What If??

Buffy finishes moving the furniture around in the living room, until there’s just the chair sitting in the middle of the room, with all the other furniture moved to other parts of the house, or against the walls. “Kalina! Anything else?” Buffy calls loudly for her lover.


Tara walks from the kitchen with a plate filled with a humongous omelet for her lover, handing it to her with a quick kiss. Looking around the room she shakes her head. “I think the idiots will all be able to fit on the floor okay. Joyce, Mr. Giles and Faith can sit on the couch and see and hear everything that happens. I think it’s perfect.”


Buffy moans as Tara strokes a hand down her side and around her ass while she’s talking, knowing that her lover isn’t even aware of her teasing caresses. Shoving a huge bite of the omelet in her mouth, Buffy chews and tries to think of other things, but glimpses of their early morning romp flashes behind her eyes. Smiling at the remembrance of being woken up to an earth shattering climax, before Tara got serious. Buffy shifts her body slightly, placing the fork on the plate as she pulls down at the crotch of her jeans to try and get some relief for her achy, sensitive clit.


“I figure after everyone’s eaten, we can get this show on the road.” Tara clasps one of Buffy’s butt cheeks in her hand, squeezing firmly. “Why don’t you finish that in the dining room, I have a big glass of milk on the table waiting for you.”


Buffy grunts around another mouthful of food, walking slightly bow legged to try and keep her jeans from rubbing against her. Buffy blushes lightly as Faith smirks at her knowingly from the table as she works her way through a huge stack of pancakes, with half of an omelet on another plate.


“Here’s another platter of sausage and bacon.” Joyce comes from the kitchen followed closely by Giles.


Buffy narrows her gaze on her mother and watcher as they come out of the kitchen. Noticing their slightly disheveled appearance, she starts to inhale deeply before Tara places a calming hand on her shoulder and leans in against her.


“Easy, love. They deserve happiness and their own privacy, if they so choose.” Tara whispers ever so softly against Buffy’s ear before placing a soft kiss on the tender skin behind it. “Your mother told me about the band candy incident, and the fact that she actually does like Mr. Giles. And from the looks of things, I would say it’s mutual.”


Buffy grunts quietly, nodding her head as she shoves more food in her mouth, her eyes still staying narrowed as she glances from one end of the table to the other.


Tara sits down beside Buffy and reaches out to the platter grabbing a piece of bacon and munching on it as she looks at her lover. Running her free hand gently over Buffy’s thigh to try and calm her lover.


“What exactly do you two have planned?” Giles finally questions as he blushes lightly at the look he’s getting from Buffy.


Buffy growls quietly, snarling her lip up on one side. “Travers’ head on a platter would be good.”


“Now, love.” Tara murmurs and squeezes Buffy’s thigh firmly. “We’re going to have a little discussion with Mr. Travers and see if we can’t come to an agreement.”


Giles shakes his head. “He isn’t going to be very agreeable. He doesn’t like to get his hands dirty.”


“No, he’d rather fuckin’ send his goon squad out to take us out of the equation.” Faith snarls as she finishes her breakfast, dropping the fork on top of the plate as she stares at Giles. “That ain’t gonna work. Something is gonna have to be done about him and the council.”


“Let’s see what happens.” Tara grins wickedly as her eyes twinkle merrily. “I have a feeling that after today, we won’t have much trouble from that end. As a matter of fact, I have a feeling that they might actually be helpful.”


Giles raises an eyebrow at the young witch. “Why exactly did you re-arrange the living room, and what do you have planned, young woman?”


“Wait and see.” Buffy growls as she finishes eating her breakfast before reaching for her milk to finish it off. Sliding the phone down the table towards Giles, Buffy grins wickedly. “When we’re ready, we want you to call Travers and keep him on the phone. Tara will take it from there.”


Tara holds the other cordless extention in her hand. “We’ll see what he thinks about Sunnydale and the good ol’ US of A when we’re done with him!!”


Faith grins wickedly as she looks from Buffy to Tara and back. “I think I might like this.”


“Dear, Lord.” Giles mutters as he pinches the bridge of his nose after whipping off his glasses. “I have a feeling I’m going to become grayer than I already am before this day is out.”


