Family Matters - 1/6 - B/W/T - NC-17

["Hunter Ash" <carrkjar@xxxxxxxxx>]

Family Matters, Part 1
Red Moon Rising, Book 6

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 whom 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 even 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 Red Moon Rising and veers off from there.

Summary:  The gang, on a road trip, decide to make a stop in Reno for 
a wedding.  Then it's time to head back to Sunnydale to help plan 
Joyce and Giles' wedding, Anya and Xander's wedding, and 
Tara/Buffy/Willow's bonding ceremony.  Ever dread seeing your family?

Rating: NC-17 (US) 18 (UK) R (Aus) Pairings: B/W/T, G/J, An/X

* * *

Xander had grinned as the orderly wheeled Tara down the long row in 
the parking lot to the RV parked on the end.  The orderly was 
determined to see his duty through even though Buffy offered to push 
the wheelchair and Tara protested that she could walk now or they 
wouldn't be releasing her.

Willow laughed at her lovers and followed along.  

Waiting at the RV was Xander and Anya.  With them were members of 
Lupercalia, Sheriff Luke, Thena, Stefn and Helki, waiting to say 
goodbye to their pack member, Willow.

Buffy smiled as everyone said their goodbyes again to the werewolves 
and climbed into the RV.  Buffy thought Tara looked much better than 
the night before but Willow still worried the Slayer. 

Somehow Dr. Kieran had kept the nurses out of Tara's room and Willow 
had been allowed to sleep in the same bed with Tara while Buffy slept 
in a chair, guarding her lovers.  When they awakened the next 
morning, Willow still looked tired.

"What happened, guys?" Tara asked.

"Phillip was one of the evil Weres," Buffy began explaining as Tara 
ate her breakfast.  "He poisoned your soda to separate us on the 
road."

"Yeah." Willow nodded.  "We fell for it too. Xander, Anya and I went 
down a detour and found a pack of Weres waiting for us. They drugged 
and used magic on me."

"That's why we couldn't connect with you," Tara said softly.

"Drugged wolf Willow joined the pack in hunting Xander and Anya," 
Buffy said, taking up the story. "It wasn't her fault."

Tara reached out to squeeze Willow's hand with a reassuring smile.  

"Xan and Anya kept just ahead of the wolves," Buffy continued.  "Luke 
rounded up the good Weres and we found the camp. That's when we 
reached Will."

"Will?" Tara asked softly.

"I&the pack turned on me when I broke their control," Willow said, 
almost in a whisper.  "I&I&Phillip and I fought."

Willow wouldn't look at either Buffy or Tara.

"Will?" Tara asked gently. "You didn't do anything wrong."

"That doesn't help much," Willow admitted.  "I killed him and howled 
in victory."

"Willow, you were fighting for your life," Buffy countered.  "You 
also saved all of us by taking the pack out."

"The pack?" Tara questioned.

"She used some kind of magic to wipe them out," Buffy said in a soft 
voice. 

"Magic?" Tara whispered.

"Helki says it was a neutral thing," Buffy responded. 

"Are you okay with that, Will?" Tara asked gently, holding Willow's 
hand.

"I think so," Willow said slowly.  "I don't feel jumpy or like I need 
a magic 'fix.'"

Dr. Keiran entered the room with a wide smile at seeing Tara sitting 
up and eating.

"How are you doing?" he asked the blonde witch.

"Feeling a lot better," Tara answered with a smile.

"Good, since we now know what happened and your labs look good," Dr. 
Keiran said, looking over Tara's chart.  "I'm cutting you loose.  Why 
don't you two grab some breakfast? It'll take at least an hour to get 
her out of here."

Willow glanced over at Tara and her lover nodded.  Buffy nodded as 
well.

"Okay," Willow smiled and stood up slowly.

* * *


Finally they pulled out of the parking lot with Willow waving out the 
back window of the RV to Luke and the others.

Anya glanced over, noticing Xander's thoughtful expression.

"What?" she demanded.

