by JustSkipIt » Thu Jul 23, 2009 7:21 pm
leftindust – Well, it’s easy to see why you missed it. I forgot to change the date on the thread title. Hopefully I’ll remember this time.
Story Title – Working It Out
Chapter – 6 - Return
Author – JustSkipIt
Pairing – Willow/Tara, Faith/Dawn
Feedback – Yes, please
Spoilers – None
Rating – NC-17
Disclaimer – Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy own Willow, Tara, and the Buffyverse and Angelverse and all characters and locations from those universes. No copyright infringement is meant by this fic and I will not make any money from it.
Dawn woke slowly, noting the dim light coming through the curtains in her hotel room. She could feel Faith’s arm wrapped around her stomach and her body pressed against Dawn’s back as the other girl spooned her from behind. She smiled as she just reveled in the closeness for a moment, then gently slipped her hand under Faith’s to ease it off and roll from the bed. She wasn’t prepared to feel Faith’s hand grasp her fingers or her arm tighten around her stomach. “Not yet…” the sleepy slayer whispered.
“It’s ok, baby. You just sleep.” Dawn whispered and felt Faith’s grip loosen around her stomach. The younger girl lifted her lover’s hand to her lips and placed a gentle kiss on the fingers as she slid from the bed and set Faith’s palm on the sheet.
She quickly went into the bathroom and shut the door before turning on the shower to give it a chance to run hot. A part of her was tempted to run to Willow’s room immediately but the parts of her brain reminding her that it was 6:00 in the morning and that her evening with Faith had been rather… vigorous dealt her some logic in the form of her need for a shower. Honestly, she still couldn’t believe that Tara was back—that Buffy used her wish to bring Tara back. Faith had seemed more understanding of the generosity of Buffy’s gesture than Dawn could bring herself to feel and she wondered if maybe her assessments of her sister were wrong or at least less than generous.
Faith had not moved from her spot on the bed when Dawn exited the room fully dressed ten minutes later. She locked and checked and double-checked the door before leaving. She knew it was too early to knock on the room three doors down but she didn’t really care somehow. She knocked gently on the door and heard Willow’s voice, “It’s probably Buffy. I’ve got it.”
She could hear Tara answer but not what she said and it just made her want to get through that door all the quicker. Willow opened the door with a smile and was obviously surprised to see Dawn rather than Buffy but nodded and smiled as she stood to the side. “Come on, Dawnie.”
Dawn practically ran across the room to embrace Tara who sat on the bed, obviously having finished eating breakfast and still drinking a cup of coffee. When she was done, Tara held Dawn at arms length, taking a good look up and down the teenager. “You’re taller now.” She smiled. “And happy birthday, Dawnie.” She motioned toward a nearby chair indicating that Dawn should take a seat.
“I’m going to go shower since Dawn’s here,” Willow offered. Dawn thought the kiss between the two witches seemed comparatively chaste in comparison to the last time she had seen them together.
Dawn and Tara both watched the redhead until she had closed the door to the bathroom and they heard the shower running. “I can’t believe you’re back, Tara. I’ve missed you so much.” The younger girl found her eyes filling with tears.
Tara nodded her head and extended her hand for Dawn to hold. “I know. And I’m glad to be back too.”
“But?”
“But, what?”
Dawn tried to fix Tara with her most serious stare. “Your sentence ended with a but. What’s the but?” She laughed. “Or what does Buffy say? ‘You have but-face.’”
Tara laughed as well. “Touche.” She looked toward the bathroom door. “It’s just sort of weird. I mean… first off, I was dead until a few hours ago.” Dawn nodded. “And while I was gone… well, a lot happened and … Willow’s tried to tell me about it but it’s just hard to believe that she… that anyone… I don’t know. It’s all weird.”
Dawn nodded, then moved to sit by Tara on the bed. “I know that. And it was hard. I mean everything you missed seemed so big. But I missed you and I know she did too. She was crazy when you were gone. I mean just crazy. And believe me, I don’t want to defend her but we all just… I mean we needed you and she needed you and … You still love her, right?”
Tara again smiled at the closed bathroom door. “Every single moment since I met her.”
