Love Through Touch

Disclaimer: See Part 1

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"Purple" Star rolled her eyes.

"Blue" Jean crossed her arms.

"Purple" Star got louder.

"Blue" Jean also raised her voice.

"Quiet!" Buffy called from the lower level of the shop where the Scooby's were meeting.

"Are female Jerot demons purple or blue?" Jean called down staring Star in the eye.

"Both, depending on if they're breeding or not" Tara called back.

"See we're both right" Star nodded holding out a hand to shake.

Jean accepted it with a nod "Fair enough"

"Stop reading those demon texts!" Buffy yelled again "and get down here"

Star rushed to the edge, causing everyone to start towards her when her small body impacted the low rail "Can't we sit on the stairs?"

"No sweetie, we can't see you up there and we don't want you to fall" Tara said in a calm reasoning voice.

Star pouted but heading down the stairs.

"You to Jean" Tara called the other child when she didn't appear to follow.

"I'm reading something" Jean called back.

"Well bring it down here and read it if you must" Giles said with little patience in his voice.

Jean appeared frowning with a large book in her hands.

"She looks like the little girl in Harry Potter" Xander pointed out "She's doing some 'light reading' just like in the movie" he chuckled.

Everyone rolled their eyes.

Jean's frown got deeper.

"It was a compliment" Xander tried to reason "I was saying your intelligent" he turned to Jean "Really I was"

Silently Jean headed down the stairs. She settled herself on the bottom step and opened the book gently.

"Now where were we"es aes asked no one "Ah yes. Apparently this "Magic Studying" task force, or whatever you want to call it has been around for many years. It seems that people have been disappearing and reappearing later on worse for wear, not really knowingt hat happened to them, and muttering about "magicks being studied' and the such"

"How have the gotten away with it for so long?" Buffy looked to Tara and Hyatt "If it's so well documented shouldn't someone have caught them?"

"They wipe your memory" Tara stared off into nothing for long moments "I'm trying to remember what happened there. It's all screams and darkness now"

"Yeah it is" Madison agreed nodding slowly "I remember cages, needles, Drusilla's annoying voice"

"Drusilla's that insane vampire right? The one with 'the vision'?" Jean wondered.

"Yes now please be silent and do whatever it is your doing" Giles said rudely to the child.

"I dont think he likes you" Star whispered to the girl as she played with a love charm.

"I noticed" Jean whispered back.

"The other victims of this 'cause' have said the same. No real memories of it. Like some kind of nightmare. Most unhelpful really" Giles cleaned his glasses.

"Then we should look into spells that steal memories. Maybe we can find something to reverse this" Hyatt suggested standing to pace.

"I have a few in my books. But we should look at more. From what I remember they were for natural amnesia's only" Willow flipped through her notebook "They seem pretty simple. But I doubt they'll work"

"There's a few spell libraries I can check" Hyatt stopped pacing to consider for a moment.

"Can I come with you?" Tara looked from Buffy to Hyatt raising a brow. Neither had spoken to each other.

"No I don't think so. They're kinda exclusive about who they let in. I doubt a witch of your stature would we welcomed" Hyatt sighed "They don't know you"

"What do you mean exclusive?" Buffy spoke at Hyatt not looking up from her clenched fists on the table.

"They're people's family libraries. Natural witches spell books handed down from generations. Kind of a friends and family only deal" Hyatt didn't look at Buffy directly. Opting to stare into space.

Buffy made a gruff sound and nodded "Good idea"

"Want me to come with you?" Madison offered glaring at Buffy and smiling sweetly at Hyatt.

"No. Maybe you could look for Mycah? Or some of our old friends. See if they know anything about this, or some spells" Hyatt quickly declined.

"Good idea" Madison echoed Buffy.

"I seem to be having a few of those lately" Hyatt muttered.

"Well you shouldn't go alone. Who know's if those people are still hanging about" Cordy spoke up.

"Good idea" Giles muttered.

Xander rolled his eyes. Anya left the table.

"Can I go? I'd like to get outta here" Jean said from the stairs, avoid even a glance of Giles.