Buffy rolled off the bed, wanting both Tara and Willow to rest, and 
sat down in the passenger seat behind Xander.

"I&well&I was thinking," Xander said slowly.  

"Always a dangerous thing," Buffy quipped and smiled sweetly as 
Xander scowled at her.

"Can we swing through Reno over in Nevada?" he asked.

"Reno? You wish to gamble?" Anya demanded. "I don't think that's a 
good idea, those games are never friendly."

"I don't want to gamble," Xander muttered and Buffy's eyes widened as 
she listened to her friend.  "We almost died, again.  I don't want to 
wait to marry you, Anya."

"A quickee wedding?" Buffy squeaked, glancing back as Tara and Willow 
both sat up, smiles on their faces.

"Yeah," Xander nodded.  "A small one with just us and then we can do 
a big one back home."

"Pull over, Anya!" Buffy ordered as Anya looked at Xander in surprise 
and wasn't paying attention to the road.  The former vengeance demon 
pulled over and put the RV into park.  Xander laughed when she dived 
into his arms, kissing him all over his face.

"Yes! Yes!" Anya beamed.

Willow and Tara began clapping from the back as Buffy slid into the 
driver's seat.  

"Sounds like a plan has been made," she announced, grabbing up the 
road maps from the console. 

Anya moved into the passenger seat behind Xander as the RV began 
moving again and Xander spun his chair around to continue kissing her.

Tara laughed and lay back down next to Willow, gently stroking the 
red hair of her lover.

"I love you, Tara," Willow said softly, snuggling into Tara's arms.  

"I love you, Willow," Tara smiled and hugged the witch tightly.  "You 
mentioned weddings last night before going to sleep."

Willow pulled back slightly with a shy smile.  

"I remember," she said softly.  "I meant it and was going to ask you 
and Buffy at the same time. Will you marry me? The three of us 
together?"

"A Handfasting?" Tara asked, her eyes filling with happy tears.

"Yes, since we can't do it legally," Willow pointed out.

"Yes, Willow, I will bond with you," Tara said softly, kissing Willow 
just as Anya had done with Xander minutes before.

"Hey, what's up back there?" Buffy demanded from the driver's 
seat.  "You're supposed to be resting, both of you!"

"Well, if you must know," Willow grinned, seating up. "I'm asking 
both of you to marry me and each other in a Handfasting ritual."

"Marriage? The three of us?" Buffy asked, pulling to the side of the 
road again.

"Yeah, we can't do it legally but we can do a bonding ritual, a 
wedding thing," Tara added.

"You bet!" Buffy squeaked and left the driver's seat to leap between 
the two witches.

Xander grinned.  "Looks like you're driving again, An."

"No problem," Anya grinned.

"Three weddings when we get back?" Xander pondered.  "Cool."

Anya's smile was matched by the three young women.

* * *

The drive to Reno took less time than Buffy had originally thought. 
She laughed as Anya began acting like a nervous bride when they hit 
the city limits and Xander's eyes danced at all the neon and bright 
lights.

Tara and Willow were asleep in the back and Buffy glanced at the 
clock in the console, not surprised to see it reading 3:30 a.m.  Once 
they had hit the road, Anya had been insistent on driving until they 
reached Reno.  Knowing Anya's impatience, Buffy had agreed but they 
had switched drivers a couple of times.

Now that they had arrived, Buffy glanced around until they found a 
public parking area that said RV's were welcome and pulled into the 
driveway.  The Slayer was surprised to find a very awake lot 
attendant more than ready to take her money and direct her to an 
empty slot.  

"Have a good time!" he called as Buffy steered the small RV called 
Priscilla into the lot.

"Do we find a convenient chapel now, grab some sleep, or lose some 
money?" Buffy questioned as Anya moved into Xander's lap.

The young couple looked at each other and then back to their friend.

"Chapel," both said in the same moment.

"Okay," Buffy laughed. "You two act like you haven't seen each other 
in days."

"It feels like it," Xander said.  "I thought we might actually die 
with all those werewolves after us and that freezing river."

