A Witch In LA

A WITCH IN LA


Rating: NC-17 (As is the Norm)

Disclaimer: Definitely no money being made. All characters belong to Joss
Whedon and ME. I own nothing except whatever characters I
may make up for this story. Don't sue - won't do any good!

Distribution: Oh yeah, anywhere, anytime. Just make sure I get credit and let
me know where it is.

Spoilers: Pretty much everything up to Season 6 Tabula Rosa then quickly
AU.

Feedback: Please Please PLEASE.

Pairing: W/T(previously) T/F

Auth Note: This is more of an Angel/Buffy crossover. I’m taking BTVS the way it happened up to Tabula Rosa - then goes AU. Everything is un- beta’d - so any and all mistakes are solely mine! Sorry in advance for any screw-ups.


Summary: What would happen if after the Tabula Rasa Spell when Tara left
Willow, Tara decided she needed to leave Sunnydale? Where would she go? What might be different?

Differences: This is going to be mostly based in the Angel Universe - so differences to mention. They didn’t have enough evidence to put Faith away. So, she’s living with the AI Team, working at getting her life in order. Never really thought the Gunn/Fred hook-up worked. I thought she was just way to much of a brain for him. But didn’t like the idea of her and Wes either. So who knows what will transpire with those three? I did actually like Wes and Lilah. Maybe I’ll play with that couple. Just ideas. Anyone have any ideas about possible couples - let me know! Didn’t much care for the Connor story line. May leave him out completely. We’ll see. I will definitely be playing with the timelines of the Angel Universe. I know this, so sorry if it makes anyone angry. I also liked Lindsey - so who knows how these people will turn out in my weird little story.


Chapter 1


Tara sighs as she packs the last of her bags glancing around the dorm room. “Time for me to leave.” She whispers to the empty room. Just as she’s ready to open the door, she jumps slightly as there’s a knock. Shaking her head and slightly smiling to herself, she opens the door, surprised to see Buffy standing there.

“Buffy, c-come on in.” Tara murmurs quietly, opening the door further.

“Thanks, Tara.” Buffy walks in to the room and looks around in surprise, seeing the bags packed and the room emptied of everything but the furniture that was provided. Turning to look at the blonde, she frowns slightly. “Where are you going?”

Tara looks down, her hair covering her face before whispering quietly. “Home.”

“Why?” Buffy almost growls out, thinking about the backwoods rejects that had come trying to take her away.

Tara shakes her head slightly. “The semester’s over, and I can’t really stay here, Buffy. Not now.” Glancing up briefly Tara looks back down. “W-why are you here?”

“Because I’m an idiot.” Buffy grumbles quietly. “Tara you’re family. You can’t just leave.”

“I have to, Buffy. I-I can’t b-be around her.” Tara sighs before sitting down on the edge of the bed. “For my own p-piece of mind I need to leave.”

“What about college? What about the fact you want to teach?” Buffy kneels before the blonde. “What about your family here?” Buffy whispers the last.

“Dawn has you back, now. She’ll be fine.” Tara feels tears gathering in her eyes. “I’ll try and keep in t-touch with her.”

Buffy hops up onto her feet, surprising Tara making her look up watching her pace back and forth in front of her. “I can’t let you go back to that family Tara.” Buffy growls out glancing at Tara.

“I don’t have much of a choice.” Tara murmurs quietly looking back down at her clasped hands.

“Maybe you do. I understand why you can’t stay here. Not after what Willow did to you.” Buffy sighs slightly thinking about her best friend. “I still can’t believe…” Buffy sits down beside the witch. “Answer me this, do you really want to go back home?”

“NO.” Tara states almost vehemently. Thinking about the abuse, physical and mental she had went through at home, she shakes almost in terror.

“Give me two days? Let me see if I can figure something out?” Buffy almost begs.

“Why do you care Buffy?” Tara states quietly, not meanly just a question.

The question hits Buffy hard, even knowing that Tara didn’t mean it to. “Because I should have been a friend to you. You were there for me when mom died. You helped take care of Dawn when I was gone. She considers you a mother figure. I should have been by to talk to you after that fiasco with the mind wipe that Willow did. Not counting the fact when she changed Amy back into a human, you can’t find one without the other being there.” When Tara flinches slightly at that, Buffy groans. “I’m sorry.”

Tara shakes her head at the slayer. “No, no. It’s not your fault. I just can’t stay in this town. Running into W-willow. It hurts. I need to leave and try and make a life for myself. Why are you here Buffy? Why did you show up today?” Tara looks up for the first time making eye contact with the slayer, looking intently at her.