Noticing the pot of coffee on the dresser, Dawn crossed the room and got a cup as well as refilling Tara’s cup without asking. She came back and took a sip as she waited. “So what was it like?”
Tara smiled. “I knew you’d ask that. You mean did I see our moms? Was I an angel? That type thing?”
Dawn smiled right back. “Yes, that type thing.” They heard the water in the bathroom shut off and then laughed as they heard Willow’s off-key singing for a moment.
“Well. I didn’t meet up with my mom or Joyce like meeting them in a hallway or going shopping or something. It was more like I was just in this state where I felt joy and happiness and I knew that everything and everyone I loved was nearby. Even the people here in the living even though I couldn’t see you.” She stopped talking and took a drink of her coffee.
Dawn looked curiously at the older girl. “And what else? What were you going to say?”
Tara shook her head. “You’re too perceptive, sweetie.”
Dawn smiled. “I have to be around here because no one tells me anything.”
“Again touché. Ok, what I didn’t say was that most of the time everything was the same but there was some point. I don’t know, it seemed really recent but time doesn’t work like that there so I don’t know. Anyway, there was an instant when everything seemed… more so? Like stronger. Much stronger.”
Before Dawn could answer, there was a knock at the door. “I’ll get it.” She jumped up and crossed the room to pull open the door and find Buffy standing there holding a tray of Danish and bananas. “You found the party, Buffy.”
Buffy came in and set down her offerings before taking the seat Dawn had vacated while the younger girl took a seat on the bed and handed Tara a banana. Dawn listened, just happy to have Tara back as the other two girls visited about welcoming Tara back and making sure she was ok. Dawn noticed that just before Willow emerged from the bathroom, Buffy managed to ask if Tara would rather have her own room, a suggestion Tara assured her was not necessary.
“So, Tara… “ Buffy seemed unsure about what to say, “You’re back and Xander, Robin, and a few of the other girls will be back this afternoon so we kind of thought we’d have a celebratory dinner tonight.” She glanced at Dawn so obviously that it was all the teenager could do not to add, “And for my birthday.”
Willow came over and sat on Tara’s other side, snuggling the blonde. “That’s a great idea, Buff.”
Buffy nodded. “I’ve been known to have a few. Oh, and I asked Faith to take some of the girls and cover patrol so I’m free all night.”
“Rather than inviting her,” Dawn added.
Tara looked back and forth between the siblings. “So Faith’s here? Well, that’s great and sounds like I need even more catching up.” She took another sip of her coffee. “How is she? I mean I’ve only met her the one time and she was kind of … mean?”
Willow laughed. “Sweetie, she’d woken up from an eight month coma and stolen Buffy’s body. I think she might have been going for mean.”
Dawn took a deep breath. “Yes, Tara. Faith is here. She broke out of prison when Wesley said he needed help with Angel. Then she came to Sunnydale and helped save the world.” She looked at Buffy and Willow. “Only these two seem to be having a hard time remembering that part.”
“And you have too easy a time forgetting that she held you and mom at knifepoint, Dawn,” Buffy argued.
Dawn shook her head. “She was never going to hurt us. She told me.”
Willow looked at the teenager stupefied. “What? When?”
Dawn tried to control her anger at the way the other two were reacting. “At the time. I mean she put the knife away. She offered it to me. She said that she just wanted Buffy to come save us but that she wasn’t going to hurt us.” She took a breath before adding. “Ok, I mean maybe that’s not what happened since I wasn’t there for any of it but the monks put in there. I remember it so maybe that means they thought that was what she would have done.”
“It sounds like she’s changed,” Tara offered.
Dawn nodded her head victoriously. “Yes, and that’s why Buffy should have invited her to this thing tonight rather than totally dissing her.”
Buffy threw up her hands in frustration. “Whatever. I mean, you want your hero to come so you can just daze at her while she grunts incomprehensibly like a cavewoman, why don’t you go pound on her door until she wakes up and tells you to get lost. Oh wait, I know. Because she’s probably not even around. I mean, she’s changed but she hasn’t slept in her room since we got here.”