Joyce chuckles quietly as she refrains from making any comments. Standing she starts to gather the empty dishes and platters, smiling in thanks as the rest of the group helps carry everything in the kitchen.


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


Giles slowly punches in the number for the direct line in to Quentin Travers, watching as Faith bounces on the balls of her feet, Joyce sits calmly on the couch beside him, Tara and Buffy stand close to the chair, looking at each other and grinning. Praying that the two women know what they’re doing, but also knowing that something has to be done before the Council kills someone.


“Travers!” Quentin barks into the phone, his eyes flashing with anger when none of his people from Sunnydale had checked in that morning as they should have.


“Lovely day, isn’t it old man?” Giles nods towards Tara, watching her click the extention on, smiling.


“What do you want?” Travers growls in the phone, his eyes narrowing as he slams his cup of tea down on his desk, his eyes flashing from one person to the other in his office.


“Well, it would seem there was a bit of a problem here last night. I was wondering if you know anything about someone shooting at my slayer?” Giles questions, the tone of his words sending shivers down everyone’s spine.


Tara raises an eyebrow in surprise at the ex-Watcher, before turning her gaze questioningly on her lover. When Buffy silently sends her the message that he was something of a bad ass in his younger days, Tara nods her head in acceptance as she closes her eyes, focusing in on Travers as the two men continue to banter angrily back and forth. “You are mine.” Tara whispers softly, teleporting the Head of the Watcher’s Council into the chair between her and Buffy.


“What the bloody hell???” Travers yells trying to stand up, finding himself unable to move his body, just able to move his head, as he stares in stunned surprise as he finds himself staring into pale blue eyes. “Who the hell are you, young woman?”


“Your worst nightmare.” Tara narrows her gaze on him as she reaches out and grabs him by an ear, yanking on it hard. “You had someone shoot at my lover, and I don’t like that. Not one bit!”


Travers narrows his gaze on the woman before slowly taking in the rest of his surroundings, as he realizes that he’s in Sunnydale, of all places, he pales as he takes in the sight of Giles standing there off to the side with his arms crossed, Buffy coming to stand besides the woman with the blue eyes shooting sparks at him, Faith, the slayer that should, by all rights, be dead and Mrs. Summers. “How the hell did you guys bring me here?”


“That would be my doing.” Tara smirks as she looks towards Buffy. Waving her hand, the rest of the men from the Watcher’s Council come into the living room and sit down quietly, almost like people in a trance.


“I won’t stand for this!! Release me and my people now!” Travers yells at the top of his lungs.


“Sorry, old chap. But you don’t have a choice in the matter.” Giles sits back down beside Joyce and leans back, deciding that with that simple show of power, Tara could, and probably would do whatever is necessary to take care of everyone. “Your show, ladies.”


Tara nods her head and looks at her lover, silently questioning her if she wants to take over.


Buffy winks and crosses her arms to stare down at the head of the Watcher’s Council, her eyes narrowed on the head of the Council. “You will leave Sunnydale to us. There will be no sending anyone from the Watcher’s Council here to check on us, spy on us or try and hurt or kill us.” When Travers starts to sputter, Buffy waves her hand at him. “Silence!” She growls angrily watching him snap his mouth shut. “You will pay Giles for all the time he has been here, continuing to do his job without you assholes looking over his shoulder. You will send Faith and I a monthly stipend to help offset the costs of food, clothes, weapons, living expenses and other items that we will need.” Buffy turns to look at Faith with a raised eyebrow. “How does $5,000 a month each sound?”


Faith smirks and nods her head as she stops to watch the proceedings. “That’ll be good.”


“Fine, $5,000 apiece each month. Subject to change for more, if we deem we need more.” Buffy raises an eyebrow at Travers. “You will have all records and charges dropped against Faith. We are going to give her the help, care and family that she needs. Giles will contact you with our bank accounts, and we want to be paid retroactive for the time we’ve been slayers.”


“WE WILL NOT!” Travers yells, the veins in his forehead popping out as his face turns red with anger.


