New Paths

Buffy slides to a stop outside of the room before hesitantly stepping into Tara’s room.



“Come here.” Tara orders softly, holding out her hand to her lover.



Buffy exhales softly at the same time she practically jumps the distance to Tara’s bed. Gently grasping Tara’s hand, hesitating for a split second before leaning down and softly brushing her lips over Tara’s. “I’m sorry.”



“Shhh.” Tara whispers hoarsely, reaching around Buffy’s neck with her free arm, ignoring the pain in her aching body and pulls her lover down to her, hugging her as tightly as she can. “Just a concussion and bruising, honey. Nothing serious.”



“I never should have left you. I let my stomach get the better of me to go out and get us food.” Buffy buries her face gently against Tara’s neck while running her free hand through Tara’s hair.



“And it would have been better that he capture us both? For you to be in the bed beside me, or us be dead because you weren’t there to help save me? Tell me it wasn’t you that got the Initiative to help find me.” Tara feels Buffy stiffen slightly before her lover groans deeply and snuggles even closer against her neck. Sighing as she feels the wetness of Buffy’s tears on her neck, Tara gently scratches her lover’s neck. “You know he was prepared to take us both, he had to be, love. Or he was planning on taking one of us out completely before kidnapping the other.” Tara feels her heart stutter at the thought of Riley killing Buffy. “He could have killed you, Buffy. Things could have turned out so bad…” Tara whimpers and starts to cry at the thought. “Don’t… don’t blame y-yourself for getting us b-breakfast… it, it probably s-saved b-both of us.”



“Don’t cry, Tara… Don’t…” Buffy whimpers and carefully crawls into the bed, not surprised when Tara shifts and curls up half on top of her. “You’ll make your body and head ache even more, honey.” Buffy whispers, gently pressing her lips to the top of Tara’s head. “We’re both here and alive. You’ll be healed in a few weeks to a month…”



“I’ll heal, Buffy. R-remember that. Nothing l-lasting, no serious damage done. Just going to be bruised and ugly for a while.” Tara whispers, grasping the slayer’s top in her fist as she tries to practically crawl inside the slayer.



“You could never be ugly.” Buffy gently runs her hands up and down Tara’s back, pressing soft kisses to the top of Tara’s head. “You’re beautiful, Tara. Inside and out, you would never, ever be considered ugly.”



Tara feels her lips tremble at her lover’s words, hearing the honesty and love in Buffy’s voice. “I love you.”



“I love you, too.” Buffy brushes her cheek over Tara’s head, her eyes darting towards the doorway as she sees movement. “Come on in, mom.”



Joyce hesitantly steps into the room, noticing Tara doesn’t look up but continues to keep her face buried against Buffy. “Tara, honey? How are you?”



“I’ll b-be okay.” Tara finally shifts her face and opens one eye to look at Joyce. “Buffy needs to explain what happened with the Initiative after I was taken, though.”



“When we get home and you’re feeling better.” Buffy slowly circles her fingers gently around Tara’s back as she finally feels Tara starting to relax more against her.



“Can I go home now?” Tara questions hopefully.



Buffy chuckles and shakes her head. “I’m sorry, but you need to stay here at least through tomorrow. We’ll see if the doctor will let you go home then instead of keeping you for the extra day, as long as she’s sure you’re okay.”



“I am okay.” Tara grumbles, carefully shifting her body so she’s not lying literally on top of Buffy but snuggled up against her side as she rests her cheek on her lover’s strong shoulder. “Can I have my tank top and shorts from our room so I don’t have the draft I do now?”



Buffy snorts softly at her lover’s comment, her eyes darting towards her mother, seeing the glimmer of amusement showing in her mom’s eyes. “I’m surprised she hasn’t said anything about being a naked Wiccan and everyone seeing her sexy, voluptuous body.”



Tara whimpers and blushes darkly as she rubs her cheek gently against Buffy’s shoulder. “Don’t remind me! I can’t believe that bastard carried me naked from our room.”



“If it makes you feel any better, everyone else in the dorm was knocked out and didn’t see anything. Then Giles covered you before the rest of the group could get a good look at you.” Buffy softly runs her fingers over her lover, unable to stop touching Tara. Subconsciously convincing her self that Tara is alive and going to be fine with touch and looks.



“Don’t want you to leave.” Tara mumbles, tightening her grip around Buffy’s waist.



“I’ll run by your dorm room, if you’d like me to?” Joyce offers, relaxing at the joking tones finally starting to color Buffy and Tara’s words, along with the amusement in her daughter’s eyes.



“Umm…” Tara unconsciously blushes and lifts her head to look wide-eyed at her lover, thinking about the condition they’d left the room, along with the toys strewn about the room.



Buffy furrows her brows as she looks at the embarrassment coming over Tara’s face, trying to figure out what she’s thinking. Tilting her head down as Tara leans in to her ear, Buffy starts to grin and laugh at the whispered words. “That’s okay, mom. I think Tara will let me leave for a short time to go to our room and pick up what she needs. I need to probably gather anything important anyways, since the door to the room is busted.”