“Spoken like the hotel’s bed-check police, Buffy. When did you become house-mother?” Before the older girl could answer, Dawn turned to Tara. “Sorry, Tara that your first morning back has digressed into the normal Summers sister squabbling, and before you can say that three times fast, I’m going to go for a run.” She gave Tara and Willow quick hugs and then left without even speaking to Buffy.
Buffy watched her sister leave and shrugged. “I don’t know… arggghhh. I mean, she wants to follow Faith around like a puppy dog. She thinks she’s some snuggly little thing that she can adopt and bring home and train to bring the paper but she doesn’t seem to want to notice that the girl is more like those dogs you see on the news who eat a toddler and don’t even know they did something wrong.”
Willow looked back and forth between Tara and Buffy before speaking. “You know, Buff?” When the Slayer looked at her as if she didn’t feel like being lectured, Willow held up her hands. “Right, right. No lecture. But here’s the thing. I mean I’m not Faith’s biggest fan and never have been.”
“See!”
“But.”
“But?”
“But she does seem different. I mean I can’t say about her not coming home.” Buffy looked like she was going to say something but Willow spoke louder as if to cut her off. “But I’ve seen her with the younger girls and she seems really interested in teaching them and she’s even come by and asked me if I needed help a few times.”
Buffy shook her head. “Ok, great. Faith’s a great person. Let’s nominate her for an award and invite her to Dawn’s birthday party.” She looked at Tara. “Sorry, Tara. The dinner is for Dawn’s birthday too.”
Tara laughed. “I got that.” She yawned and the other two girls seeing, quickly rose and said she should sleep. Tara agreed and Willow walked Buffy to the door, again thanking her profusely for her wish.
When the redhead returned to the bed she was shaking her head. “Those wacky Summers girls…”
Tara yawned again and fluffed her pillow. “You’re going to snuggle me?”
Willow smiled as she moved the cups from the bed. “Couldn’t stop me.” She slid under the covers. “I need to do some logistics work but I can do that from here and I’ll wait until you’re asleep.”
“Ok…” Tara was already dozing by the time Willow finished speaking.
--
By late afternoon, Tara was really glad she took that nap. She felt quite tired which she attributed to the unusualness of her situation. Then there was the fact that she’d spent most of the night alternately being informed of what she had missed by Willow and making love with Willow. All in all, very little sleeping had been done. And her day had been spent greeting and catching up with the Scoobies, meeting new Slayers, and being challenged as an agent of the First by anyone she encountered before they had been told that Tara had returned. By about the third or fourth person, Tara just reached her hand out and took a hold of the person’s arms and said “I’m real.”
Willow had indeed stayed with Tara most of the day but had drifted off to take care of an emergent situation. Tara had taken another nap and was now ready to join the group for the dinner out. She pulled the door to their room shut and nearly stepped right into another woman.
“Hey, sorry. You ok?”
Tara turned quickly, recognizing the voice immediately. “Fine. Thanks for asking though.” She looked at the dark-haired woman intently for a moment. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be staring.”
Faith stuck out her hand. “I don’t know if you remember me but I’m Faith. And you’re welcome to stare.”
Tara extended her hand as well. “Tara Maclay, but you knew that already.” Her eyes flickered to the space around Faith’s head and she shut them quickly. “I’m sorry again.”
Faith looked puzzled at the blonde. “You want to walk? Why are you so sorry?” The two girls started walking down the corridor.
Tara took a breath. “I… I read auras. I mean usually I can control it which I try to do because it’s an in-invasion of privacy. But you’re … I’ve had a long time to block Buffy’s aura so I have to try and see it but you being a …”
“Slayer?”
Tara nodded thoughtfully. “Or maybe just like, superbeing. Sometimes it’s hard for me to shut out Angel, Conner, Dawn, even Oz when I met him.” She shook her head. “Anyway, I just… I feel like I’m invading your privacy just being near you.”
Faith shrugged. “Most of my business is everyone’s business anyway so don’t hurt yourself looking away. Anything you see interesting?”
Tara laughed. “It’s not like a fortune telling session. It’s more like emotions, feelings.”
“And?”