“Dawn.” Buffy whispers quietly. “She was crying this morning telling me you were leaving. I didn’t realize you were planning on doing it today. Thank God I didn’t wait too long and you were gone. You’re family Tara. I won’t let you go back to your Father. Do you have to leave the dorm room today? I want to make a couple phone calls.”

Tara sits there slightly in shock watching the slayer. “The dorm room is mine until the end of next week. Buffy…” Tara shakes her head slightly, trying to figure out what’s going on.

“Please. Give me two days.” Buffy looks pleadingly at her. “You don’t want me to follow you home and drag you away, do you?”

Tara chuckles slightly. “No, I guess not. You have two days, but I’m leaving after that.”

“Thank you.” Buffy whispers, lightly placing a hand on the witch’s shoulder and squeezing gently. Walking towards the door, Buffy stops turning around to look at Tara. “You’re family. I haven’t always acted like it, which I regret deeply, now. But you are sister and mother figure to Dawn. I would love for you to consider me a sister, also.” Buffy stops here, seeing the tears forming in the blondes eyes. “Even if you can’t stay here, in Sunnydale, I want you to know we are here for you. Family. Your chosen family.” Buffy quietly opens the door and walks out.

Sitting in the silence of the room, stunned, Tara looks at the closed door. Wondering what the slayer has in mind. Knowing in her heart that anything would be better than going back home at this moment, as long as she didn’t have to stay here.

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

“Dawn, can I speak with you for a moment?” Buffy questions looking into the living room, seeing Willow and Amy curled up on the couch together talking quietly, with Dawn sitting in the chair, turned slightly away from them.

“Most definitely.” Dawn snarks out giving the two women on the couch a dirty look.

“It isn’t going to do any good being upset about them, Dawn.” Buffy whispers as they walk into the kitchen. “Willow’s decided she wants to be with Amy.”

“Why would she decide to be with Amy when she had Tara?” Dawn hisses out. “I can’t stand the woman.”

“I know. Neither can I.” Buffy sighs heavily looking out the window over the sink. “After Tara left, and she made Amy human again, I guess she thought Amy was the perfect person for her. Thought having someone to do dark magic’s with all the time without giving her any grief is what she wants.” Buffy starts to run dish water in the sink to clean the dishes.

“Stupid.” Dawn mumbles before looking at her sister. “Did you see Tara?” At Buffy’s nod she looks worriedly at her sister. “Were you able to talk her out of it?”

“No.” Buffy whispers gently. “She’s going to leave one way or another, Dawn. She can’t stay here. It’s too hard on her.” Washing the same plate over and over again, Buffy glances over at Dawn and smiles softly. “I got her to stay for two more days. Maybe we can run by there later and you can spend some time with her?”

“Please.” Dawn cries silently. “Too bad we can’t get Willow to leave town and keep Tara.”

“Dawn.” Buffy shakes her head and quickly dries her hands, pulling the teen in against her. “She’s a grown woman. But there is something I’m going to do. I need to make a phone call. Can you make sure that neither one of the witch’s disturb me?”

Dawn looks at Buffy with a confused look.

“I’m going to call Angel. See if he’s in need of a witch.” Buffy smiles slightly as Dawn’s eyes light up. “She’s planning on going back home, Dawn. No matter what, we can’t let that happen.”

“No. That’s not going to happen. God, Buffy they abused her!” Dawn cried out almost silently.

“How do you know that?” Buffy looks at her sister shocked. Knowing in her heart that the woman had a terrible life with her family, but not knowing what exactly happened.

“I overheard her and Willow talking one night when they thought I was asleep.” Dawn whispers looking down at her shoes. “Both her father and brother beat her. Broke bones. Put her in the hospital. Some movie they were watching brought it up and Tara finally broke down, telling Willow about it.”

Buffy feels her heart constrict in pain, realizing that Tara would rather go back to that than stay here around Willow. Running her hands down Dawn’s hair, Buffy pulls her a little tighter against her. “We won’t let her go back there. We’ll figure out something. Why don’t you play lookout for me and I’ll take the phone out on the back porch?”

Dawn nods her head, pulling away and wiping the tears off her face. “Tell Angel I’ll actually be nice to him, if he’ll help.” Dawn whispers seriously looking at Buffy.

“I will.” Buffy smiles sadly, knowing that Dawn never cared for the vampire, and that this was a big concession for her. Watching Dawn go stand in the kitchen doorway, Buffy grabs the cordless phone and walks out the back door.

Quickly dialing Angels number, she chuckles at Cordelia answering the phone. “Hi Cordy, this is Buffy.”

“Buffy, what are you calling for? We hardly hear from you.” Cordelia asks in an almost nice way.

