head. Cordy
squeezed 
his hand in support, hating what the boy went through and how hard 
dealing with Tara's problem was for the him.

"I say we do it then," Buffy said and sat down to wait.

Half an hour later the door opened and Tara and Jenny came 
through. "Hey guys," Tara said and gave the room a small wave.

Joyce walked over and hugged the young witch, "How are you
feeling, 
Hon."

"I'm ok. I little sore but alive."

"We have the guest room all set up. Willow stopped by your room
this 
morning and picked up some clothes and stuff for you," Giles told
her 
after giving her a small hug.

"I don't want to be a problem for anyone," Tara said
looking at the 
floor.

"Nonsense child, it is not problem at all," Giles said and
motioned 
for her to sit down.

"Tare, we need to talk," Willow said breaking the ice.

"I know, what I did was stupid."

"Yes it was and we think you have a problem," Willow told her.

"What kind of problem," Tara asked.

"I don't know maybe a drinking problem," Willow
sarcastically said.

"Will I know you're mad but I'm not an alcoholic."

"No I'm not mad, mad doesn't even begin to cover it,"
Willow yelled 
and stood up.

"Will," Buffy started but was interrupted by Jenny.

"No, let her talk Buffy."

"Tara, I am so far passed mad right now that it doesn't even
live in 
the same zip code. You know I love you, I'm not going to say that
I'm 
in love with you because we'd both know that I would be lying but
I 
love you with all of my heart. You made coming here so much easier in 
the beginning and you saved my life but I can't do this anymore.
We 
almost lost you last night and I honestly don't know if I can
take 
another senseless, useless death in my life. We all love you, 
everyone in this room does and that's why we're here right
now. We'll 
be here for you, support you and if you decide to get help we'll
back 
you up one hundred percent. You, Tara MaClay have a drinking problem 
and as much as I would like to be able to slay that demon for you I 
can't. Only you can help yourself and until you do I don't
think that 
I can be around you," Willow said, picked up Dawn and walked out
the 
door.  

"Will," Buffy yelled and jumped to follow her but her mom
grabbed her 
arm stopping her.

"Let her cool off for a minute, Buffy," Joyce said.

Tara sat staring at the door in shock, "She left."

"Yeah she did, do you know why she left?" Jenny asked her.

"Oh god, I'm just like him," Tara mumbled and then
lowered her head 
in shame.

"Just like who, Tara," Joyce asked taking the girls hand.

"My dad. He used to drink a lot. I hated when he drank, he used
to 
get so mean."

"What did he do," Giles asked sitting on the table in front
of the 
witch.

"He'd hit us and say all kinds of bad stuff to us. It's why I had to 
leave and now I"ve become just like him. I'm hurting the people I 
love the most."

"You're not like him," Jenny said and pulled Tara into
her arms.

"But I could be," Tara cried into Jenny shoulder.

"It's possible," Giles told her, trying to make her
understand that 
she needed to accept their help.

"I'm sorry, I never meant to make things harder on everyone.
She's 
right, I do need help before I hurt someone or myself more then I 
already have," Tara told them looking into each one of
the 
gangs face.

"You're not making it harder," Buffy said.
"You're family. You ask 
for help, we help, it's what we do."

"Yes of course," Giles agreed.

"And you can stay here as long as you need to and she was right
we 
will back you up all the way," Joyce said.

"I have a lot to make up for with her," Tara said looking at
the door 
the Slayer had walked out of.

Buffy sat down beside her dad and took Tara free hand, "Tara,
she's 
just worried and concerned. She loves you and doesn't want you to
be 
hurting. The Slayer in her just doesn't except that she can't
fight 
this for you."

"I need to go talk to her and get her back here. We have a lot we 
need to figure out and I think I need everyone's help in
this," Tara 
said, getting up, heading for the door and closing it behind her.

"Well I think that could've gone worse," Jenny sighed.

"I think she meant it," Buffy said.

"Me too," Cordy agreed as Xander nodded his agreement.

"She going to need us," Joyce told the group of young people
sitting 
in her living room.

"Yes I believe so," Giles agreed with wife.

Buffy once again thanked god for her loving, caring parents before 
saying, "Then she has us."

"So where do we go from here?" Cordy asked.

"I think we should wait for them to come back and then discuss
it. 
Maybe AA meeting, keep her busy, make sure she keeps talking to
us," 
Giles began but was cut off as Tara ran back through the door.

"She's gone," Tara yelled coming over the Watcher. "I
went in and 
there's a big burn spot on the carpet and Giles, I felt magic.
Lots 
of it and really dark."

"Dawn?" Joyce asked.

"Gone too."

"Oh dear lord," Giles said before heading out the door,
followed by 
the rest of the Scooby gang.



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Willow: "It's a good fight, Buffy, and I want in."
Buffy:  "I kinda love you."
                     'Choices'

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