“I can drive you over there, if that’s okay?” Joyce narrows her gaze on the two young women, wondering silently at the serious blush that had come across Tara’s face before the decidedly wicked laughter that had come from her daughter.



“I’d honestly rather you stay here with Tara until I get back.” Buffy admits, frowning. “Though I wouldn’t mind going ahead and packing everything up and bringing it home. Maybe one of the group is still here and they can drive?”



“I’ll check the waiting room and be right back.” Joyce gives up on trying to figure out what the two girls are trying to hide, deciding there are some things that a mother probably isn’t supposed to know as she leaves the room.



“Oh, my Goddess.” Tara whimpers and buries her face again in her laughing lover’s chest. “Can you imagine the look on your mother’s face if she went into our room? I mean, it’s bad enough with the soldier boys and firemen probably seeing the room, but your mom???”



Buffy laughs even more at the thought. “Talk about an education…”



“Buffy!” Tara pinches her lover’s waist. “You have to go and get everything packed away before anyone sees them or steals what little bit we have in there.”



“Yes, ma’am.” Buffy fights the laughter, though her whole body’s shaking with the effort of holding it in.



“I sometimes wonder why I’m in love with you.” Tara grumbles, fighting the smile wanting to cross her lips as the laughter finally bursts from her lover. Shifting and rubbing her nose gently over Buffy’s neck, she hugs her tightly.



“I love you.” Buffy finally gets out between the laughter, having to admit that the laughter helped her with the tension and hurt she had inside about what happened. The release something she desperately needed.



“I love you, too, honey.” Tara’s arms clench a little firmer around Buffy before she releases her lover. “Better climb out of the bed, or they won’t let you back in here. I know they are planning on being back here soon to give me another shot for pain.”



“And don’t argue with them about taking it, either.” Buffy eases from the bed and carefully cover’s Tara after she helps her get situated. Trailing her fingers over Tara’s bruised and swollen face, Buffy sighs quietly. “I would gladly give you my slayer healing, if I could.”



“I know, honey. I know.” Tara reaches up and gently presses Buffy’s hand to her cheek. “Give me a kiss.” Tara smiles as she sees Joyce step into the room, the other woman that she had assumed previously was Faith, sliding in behind her, recognizing the dark-haired woman as one of the people that had helped in the fight against Riley.



Buffy leans in and plans on just brushing her lips softly over Tara’s, groaning quietly as Tara obviously has other plans and presses her tongue firmly into her mouth to stroke tenderly with hers. Finally breaking away from the deep, loving kiss, Buffy presses a soft kiss to Tara’s forehead. “I love you.”



“I love you. Be careful.” Tara orders as Buffy finally pulls away. Turning her gaze towards the dark-haired woman, she nods her head. “Thank you for your help.”



“It was nothin’.” Faith blushes lightly at the sincere thanks. “Come on, B. I’m playin’ taxi service.”



“Did you ask if she had a license, or if she could just drive, mom?” Buffy comments jokingly, her eyes twinkling merrily as Faith looks up from where she’d looked down at the ground, narrowed brown eyes promising retribution for that comment. Snorting at the look, she nods her head. “Come on, Faith. I’ll probably put you to work, I’m sure whatever we have hidden and not hidden in the room won’t embarrass you.”



“Buffy!” Tara growls her lover’s name at the quickly departing slayer. Shaking her head at the laughter that floats back into the room from Buffy.



Joyce tilts her head in consideration, before she starts to blush as it occurs to her why neither Buffy nor Tara wanted her to go with Buffy to their dorm room. “Oh!”



“Oh, Goddess.” Tara whimpers and covers her face with her hands, feeling it heat up with the blush. Wanting to crawl into a hole when she hears the laughter start to come from her lover’s mother.



“Knowing that my daughter is sexually active is bad enough… knowing exactly how that is happening is something I don’t need or want to know, Tara. So don’t worry, this conversation ends here and now.” Joyce chuckles and settles in the chair beside Tara’s bed, reaching over to gently pat the witch on the arm.



“Thank the Goddess.” Tara mumbles from under her hands, still refusing to uncover her face wondering silently if anyone can die of embarrassment.



Joyce continues to chuckle before sitting back in the chair and crossing her legs as she gets comfortable.



***



“B, by the sounds of your stomach, we oughta stop and pick ya’ up something to eat.” Faith pointedly looks at the slayer’s stomach that is rumbling loud enough for people outside the Jeep to hear.



Buffy groans and rubs her stomach. “I was going out to get us breakfast this morning when all hell broke loose.” Buffy admits. “Tara hasn’t had anything to eat, either. Maybe we can stop on the way back and pick up some sub sandwiches or something for all of us.”



“Won’t get an argument outta me.” Faith starts the Jeep and pulls out of the parking spot before making her way through Sunnydale towards the college. “How she doin’?”