“I’ve kind of got a little problem that I need to talk with Angel about. Is he there?” Buffy listens quietly as Cordelia yells for Angel.

“Buffy?” Angel picks up the phone.

“Hi Angel. How are things?” Buffy asks the vampire as she sits down on the concrete step.

“I’m fine. Why are you calling?” Angel gets right to the point, knowing there’s a reason for Buffy to call.

“Well, I know you don’t really know what’s been going on here lately, but let me give you a quick run down…” Buffy quickly explains the situation to the vampire, letting him know that even Dawn would appreciate any help he could offer.

“I didn’t realize.” Angel shakes his head thinking deeply. “We could always use an extra hand around here. Wes has some magical abilities but another person would be a great help. And it isn’t like it would be a hardship her living here. One more person in this hotel is nothing. If she is willing to come here, let her know she has a place to stay and a job.” Stopping for a moment Angel asks quietly. “Do you need any help?”

Buffy smiles at the offer. “Thanks Angel. But no, I’m okay. Just be prepared that Dawn will probably want to come visit with Tara being there. That is if Tara will go for this. I’ll talk to her later and see what we can do. Thank you for your help.”

“No thanks necessary, Buffy. I wish I could do more.” Angel smiles sadly at the thought. “How are things with you?”

“They’re getting there. Still not quite up to par. But doing better.” Buffy frowns, thinking about Spike. “Angel, can I ask you something?”

“Of course.” Angel replies, wondering at the seriousness of her tone.

“Do you honestly think Spike is capable of love?” Buffy quickly asks before chickening out.

“Buffy?” Angel’s shocked voice comes over the phone. “Why would you want to know that?”

“Please Angel, just answer the question.” Buffy pleads quietly.

“When he was turned, it was a little strange. I don’t know if it had something to do with Drusilla, but he’s always been different. And I guess in his own way, yes he is capable of love. How else would he have spent roughly 150 years with Dru?” Angel clenches his hand tightly. “Is there something…?”

“I don’t know.” Buffy whispers. “I know it isn’t fair to talk to you about this, but things are a little strange right now. He says he loves me.”

Taking a deep, unneeded breath Angel looks up to the ceiling. “It’s possible, Buffy. But be careful. I don’t have any say in your life, but he is my grandchilde. He was almost as vicious a killer as Angelus was. So keep that in mind, okay?”

“I will. It’s just that he’s helped out so much the last year. It’s like he wants to do good.” Buffy shakes her head, wondering if she should give the bleached blonde vampire a real chance.

“It’s a possibility. He wouldn’t be the first vampire that changed. It just doesn’t happen that often. Sometimes the human host can re-exert itself over the demon. It’s not a soul being returned, but more of the way the human was before coming to the forefront. Kind of like the demon keeps all the memories of the host. Just take care of yourself.” Angel worriedly tells the slayer.

“I will. By the way, how is Faith doing?” Buffy questions quietly.

“She’s doing better.” Angel chuckles at that. “Still the Dark Slayer, still the attitude but not on self-destruct mode anymore. She’s helping out on patrol and keeping up with helping around the hotel.”

“Good. She’ll always be a little rough around the edges, but I hope she does well.” Buffy smiles slightly. “Tell the group I said hi. I’ll let you know when Tara will be getting in, so maybe you can have someone pick her up at the bus station.”

“Please do.” Angel nods and smiles as he hears Buffy whisper goodbye before hanging up.

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

“Be sure to keep in touch.” Dawn hugs Tara to her tightly. “And if any of them give you any hassle, tell them I’ll come and kick their asses.”

“Dawn!” Buffy reprimands her sister before chuckling quietly. As she watches Dawn release the witch, she’s surprised to find a pair of arms wrapped around her. “Tara.” Buffy softly says her name before hugging her back tightly.

“Thank you for this, Buffy.” Tara whispers quietly.

“It’s what family does.” Smiling as Tara finally releases her and steps back, Buffy reaches out and brushes the hair away from the blondes face. “We love you. And I’m sure the group there will love you, also. Give them time. They’re a little different.” Buffy smirks slightly. “Cordelia’s a bitch, or at least she used to be. Angel said she was better, but who knows.”

“Hopefully all will go well. Can’t be no worse than my family, right?” Tara grins lopsidedly at the two women. “I appreciate your help. I’ll write, Dawnie. And I know you’re planning on spending some of your summer vacation there.”

Dawn smiles hugely. “You better believe it.”

Buffy smiles at the two and wraps her arm around Dawn’s waist, as they call for the boarding to LA. “Take care of yourself, Tara. Please, if you need anything let me know.” Buffy watches as a little of the light that had been missing in Tara’s eyes flashes.

