Love Through Touch

Disclaimer: See Part 1

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Drusilla rocked herself back and forth repeatedly. Whispering so softly none of her cell mates could hear.

"So this is Drus? Th? The Great Seer" Cash paced in front of the cell.

The Underground base once belonged to the Initiative. It had 'officially' been filled in with cements and destroyed. But it wasn't.

"Yes. Turned by the Souled Vampire Angelus" Doctor Susan Gregory consulted her notes "She's just over 2 Centuries old"

"And she's insane" Cash shook her head "Useful but not"

"The moon and the heart are coming" Drusilla singsonged rocked herself faster "They'll be here soon"

Her cell mates squeezed further back into a corner, as far away from the insane woman as they could get.

"She doesn't make any sense" Cash growled.

"She makes perfect sense" a small voice said from the opposite cell.

Cash turned to face a girl no older than 6 "What?" she stared the child down.

The little girl blushed "Have you read up on your Prophecies lately?"
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"How the hell did you manage to lose an insane woman!" Kalindi struck the minion again.

The woman lay bleeding on the floor, cowering in a dark corner.

"You give her a doll and she's happy for a week!" Kalindi kicked her once more for good measure.

"She hypnotized me and her gaurds" the minion said in a small voice "I underestimated her power"

"I'm surrounded by fools" Kalindi paced and growled under her breath "My 'best' minions can't even control ONE INSANE VAMPIRE!" she kicked the minion once again.

The kick landed on her head knocking her unconscious.

"Naida?" Kalindi nudged the girl with her foot "Wake up I did not kick you that hard" Kalindi began to panic when she nudged the girl again and her head hung limply.

"I think you killed her Mistress" a gaurd said from the floor behind her.

"No. She would've turned to dust" Kalindi knelt and lifted the girl into her arms "I shall attend to this" she left the hole* that she'd thrown them into.

Kalindi walked quickly through the underground catacombs that she'd taken o Min Minions of all levels bowed or knelt as she passed them. No one remarked on the girl in the Master Vampire's arms.

Kalindi entered her private rooms and lay her down on her own bed.

"Naida" Kalindi whispered brushing the girls blood drenched hair from her face "Please wake up" her voice broke as when the minion didn't move.

Kalindi panicked and straightened Naida's head. She slight her own wrist and fed the ancient blood into the mouth of the girl before her.

Minutes passed but Naida made no move to awaken or even take a breath.

"Why couldn't I have found a Seer that was already dead" Kalindi growled. She was avoiding that fact that she was actually quite fond of the girl.

Naida coughed, taking a deep breath Kalindi was sure she didn't need. She sat up abruptly, her eyes wide and frightened.

Kalindi watched as the wounds she'd given the gril herself healed before her very eyes "Naida?"

Naida gasped and tried to calm herself "There are two?" she choked out "there are two"
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"Question?" Willow asked tapping a pencil on the table for lack of anything else to do "Why did both of them have to go to pick Star up anyway?"

Buffy who was equally bored out of her mind just shrugged "Don't know. Maybe so they can trade stories about us?"

Willow sat back and watched her friend for a moment "You know your taking this awfully well"

"Taking what?" Buffy shook her hair out of her eyes.

"This whole girl friend thing" Willow crossed her arms "I wasn't taking it this well. When I first realized I had feelings for Tara I totally freaked. I went through that 'but we're both girls' things for a long time. I look back on it now and thank the goddess I decided it didn't matter"

Buffy smiled "I never knew you doubted yourself Willow. I thought you just took it as it came"

"Well we can't all be perfect like you" Willow rolled her eyes.

"Actually Wills, I wonder sometimes" Buffy looked down at the table "I wonder if Hyatt had come along earlier, would I have loved her then? Maybe it's just because I'm ready now. I can admit I love her"

"She was at the right place at the right time" Willow shrugged "Kinda like me and Tara"

"She and Tara are kinda close" Buffy frowned "I don't know whether to be happy or jealous"

"It's like they share something that we're not a part of" Willow agreed glad she wasn't the only one who felt that way.

"Yeah. But the question is, do we have the right to be jealous?" Buffy pouted "I don't wanna be"

"Why not be jealous? Jealous is a feeling. Feelings are good" Willow dropped the pencil and began to levitate it.

"Yeah. But we share something that they don't too" Buffy pointed out "I know you really well. I mean come on Wills six years of history here"

"True" Willow admited. The pencil began to flip over it'self.

