Rising from the Wreckage

Rating: NC-17

Disclaimer: The characters and show all belong to Joss Whedon, Fox, Mutant Enemy, Kuzui, et al. No copyright infringement was intended.  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.

Distribution: 

http://www.megawitches.net/Story/RoundRobin/mwrr.htm

http://mysticmuse.net

Feedback: Feedback welcome!

Grouping: Buffy/Willow/Tara

Tara gave Buffy a sideways smile, something the Slayer noted as being 'distinctly Tara.' She'd seen that particular look grace the Witch's beautiful visage countless times before, but it always reserved for a special redhead. Now, Buffy couldn't help but respond with a smile of her own, as she realized she was the recipient of that awfully cute look this time. "Tara, I…" Buffy began, but wasn't quite sure what to say. The kiss they just shared was great, amazing, and wonderful; though it was also new, scary, and felt decidedly far more comfortable than she ever thought it would have been. The Slayer wasn't dumb, far from it in fact, but she was at a loss for words on how to really describe what it felt like to kiss those bee-stung lips. 'Like coming home. It was safe and warm.' Buffy finally got her mind to wrap around the sensations, albeit they could never be all encompassing to what she really felt just then.

"Shhh," Tara interjected, placing a finger tenderly against Buffy's lips to silence the Slayer. Her cerulean eyes told the woman before her that words weren't needed just yet and Buffy gave her a smile that spoke of her appreciation. Taking a hand, callused from countless battles, within her own, the Witch pulled Buffy to the bed where she sat back and positioned the blonde between her legs. She leaned up against the smaller woman, her full breasts pressed up against a well-muscled back, and wrapped her arms around the tiny waist.

Buffy sighed and allowed herself to fall into the arms that encircled her, a feeling of contentment flooded her body and her eyes drifted shut to enjoy the moment. Actions did speak louder than words and both women knew that though their bodies still ached for the other on a purely sexual level, their hearts knew that the closeness was the only thing needed just now.

Dear Diary:

Hmmm, ever wonder why people do that? I mean, why write 'dear diary?' It's not like you're really writing a letter, you're just scribble thoughts down on a piece of paper. I don't know, I guess it's just to make us feel better about talking to ourselves.

Anyway, it's no big surprise that the end of the world is coming again and yeah, yeah, in comes Buffy to the rescue again. Well, okay maybe not just Buffy this time. Oh, I didn't tell you! OMG, Giles came back home finally. Yeah, sure, he came with the end of the world prophecy thing, but the point is he's back and I hope he's going to stick around this time, if Buffy can save the world again, which she so is, cause get this, Buffy needs Willow and Tara this time.

Giles was saying stuff about how they have to bond or something. I just figured it meant we'd finally get Willow back and we'd be a family again, like before everything happened with all the magic and stuff. But then I heard some noises coming from Willow and Tara's room, except it was only Tara and Buffy in there and I heard what Xander said. I don't think they're really doing that and just the thought of my sister and sex is just so completely ewwwww! But I mean, what happens when Willow comes home? If Buffy and Tara do hook up will Willow leave again? Does this bond that Giles keeps talking about mean they all have to, well, ya know.

I'm not sure if I can really talk to anyone about this. Well, I can probably talk to Tara cause she's always so easy to talk to, but what do you really say? 'Hey? You and my sis getting it on?' I don't think so.

Anyway, we just sent off some emails to Willow. I hope she at least reads them, but I really hope she comes back home. Yeah, I'm still a little grrr over the accident and the whole broken arm thing, but I mean come on, this is Willow. She always stuck up for me when Buffy was being all 'slayer-ish' and from what Angel's been telling us she's being doing pretty good with getting better.

Oh, there's the door to Tara's room. Maybe I'll go see if I can talk to her without sounding like some perv or something. I'll write more later if I find out anything new.

"I have to talk to Giles before I go out on patrol," Buffy's voice finally broke the comfortable silence of the bedroom.