"I know." Buffy's voice lowered as she glanced back at the sleeping 
witches. "If she had hurt you&." 

"She didn't," Xander said quickly, knowing what Buffy was thinking.  
If Willow had had hunted down and killed Anya and Xander, she would 
have been lost forever to the evil Weres or she would have killed 
herself.  It was hard enough for the werewolf witch to live with the 
memory and knowledge of having killed another werewolf, now she had 
killed at least ten evil ones. 

"She didn't," Xander repeated firmly.  "It's done. She fought her way 
back to us and we're all okay."

"Yeah," Buffy sighed.  "You're right.  I'll get these two up and 
dressed. Then you two can get dressed up and we'll find a chapel. Do 
you want to rent a room for the night or take the RV?"

"We'll take the room and drive the neighbors crazy!" Anya jumped on 
the suggestion quickly.

"Okay," Buffy agreed with a grin and moved towards the back of the RV 
and opened the partition the rest of the way.  Tara opened her eyes 
slowly. "Hi beautiful."

"Hey," Tara smiled and glanced down at the redhead sleeping in her 
arms.  "What up?"

"Xan and Anya can't wait," Buffy said with a grin. "You guys up to 
serving as witnesses?"

"Sure!" Tara said, suddenly awake as Willow began to stir.

"We're coming," she muttered.

Buffy smiled and leaned down to kiss both of them, helping Willow 
wake up further with a passionate kiss.

"Wow! What an alarm clock!" the witch teased as Tara laughed.  "We're 
here?"

"Yep!" Buffy smiled as Xander and Anya argued over what clothing to 
wear.

"Let's get these two married, they're already arguing like an old 
married couple," Willow teased and Xander threw a crumbled up t-shirt 
at her.  "Yuck! Male germs! Help!"

"Good grief!" Buffy grinned.  

* * *

Within two hours, Anya was crying, Xander was choking on the words 
and Tara, Willow and Buffy were all holding plastic flowers, 
alternating between crying and smiling.

The chapel wasn't as tacky as they had feared, especially after 
Xander put his foot down and informed Anya that he was not going to 
be married by an Elvis impersonator.  The small old, New England 
style chapel was very nice and perfect for the young couple. 

After quickly buying some rice beforehand, Buffy, Tara and Willow now 
threw it at the couple as they walked out onto the bright neon lit 
street and laughed along with Xander and Anya.  

Xander hugged each of them tightly, especially Willow.

"Thanks, Will," he whispered. "You help keep me from running away 
from the good stuff."

"I love you, Xander." Willow smiled and then hugged Anya. 

Buffy had rented a hotel room in a small place a couple of blocks off 
the main strip, and the threesome accompanied the married couple to 
the door where they got to hug each other all over again. 

Anya squealed in delight when Xander threw her over his shoulder and 
headed for the elevator.  

"Xander! This is not the traditional way!" she protested as the hotel 
clerk laughed good naturedly, having seen many, many newlyweds before.

"In case you hadn't noticed, my arm is broken," he pointed out as he 
jabbed the floor button.  "I can't carry you in my arms so over the 
shoulder you go!" 

"I'll get you for this, Xander Harris!" Anya threatened.  "You cannot 
throw me over your shoulder like a cave man or a sack of flour!"

Xander laughed and swatted Anya on the ass as the doors closed.

"Yes, I can, Mrs. Harris," he said.

The three young women laughed and turned back into the night air, 
heading towards the RV slowly, enjoying the crisp feel of the night 
and getting away from some of the neon.

"That brings up an interesting question," Tara said, her eyes dancing 
mischievously.  

"What's that, Tar?" Willow asked.

"Well, if we have a bonding ritual, who is going to carry whom over 
the threshold with three of us?" she pointed out.

Willow stopped, suddenly pondering the impossible physics and saw 
Buffy's eyes widen as well.

Tara grinned.  "I don't think, even with Slayer strength, Buffy could 
carry both of us," she teased. 