They had reached the steps to the lobby by this time and Tara looked down the steps to where she could see the other Scoobies in conversation. She reached out and took Faith’s hand. “Passion, justice, heart, honesty, and I think…”
“You think?” Faith playfully put her hand on her hip and wagged a finger at the witch. “You can’t just tease me like that just because you’re back from the dead.”
Tara bit down on her lip. “I … you’re in love. And it’s your first time I think. And it’s just bursting out of you. And it winds everything else up.”
Faith laughed loudly. “Uh yeah, Blondie. I think maybe you’re trip back through the veil-thingy has kind of messed up your mojo.” She laughed again.
Tara shrugged. “Ok, I shouldn’t have been l-looking anyway.” She reached out and grabbed Faith’s hand. “Look, Faith. Would you come out with all of us to dinner tonight? I know Buffy asked you to patrol but I think everyone would be happy for you to come.” When Faith didn’t answer after a few seconds she tagged on, “Dawn specifically mentioned you and since it’s for her birthday, maybe you could drop by?”
Tara could see Faith stiffening throughout the last exchange. “Ok, look. I appreciate the invite and all. I’m going to take out some of these newbies but I’ll see if I can, you know, drop by. I uh, you know, didn’t get the kid anything though.”
Tara nodded with a smile. “I think that’s fine, Faith.”
“Ok, I’ll see you later then, Blondie.” Faith started to walk over to talk to Buffy for a minute but Tara stopped her.
“Faith, I … next time I’ll be able to block reading you better. I just have to ad-adjust?”
“No worries. I mean your reading is kind of bull-shit anyway, but I don’t really mind.”
The Slayer crossed the room to talk to Buffy as Tara watched her. “Bullshit, right.” She watched as Faith’s energy spiked when she approached the Summers girls to discuss patrol with Buffy.
“Whatcha doin, baby?” Willow grasped Tara around the waist and kissed her neck as she stood behind her looking into the crowded room.
“Mmm, waiting for you to come hold me like this.” Tara melted back into Willow’s grasp.
Willow kissed her lover on the neck. “Did I see you talking with Faith?”
Tara nodded. “We met in the hallway and walked down here together. She said she’ll drop by later if she can.”
Willow snorted into Tara’s neck. “I’ll hold my breath.”
The two witches broke apart to see that people were getting ready to leave for the dinner party. Tara had met Robin earlier in the day as well as having a reunion with Xander and telling him she was sorry about Anya.
By the time they reached the restaurant, a casual but not too insane spot Gunn had suggested the group numbered over 20: Scoobies, new slayers, and a few of the L.A. contingent. They got a big table in a semi-private room and enjoyed appetizers and drinks (mostly soft drinks since most of the people at the table were under age). Dawn found herself sitting between Robin and Amanda and knew that she was glancing too frequently at the door. This is ridiculous. She’s out patrolling and there’s no reason to think she is going to come out here anyway. When Faith had checked in with Buffy before heading out for patrol, she hadn’t said so much as a word to Dawn which the teen knew shouldn’t hurt her feelings but it did.
In spite of wondering if Faith would show, Dawn enjoyed visiting with her neighbors. She hadn’t had that much of a chance to get to know most of the potentials before the final fight nor now. As they were near her age, she was enjoying the chance to discuss music, movies, books, and other gossip with them.
“So, Dawn. What are you going to do for college?” Robin’s question was actually one to which the youngster had given a lot of though.
“Well, I’ve been accepted everywhere I applied but I haven’t given it much thought. I’m thinking of taking a year off to just help set up the center in Cleveland with Buffy and Willow.” She glanced across the table at Tara and smiled. “And Tara of course. I think I could defer my admission and start next year.”
Robin nodded. “Sure. Your grades and scores are the kind of marks every college looks for.”
Dawn laughed. “And who doesn’t want graduates of a school that’s been destroyed twice in the past 5 years?”
The conversation was interrupted as the wait staff came into the room carrying a large sheet cake and singing Happy Birthday which everyone at the table joined in on. Dawn blew out the candles and hugged Buffy and Willow before cutting the first slice, then handed the knife over to a waitress. “Thanks, guys.”