Tara nodded, but tightened her hold around the Slayer. "I really like this," she informed, her tone soft and gentle.

Buffy closed her eyes and gave the hands still around her waist a gentle squeeze of acknowledgement. "Me too." Neither woman made a move to extract themselves from the embrace until Buffy added, "But unfortunately vamps and apocalypses don't wait for snuggle-time." She moaned against the thought of leaving the arms around, but finally made the effort to stand up.

Tara remained on the bed, an unreadable expression on her face as she studied the blonde in front of her. Thoughts tumbled across her mind, words were fragmented, as she tried to think of something to fill the suddenly awkward air between them.

Buffy beat her to it with a simple, "Catch ya later, then," and the Slayer was out the door.

"Tara?" Dawn's voice filtered into the room through the door that Buffy left partially ajar when she left ten minutes ago.

The blonde looked up and smiled at the site of the young woman she considered a sister. "Hey, Dawnie, what's going on?"

Dawn smiled and took the greeting as an invitation. She stepped into the room and sat next to the witch. "I, um, I kinda wondered if I could talk to you for a sec?"

Tara watched as Dawn fidgeted next to her and gave her a smile that she hoped would ease whatever worried the teen. "Sure, Dawn, you know you can always talk to me."

"Well, I was kind of wondering about the prophecy," Dawn decided before she came in to start with something easy and not come bursting out with 'Are you and Buffy going to date?'

"I don't really know," she started. "Giles seems to have most of the information, have you tried talking to him?"

"Ah, not so much, no," Dawn answered hesitantly and refused to look directly at the blonde.

"Dawn?" Tara queried as she picked up on the nervous tension that rolled off the younger girl. "What's this really about?" Her voice was gentle as it encouraged Dawn to speak her mind.

"I'm just worried, that's all. I mean," Dawn started and quickly found her mouth speaking words her mind told her was not so much of the good. "What if willow comes back and finds out you guys are together and then she'll leave again."

"Oh," Tara expressed as she let out a long breath and used the pause to collect her thoughts. "Dawnie," Tara tried, but the teen wouldn't look up. "Dawn," she tried again and added to her plea a finger under the girl's chin and gently pressed until their eyes locked. "I'm not sure what's going on between Buffy and I, but that's not to say I love Willow any less. It's kind of like," Tara paused and tried to see if she had the words, or even the understanding to really express this. "It's kind of like they each have their own place in my heart, ya know? I always assumed that the part Buffy held was just in a 'dear friend' kind of way. When she stood up for me, when you all did, against my family, something just seemed to click. Here was this savior of the world who could have easily let my dad take me back home and not be bothered, especially after that spell I did…" Tara's thoughts returned to that day and she grew quiet for a moment.

That day she cast a spell on all the Scoobies that made them blind to the demons that happened to show up. She put them all in very real danger, each fighting for their lives against invisible foes. She took from them the right to decide whether or not to accept Tara if she were a demon. She took from them their free will to make any decision on the matter and left them in a lethal situation as a result. Not really that much different from what Willow did. The blonde shook her head from her thoughts and gave the teen who waited patiently a smile.

"I'm sorry," she apologized meekly. "Point is, I always just assumed it was a hero worship thing that grew into a nice friendship. Now, I don't know, I think that friendship could easily become something more. But Willow always had my heart too. I think she had it before I ever met her," Tara smiled sheepishly at her overly romantic statement.

"So, what are you gonna do?" Dawn pressed gently. "I mean, you can't just have them both, right?"

Tara went to answer immediately but held back to mull Dawn's question over a bit. Why couldn't the three of them work something out? She knew Willow always had some type of feeling for Buffy and always suspected there might be something on Buffy's end too. In fact, there was a time there that she prepared herself for when Willow would knock on her door one night and say things between them were over because she and Buffy finally found their way together. Now things were a little different and a lot more complicated. It was something that she'd have to talk to both women about and that meant getting Willow to somehow come home and keep her here after she finds out about the prophecy.

