What If??

“I want Riley.” Buffy admits as she gets ready to leave, looking at Tara.

“He knows us, and if I know you, you aren’t planning on playing nice with him.” Tara looks inquisitively at Buffy. Seeing the guilty look on her lover’s face, Tara shakes her head. “If you must, go for it. Do you think you’ll have better luck shaking something loose from him?”

“Yeah.” Buffy nods her head, relaxing slightly as Tara doesn’t seem to be ready to get on her about this. “Being in his class, Walsh being the professor, him being a commando… I just think he might be our best chance.”

“Get him, honey.” Tara tilts her head as she thinks, wincing slightly at the thoughts going through her head. “Honey?”

“How come I don’t like that tone?” Buffy grumbles looking at Tara.

“Sorry.” Tara grins crookedly at her lover. “He was interested you…” Tara hints quietly.

“You want me to flirt with him?” Buffy blinks in surprise at her girlfriend.

“No. I don’t want you to flirt with him, but that might be the easiest way to get him here. Do you think Faith would maybe hit on one of his friends?” Tara questions softly.

Buffy rolls her eyes, before slowly nodding her head. “Yeah, she would. She’s done worse to take out vampires before.” Buffy admits, shaking her head as she thinks back to the first meeting where she was dancing with the vampire, practically draping her whole body over and around the vamp. “Taking them to the Magic Box and put them either down in the basement or in my training room is the best idea that we have.” Buffy thinks on the thought. “Basement would probably be better. The majority of the stuff down there is in boxes, Faith and I can shift stuff away from a corner and make a little closed in area for them to be in for us to talk with Riley then leave them there until we get to the Initiative and do what we need to do.”

“How long are you planning on keeping them there?” Tara questions with a raised eyebrow.

“As long as we have to. But hopefully only a day. I’m hoping that we can get in and out of there, taking care of what we need to.” Buffy looks intently at Tara. “We need to find out what’s going on down there and take out the demons, do you think we’re doing the right thing?”

Tara sighs heavily, looking at her lover. “Honey, we can’t just let the demons go, they would hunt and kill people as soon as they are released. I don‘t like the thought of killing them as they‘re trapped, but I don‘t know what else we should do.”

“So, you and Xander are going to the Shop?” Buffy questions softly as she tucks away a few weapons.

“Yes. Giles is coming with, he’s going to clear out an area to keep whoever you capture in, so I’ll let me know to clear out the basement, and I’ll prepare something to keep them from being aware of where they are and who has them.” Tara smiles softly at Buffy’s nod of approval.

“Hopefully we’ll get them tonight, and do some questioning so we can head down there tomorrow.” Buffy sighs heavily, watching Tara for a few minutes. “You’ll be careful, right?”

“Of course.” Tara reaches up and runs a finger softly over Buffy’s cheek. “We’re all protected, and I’ll make sure that we try to make sure everything’s prepared for you, okay?”

Buffy nods quickly and hugs Tara tightly. “Faith and I are going out to see what we can reel in. Wish us luck.”

“You don’t need luck, love. You’re good.” Tara grins crookedly at her lover, as Buffy rolls her eyes before chuckling. “You are, honey. Don’t have too much fun playing with the soldier boys.” Tara murmurs before smacking Buffy on the butt, chuckling as Buffy growls playfully at her.

“Don’t play with boys no more. Only plays with a wicked Wicca.” Buffy nips playfully on Tara’s neck before kissing her softly. “I’ll meet up with you later, my love.”

Tara smiles softly as she watches Buffy quickly head out of the room. “I love you.” Tara grabs her small fanny pack with assorted items that may come in hand, before leaving the room so they can head out later to go to the Magic Box to get everything ready for her lover and Faith.

***

“We have the storage area in the basement cleared out, along with some blankets and pillows put down on the air mattress.” Giles explains as he and Xander come up to the main shop, watching as Tara gathers a few items together.

“And a nice bucket for necessities.” Xander grins as he looks at Tara.

“Good. Mr. Giles, if you sprinkle this around their corner while saying this incantation, it will keep them from seeing whoever is on the other side.” Tara smiles softly as she hands the small bowl with the ingredients in it and the small slip of paper to the watcher.

Giles chuckles as he takes the items and heads back down to the basement.

“Need any help with anything?” Xander questions as he sits down at the table watching as Tara gathers other items together.

“Not really.” Tara looks up, smiling softly at the young man. “I’m just gathering what I’ll need to help out with Buffy and mines voices for when we impersonate the two men she kidnaps.”

“I’ve got a really, really weird question to ask you…” Xander blushes lightly as he looks down at the table.