“I think you will.” Tara steps up beside her lover, her eyes turning a pale blue. “Buffy and I know what the Council has done in the past. We can take care of ourselves. We are giving you this chance to continue being a part of the fight against evil here in Sunnydale. If you choose to continue in the way that you have, we will have no other choice but to keep you and any of your…” Tara turns to look at the rest of the goons that the Council had sent to Sunnydale. “Employees, from stepping foot in Sunnydale.” Tara turns to gaze at Giles. “Who does the Council deal with in one of the Covens that can explain to this pompous ass that we can and will take care of ourselves if they want to be a problem?”


Giles tilts his head and smiles wickedly. “Alanna is the head of the Coven in Devon. The Council always goes through her for anything they need.”


“Would you mind contacting her, asking her if she would mind talking with us?” Tara questions softly.


“It would be my pleasure.” Giles smiles and picks up the phone, walking towards the kitchen to call the Coven.


“You can’t do this!!” Travers sputters, before his eyes go wide at the sight before him.


Buffy growls angrily, invading the man’s personal space, she snarls her lip and her eyes turn a brilliant orange. “We have, we will and we can!” Buffy’s voice sounds like a lion’s roar as she looks at Travers. Snarling her nose in disgust at the smell of body fluids now coming from the man, she jumps back away from him.


“I think you scared him.” Tara comments with a slight raise of her eyebrow, a small smile crossing her face as she hears both Faith and Joyce snort back laughter in response to her comment.


“I am not cleaning that up.” Joyce points at the puddle that’s now on the floor, before her eyes take in Giles coming to the living room with the phone in his hand.


“Ummm… Tara, can you…” He waves the phone at Tara, smiling as she nods and accepts it.


“Are you prepared?” Tara questions softly into the phone, smiling at the answer.


“Bloody hell, yes!” Alanna chuckles as she winks at a couple of her Coven members, the group having been put on alert when Quentin had disappeared from his office in the middle of a discussion with a couple other Council members.


“Oh, now that was faster and smoother than I expected.” Alanna blinks as she stares into the pale blue eyes looking at her, the woman blushing lightly. Tilting her head, Alanna frowns as she looks at the woman, feeling the intense power and goodness coming from her, her eyes slowly take in the rest of the group, finally coming to rest on Buffy. Inhaling deeply as she finally understands, she nods her head towards Buffy and back at Tara. “Sarim and Kalina. It was foretold that you two would be back together again.”


Travers’ eyes grow wide in realization and he whimpers loudly, trying to move, unable to with whatever they had done to him. “Bloody, hell!” He growls as he continues to fight internally.


“Now you understand.” Alanna smiles knowingly at the Head of the Council. Finally relaxing as the pompous ass realizes what has happened, what he and the previous members of the Council had tried to keep from ever happening again. “You have no control over her, Quentin. Your best bet is to do what they say, or leave them alone. The two are as one, once more. They will not be denied this time. If you value your life, and your Council, it would be best for all concerned that you do not fight them. Support them as the Council should have supported all the previous Slayer’s.”


Travers lowers his head silently, in submission. Knowing that the two women could, and would fight and defeat anyone he could possibly send to them, and without the help of the Coven, they wouldn’t even be able to fight them magically.


“You have our support, in whatever way you two may need it. It will be a long and hard battle that you two have ahead of you.” Alanna smiles softly, clasping Tara’s shoulder gently. “When things have settled down, I would like for you to come visit with the Coven for a while. There is much to discuss and for us to learn from each other.”


“What do you mean?” Buffy finally questions looking at the older woman.


“What was stopped before, by the Council taking your lives was the fact that you two together could eventually wipe out demon kind. It is a long, hard road that you two will have. But with help of loved ones and people willing to help you, it will be made easier. Now that we know that you have found each other again, we will research everything we have to help you…” Alanna raises an eyebrow at Travers. “Won’t we, Quentin?”


Travers takes a deep breath, slowly raising his eyes and nodding his head. “Yes.”


Tara raises an eyebrow questioningly at the Head of the Coven. “Can I release him and the rest of the group without them deciding to try and do harm to us?” Tara stresses the word try.


“Everything will be as it should.” Travers sighs deeply as he looks at his men sitting on the floor. “No longer shall we fight against the Slayer’s, we will support them to our fullest abilities.”