"Maybe we should try to reach out to them. You get to know Hyatt better and I'll get to know Tara better" Buffy nodded "That way we all have a connection. No jealousy, and no left out feelings. Life as we know it will be good"

"Okay. I'll admit, it's a novel idea" Willow stopped the flipping pencil "And life is already good. Shadow vamps aside"

"Yeah"Buffy agreed "Maybe too good"

The pencil vanished.
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"Hyatt, Hyatt!" Star raced over to where Tara and Hyatt stood at the gate.

"Hey babes" Hyatt waved and waited for the Teacher to let them in.

"Oh Tara I drew you something!" Star was smiling and holding out her arms to be picked up.

"Oh I can't wait to see it" Tara was happy that Star was this excited about her first day.

"Hello. I'm Ms. Kimble" the teacher opened the gate admiting the two young women.

Star launched herself into Tara's arms giggling as the Wiccan kissed both her cheeks in greeting.

"Hello Ms. Kimble. I'm Hyatt Al-Faqadi, and I believe you met Tara McClay yesterday" Hyatt shook the woman's hand. It sent chills up her spine.

"Yes I did. Are you Star's mother?" Ms. Kimble asked.

"Contrary to the resemblance I'm her legal gaurdian" Hyatt smiled.

Tara and Star wandered off to see her drawings.

"So Star does live with you, and Ms. McClay?" Ms. Kimble questioned.

Hyatt thought it odd but answered "Among others yes"

"Well I wanted to speak to you about something she did today" Ms. Kimble led Hyatt to a place where they wouldn't be disturbed but she could still see the playing children.

"What did she do?" Hyatt sighed and prepared for the worst.

"She drew a pentagram and protection symbols and blessed the school" Ms. Kimble stated flatly. "And she did it correctly, speaking both Latin and Greek"

"Your a witch?" Hyatt asked. She knew she felt magicks in the womans touch.

"No I'm 1/4 Reynuli demon" Ms. Kimble spoke softly.

"Oh. But she cast two protection spells then?" Hyatt sat back "What for?"

"One against, the Sight, and the other against the Form" Ms. Kimble said "She used salt and sand, I'm hoping to add onto the power of it. But I need to know what she is exactly"

"She's a White Naku" Hysaidsaid "I didn't realize how advanced she was" Hyatt bit her lip "I suppose to should pay more attention"

"I wanted to warn you also, there are shadows" Ms. Kimble rose.

"We know, the Vivione Kadesh" Hyatt rose as well they headed towards the building where Tara and Star were now exiting.

"Yes but there are also snakes, beneath the rocks" Ms. Kimble wandered off towards the children "Have a nice day. Bye Star"

"Bye Ms. Kimble" Star waved before embracing Hyatt's legs "I like it here"

Tara and Hyatt smiled at her.

They were in the car when Tara found enough guts to ask "What were you discussing when we came out? Seemed serious"

"She thinks Star's a very bright child, who casts protection spells her first day" Hyatt said never taking her eyes off the road.

Tara looked back at the girl in surprise "I didn't know she knew how to cast"

Star was fast asleep, slumped in the car seat.

"Neither did I" Hyatt sighed "I'm really slacking lately where she's concerned"

"You've had 'stuff'. But now she has Dawn, Buffy, Willow and me. Not to mention Giles, Anya and Xander" Tara said gazing at the sleeping child "You're not the only one who watches out for her now"

Hyatt smiled "I know. Just getting used to it"

"So how did the lady know about this stuff?" Tara turned back around and realized they were at the Magic Box/

"She's 1/4 Reynuli demon" Hyatt stated flatly.

"Reynuli? Don't they protect the charmed as children?" Tara searched through her memory.

Hyatt parked, she was crooked but didn't really care "Got it in one"

"That's good to know" Tara smiled.
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Buffy and Willow looked up as the bell above the door rang.

Tara and Hyatt entered, and both women rose.

Tara was holding Star who was still sound asleep.

Anya came out of the training room and saw the child "Oh let me hold her" she rushed over and eased Star out of Tara's arms "Who is she?"

"She's ours" Willow said proudly "In a family, kid sorta way" she blushed "She's your's too"

"That's right Anya you haven't met her" Buffy made introductions "She's Star. She came as a package deal with Hyatt here. Definitely incentive to keep her around"

Tara nodded in agreement. Willow smiled when she saw the happy look on Tara's face. Maybe Hyatt was the friend the shy Wiccan needed. Aside from her of course.