"Oh yeah?" Buffy grinned wolfishly. "Maybe each of you over my 
shoulder?" she threatened.

"Oh why do you get to be so butch?" Willow demanded, laughing at 
Buffy's surprised expression.

"Oh you two are in trouble!" Buffy growled and then spun around with 
her hand going to her belt. "Tara, down!"

The witch dropped without hesitation or question as a stake went 
flying over her head.  Willow jumped next to Tara, her hands 
outspread in a defensive gesture.

"I think there was only one, guys," Buffy said slowly, letting her 
senses extend into the shadows.

"Why didn't I hear or smell him?" Willow demanded, helping Tara to 
her feet.  "I should have!"

"I don't know, I didn't get a real good look at him before he 
dusted," Buffy said slowly. "Maybe he wasn't moving. I caught a glint 
of his fangs."

Willow frowned.  "Goddamn city, too many noises, too many smells."

"Come on, Will," Tara urged. "Let's go back to bed and maybe get 
Buffy to show us some of that Slayer stamina."

"Tara!" Buffy squeaked.  "Okay, I'm used to shy Tara, not forward and 
blunt Tara."

Tara and Willow giggled, grabbing Buffy's hands cheerfully.

* * *

Buffy fumbled with the keys at the door of the RV as Tara stood 
behind her, arms wrapped around the Slayer's ribs and lips nuzzling 
her neck.  It also didn't help that Willow was sneaking under her one 
arm, coming up to kiss Buffy firmly and passionately.

The Slayer moaned but managed to get the key in the door.  Willow 
pulled back slightly with a giggle and let Buffy open the door, 
noticing Tara's hands under Buffy's shirt.  

"Oh my God," Buffy whispered. It felt like their hands and lips were 
everywhere as Willow got through the door first, pulling Buffy in 
next with Tara quickly following.  Willow drew Buffy back to her lips 
and whimpered when Tara's hands returned around Buffy and began 
tormenting both Willow and Buffy's nipples. 

"Bed, now!" Tara managed to croak out.

Buffy would have sworn in court that the few steps it took to get to 
the large bed in the back had somehow doubled. It felt like it took 
forever to reach the bed as hands removed clothing. Lips were 
everywhere now that cloth was gone with hands quickly following. 

Willow moved to the far side of the bed and watched with anticipation 
as Buffy and Tara joined her.  Tara grinned and lightly pushed the 
Slayer onto the bed, positioning Buffy between the two witches.

"What is this, a Slayer sandwich?" Buffy teased. "What if I want Tara 
in the middle?"

"No one gets ignored," Tara said confidently, running her hands over 
Buffy's hips as Willow moved her lips to Buffy's neck. Willow's hand 
ran over Tara's shoulder, wanting contact.

Buffy quit protesting as Tara moved down her body, lips kissing and 
tongue exploring the Slayer's body, from breasts to toes and then 
started working her way up the inside of Buffy's legs.  Willow was 
focusing on Buffy's breasts as well with her hands while her lips and 
tongue occupied Buffy's mouth.

Buffy knew she was in heaven, nothing could be better than having 
Tara and Willow loving her.  The Slayer's body arched as Tara's lips 
and tongue moved to her sex and Willow's teeth began working at her 
neck.

Buffy groaned in frustration when Tara held back slightly and, as if 
reading Tara's mind, Willow avoided the most sensitive spots of 
Buffy's nipples and neck.

"Please!" Buffy begged.  

Tara's tongue began worshipping her blonde lover, running her tongue 
between Buffy's labia, taking in the taste that was uniquely and 
wonderfully Buffy.  The Slayer whimpered, one hand in Tara's hair and 
the other clutching Willow's shoulder.

Willow moved down to dance her tongue over Buffy's nipples as Tara's 
fingers joined the love fest by entering Buffy and her tongue moved 
to the Slayer's clit.

Both witches played Buffy's body like an instrument and the Slayer 
was a quivering mass of muscles.  Buffy was making small mewling 
noises and her hands were clutching at the blanket under her.