"Yeah. That'll work, they won't feel threatened by you" Hyatt winked at the girl "Much"

Jean smiled and giggled. She hurried up the stairs and set the book on the rlve lve table and joined Hyatt infront of the door.

"I'll stay with Mama" Star hopped in Buffy's lap.

"Yeah. We'll go practice our butt kick'n moves right killer?" Buffy said standing and scooping the child in her arms.

Star shadowed boxed in her semi-horizontal position "We'll knock 'em dead, all pretend like"

Buffy chuckled and disappeared into the training room.

"What does that leave me to do?" Faith spoke for the first time.

"You can take Dawn back the Buffy's and keep her occupied. Xander and Anya will mind the shop and Tara and Willow will look for spells" Giles handed out assignments.

"Wow. Rejected in record time" Faith snapped "That's gotta be some kinda record"

"Join the club" Dawn muttered as she came from another part of the store "Maybe we can catch some 'good' afternoon movies" she rolled her eyes as they too headed for the door.

"Right" Faith brushed by Hyatt and Jean "Later"

"We'll go look for those old friends of your's" Cordy pulled Madison out behind her.

"Ready for the supreme bordem of spell research?" Hyatt teased Jean poking her in the nose.

"Anything beats being around 'him' right now" Jean pointed to Giles with a sad look.

Hyatt said nothing to the comment but held the door open.

Moments after the Exodus, Giles turned to Willow and Tara.

"Is there something wrong with Buffy and Hyatt? I thought they seemed a little tense?
"
"Nope Giles, not a thing" Tara nodded seriously "It's just in your head"

Giles frowned "Imagine that"
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Willow flipped quickly through an old spell book "I really think there's something bothering Buffy"

"Madison is bothering Buffy" Tara said without thinking, or looking up from her spell text. When she'd realized what she said she prayed Willow would let it slid.

She of course didn't.

"What does Madison have to do with it?" Willow looked up at Tara, hoping to meet her eyes, but getting the top of her head instead.

"Just some stuff" Tara shrugged and flipped a few more pages hoping to look busy.

"Some 'We used to date and now Buffy's worried about it' kinda stuff" Willow guessed as she scooted closer to her soulmate.

"Mmm" Tara gave non-commital. She could feel Willow moving closer to her. As always her warm presence was having an immediate and most pleasureable effect.

"Why's Buffy worried?" Willow touched Tara's cheek gently stroking it. She traced a line from the edge of Tara's lips to her hane, ne, following that to her nape.

"I dunno. Maybe it's because Hyatt's the first girl she's ever- oh please don't stop doing that" Tara gushed almost purring when Willow began to caress her at the base of her neck.

"I wont" Willow assured wrapping her free arm around Tara's waist "Just tell me what I wanna know?"

Tara moaned helplessly "That's not fair" she whimpered pressing against Willow.

"Buffy's afraid of Madison is that it?" Willow breathed into T's e's ear making the other girl shiver.

"I doubt it. I just think she's intimidated by what Madison and Hyatt had once" Tara bowed her head, giving into her weakness of Willow-hand.

"They were dating then?" Willow slid her hand to Tara's thigh, fingering the denim seam on her pants.

"Uh-huh" Tara breathed "Seriously dating. From what Hyatt said she was really in love with her"

"And Buffy doens't think she's over her?" Willow frowned but continued her light carress of her girlfriends leg.

"I think both Buffy and Mycah think there's something more than friendship between them now. But Hyatt's happy for her, now that she has C-C-c" Tara began to stutter when Willow's hand shot up to cup the apex between her legs.

"Cordelia?" Willow finished.

"Yesss" Tara hissed.

Willow removed her hand.

Tara made a pathetic sound.

"Later baby. This is practically public, and I'm far from an exhibitionist" Willow kissed Tara's hair and moved her chair away.
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"I can still hear you in my head" Jean spoke at what seemed a random moment of silence.

They'd been driving for a few minutes quietly.

"Left over from when I borrowed your power?" Hyatt glanced at the girl when she stopped for the infrequent light.

Jean sat stock still, staring out her window "Where's Bri?"

"Hiding in the walls as she always does" Hyatt made a left turn onto a residential road.