Buffy inhales deeply and exhales the breath loudly. “I know she’s hurting and in pain, but she’s being stubborn by acting like she’s okay.”



“She is gonna be okay, right? I mean, the doc said there was nothin’ seriously wrong a lot of bruises type thing but no broken bones. And the concussion, but she seemed pretty with it for the little bit I was in the room.” Faith darts a quick glance at Buffy before turning down the street that leads to the college campus.



“Yes, she’s going to be okay.” Buffy smiles softly at the thought of Faith worried about Tara when she’s never really even met her lover. “By the way, how the hell did you end up here?”



Faith snorts. “I told ‘em I was comin’ here whether they wanted me to or not. Then the Coven did their magic-shit and I arrived outside the door to your house at the same time the LA gang got here.”



“I had Giles try and get some information on how you were doing, but other than the fact that they were working with you they wouldn’t tell us anything or let us talk to you.” Buffy admits quietly. “Faith… I’m sorry for what I did… I never should have stabbed you. Talk about hating myself…”



“Leave it, B. It’s over and done with. I fucked up and I pushed ya’ until you didn’t have a choice.” Faith shakes her head. “It ain’t your fault, so let it go.”



“So, what are you wanting to do, just go from here and start fresh? Act like nothing happened…” Buffy trails off, trying to get an idea of what and how to go forward with the other slayer.



“Can’t act like nothin’ happened, ‘cause it did.” Faith shrugs as she pulls into an empty parking lot. Putting the Jeep into park and turning off the engine, Faith rests her hands on the top of the steering wheel while staring at the dorm across the quad. “I fucked up, B. Ain’t no gettin’ ‘round it. If you’re willin’ I’d like a chance to try and make amends, and maybe one day be friends.”



Buffy purses her lips as she thinks about the slayer’s words. “I wouldn’t be the only one taking a chance, Faith.” Buffy finally offers softly, turning her gaze on the slayer.



“I know. I gotta talk with Red and Boy Toy.” Faith nods her head in understanding.



“That wasn’t quite what I was meaning. Though I can’t speak for them and you will have to work things out between you.” Buffy rubs a hand over her forehead in thought. “I meant more of the fact that you would have to be willing to take a chance on me, too. I wasn’t exactly friendly with you when you first arrived here. Then there was all the shit where I was hiding Angel when he came back from Hell along with a hundred other things without even thinking about getting into the fact I stabbed you and put you in a coma. We can both go around and around about the shit we’re to blame for, or we can try to work our way past it and me thank you every day for the rest of my life for helping me save Tara.” Buffy takes a deep breath to keep the tears from falling that are gathered in her eyes.



“B…” Faith feels uncomfortable as she reaches over for the slayer, patting her somewhat awkwardly on the shoulder. “I don’t know what ta’ say.”



Buffy snorts and rubs a hand over her eyes. “I feel like a complete mess. Let’s go… and you aren’t allowed to make any comments about the condition of our room or what you might find there. Just suffice it to say, it’s definitely something neither me nor Tara want my mom to see.”



Faith shakes her head and slides out of the Jeep after grabbing the keys, striding beside Buffy. “You really love her, don’t ya’?”



“More than anything.” Buffy smiles at the thought of Tara. “The first time I saw her, she was curled up in a chair talking to Willow in the common room. I just hid and watched her, knowing that she liked Willow and the way Willow was acting she liked her…” Buffy continues to tell Faith about everything that happened and how she and Tara came to be a couple up to the present time and them saving her from Riley as the two women work together to pack up their stuff in the room.



Faith smirks, stopping Buffy as the blonde slayer gets ready to pick up and wrap the strap-on with a towel and tilts her head looking at it curiously.



“Faith!” Buffy growls the slayer’s name, at her inordinate amount of interest in one of her and Tara’s toys.



“What?” Faith glances up before looking at the item.



“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Buffy yanks the item out of the slayer’s hand and wraps it in the towel to take to the bathroom and clean.



“I was just lookin’ at where it was normally buckled…” Faith looks obviously at Buffy’s slim hips, smirking. “Figurin’ out who was doing the drivin’, ya’ know. Someone a little fuller figured seems to be the one that’s worn it the most.”



“Oh, sweet Jesus…” Buffy blushes darkly and heads towards the door. “Finish packing the last few things, I’ll be back in a few minutes…” Buffy growls as she glances back over her shoulder at the laughing slayer. “You sure you aren’t still evil? Because I’m seriously thinking I would have been better off bringing my mother!!”



Faith laughs even louder as Buffy exits the room, falling down on the bed. “This is too good. HEY!! Where’s the rest of your toys? I know that ain’t all of ‘em!! Gotta check out what’s out there, in case I wanna get some.”



“SHUT UP, FAITH!!” Buffy yells back from outside the bathroom, fighting the smile trying to cross her face at the slayer’s joking.