Shattered Souls

Anya finishes fixing breakfast, placing a couple plates in the oven to keep warm while taking one piled high plate, placing it on a tray before opening the back door to let Phoenix back in. “Be quiet, Phoenix. Pretty much everyone else is still asleep, okay?” Anya chuckles as Phoenix wags her tail and heads towards her food bowl. Placing the large glass of juice on the tray and making sure she has everything else, she slowly carries the tray up the stairs, gently pushing the door open to the slayer’s bedroom.

Smiling as she looks at the slayer rubbing her face as she wakes up. “Here’s breakfast. I don’t think I’m quite up to par to Tara’s cooking, but I don’t usually ruin breakfast food.” Anya explains quietly as she sets the tray down on the dresser before going over to help prop Buffy up. “How are your ribs this morning?”

“Sore.” Buffy admits, grunting as she shifts up, wincing at the pain shooting through her body. “Better than last night, I can probably maneuver around by myself today.”

“Don’t push it. Rest is the order of the day.” Anya tucks the covers into the slayer before turning back to grab the tray, carefully placing it across the slayer’s lap as she sits down on the edge of the bed, holding it steady.

“I could eat downstairs.” Buffy grumbles as she stabs a sausage link, shoving it in her mouth.

“Stop bitching.” Anya stares the slayer down as the hazel eyes shoot up in surprise. “You and I need to have a very serious talk. And I think it’s about time for that to happen.”

“Anya!” Tara hisses from the doorway as she pulls the robe around her tying the sash.

“Go downstairs and eat your breakfast. I left it in the oven to keep it warm.” Anya stands looking into Tara’s angry blue eyes. “I’m done with pussy footing around, watching you tying yourself up in knots, if you aren’t doing it to yourself, Buffy’s doing it with her being bitchy or ignoring us. How many times in the last three weeks have you come over so damn tense that you couldn’t sleep? I said when this was over with Warren this discussion was going to happen. For all intents and purposes it’s done. It’s my turn, so go downstairs.”

“I might as well pack my stuff now.” Tara growls spinning around on her heel heading back to her bedroom and slamming the door.

“What the hell are you talking about?” Buffy snarls after she hears the bedroom door slam as Anya turns back to look at her.

“This is about all the damn looks back and forth. The fact that you definitely care about Tara, hell, the fact that you actually love her. The fact that I think you care about me, and may even like me more than just a friend.” Anya starts quickly, picking up the tray placing it on the nightstand as she sits back down right beside Buffy, staring her in the eyes. “It’s about this.” Anya growls, quickly placing both hands on either side of Buffy’s face, capturing the slayer’s lips in a heated kiss, quickly sliding her tongue in the slayer’s unresisting mouth, swirling her tongue around Buffy’s, groaning as Buffy finally starts to respond to the kiss, gently stroking back, a tentative hand reaching up to cup Anya’s neck.

Buffy whimpers quietly as Anya finally pulls away from the surprisingly intoxicating kiss.

Anya watches Buffy intently as the slayer’s eyes slowly open, surprise, wonder and a hint of fear showing in their depths. “You love Tara. I know this for a fact. You two have been dancing around each other for months. You running hot and cold has been tearing her up inside. And the fact that she feels guilty as hell about loving you at the same time she loves me. I’m not going to deny the fact that I think you are an extremely sexy, wonderful, beautiful person, Buffy. I’ve come to care about you deeply, and given half a chance I could come to love you also.” Anya watches as the tears slowly come to Buffy’s eyes as Anya explains about how it’s been bothering Tara, and as Buffy tries to shift her face away, Anya grabs hold of her head more firmly, holding it in place, making her keep eye contact. “Now, you’ve got a few choices here, Buffy. You can decide to just stay friends with us, but there will be no more of this flirting one moment and the cold shoulder the next, it’s driving Tara crazy. Hell, the few times you’ve done it to me, it drives me nuts! And I’m not even around you a third of the time Tara is! You can decide you can’t deal, and Tara will move out and move in with me. We’ll remain friends, helping you out as much as we can, but we won’t be coming over here except as you need us. Or, we can become a threesome in the truest sense of the word. Spending time together, going out on dates together and making love together.”