“New life. Changes.” Shaking her head and smiling genuinely at the two Summers women. “Thanks for the chance.” Turning to see the bus loading she looks back at the two women. “It’s exciting in a way. You two take care of yourselves.”

Buffy and Dawn watch as Tara climbs on the bus, carrying her small backpack while her other luggage is loaded below. Waving to her as the bus pulls out, they slowly turn to walk back home.

“I think this will be good for her.” Dawn whispers. “Being away from Willow, the Hellmouth. Around new people that she doesn’t have any kind of a history with. It’s like a whole new start.”

“I think so, also Dawn.” Buffy smiles, rubbing her hand over her sisters hair slightly. “Want to stop and get something to eat?”

“As long as it isn’t the Double Meat Palace.” Dawn rolls her nose up in disgust.

Buffy laughs before shaking her head. “No, no Double Meat. Let’s go.”

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

Angel stands quietly in the background at the bus station, waiting for the bus from Sunnydale to unload. As he watches the people, he sees a blonde woman, with blue eyes carrying a backpack step down off the bus, glancing around nervously. Wondering if this could be Tara, he slowly walks towards the woman.

“Tara?” Angel questions softly, hoping not to startle the young woman.

Tara looks up quickly to the tall vampire, realizing that this must be Angel. “Angel?” As he quirks his lip up slightly and nods his head, Tara relaxes. “I only have a couple bags.”

Angel watches her walk towards the luggage that was being off-loaded and start to pick them up. “Here, let me.” He offers reaching down, grasping the two bags, looking back up into the blue eyes that seem to show so much pain and hardship, but underneath he sees a strength warring to get out. Nodding his head to himself he smiles softly. This woman will do. “Let’s go to the hotel, get you introduced to the group.”

“Okay.” Tara whispers quietly, following the tall vampire. As she sits down and he closes the door behind her she watches him put the luggage in the back before sliding in behind the wheel. “Thank you for letting me s-stay here.” Tara looks up briefly before looking back down at her clasped hands.

“Oh, I’ll put you to work.” Angel smiles softly. “We can use all the help we can. Between Cordy’s visions, Fred who’s not quite with us.” At Tara’s questioning look he chuckles quietly. “Our group is a little strange. Cordy was given visions from Doyle before he died, long story. Fred - actually Winifred but she prefers to be called Fred, we just saved her from Pylea and brought her back. Brilliant woman, but being a slave for roughly five years kind of cracked her a bit. Then there’s Wes, ex-watcher, Gunn street tough that is just a normal guy, Lorne host of Caritas a bar.”

“Charity?” Tara questions, chuckling quietly. “Isn’t that kind of a weird name for a bar?”

“Yeah, it’s more of a Sanctuary. It’s a demon bar where the demons go to relax, no fighting. Karaoke bar, so be prepared to sing.” Angel grins slightly at the witch.

“Sing?” Tara’s eyes widen slightly.

“Yes, at one time or another, we all have to sing. And trust me, no one is worse than me.” Angel sighs slightly.

“I don’t know.” Tara shakes her head slightly. “I’m not much of one for b-bars.”

“You’ll like it. It’s homey in a demon way.” Shaking his head at that thought he smile slightly before continuing. “Then we have Faith, our slayer.”

Tara frowns nodding her head slightly, looking out the window. “I sort of met her briefly.”

“You did?” Angel glances over at the woman as he pulls in front of the Hyperion. Seeing her frown slightly he shuts the engine off and turns towards her. “How did you sort of meet her?”

Tara shakes her head slightly and smiles. “Buffy was kind of having an out of body experience at the time. Faith was in residence.” Opening the door, she quickly grabs her backpack smiling. “No time like the present, I guess?” Tara turns towards the door to the hotel, feeling the latent demon energy coming from it. “If you want, I can work on doing cleansings of the hotel to help with the left over energy.”

“Could you? I sometimes think we draw more demons here because of that than anything.” Angel quickly grabs her bags out of the trunk and walks up to the door, opening it for her.

“Yes, I’ll need a few ingredients for the cleansing.” Tara looks down, her hair shifting forward to cover her face as she walks into the hotel.

“Just let Wesley know. If he doesn’t have it, he’ll get it.” Angel suggests quietly looking into the hotel, seeing the gang spread out. “Looks like most of the gang is here. Lorne’s probably at his bar.”

Walking down the steps he’s followed by Tara. Glancing up she looks around quickly, seeing the different people scattered around the room.