Buffy had switched places with a younger girl and now sat directly across from her sister. “I’m really sorry that your birthday got missed, Dawn. I promise not again.”
Dawn laughed. “Hey, we saved the world. I’m ok with it.”
“Good.”
“But where’s my present?”
Buffy laughed before bringing out a small box. “Well, I don’t know if you’ll want these. I mean… I brought them with.”
Dawn took the box and opened them to find her mom’s pearl earrings inside. “You brought mom’s earrings?”
“Well, yeah. I mean, I don’t know. I just jammed them in my pocket at the last minute. I don’t know why.”
Dawn jumped up to hug her sister, amazed for the second time at Buffy’s thoughtfulness. The earrings were followed by a gift card to a book store from Willow and Tara who reasoned that being about to move, Dawn didn’t need a stack of books to carry, a Nintendo game from Xander, and various cds from some of the other girls. She had just noticed Faith and a few of the younger girls coming in the door of the room when Robin spoke up, “I have one other thing here.”
Dawn looked at the former principal with a puzzled look on her face. When could he have had a chance to get her something and why would he? It wasn’t like they really knew each other: more like he knew Buffy and Dawn stopped by the office to make excuses for her older sister.
“You didn’t have to get me anything.” She noticed Buffy leaning forward and that Faith had tapped a new girl on the shoulder to get her to give up her seat a few chairs down from Buffy. She pulled a tray of appetizers from the middle of the table and began eating as the waitress came over to get her a drink.
“Well, this gift was pretty necessary and pretty enjoyable.” Dawn looked even more confused until Robin pulled an envelope from his bag. “Congratulations!” She opened the envelope to see her high school diploma.
She looked at it and quickly ran around the table to give the man a hug. Even thought she knew it was “only” her high school diploma, somehow it made everything seem worth it.
“Hey, do you think you could make me one of those?” Xander asked from a few seats away.
“Me too,” Willow added.
Faith laughed along. “And me?”
When everyone looked at Buffy she explained. “I have one. Giles found me one.” She reached across and playfully slapped Faith’s hand. “And you didn’t even go to Sunnydale.”
Robin interrupted the joking. “Well, there’s also this.” Dawn opened the second envelope to see commendations for student of the year in English, History, and Political Science. “And you’re the class Salutatorian.” The group all applauded and cheered for the teenager’s accomplishments.
A short time later, Dawn had enjoyed the attention and excused herself to the bathroom. When she returned she found that Tara was now sitting next to her chair, Buffy was visiting with Willow, Faith was next to Robin, and some of the girls were saying their goodnights.
“Congratulations, Dawnie.” Tara gave her a heartfelt hug.
“You know I couldn’t have done it without you, right?”
Tara shook her head. “You did the last year without me and lots of other time too. This is your accomplishment and you did great.”
Dawn tried to protest, waving her hands as she spoke. She realized a moment too late that she was speaking too vigorously as she knocked her half-full drink glass from the table. “Oh…” was as far as she got before realizing that rather than being showered with diet coke she was looking at the blond witch returning the glass to the table.
“I love magic,” the teen smiled.
Tara looked at the glass in shock. “I do too but I didn’t use magic to stop the glass. I caught it.”
Dawn laughed. “Wow, go, Tara! I think hanging out with these Slayers is rubbing off on you.”
Tara continued to look at the glass. “If that was it, don’t you think we’d all be catching glasses by now?”
“Maybe we could join the circus. That would be a way to make extra money.”
Tara was about to speak but yawned instead. Before she could even comment about the circus, Willow was at her side. “Are you tired, sweetie? Want to go home?”
Tara turned and looked her girlfriend up and down before whispering in her ear. “I’m not that tired but I’d like to go home.”
Dawn widened her eyes and then said, probably much too loudly, “I so didn’t hear that.” She quickly took a drink of water, knowing that she was blushing and feeling somewhat young and foolish about it.
Tara and Willow said their goodbyes and left the restaurant. Buffy wasn’t far behind them, yawning and stretching as she stood up with Xander and Robin. “Dawn, let’s go.”
Dawn whined. “Buffy…” It had worked before.