Tara looks intently into her lovers eyes, silently questioning whether or not Buffy believes his words. When Buffy slowly nods her head, Tara smiles softly. Hearing her unspoken lover’s words whispering in her head to leave the protective spells around them, to be on the safe side. Tara tilts her head and watches the men for a few minutes before finally releasing them from her spell.


“Consider yourself lucky, Quentin. These two together could have had you in so many pieces that no one would have been able to identify the remains, if they wanted.” Alanna explains quietly as she stares at the man.


“I know. I’ve read what she did after her lover was killed.” Quentin stands, looking down in embarrassment at his wet pants.


Tara grumbles quietly and magically cleans up the head of the Council, for their own benefit, not for the Head of the Council’s benefit.


“Thank you.” Buffy mumbles as she comes up beside her lover wrapping her arms around her waist. “The smell was about ready to drive me insane.”


Tara leans against Buffy, wrapping an arm around her and pulling her in tighter. “Now, do we need to discuss what needs to be done, before sending you two back?”


“I’ll take care of everything.” Travers shakes his head looking at his group of men. “Go ahead and pack, you’ll be coming back home.”


The men all nod and silently leave the house, two of them yelping loudly as Faith kicks them in the ass on their way by her. “Sorry. Still a bit pissed about the fact they tried to shoot us.” Faith shrugs when everyone looks at her.


Alanna sighs heavily looking at Travers, who has the good grace to blush and look embarrassed. “There will be no more of that happening from now on. Will there?” She narrows her gaze on Travers and when he shakes his head, she smiles quickly.


“As soon as you send me your bank account numbers, I’ll be sure to transfer the money to them.” Travers rubs a hand over the back of his neck as he looks at the small group of people. “Rupert, do you have the same account?”


“Yes, I do.” Giles nods his head at Quentin.


“I’ll have the money due you transferred to you by Monday. As for Miss Lehane, it will take a bit longer to have her record cleared, so you may wish to lay low until it’s done.” Quentin takes a deep breath as he turns his eyes on Buffy. “You have always been a thorn in the side of the Watcher’s Council. Now I know and understand why. Have Rupert send us your bank account information once you get it set up.” Quentin’s eyes turn to look at the witch. “Miss…” Quentin frowns, as he realizes he doesn’t know the young woman’s name.


“Tara Maclay.” Buffy supplies quietly as she looks at her lover. “Formerly Kalina Bogenette of France. My other half.”


Quentin nods his head in understanding. “Miss Maclay, I wish you to know that things will be different from now on.”


“Yes, they will.” Tara raises an eyebrow at the man, letting him know with a look that she will personally make sure that things will run smoother than they have in the past.


“Time to get rid of them?” Faith growls as she waves her hand at the Head of the Watcher’s Council. “I ain’t ever gonna trust ‘em, so it’s best they just leave me alone.”


“Having someone try to kill you three or four times will do that to a person, won’t it Travers?” Buffy raises an eyebrow at the older man.


“Yes, well…” Quentin swallows hard at the looks he’s receiving from everyone in the room. “All I can say, is that it won’t happen again. My word on it.”


“Is it okay, if I send him back with you?” Tara questions softly. “Two for one deal, just less hassle sending you two back at the same time to the same place.”


“That’s fine. We’ll have someone either drive him back to the Council, or he can have someone come to get him.” Alanna smiles and nods her head at the young woman. “Be sure to keep in touch. I have a feeling we have a lot to talk about, young one.”


Tara blushes and nods her head. “I will, Mistress. It was a pleasure to meet you.”


“Well, let’s go. I was just about ready to eat when all this happened.” Alanna winks at Tara and Buffy.


Tara whispers softly, and the two disappear, leaving the house with just the five of them standing there silently.


“Well, that went smoother than I expected.” Giles plops down on the end of the couch, groaning quietly. “Dear ladies, I dare say that you probably have the Council scared shitless.”


“Or at least scared the piss out of ‘em.” Faith snorts as she bounces on her feet. “Damn, I’m gonna have to stay here until they figure out how to clear me.” Faith bitches as she finally plops down on the floor, staring down at her hands in silent contemplation.