Tara raises an eyebrow at the blush. “I have to know the question to be able to answer it, Xander.”

Xander runs a hand through his shaggy hair. “Ummm… It’s just made me wonder, ever since Mrs. S wore her charm. But, uh, besides making you look different… are you actually different?” Xander finally questions, his eyes looking up real quick at Tara.

Tara blinks at Xander for a minute before it sinks in what he’s asking. Laughing heartily, Tara sets down the ingredients she was mixing together and walks over to the table sitting down beside him. Hugging him tightly she giggles. “No, sweetie. No extra equipment is involved. Though I will take that under advisement for future reference.”

“Tara!” Buffy opens the door, her eyes wide as she stares at her lover. “I can’t believe you’re thinking…” She stops and tilts her head as she continues into the shop. “Well…”

“Later, sweetie.” Tara chuckles as her lover gets sidetracked.

“What’cha talkin’ about?” Faith growls as she comes in and drops her commando on the chair, not having heard Tara’s and Xander’s conversation.

“My glamour charms giving us certain physical attributes.” Tara grins at Faith.

Faith blinks and then smirks at the thought. “That’s an idea. Can you make it different sizes? Make it curve and keep it up for hours on end?”

“Faith!” Buffy growls and smacks the slayer across the stomach, smirking as she grunts.

“Fuck, B!” Faith grunts and shifts away, rubbing her stomach.

“Okay, enough you two.” Tara shakes her head. “Did you have any problems?” Tara questions as she checks out the blonde haired guy that looks familiar. Looking at Buffy questioningly, smiling as Buffy turns around, showing Riley over her shoulder. “Do we know this ones name?”

“Forrest.” Faith answers as she sits down. “Like using candy to bait a kid. We caught these two out by themselves, Buffy sashayed right up to big, hunky dumbo over there and mojo’d his ass while acting like something was coming up behind him. Then she fixed this idiot up and here we are.” Faith whacks Forrest on the back non to gently and grins.

Tara bites her lip to keep from laughing as she looks at Buffy who tries to look innocent. “Sashayed, huh?”

“I’ll recreate it for you later.” Buffy murmurs softly, placing a kiss on Tara’s ear. “You know, can you do the whole extra equipment thing?” Buffy’s eyes light up at the thought. “Always was curious what that would be like.”

“Wouldn’t dare do that with you.” Tara admits softly. Seeing the questioning look on Buffy’s face, Tara grins crookedly at her lover. “Let’s take these two downstairs, and I’ll explain why.” Tara levitates Forrest and heads towards the basement as Giles comes through the door.

“Oh, good. I see you’re already back and with two commando’s, I would assume.” Giles looks at the two men.

“They are.” Buffy pulls a couple items out of her back pocket and hands them to Giles, smirking.

“Government.” Giles rolls his eyes as he looks at the two different ID’s. “Well, that answers that.”

“Keep the ID’s up here for now. We’ll be back up in a few.” Buffy winks as she follows Tara downstairs.

Tara settles her commando on one side of the mattress and watches as Buffy practically drops Riley on the other side before turning towards her with a glint in her eyes. “What’s going through your mind?”

“First, I would like an answer to why you wouldn’t let me have an extra appendage.” Buffy follow’s Tara back behind the magical barrier, smirking at her lover.

“Because, my lovely slayer. You’re a little too studly and even though it shouldn’t be possible, I have a feeling we’d end up getting pregnant. I love you, and would love to have your child, but not at this moment in my life.” Tara explains seriously as she wraps her arms around her lover’s waist, pulling her gently into her.

“Do you… could we…” Buffy blinks at the thought, her brows furrowing. “Is it possible?” Buffy finally questions quietly.

“Oh, there are spells that would make it possible, sweetie. Especially for us. I have a feeling that even if we weren’t trying, and we did something like that, I could very easily end up having a little one on the way.” Tara places a loving kiss on Buffy’s cheek.

“I am definitely keeping that idea, right here.” Buffy taps her head, smiling at Tara as she presses her body more firmly against her lover. “I assume you haven’t gotten a chance to go to Willy’s yet, have you?”

“No.” Tara inhales as Buffy slides a thigh between her legs, pressing gently against her apex. “Sweetie…”

“I know.” Buffy growls before kissing Tara hungrily. “I got a chance to look at the gifts you bought me while you were helping out with cooking.”

“That wasn’t nice.” Tara murmurs, smirking as she knows Buffy didn’t find one of the containers of gifts, since she’d hid it up in the attic.