Willow moved to Buffy's neck and bit down on the scars left from 
Dracula and Angel, knowing that spot was extremely sensitive and 
erotic for her lover. Tara concentrated on taking Buffy over the edge.

"Oh God, oh God," Buffy was whimpering and then screamed each of 
their names as her body arched.  

The witches continued as more orgasms rocked the Slayer until Buffy 
dropped back to the bed, panting and exhausted.  Willow kissed 
Buffy's lips gently and then pulled Tara up along Buffy's body, 
kissing her lover passionately, sharing Buffy's essence. 

"I'm dead, that's it, I'm dead," Buffy mumbled.

Tara and Willow laughed gently, snuggling into Buffy's arms.

"I can't move," Buffy complained. 

"Go to sleep," Tara muttered, pulling a blanket up over all of 
them. "Attack in the morning."

"Deal." Buffy smiled, realizing Willow was already asleep in her 
arms, the witch's fingers intertwined with Tara's across Buffy's 
ribs. 

* * *

Xander and Anya didn't return to the RV until late afternoon and 
grinned when they found the trio still in bed, clothes thrown 
everywhere.  Willow met their grins, pulling a sheet over the 
sleeping naked bodies of Tara and Buffy, grabbing a shirt for herself.

Xander turned, being a gentleman, as Willow pulled the partition 
closed.  

Willow came out a moment later wearing shorts and shirt and not much 
else. 

"Hey, Will," Xander grinned. Anya was sitting on his lap, looking at 
her simple gold band wedding ring.  

"Hey, guys," Willow smiled.  

"You look better," Anya commented. "We were worried."

"Anya!" Xander squeaked. "We still got to work on the casual 
conversation before getting to the point. It's called tact."

Willow smiled and sat down in the driver's seat.  

"It's okay," she said.  "I understand. I'm sorry about the wolf 
thing."

"I'm not," Xander said and shrugged as Willow looked surprised.  "It 
wasn't your fault that we ran into good Weres and then bad Weres. You 
fought back and controlled it."

"Yeah." Willow frowned, looking thoughtful.  "I killed someone 
again," she said with a heavy sigh, tears filling her eyes. 

"Another evil Were," Xander countered.  "Again, fighting for your 
life and ours."

"I guess what bothers me is that I'd do it again," Willow said softly.

"Good." Xander nodded.  "We're human, Will. We're not Superman. 
Courts allow self defense, you know."  

"I used major, major magic again," Willow protested, her face filled 
with doubt.

"To save your life, our lives and those of the good Weres," Anya 
countered.  "Do you feel you tapped into evil?"

"The magick isn't evil or good, it's how you use it," Willow said 
softly.  

"Saving our lives was a good thing, right?" Anya continued.

Willow smiled at the simplicity of Anya's argument and nodded.

"You're right, I could never regret that" Willow smirked and reached 
over to hug Anya. 

"We heading home?" Xander asked as Willow reached over for the maps.

"I vote we move a little faster towards home," Anya said firmly. 

"I think so too," Xander said softly. "I'm ready to face Sunnyhell 
again."

"Me too," Willow agreed with a smile at the affectionate nickname for 
their home.

"Even with the Council hovering around?" Anya asked.

"Yeah, I've got to face those bastards sooner or later," Willow said 
after a moment's thoughts.  "I got in touch with my wolf and we know 
that I'll eventually come to control it.  The magick feels okay.  I 
used major magick and I'm not going through withdrawals or anything."

"Coolness." Xander smiled.  

"We won't let them take you from us!" Anya said firmly.  

"Thanks, An." Willow smiled. 

"We vote for a direct route home." Tara's voice carried from the back 
and they could hear Buffy and Tara pulling on clothes.

"Welcome back to the world," Xander teased.  

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Buffy growled.  

"Let's hit the road, Will," Tara called out.

"MiLady! Start the engine!" Xander teased.