“Gang, I want you to meet Tara Maclay recently from Sunnydale. She’s going to be staying with us and hopefully helping out with the magic side of things.” Tara looks up, stiffening her resolve to meet these people with her chin held high. Swallowing hard she makes herself make eye contact with each person.

“Tara, over by the weapons cabinet is Charles Gunn. Behind the counter is Cordelia and beside her is Wesley. Faith is the one standing on the stairs.” He stops looking around. “Did Fred go back up to her room?”

“No, she went to make herself some tea.” Cordelia rolls her eyes slightly. “Let me get her.”

As Cordelia brings Fred out, Tara smiles slightly seeing an almost kindred spirit in the woman.

“And that’s Fred.” Angel smiles gently at Fred.

“H-hello everybody.” Tara looks again from one person to the other, surprised to see Gunn approaching.

Holding out his hand, he smiles. “Nice to meet you, Tara. Welcome to our dysfunctional family.”

Giggling slightly Tara gently places her hand in his. “Thank you.”

“Let’s get you settled then maybe we’ll order dinner.” Angel suggests heading towards the stairs.

Faith steps down looking at the blonde woman, trying to figure out where she knows her from. Obviously Sunnydale, but not able to place her just yet, she shakes her head slightly. “Here, I’ll show her the room I got ready.” Faith holds her hands out to the Vampire.

Angel raises an eyebrow at the slayer and hands the cases over to her. “None of us are that great at cooking. We can all pretty much toast bagels and heat up cans of soup. Even occasionally they’ve been known to make sandwiches. So we order out frequently.”

“If you want, I can cook.” Tara offers quietly. “Help earn my stay here, if you like.”

“Please!” Cordelia exclaims. “All this eating out is going directly to my thighs. What I wouldn’t give for a good home-cooked meal. These guys think a soda and a bag of chips is a meal half the time.”

Tara’s lip slides up slightly watching the woman throw her hands around while she’s talking. So that’s Queen C. She doesn’t seem so bad so far, Tara quietly thinks to herself. “Of course, we will need to g-go grocery shopping and I need to s-see what cookware you have and will need.”

Angel chuckles loudly at that. “That I don’t think is going to be a problem. This hotel has an industrial sized kitchen with all the cookware there, from the looks of things. Probably just needs a good cleaning. I’ll need to switch the breakers on for that part of the hotel. But to keep this group happy, I’ll do it.”

Walking back towards the front of the hotel he grumps loudly “It’ll probably be a hell of a lot cheaper than buying take-out all the time.”

Giggling Tara looks down at her feet, before looking back up, seeing the slayer’s dark gaze centered on her questioningly. “S-something I can help you with?” Tara questions quietly.

“I know you, don’t I?” Faith looks at the woman, trying to figure it out. At the blonde’s nod she raises an eyebrow. “You gonna tell me, or do I hafta guess?”

Tara frowns slightly glancing down before making herself look up again. “You were having an in-Buffy experience at the time.”

Faith frowns before realization dawns in her eyes. “Red’s girl. At the Bronze.”

“Was. Not anymore.” Tara clenches her jaw slightly before looking up at the stairs. “You going to show me which room is mine?”

Faith frowns slightly. “Yeah, sorry. Come on.” Faith turns quickly, walking up the stairs to the third floor, opening the door to a nice Suite with a king size bed. Obviously the room had just been cleaned and fresh sheets and comfortor put on the bed. “Where would you like me to put these at?” Faith looks towards the blonde, noticing for the first time the strength behind the sad blue eyes.

“Just set them down there. I’ll go ahead and unpack. Not like it’ll take me that long.” Tara looks at the two bags and her backpack she sets down on the bed.

“Want help?” Faith doesn’t know why she offers, but she feels compelled to make the attempt.

“No, thank you.” Tara smiles suddenly, surprised at the offer. Looking at Faith, she looks slightly closer, seeing that she’s changed. Just getting a surface reading from the woman she notices that she isn’t as angry.

“Well, when you’re ready come on downstairs. I think Gunn, Wes and Angel are planning on doing patrol tonight, leaving us girls here alone.” Faith rolls her eyes slightly. “Yay. Queen C will give you the low down, I’m sure.”

“Thanks, Faith. I’ll be down in a few minutes after I unpack and freshen up.” Tara watches Faith turn and head towards the door. She sees the slayer hesitate slightly, with her hand on the door knob.

“I’m sorry I was a bitch to you.” Faith whispers quietly before walking quickly out the door, shutting it behind her.

Tara stands there slightly stunned, not expecting an apology from the slayer. Shaking her head she smiles genuinely at the thought that she definitely has changed to apologize. Looking around Tara quickly unpacks and takes a shower before heading downstairs.

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