"Oh" Anya sat down and eased Star into a more comfortable position across her lap. Her head was cradled on Anya's shoulder "She's so beautiful" Anya's voice was soft as she stroked the thin arch of Star's brow "Is she mine too? You really mean it?"

Everyone looked at Anya strangely.

"I didn't know you wanted kids Anya" Buffy frowned.

"Oh yes I do" Anya smiled at Buffy "But Xander says it's too soon right now" she pouted "Maybe he'll change his mind when he meets this little angel"

"She's only an Angel while she's sleeping. I assure you" Hyatt deadpanned. She moved closer to the Slayer and softly kissed her cheek "We keep getting warnings about snakes in the grass" she whispered as she kissed Buffy's ear.

The slayer nodded and kissed her back on the lips. It was sweet and short, with a promise of more for later.

"So Tara. How much do you know about self-defense?" Buffy squeezed Hyatt's waist one last time and moved over to stand near Tara.

"V-very l-little really" Tara still wasn't used to being spoken to directly by the slayer.

"Wanna learn a few? Willow here tells me that your a quick study" Buffy winked at the Wiccan.

Tara readily agreed.
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"I'm jealous of you" Willow stated flatly.

"Me?" Hyatt was taken aback "What did I do?"

"You and Tara have this....'thing'........and- and I'm not a part of that" Willow nodded sharply "And it makes me jealous"

"And what about you and Buffy? You and she have this 'thing' I'm not a part of" Hyatt countered "She loves you. You know like friend-friend love"

"Well Tara loves you the same way" Willow poked Hyatt in the chest.

"Then why are you jealous?" Hyatt poked her back.

"Cuz, I'm Willow" Willow poked her again.

"Well, okay whatever" Hyatt poked her back "But why can't we be friends?"

"We are friends" Willow poked yet again.

"Then why are you poking me?" Hyatt poked her back.

Willow poked again but Hyatt dodged.

"Hey come back here" Willow joked "I'm not done pokin' you yet"

"I'll get my slayer on you" Hyatt poked at Willow playfully.

"What's she gonna do? Tickle me?" Willow taunted.

They danced around each other poking and dodging.

A loud *thud* stopped their play.

They turned to see Tara and Buffy wrestling on the floor. Tara pinned the slayer down and straddled her waist.

"And how many lurid fantasies are running through 'your' head right now?" Xander asked.

Neither girl had heard him come in.

"About six" Hyatt said honestly.

"I got nine" Willow muttered.

"If you two joined them I'd have a big wopping 15" Xander said with a goofy smile on his face.

"How can I say this a nice way?" Willow questioned herself outloud "No wait I can't" She turned to Xander and hit him in the back of his head "GET YOUR NASTY LITTLE XXX RATED MIND OFF MY GIRL FRIEND!"

Hyatt kicked him in the ass "MINE TOO!"

Xander ducked and quickly left the training room.

Buffy and Tara looked over at the ruckus.

"I think I just fell in love with her" Tara sighed.

"The red-head or the dark one?" Buffy joked alreayd knowing the answer.

"A little bit of both" Tara whispered.

"Likewise" Buffy grinned.
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Star jerked awake at the noise.

She looked into Anya's unfamiliar but gentle face and relaxed.

"Vengance Demon?" Star asked studying the face above her.

"Ex-Vengance Demon" Anya corrected.

"Oh" Star smiled sweetly "I know you have chocolate"

"Behind the counter" Anya whispered.

They hurried behind the register and Anya pulled open a hidden drawer. It was filled nearly to the top with chocolate and other candies.

Anya set Star on the counter and they both choose a few pieces.

Star managed to get the chocolate around her lips, and melted onto her fingers.

Xander rushed out of the training room and saw them "Hey you never share your stash with me"

Anya shrugged "You're not as cute as she is"

Star smirked at the disgruntled young man.

"Xander I want one" Anya begged again resting her cheek against Star's chocolate covered one.

"I told you Anya" Xander sighed "not yet"

"You can borrow me until then" Star offered "I'm sure they'd love to get rid of me so they can have sex"

Xander blushed, Anya beamed.

"Oh god she's like a little you" Xander cried and sat down abruptly.
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