Anya drops her hands, reaching for the slayer’s food, placing it back on her lap before looking up into the slayer’s face. Seeing the confusion written all over her. “Think about it, Buffy. Let us know what you decide.” Anya stands, walking towards the door.

Buffy’s eyes follow Anya. “Anya?” Buffy whispers softly, watching as Anya turns back to look at her, a calm look on her face, but a lot of emotion showing in her brown eyes. “Tell me I’m not dreaming.” Buffy bites her lips, the tears starting to fall. “Please tell me I’m not imagining this and I’m going to wake up in a few minutes and this be my imagination playing tricks on me.”

“It’s not a dream, Buffy. No tricks, no imagination. Just the truth.” Anya explains softly, walking back to the shocked slayer, taking the tray back from the slayer’s unresisting hands, practically dropping it on the nightstand. Reaching for Buffy, Anya helps her out of the bed. “I think you might want to talk with Tara.” Anya whispers, brushing a hand over the slayer’s cheek.

“If I wake up and this is another dream, I’m going to do what I should have done last time.” Buffy jokes, wiping the tears from her face, before wrapping her arms around Anya, hugging her gently.

“Dreaming about us?” Anya questions, finally allowing a chuckle to escape from her lips.

“Yeah. Damn thing ended before the pay off. And if you two are half as hot as the dream, I’m going to be an extremely happy woman.” Buffy laughs, then groans as she grabs her ribs.

“There’ll be plenty of pay offs from now on. But you have some serious apologizing to do to Tara.” Anya states seriously as she looks into worried hazel eyes.

“OH, God!” Buffy whimpers at the thought. “She probably hates me.”

“No, she loves you.” Anya explains softly. “That’s why it’s been so rough on her. Go, talk to her, Buffy. Better yet, go in there and kiss her till she can’t see straight.”

Buffy blushes looking down before Anya tilts her face back up, leaning in to kiss her again. Buffy can’t help but ease her body in closer to the shopkeeper as she deepens the kiss, battling gently against the shopkeepers tongue, before groaning as Anya sucks gently on the tip before releasing it, placing another soft kiss on her lips.

“Damn.” Anya blinks a couple times. “Go, Buffy. She’s probably packing her bags right now, thinking I’ve gone and screwed everything up.”

“Surely not.” Buffy looks in surprise at the woman before heading towards the door after Anya nods her head seriously.

Anya follows Buffy to the hallway, watching as the slayer gently pushes the door open to the bedroom. Smiling, Anya turns and quickly strides downstairs, to give the two women some time to get things situated.

******************

Buffy swallows hard as she eases the door open, hesitating for a moment as she sees Tara standing at the window, her shoulders slumped and her head bowed. Slowly walking towards the witch, Buffy watches her intently.

“So, should I start packing?” Tara questions without turning around to look at who was walking up behind her.

Buffy gently reaches out for the witch, placing her hands on the slumped shoulders. “I certainly hope you aren’t planning on moving out.” Buffy whispers, noticing how the witch tensed quickly when she started speaking.

Tara bites her lip as she slowly turns around, looking apprehensively at the slayer.

“I’m sorry.” Buffy whispers watching as Tara’s brow furrows in confusion. “For being a bitch, for not being able to make up my own mind, for being stupid.” Buffy explains softly before sliding one hand around the witch’s neck. “Anya suggested this, and I’m thinking it’s a pretty damn good idea.” Buffy breathes out the words before leaning up the short distance, capturing Tara’s lips with hers, kissing her softly.