"I don't know, Dawn, I guess we'll just have to play things out and see where they go each day. How do you feel about that? I mean, the possibility of maybe Buffy and I…" she trailed off, not really sure how to asked, 'do you mind if I date your sister' even though it was a fairly simple question.

Dawn knew what was being asked and she didn't have any answers. Her own thoughts and emotions about this were so confused and in fact, that's what brought her to Tara's room in the first place. Except, instead of answers, she got more questions. She shrugged and stood up with a smile, "Don't know, guess we'll do like you said and take it one day at a time, right?"

Tara gave the teen a smile followed by a nod. "Dawn, if you ever need to, I'm always here for you to talk to, okay?" The blonde knew she already said that much when the girl first came in, but she really wanted Dawn to know that no matter what happened - no matter who she wound up dating or not dating - that she'd always be there for her.

Dawn returned both the smile and nod and left the room. Tara slumped back against the bed and blew out a breath of air. "What a mess," she groaned and rolled over onto her side.

"So, the witch won't play?" The voice echoed in the quiet room. "Just as well, we've got the vampire now. Still, she holds too much power to let the other side have, do something about that, won't you?" The question wasn't a request, it was a demand, and everyone in the room knew it.

"Yes, sir," another voice intoned, quickly followed by the soft sounds caused by shuffled feet as three men in suits left the room.

Mr. Bester turned back to the window and watched his men working on the unconscious vampire. The chip was implanted deep inside and if it were just a matter of removing it things wouldn't be so difficult. Their purposes, however, meant they'd have to get in, remove the chip, reprogram it, and reinsert it - all without damaging the vampires brain in the process. He might be dead, but he still had a malicious mind and it would be a great waste to ruin that, especially now that they were without the witch.

He tapped his fingers idly on the wood grained surface of the table he stood before. Thoughts wandered to others he could call into service. He already had those weaseling lawyers, the tech wizard kid, and now the vampire. But something else was needed, more power on their side, particularly something that would counter the power of the witches. His men were efficient, but he didn't last this long by trusting humans. No, he needed a counter plan in case the red witch managed to get back to her friends, but he also needed something that would counter the blonde witch as well.

A gentle knock came at the door, "Sir?" a voice lowered in respect called in.

"Ahhh, any word?" Mr. Bester asked while he kept his eyes on the surgery being performed in the other room.

"Yes, sir, we've acquired what you've asked for. Awful lot of trouble, sir, but it's in the waiting room for you."

"Very good." Mr. Bester turned and left the room and walked right past the man at the door as though he weren't even there. He quickly made his way to the waiting room and smiled at the woman who had her booted feet propped up on the desk. "So good of you to come."

She turned in her seat and narrowed her eyes at the man. "Yeah, well, a get outta jail free card ain't something I'm gonna just toss away."

"Faith, is it?" He asked and took a seat behind the desk.

"Yeah, look, the sooner you get on about whatever evil scheme ya got going on the sooner I can get going, okay? I've heard all the same mumbo jumbo before so let's cut to the chase, k?"

Mr. Bester chuckled and shook his head. "I somehow doubt you've heard this all before, my dear girl." He smiled at the growl that came from Faith from that. "Point is, I need a slayer to handle a slayer."

Faith kept her face neutral but her insides were doing jumping jacks at warp speed. 'B? He's after B and he wants me to do the dirty work.' She took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, on the outside it looked like she was bored, but inside she used it to help clear her mind.

"Somehow I think you'll be just perfect for us," Mr. Bester was saying. "Now, if you'll follow me, I'll show you around and get you settled in. I'm sure you're probably hungry considering what they serve in prison can hardly be considered food. We'll get you fed and then we'll talk."

"Yeah, whatever," Faith shrugged and lazily let her feet drop to the floor with a thumb-thud before she got up and followed him out the door.

Continued in Chapter 15...

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