* * *

The group of young lovers took the next two weeks getting back to 
Southern California.  Xander had requested they make a trip to 
Yosemite, shyly explaining that his family never went anywhere and he 
always wanted to see Half Dome and the park.

Willow, having known Xander from pre-school, smiled and hugged her 
friend fondly as Buffy and Tara nodded in agreement.

Buffy, Willow, and Xander, having never been to Yosemite, were amazed 
at the depth of the beauty, standing awestruck at the look-out 
points.  Anya had seen it once as a vengeance demon in the 60s and 
Tara's family had visited twice in her teens.  They stood back and 
watched their lovers taking in the sights with smiles. 

More stops were made along the way, the pace relaxed but more 
determined than on the way up the state. 

Buffy was most amazed by the rest of the gang when they hit 
Disneyland.  None of them had ever been except Buffy, despite living 
in Southern California.  Willow's parents were never around, 
especially during the summer; Xander's family never bothered with 
vacations; Tara's family never had the money to travel that far 
south; and Anya had never made it there in her demon years.

Once they hit the gates, the group became little kids or confirmed 
romantics, depending on their mood, which could switch in a moment.  
Climbing through pirate caves, screaming on Space Mountain, and 
eating in the French Quarter were all memories that none of them 
wanted to let go of any time soon.

They spent two days at the park and only had a couple of embarrassing 
moments when Anya inquired about Mickey's sex life with Minnie 
directly to the costumed worker dressed as Mickey.  Xander had 
laughed and quickly dragged his wife away as the worker ignored the 
question, children crowding around him or her.

It was a month and a half after having left Sunnydale when the RV 
pulled over to the side of the road and Buffy looked at the roadside, 
announcing they were now entering the city.  Willow, sitting in the 
passenger seat, glanced over at the Slayer.  

"Ready for this, Buff?" she asked softly as the others looked up from 
their card game at the table.

"I should be asking you that," Buffy smiled.  "You're the Most Wanted 
type by the Initiative, Dracula and the Watcher Council."

Willow smirked.  "High school geek makes good, wanted by everyone!"

Buffy smiled.  "We'll be fine, Will."

"You bet, I've got you guys." Willow nodded.  "I'm not worried. I'm 
not out of control and I don't think I'm a danger."

"Only to demons, vamps and evil Weres," Xander declared.

Tara got up and moved to the seat behind Willow, wrapping her arms 
around her mate.  

Buffy guided the small RV through the streets, easily.  After 
handling the small monster through all kinds of country and across 
all types of roads, each of the Scooby gang was very adept at 
handling the vehicle.  Only Xander was nervous on rough terrain or 
very curvy roads because of his cast and one-armed driving.

The Slayer stopped the RV in front of the Summers' home with a sigh.  

"Well, looks the same," she commented.

"Except for the rental car in front of the place," Xander remarked. 

"Watchers," Willow said softly, a frown on her face.

"How can you tell?" Tara asked softly, still holding Willow tightly 
from behind.

"They've got several magic workers with them," Willow grumbled and 
Tara sat back in her seat.

"She's right, they're scanning for us, testing Willow's shields," 
Tara said softly, rubbing her hands over her arms.

"That might be what's setting my spidey sense off," Buffy joined in 
the grumbling.

"Well, we knew they'd be waiting," Xander pointed out.  "We did call 
earlier and say we were coming in."

"I didn't expect a war party," Willow complained.  

"Well, do we wait out here with the motor running or face this?" 
Xander asked and Buffy turned to Willow.

"Do you think they want to hurt you, Will?" she asked softly, her 
body starting to hum with "fight or flight" energy.

"They aren't friendly but we knew that," Willow said 
bitterly.  "Let's face them."

"Alright," Buffy growled.  "But no separating! I don't trust the 
Council!"

"I don't either," Willow agreed.

Both Tara and Buffy frowned as they sensed Willow's shields slamming 
down, stronger than when their lover had run away before.

"I've got a really bad idea," Xander said softly and the women turned 
to him.