Tara stands there not responding, as the surprise of having Buffy’s lips on hers finally abates, she realizes Buffy’s kissing her. Moaning into the caress, Tara presses in more firmly, wrapping her arms gently around Buffy’s waist as she eases her body against the slayers, as she teasingly sneaks her tongue out to trace over Buffy’s lips, growling as Buffy slides her mouth open, granting her entrance. Quickly slipping in, Tara swirls her tongue over and around Buffy’s while sliding one hand up to cup the slayer’s neck, as she tilts her head for a more fitted contact, stroking more firmly in the slayer’s mouth as she flicks her tongue repeatedly against Buffy’s, until slowly bringing the kiss to an end, placing soft kisses over the slayer’s panting mouth, working her way across her jaw. Sucking the slayer’s earlobe in her mouth, Tara closes her eyes as she finally releases the flesh, dropping her head on the slayer’s shoulder.

“I’m not dreaming, right?” Buffy pants heavily, as she tries to catch her breath. “Anya swore to me I wasn’t dreaming, but I want to hear you say it.”

“Goddess, I hope you’re not dreaming. Because if you’re dreaming, so am I.” Tara admits quietly, finally allowing a smile to cross her face as she gently eases away to look into Buffy’s happy hazel eyes. Brushing her thumb over the slayer’s cheek, Tara smirks as Buffy closes her eyes, leaning into the caress. “You need to go lay back down, sweetie. I know you’re hurting.”

Buffy slowly opens her eyes. “What was the healing thing you wanted to do?” Buffy questions softly.

“You willing for me to do it now?” Tara’s lip curls up in a half smile at the slayer.

“Depends.” Buffy smirks at the witch. When Tara raises an eyebrow in silent question, Buffy chuckles, before groaning and grasping her ribs. “Is there a chance I’ll be getting more smoochies from you and Anya if I’m healed?”

“I’m sure that can be arranged.” Tara chuckles at the slayer. “Come on, lay down. I need to go downstairs.” Tara urges Buffy over to the bed, helping her onto the bed. “Need anything else?”

“No. I think I’m going to be okay now.” Buffy admits, smiling as Tara laughs as she walks out of the room. “And if this is a dream, I’m just going to shoot myself and be done with it!” Buffy growls as she shifts in the bed, getting more comfortable.

*************

Tara quickly walks down the stairs, glancing in the living room before walking into the kitchen, smiling as she sees Anya standing at the sink, sipping on a cup of coffee as she looks out the window. Gently sliding her arms around her waist, Tara places a kiss on her neck. “Thank you.”

“Everything all right now?” Anya sets her mug down, placing her hands on Tara’s arms, squeezing gently.

“We still need to talk and discuss things, but I feel like a huge weight has been lifted, and I owe you for that.” Tara squeezes Anya gently.

“You don’t owe me anything. There will be a lot of talking, discussing and apologizing before this is over, but as long as we can talk it out, we’ll be okay.” Anya smiles as she turns in Tara’s arms, hugging the witch.

“Goddess! I thank Her every day for you asking me out on that date.” Tara whispers as she slides a hand to the back of Anya’s head, threading her fingers through her hair before diving in for a deep, forceful kiss, nipping on Anya’s playful tongue for a few minutes before finally breaking away to breathe.

“That was a brilliant move on my part.” Anya admits, smirking.

Tara chuckles, hugging Anya tightly. “Come upstairs, I want to heal Buffy’s ribs, now that she’ll consider me doing it.”

“Can you use some of my energy so it won’t drain you completely?” Anya questions, aware that healing is one of the more draining and intense spells there are.

“Actually, yes.” Tara smiles at the ex-vengeance demon. “You know what this will do, right?”

“It’ll link you to a certain degree. Not as much as it would have last night, since the healing has already started, but there will still be some awareness between you two of what the other is feeling.” Anya states calmly as they walk up the stairs.

“Not just us two, all three of us, if you’re helping.” Tara smiles at the woman. “So, no matter what, there’s going to be some awareness of the other two in our mix.”