"Is she really a- you know?" Jean finally turned to face her.

Hyatt stared straight ahead "Yeah, until she's released she'll remain so"

"Will you let her go?" Jean reached over and grasped Hyatt's hand hoping she'd feel and know everything going on in her head.

"Your a nosy little girl" Hyatt remarked. She parked at the curb of a blue cottage like house.

"Just curious" Jean shrugged with a smile on her face.

"Curiousity killed the cat" Hyatt took her hand away and got out of the car.

"Satisfaction brought him back" Jean followed the older girl.

They were laughing as the walked through the front gate and up to the porch. Jean froze suddenly at the bottom of the stares and her eyes widened.

Fear shot through her and she wanted to run, but found her feet wouldn't obey and move.

"Jean whats wrong?" Hyatt touched the girls shoulder and was jolted back several feet. She collapsed onto the stairs as the front door opened and a robed figure stepped out.

Jean tried to scream but no sound left her throat. Then everything went black.
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Buffy spotted as Star once again tried a leaping back kick.

And for the 8th time, the little girl landed on her butt.

"I can't do it" Star whined souding every inch the little girl that she was.

"You just have to try honey you'll get it" Buffy said patiently.

"Can we shadowbox now?" Star stood rubbing her sore backside and fighting off the urge to swear like Faith often did.

"Yeah. But I'm gonna watch your track this time. Make sure your not dropping that shoulder" Buffy teased.

"I don't drop my shoulder. I box perfectly" Star turned her back on the slayer purposefully. She knew Buffy would come after her.

Buffy knew that Star knew she was coming. She decided to try a new tactic.

Creeping up behind her with a smile on her face Buffy reached out her weaker left arm, and grabbed the little girl.

Star spun and sweep kicked Buffys feet out from under her.

The slayer grasped her arm and pulled the girl down with her, tickling her when they hit the mat.

Tara could hear the squeals and giggles erupting from the training room, and moved to see what turned the grunts, groans, and occasional whines from earlier, into such spritely laughter. She smiled at what she found.

Star was sitting on Buffy's belly ticking everything her little arms could reach. Buffy was too busy slapping the little hands away to truly protect and one spot for long.

"Who's imperfect now!" Star squealed as the slayer once again tried to unseat her.

"Me! Me! Me!" Buffy gasped close to begging the child to stop "I give up. I gotta pee"

"Way over share Mama" Star said jumping off the older girl and standing proud with her hands on her hips.

Tara laughed at the beaten look on Buffy's face, and the proud look on Stars. As well as her comments.

"She cheated Tara. You saw that right? She went straight for big tickle spots" Buffy stood and pretended to walk away with an injury.

"Oh you big baby, I barely touched you. It was all in your mind" Star stuck out her tongue.

"You lost Buffy, face it. Star's tickle-game is stronger than your's" Tara smirked as Buffy moved past her to the door.

"She cheated. She pottied me!" Buffy argued. She playfully punched Tara's shoulder.

Tara had grown used to Buffy's playful tough girl attitude and remarked as she wouldn't have when she first met the slayer "Oh please. Your weakness is tickles. I could potty you"

"You wanna bet?" Buffy challenged playfully ducking and jabbing at Tara dancing around her and forcing her back into the room.

Tara merely raised her brows and drove two fingers into Buffy's jumpstarts.

"Hey" Buffy ran from the room heading straight for the bathroom "You got lucky that time!"

Star dropped to the mat laughing hard. Tara too slid down the wall to the floor.

"We beat up the slayer!" Star cheered from her back "We're bad, we're bad"

"Tara? Star? What's going on?" Giles entered the room "Why is Buffy talking to herself in the bathroom"

"Oh she lost a fight" Star nodded calsittsitting up.

"Oh" Giles walked from the backroom "I think they take pride in confusing me"
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Faith sat back on the couch bored off her ass.

Dawn had retired upstairs and unto the phone as soon as they'd arrived.

"Have you ever got the feeling that you wanted to go. But then get the feeling that you needed to stay?"

Faith leapt to her feet at the sound of the voice beside her.

"Mycah?" she took deep breaths hoping to calm her speeding heart.