Buffy growls and nods her head as she nips her way down Tara’s neck, her hands shifting to caress over Tara’s breasts. “You bought body paints…”

“Uh, huh.” Tara tilts her head, groaning softly as Buffy strokes strongly over her neck with her tongue.

“Can we play with them after we take care of this stuff at the Initiative?” Buffy questions hopefully.

“Oh, most definitely.” Tara chuckles as Buffy growls loudly. “We’ll have a rip roaring time after we take out the Initiative and kick their asses back to wherever they came from. We might have to rent somewhere to stay while we’re doing it…” Tara smirks as Buffy laughs.

“I like that idea.” Buffy chuckles and hugs Tara tightly. “Those two are going to be out for a little while yet. And, to tell you the truth, I don’t feel any demons anywhere but at their hideout, so there’s no sense in going to Willy’s.”

“Okay. We‘ll figure out something to do for a while.” Tara agrees easily as Buffy releases her. Quickly smacking her lover hard on the ass, Tara giggles and takes off running up the stairs.

“Don’t tease the slayer.” Buffy growls chasing up the stairs after her lover, skidding to a halt as three sets of eyes look at them. “Fuck.” Buffy grumbles and tucks her hands into her pockets. “Don’t you three have something to do?”

“No.” Faith and Xander both state at the same time, grinning at an embarrassed Buffy and Tara.

Giles sighs heavily and shakes his head. “What about those two?” Giles indicates the basement, where the two men are.

“We’re going to wait around until they come to and interrogate them. Then Tara’s going to fix us up for us to go have fun on their playground.” Buffy shrugs and makes her way to the table, plopping down beside Tara, who sat down just before her.

“We’ll probably head to the house to eat before going to the Initiatives place, though.” Tara raises an eyebrow at Buffy.

“You have a point.” Buffy nods her agreement, smirking at her. “Can’t work on an empty stomach.”

“Plus you’re going to have to make sure you have every weapon that you think you might possibly need. Between stakes, knives, swords, and whatever else.” Tara looks pointedly at her lover.

“Make sure you take a steel and an iron knife, also, Buffy.” Giles suggests, his eyes serious. “There’s no telling what you may come across down there.”

Buffy nods her agreement. “I’ll make sure to grab the combination knife, Giles. Xander and Faith’ll be prepared and out on the campus while we’re down below. So we’ll have that part covered, also, just in case.” Buffy smiles at her sister slayer, the two women having discussed the plan of attack, where Buffy would let some of the demons go, albeit with a little magical help to send them up to where her sister slayer would be waiting, without them being able to go after any of the humans down below.

Tara watches Buffy, feeling her heart expand at her beautiful, confident lover. “Xander, I placed a protective spell on you, also. So they won’t be able to hurt you. But please, still be careful. There’s no sense in taking chances, and after the majority of the mess is done, I’ll have to release the spells.” Tara admits softly, looking sadly at Buffy.

Buffy nods her head, realizing that keeping the spells up was draining to her lover. “Keeping everyone protected is draining her stores of energy.” Buffy explains to Xander and Faith as they look at Tara questioningly. “I’ve been able to help feed her my own strength and energy to a degree as a crutch, but we won’t be able to keep it up indefinitely.”

“Damn good thing the Council saw the light.” Xander comments, looking at the two women.

“We would have dropped the protection on everyone else, before we would have Faith, until we figured something out for her.” Tara admits softly. “We wouldn’t let them get a hold of her. Even if we would have had to sneak her out of the city or even the country, we would have done something.”

Faith closes her eyes at the obvious care in Tara’s voice, and the look on both Buffy and Tara’s faces. “Thanks you two.” Faith finally opens her eyes and smiles at the two women that have become her family. “Come on, Xan. Let’s make tweed drive us back to B’s house.” Faith stands quickly, heading towards the door.

“We’ll see you two later.” Giles nods towards Buffy and Tara as he heads after Faith and Xander.

“Have fun you two!” Xander smirks as he heads out the door, Giles pushing him.

“Damn kids.” Giles mutters as he locks the door behind them.

“Alone at last.” Buffy smiles at Tara, her eyes starting to glow. “The two idiots are going to be out for roughly three more hours. What in the world are we going to do for the next three hours?”

“I’m sure you’ll figure out something.” Tara smirks at her lover.

“Already figured out.” Buffy wiggles her eyebrows at her lover, her eyes calculating.

“Uh, oh.” Tara tilts her head at the wicked look crossing Buffy’s face. “How come I think I’m in serious trouble?”

Buffy shakes her head and grins hugely at Tara before picking her up in her arms and striding towards the training room with Tara laughing out her name.

***