“We need to be up early, Dawn.” Buffy had her hands on her hips and her best “mother” look on her face.
“Yeah, come-on, Dawnster.” Xander tried to convince the teen as well.
Faith looked up as her dinner and those of the girls that had arrived with her were placed on the table. She walked around the table and tapped Buffy on the shoulder. “Hey, B. I’m not trying to butt in but me and the girls just got our food. How about the Kid walks home with us. I’m pretty sure that …” she looked at the table doing a quick count, “five Slayers can keep her safe.”
“What’s going to keep her safe from you then, Faith?” Buffy smiled as she said it and Dawn watched to see if there was going to be friction between the two Slayers with so much history.
Faith reached across and picked up a few fries from her plate, stuffing them in her mouth before answering. “Common sense?”
Buffy laughed but her words carried no joke. “You have common sense?”
Faith shook her head. “Seriously, B? What’s your issue here? I’m just offering to let the Kid stay a little longer. If she’s not safe with us, then take her home. Or how’s this for an option? Let her choose.”
Dawn folded her arms across her chest. “Buff? It’s my birthday.” When Buffy gave her a “you’ve got to be kidding me” look, she amended her statement. “It’s my birthday celebration.”
Buffy shook her head as if trying to clear it. “I’ll probably regret it but ok. Walk home with Faith. “ She looked at Faith. “That means with Faith. Not with one of the junior Slayers or some other girls. With Faith.”
“Hey, kid. I’m your bodyguard now.” Faith laughed and sat in the nearest chair to pull her plate toward her.
Buffy breathed out a long slow sigh before hugging her sister. “Be careful, sis.”
Dawn hugged her back. “Thanks for the party, Buffy.”
The teenager sat back down next to her girlfriend and took a drink of her diet coke. “I knocked this over with my typical clumsiness a little while ago and Tara caught it in the air. It was pretty cool.”
“So the Witchy one’s back and all charged up, huh?” She offered Dawn a fry which the girl ate. “Red seems really happy and I don’t know Blondie but she doesn’t seem to hate me or anything so that’s probably a good.”
Dawn shook her head. “I don’t think Tara really hates anyone. Her family was pretty horrible to her. I mean, really, horrible. And she doesn’t seem to hate them.”
Faith waved the waitress bring another beer. “As long as she doesn’t want to have regular meetings. You know, ‘My name is Faith and I was abused as a kid…’ It’s all good for me.”
Dawn looked around the table and saw that the other girls were deep in discussion about weapons and sweep and stake tactics. She moved her hand to rest it on Faith’s thigh under the table. She leaned close to whisper in the Slayer’s ear. “Did you get me anything for my birthday?”
Faith set down her fork and pushed the plate away. “You know, I actually did have something I wanted to give you.”
In the back of her mind, she could still hear the witch accusing her of being in love. In love? Faith Lehane? And it was something she’d thought about on patrol. Finally she’d come to the conclusion that she had no fucking idea what love was or how it might work. And that she was just as fucking likely to be falling in love with Dawn as to be voted the next president or working as a street cleaner. It wasn’t like Dawn could be in love with her anyway. A high-school drop-out and a class salutatorian. Hell, it was going to take an extra room to hold all the Kid’s certificates and awards for her brainpower.
That that’s how her thoughts had run while she was on patrol. Circles and circles. And finally she had decided that only thing had ever gotten her to this point in her life. Trust of her instincts. Sometimes they had been bad and sometimes good but they’d brought her right here, alive. Alive through vampires that wanted to kill her and others that wanted to do it more slowly. Alive through working for a giant snake and killing his assistant. Alive through prison and breaking out of prison. Alive through being stabbed through by someone she wanted to trust and spending eight months in coma from it.
And here was this thing. This thing she could actually feel in spite of all that. This thing that had the Kid’s picture sitting on the front and top and sides. That had her smell and feel all throughout.
Dawn smiled slowly. “Good.”
And Faith couldn’t help it. She smiled right back.
because this is an awesome story and it has faith and dawn together which is an awesome pairing and is my favrite (exept Willw and tara)
but now W/T smoochies soon plese
An update!!! Yea!!! 
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