* * *

The girls waved as the RV pulled away from the curb and then bent to 
pick up their bags.  Buffy resisted dropping her bags and reaching 
for a weapon when the door opened and a man dressed in typical 
English tweed stepped into the light.  Behind him were a woman and a 
man, both young and stern looking.

"This doesn't look good," Buffy muttered.

"No it doesn't," Tara agreed, slipping a hand into Willow's.  "Take 
it easy, baby."

"I'm good," Willow murmured.

"Welcome home, ladies," Quentin Travers said calmly.  

"Where's my Mom and Giles?" Buffy demanded.

"Inside with some of my associates," Quentin answered easily. "You 
aren't armed are you?"

"Excuse me?" Buffy's eyebrows rose in question.  "I'm the Slayer, of 
course I'm armed."

"I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you for your weapons while we 
conduct our interview with Ms. Rosenberg," Quentin said firmly.

"No way, pal," Buffy growled.  "You're in my home and you're giving 
me orders?  You don't seem to remember that I don't take orders well."

"Really, Ms. Summers." Quentin shook his head.  "Please don't make me 
resort to threats against your mother and Mr. Giles. We wish to 
interview Ms. Rosenberg about her magickal abilities, dangers and her 
lycanthropy and we know how attached you are to her. Please hand over 
your weapons or this will get unpleasant very quickly."

"You know what I'm capable of," Willow growled, dropping Tara's hand 
from hers.

Quentin shook his head. "You attempt anything and both Mrs. Summers 
and Mr. Giles will be burnt to a cinder."

"So will you," Willow snapped, her eyes shifting to wolf yellow.

"And you will be hit with such a backlash spell that will kill all of 
you as well," Quentin informed the witch.  "Is this pissing contest 
worth it?"

"Buffy?" Willow asked softly. "You know I can't do it."

"No, it's not, you bastard," Buffy growled and reached slowly into 
her jacket pocket and tossed Mr. Pointy at Quentin's feet and, then 
reached behind her back and pulled out a large hunting knife and 
tossed that as well. "You know Will's a good guy and couldn't fry 
you."

"The guns?" Quentin questioned, ignoring the Slayer's comment about 
her lover.

"In the RV, we didn't expect to get into a shoot-out at home," Buffy 
grumbled.

"Alright, please come in, ladies," Quentin said pleasantly and 
stepped aside.

"Will?" Tara questioned softly.

"We have to face them sometime." Willow frowned. "I'm not going to 
subject both of you to a blood hunt because of me."

Buffy walked up first and stopped to glare at Travers.  "Just know 
this, no matter what happens, accident, intentional, whatever, if 
anything happens to my mother, Giles or my mates, I'll rip your 
throat out."

"Slayers don't kill humans." Quentin smirked.

"I haven't been your Slayer since my 18th birthday, remember?" Buffy 
countered.  "You're threatening my family and my mates, don't push me 
on this."

"Understand this, Ms. Summers; we will evaluate any potential threat 
by Ms. Rosenberg and we will neutralize it if necessary," Quentin 
countered.  "No matter the costs."

"Oh this is ridiculous," Willow snapped.  "Go on in, Buffy. Don't 
give them a reason to have trigger-happy magic fingers.  I can pass 
any test they want."

"Oh really? Is that why you used dark magic to destroy a large pack 
of werewolves in the California mountains?" Quentin questioned.

"Is the interrogation started?" Willow countered.  "Can I at least 
put my bags down?"

Tara was surprised. Willow isn't usually this&this&spunky.  She felt 
the surprised energy from Buffy as well.

"You're right, no need to be barbaric about this," Quentin 
agreed.  "Please, let's go inside and have some tea."

//Willow?// Tara called mentally.

//I'm okay, I'm shaking to death inside, but I'm okay, // Willow 
answered.

//You're worrying us,// Tara admitted.

//I guess he brings out the alpha wolf in me. They want to hurt me, 
Tar.// Willow whimpered mentally as they walked inside.

//We won't let them, Willow,// Buffy said firmly, joining the 
conversation.