“That’s fine.” Anya nods her head as she follows Tara into the witch’s bedroom, smiling at Buffy who seems to have dozed off in the few minutes Tara was gone. “So, did she kiss you senseless?”

“She worked on it.” Tara chuckles as she sits down on the edge of the bed, brushing her hand over the slayer’s cheek, watching as the eyelids flutter and hazel eyes come into focus. “I mentioned this last night, but I want to tell you again. The healing will link us to a certain degree. An awareness of what the others are feeling. It won’t be as strong as it would have been if I’d done it last night, but it will still be there. Will that be okay?”

Buffy slowly smiles as she looks from Tara and Anya. “No dreaming?”

“What is it with the dreaming?” Tara frowns looking at Buffy.

“It seems the petite little slayer has been having naughty dreams about us.” Anya smirks at a blushing Buffy. “And, obviously, at least one of them seemed very, very real.”

“You have no idea.” Buffy grumbles looking down at the comforter, as she blushes even redder.

Tara laughs quietly. “Well, let’s get you healed and see about dreams coming true.”

Buffy’s head snaps up in surprise before she closes her eyes and whimpers quietly. “Have a fire hose ready, I’m probably going to spontaneously combust, then.”

Anya snorts, watching the slayer. “Let’s get her healed, that way she can finish eating the rest of her breakfast and we can eat. Then I suggest we might actually want to sit down and talk about things.”

“Healing first.” Tara nods her head in agreement, smiling as Anya places her hands on her shoulders. Tara runs her hands down Buffy’s side, coming to rest over the busted ribs, opening herself, smiling gently as she feels Anya already open, what magical ability she has available for her to use. “Done this before?”

“A long time ago.” Anya answers quietly, her eyes watching Buffy. “Try and open yourself, Buffy. Allow her to come in, the easier you make this on her, the less power she’ll need to use of her own.”

“You’re right.” Tara whispers, thinking about it. “If you are willing to open yourself completely to me, I can use your own healing abilities to make you heal, without using hardly any of mine or Anya’s powers. I’ll still need to cycle them through me, but it won’t drain us.”

“What do I need to do?” Buffy questions looking at the two women.

“Take down that wall you keep around yourself.” Tara smiles crookedly at the slayer. “That mental wall that you use to guard yourself against demons sensing you, and the wall you use to keep your emotions in check.”

“I’m not sure I can.” Buffy admits quietly. “I’ve had them in place so long…” Buffy sighs quietly. “Let me try.” Buffy closes her eyes relaxing, going back to how Giles had told her to put the wall in place, working on reversing the process.

After roughly a half hour, Tara jerks as Buffy pulls the wall down, the mystical energy coming off the slayer in waves.

“Shit!” Anya whispers, her eyes opening wide in surprise as she feels Buffy’s energy. “Damn good thing she has that wall.”

“Goddess!” Tara whimpers, quickly tying herself to the slayer’s energy, looping it through her and Anya before sending it back in concentrated form to the slayer’s ribs, sensing as they knit back together, the bruising and swelling disappearing in record time. Slowly tapering off the energy, Tara allows the rest of it to cycle through towards the rest of Buffy’s bruises and scrapes before shutting down the connection completely. “Close yourself back off.” Tara whispers, shaking uncontrollably, turning her gaze towards Anya who finally plops down on the bed beside her.

Anya blinks as she tries to stop her own shaking, her eyes looking into surprised blue eyes. “You didn’t have any idea?”

“None.” Tara shakes her head, running a shaking hand through her hair before looking back at a confused looking Buffy. “The power you have is unbelievable, Buffy. Goddess, I could probably use your healing ability to heal other people and it not even make a dent in the stores of energy you have. Let alone being able to tap into it for spells.”

“Is that a good thing?” Buffy frowns watching the two women. “And why are you two shaking like you’re on drugs or something?”