“No, you don’t.” Tara shakes her head smiling. “You still have my glamour charm, Faith. You can use that if you want to go out without being worried someone will recognize you.”


“Damn, I forgot about that. Thanks, Blondie!” Faith grins happily at the witch as she watches Tara turns and tuck her head against Buffy‘s shoulder. “You two must be bad asses, huh?”


“Only when it comes to protecting our loved ones.” Buffy wraps her arms around Tara pulling her tighter against her body. “And, of course, to the evil that walks the earth.” Buffy winks at Faith.


“That’s your specialty, not mine.” Tara mumbles into her lover’s neck. “I just wanted to grow old with either a cat or a dog, teaching English and painting on the weekends, remember?”


Buffy snorts and hugs Tara. “Yeah, I remember something about that. Being a Spinster Witch, so much for that foolishness.” Buffy looks at the group for a moment, smiling. “I want to talk with Tara about something, we’ll be back in a few minutes.”


“Yeah, right.” Faith smirks as she plops backwards on the floor staring up at the ceiling. “Few minutes, my ass.”


“We’re just going to talk!” Buffy growls as she urges Tara towards the kitchen and out the back door.


“Please tell me they aren’t going to do strange and weird things outside, now.” Giles whimpers rubbing his eyes wearily.


“Maybe some heavy making out, but they probably will keep the majority of their clothes on.” Joyce chuckles as Giles turns to look at her with a wide-eyed look. Shrugging, Joyce just grins.


“Do you two mind if I change and go for a run, or something’?” Faith questions as she bounces up off the floor. “I’m busting at the seams here, and I need to get rid of this energy.”


“Just be careful.” Giles looks at the young woman seriously. “If you’re going to be more than a couple hours, call.”


Faith nods her head in understanding, a huge grin crossing her face as she takes the stairs four at a time to grab a change of clothes.


“I guess I could give her some spending cash, that way if she gets hungry or thirsty, she has some money on her.” Giles mutters quietly as he stands and pulls out his billfold, grabbing a couple $20’s for the young slayer.


Joyce smiles softly at the watcher as Faith comes pounding back down the stairs, pulling on the necklace to transform herself. Watching as Rupert hands her the money and the shock and surprise on her face as she slowly tucks it away.


“Thanks G-man.” Faith swallows hard and tucks the money in her pocket. “I’m gonna do my damndest not to fuck up this time.” Faith whispers before heading out the front door.


“I know, my dear.” Giles rubs a hand down the side of his face as he stands there, feeling at a loss. “But it wasn’t all your fault, it’s something we all have to work through.”

Joyce stands and walks over to Rupert. “It’s going to be different this time, Rupert. I think Tara will kick both their asses if they start acting like they did before.” Joyce chuckles softly as she rests her hand on his arm. “Those two being powerful and strong doesn’t scare Tara at all.”


“No, I dare say, it doesn’t.” Giles smiles gently at Joyce as he reaches up to tuck a hair gently behind her ear. “That young woman is very powerful, actually both her and Buffy together can probably take on anything anyone wants to throw at them. Alanna has the sight, and she knows what they are capable of. She trusts them to do what’s right. As do I.” Giles admits softly.


“Buffy has grown up a lot over the last six months. Even more, now that she has Tara. Even though those two spend more time playing tonsil hockey than I thought would be possible.” Joyce grumbles before smirking.


“I dare say that isn’t all they’re playing.” Giles mumbles before blushing darkly as Joyce laughs heartily at him. “I didn’t mean to say that out loud.”


“But you did.” Joyce hugs him quickly. “Tara makes Buffy completely happy. She hasn’t been happy for the longest time, Rupert. I’d give up everything just to see her smile like she does now.”


“But you don’t have to.” Giles murmurs quietly, wrapping his arms gently around Joyce, pulling her back against him. “Would you like to go to dinner tonight, Ms. Summers?”


Joyce sighs softly and rests her head against his shoulder, letting her arms sneak up around his neck. “I would love to go to dinner, Mr. Giles.”


“Then it’s a date.” Giles smiles as he closes his eyes and holds Joyce tenderly, feeling a happiness inside, that he hasn’t felt himself, in a very long time.


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