"Sorry did I scare you?" Mycah smirked down at the reclining slayer.

Faith sent her a look that could melck \ck "No. I usually jump like that when people start quoting old songs"

"It's not an old song. Something like one, but not it" Mycah sat beside her on the couch "You know you should really lock that door"

"It was locked" Faith cast a glance at the small figure that stood at the bottom of the stairs "You can go up, maybe she'll get off the phone"

Kole sent her a smile and bounded up the stairs calling Dawn's name.

"I think she likes you" Mycah chuckled watching the blur that was her child disappear above stairs.

"She's a sweet kid" Faith laid her head back and closed her eyes. Her sense were still on alert and every movemtn made caused her to tense up.

"Sorry about my entrance but there's some stuff I think Buffy and the gang should know" Mycah too laid her head back, taking amuch needed rest.

"They aren't here. They sent me and the little terror that is Dawn here while they did all the important stuff" Faith grumbled. She started again as Mycah took her hand.

"Jealously. Isn't that how you ruined your chance to be one of them the first time?" Mycah hadn't opened her eyes to look at Faith, but had leaned her body closer.

"Shut up" Faith growled.

"I'll take that as a yes" Mycah brought their hands to her lips and kissed the soft skin "I know how you feel. Buffy and Hyatt are lucky they have each other. I know I'd kill to have a girl friend like Buffy"

"You can read my mind can't you?" Faith stared at the other girl in amazement.

"Yep. Your not fucked up at all. Just growing" Mycah answered the silent question Faith had been asking herself since she'd killed that first time, in that vamp infested alley "You made a mistake. You've paid for it. They might not fully trust you now, but look at what they've given you so far. You brought Dawn home. Buffy's little sister. The key to hell. She's under your protection. Buffy trusts you will the only blood family she's really got left. Faith I think that's progress"

Faith sat silently on that couch, holding onto Mycah's hand for dear life trying not to cry "I never thought of it that way"

"I know" Mycah sighed "There's something special about you Faith. It just hasn't been realized yet" Mycah flipped her hand over and began to trace the lines of her palms.

The gesture caused Faith to shiver slightly. The touch was feather light and elusive. She needed to think of something else. All this emotion was getting her worked up.

"Have you ever wanted something, only to have it taken right infront of your face?" Faith asked turning to Mycah again.

"Yeah" Mycah frowned "It's so not fun"

"I wanted Hyatt the first time I met her. A while ago in L.A. Then I come back here and find her again. With the other girl I wanted but couldn't have" Faith scoffed at herself and her rotten luck with women "I just can't get it right can I?"

"Like I said" Mycah chuckled humorlessly "I want Buffy"

"We so suck right now" Faith laughed as well shaking her head.

"I tried to break them up. It was stupid, and selfish" Mycah sighed.

"It also didn't work" Faith smirked.

"Shut up" Mycah nudged the slayer hard.

"Fuck you" Faith nudged her back.

"Oh look their bonding" Dawn said coming down the stairs with Kole on her hip.

"Should we be afraid?" Kole joked.

"Very afraid" Faith threw pillows at them.

In a flash the two broke apart and the pillow flew between them.

"Wow" Mycah and Faith breathed.

Dawn picked up the pillow and tossed it back. It hit Faith in her face.

"I guess you don't think fast" Dawn smirked.

Faith moved the chase Dawn when the first jolt hit.

"Earthquake!" Mycah grabbed her daughter as they all scrambled for the nearest doorway.

The shaking seemed to last forever though it was in truth only a few seconds long.

Knicknacks fell off the shelves, curtains fell, and Buffy's chest o' weapons spilled out across the floor.

When the shaking ceased they all stood, well shaken and worried.

"Call the Magic Box" Faith directed as they all looked around them "I'll go see how bad off we are"

Dawn grabbed the phone and tossed it to the ground "Phones are out"

"That was a bad omen" Kole pouted "Can we just go? Please can we go?"

They all gave into her tearful voice, and filed out of the house and into Mycah's car.

None of them noticed the large hole that had appeared in Buffy's side yard, or the small scaly demons escaping it.
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