“That’s pretty much a good analogy.” Tara places her shaking hands on her thighs, taking deep cleansing breaths to try and calm her body down. “You pretty much gave us a very serious charge, and the link is going to be stronger than I realized.” Tara closes her eyes allowing her happiness and how much she loves these two women to come out from behind her own walls.

“Wow.” Buffy and Anya both whisper at the same time as they can actually feel how much Tara loves them both, the caring and complete trust she has in them.

“If you concentrate, you will be able to feel how the other person is feeling. We all use our walls, I’m assuming, since Anya was a demon, she already has her walls in place. I do because of my magical ability, Buffy because of her being the slayer. With our walls in place, it shouldn’t bleed over to the other two. If Buffy takes down her walls, without us being prepared, we’re probably going to have the same reaction.” Tara explains quietly. “Now that we know what we’re in for, we can filter it so it’s not such a strong dose.”

“She probably wouldn’t take her walls down unless she has a very good reason, anyway.” Anya offers softly. “She’s never taken them down in the whole time I’ve known her, or I would have known.”

“No, I keep them pretty much under lock and key.” Buffy admits, frowning. “How can I do what you did?” Buffy looks at Tara.

“Letting us know how you feel?” Tara makes sure she’s understanding what Buffy’s asking. “Just open yourself to us, letting yourself think about us.” Tara explains, shrugging. Then whimpers quietly as Buffy opens herself, allowing both women to feel the confusion she’d felt, the hurt, the caring, finally the love. The strength of her feelings sending little snippets of when Buffy was with either or both women, as to how she felt at that particular time. Then the complete joy that she’s now feeling, as the three women have finally admitted how they feel about each other.

Buffy slowly closes down the connection, biting her lip as she watches Tara and Anya. The surprise, the tears and finally the happy smiles crossing their faces. Buffy grunts as both women land on top of her hugging her tightly. “Okay.” Buffy chuckles. “I guess I did that right.”

“Very right.” Tara murmurs softly, pulling back to wipe a tear off her face, smiling as Anya continues to hug Buffy around the waist. Tara chuckles as Anya finally allows them to feel the caring, and love she feels for both women before closing her feelings off again. Patting Anya gently on the back, Tara smiles as Buffy clasps her hand, squeezing gently. “Come on, you two. Let’s eat and then let Buffy get cleaned up, since she couldn’t do it yesterday.”

“Yes, a shower would be of the good.” Buffy chuckles as Anya finally releases her. “Is it okay if I meet you two downstairs?”

“Of course.” Tara smiles as she watches Buffy practically bounce out of the room, the obvious feeling of happiness and being healed, making a world of difference in the Slayer.

“Looks like I was right.” Anya smirks knowingly at Tara, chuckling as Tara turns around and kisses her lovingly.

“Yes, you were. I guess I’m going to have to make it up to you for ever doubting you.” Tara laughs quietly before standing. “Come on. Let’s head downstairs. Where’s Phoenix?” Tara questions looking around, expecting to see the puppy.

“She was eating breakfast. I kind of think she’s tuned into our feelings, so she may be staying out of the way until we get everything situated.” Anya admits, as the two women walk downstairs, laughing as Phoenix barks, from where she’s chewing on one of her Nyla bones on the living room floor.

“You knew what was going on, too, didn’t you?” Tara chuckles at the happy puppy. “I guess we should eat breakfast before it’s so dried out, it’ll be like eating beef jerky.”

“Food is good.” Anya chuckles, smacking Tara gently on the butt.

Tara laughs, hardly believing what’s happening is happening. “Goddess, I feel so much better, now.”

“Knew you would. All that damn shit you were carrying around. You and Buffy both will do a lot better now!” Anya chuckles as she tilts her head, thinking. “And just think about the lovings to come.” Anya licks her lips lasciviously while leering at the witch.

“Fun to be had by all involved.” Tara admits, laughing as she pulls the food out of the oven, uncovering the foil wrapped plates. The two women sitting down to eat breakfast in a companionable silence while they wait for Buffy to join them.