//Don't give them a reason to react, Will,// Tara advised and then 
fought to control her own emotions when they entered the door and saw 
Giles and Joyce Summers sitting on the sofa.  On either side of the 
couple was a young man with a pistol pointed at their heads.  
Standing at the base of the stairs was another young woman, her eyes 
magic-black and ready.  A young male, eyes black as well, stood by 
the mantle.

//Don't react!// Tara yelled mentally, struggling herself.

//Calm, think calm,// Willow repeated to herself.

"This make you feel important?" Buffy snapped, knowing that Quentin 
expected some sort of reaction.

"It was necessary to ensure your cooperation. He shrugged. 

"Why? We kept you informed of our trip and Willow's recovery," Buffy 
demanded.  "We let you know when we were coming home. Why the 
hostility and show of force?"

"We've studied those reports carefully." Quentin 
nodded.  "Particularly that last incident with the werewolves. We've 
concluded that Ms. Rosenberg is too powerful and untrained to just 
let run around."

"So, you passed judgment on me without talking or testing?" Willow 
snapped.

"You wiped out an entire pack of werewolves by using magick, 
according to your report," Quentin said calmly.

"Yes, and I'd do it again," Willow commented. "I used their own 
energy and turned it back on them. They used drugs and spells to turn 
me into an evil werewolf, a killer.  I resisted, I fought back."

"She saved our lives," Buffy growled.

"Her presence put you in that danger in the first place," one of the 
young men countered.  "Being a werewolf drew them to her."

"I wasn't the first," Willow growled. "They were the pack that 
corrupted my ex-boyfriend and turned him evil and they would have 
kept on corrupting other Weres and killing passing tourists."

"She did what any Slayer would have done," Buffy complained.

"She's not a Slayer," Quentin clarified.  "Willow is a werewolf and a 
witch and not under our control or jurisdiction."

"That's what drives you crazy, isn't it?" Buffy asked bitterly as she 
slowly walked over to look at her mother and Giles, to reassure 
herself they weren't harmed. "You guys okay?" she asked softly.

Giles held Joyce's hand tightly.

"Don't trust them, Buffy," he said softly.

"We're okay, Buff." Joyce nodded. 

"What drives me crazy?" Quentin questioned.

"That you can't control us, that I'm the oldest living Slayer on 
record and you can't control me or my friends," Buffy snapped.

"Well, it is annoying and goes totally against tradition," one of the 
young men said.

"What are you, a Wesley clone?" Buffy quipped.

"I killed a pack of evil werewolves that preyed on innocent humans 
and corrupted other werewolves into becoming killers," Willow said 
thoughtfully.  "I don't see the ethical problem here."

"You used magic to do it," one of the women snapped.

"Ursula," Quentin said softly.  "Yes, we know that you have a 
weakness for magick after Dracula subjected you to raw magick.  You 
agreed to not use such power again until you had some control."

"Didn't you read the other reports?" Tara demanded.  "Willow was 
taught a lot of control by the friendly Weres."

"They're not going to listen, Tar," Willow said slowly.  "So, what's 
the verdict and sentence?" Willow demanded.

"Either you allow us to burn your magickal abilities out, you come 
with us for proper training, or we eliminate you here and now," 
Quentin said calmly.



------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-->
Buy Ink Cartridges or Refill Kits for your HP, Epson, Canon or Lexmark
Printer at MyInks.com. Free s/h on orders $50 or more to the US & Canada.
http://www.c1tracking.com/l.asp?cid=5511
http://us.click.yahoo.com/mOAaAA/3exGAA/qnsNAA/RoMolB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------~->

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

Community email addresses:
     Post message: buffywantswillow@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
     Subscribe:    buffywantswillow-subscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
     Unsubscribe:  buffywantswillow-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
     List owner:   buffywantswillow-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Shortcut URL to this page:
     http://groups.yahoo.com/group/buffywantswillow

Official archive for the list:
     http://www.ikoly.com/fanfic

Other links to Buffy/Willow fics:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/buffywantswillow/links  

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/