Baby's Coming Back
by willow
Goodbye
[reviews]
Chapter 8: Goodbye
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Buffy bounced into her room with a giggling Paige on her hip, who was making Mrs. Fluffytail bounce on and off Buffy's head. When the slayer looked over at the bed a gentle smile made its way onto her face. Willow was fast asleep, snuggled into the pillow and cuddled up to Mr. Gordo.
She turned her head back to look at Paige and put a finger to her lips, "Shhh, mommy's sleepin'."
The two-year-old went quiet and looked over to her mother's sleeping form. She started to reach out towards Willow for snuggles, so Buffy walked over to the bed and placed the toddler next to her mommy. As Paige started to cuddle up, Willow's arms, even through sleep, automatically wrapped themselves around her daughter, protecting her. Buffy smiled again before sitting on the edge of the bed herself and brushing a few strands of hair out of Willow's face and tucking them behind her ear. She stroked a freckled cheek with the back of her hand, loving the feeling of the soft skin that belonged to the former witch.
Suddenly, the brunette twitched a little and Buffy's hand jerked away. Her eyes fluttered open, revealing tired emerald orbs. She looked to Buffy and gave a small smile, "Hey."
"Hey, sorry I woke you, go back to sleep," Buffy said quietly, grabbing a hand and grazing her thumb lightly over the knuckles.
"No, I'm ok," Willow stated as she sat up bringing the little girl, who was still in cuddle mode, up with her. She heard the noise downstairs and presumed more people have arrived. "Who else is here?"
"Oh, just a few potentials... and Giles got here a few minutes ago," Buffy looked awkwardly. "I kinda had to tell him you were here. I mean... he saw Paige and the others were still asking questions about you, and..."
"Buffy, it's fine," Willow smiled, "probably easier this way."
Buffy smiled back, "Have you decided what to do yet?"
"No, I've been asleep," Willow said, still a bit drowsy. Both girls giggled before Buffy turned serious again.
"I think you should stay... maybe talk to Tara first?" Buffy asked, unsure of whether Willow wanted to do 'the talk' just yet, even more so of whether the two should be alone in a room together.
"Uh, I dunno about that, Buff. I mean, what if Faith thinks something's going on and wants to kick my ass?" Willow glanced down at Paige, "I mean... uh... behind." Luckily, the little girl was still in a sleepy state and not taking in the conversation at all.
Buffy smirked at her friend before scooting closer to her and wrapping both Willow and Paige into a comforting hug. "There'll be no behind kicking of any kind, I promise."
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Buffy made her way back into the living room with Paige. She placed the toddler next to her toys before making her way over to Tara. She noticed she was quiet and separate from the rest of the group, but who could blame her. Today was definately going to be confusing. She leant down and told her quietly to go see Willow upstairs. As Tara stood up and made her way to the stairs, Faith got up too and followed her.
"Hey, where you goin'?" She asked, already knowing the answer.
"To see Willow," Tara replied, almost robot-like.
"I'll come with you, make sure the bitch doesn't try anything."
"No, you're staying here. You'll only make things worse." Tara didn't even spare her girlfriend a glance as she went up the stairs.
It was the first time Faith had ever heard any bitterness in the blonde's voice.
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"So, she's not new then?" Kennedy asked for the third time.
"No," Giles replied simply. He was still trying to get his head around the fact that the ex-witch was back.
"And she's got a kid?"
"Yes,"
"But, she's gay?"
"Yes,"
Kennedy stopped talking for a few moments, "She hot?"
"I never looked at her like that Kennedy, she was much younger and like a daughter to me." He replied, starting to get aggitated.
Kennedy took no notice and turned to Buffy, who had taken Tara's seat. "She hot?"
The words 'Hell Yeah' sprang to mind. "Well, I don't know either! I was her best friend... I mean, yeah, she's very pretty... gorgeous even... But, I don't want you any where near her." Kennedy's eyebrows shot to her hair line, so Buffy made a cover up line. "I mean, at least not for a couple of weeks. No being pushy."
"I'm not pushy!" She got several odd looks from around the room. "What?"
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Willow jumped up from the bed when she heard two knocks on the door. She swallowed her nervousness before walking over and opening it. She found Tara nervously fidgeting with her hands and stepped aside to let her in. There was an uncomfortable silence for a couple of seconds.
"Uhh... hi," Tara started.
"Hi," Willow shut the door behind her and walked over to the other side of the room. There was another uncomfortable silence. She decided to go for the ripping of the band aid method, "So... why Faith?"
"What?" Tara asked, not confused by the question, but more suprised Willow had just come out and said it.
"Why Faith?" She said, monotone.
Tara thought about it. Why had she gone to Faith in the first place? It was purely for comfort, someone to try and help her get over Willow. "I-I was just lonely I guess..."
Willow scoffed a laugh, "Lonely." Nowhere near as lonely as Willow had felt the last three years without friends or family to help her. She turned around to look out of the window. "You didn't answer my question, why Faith?"
"I-I-I don't know, she was nice a-and she looked after me and... "
"And she wanted to get into your pants," Willow's eyes filled up with tears. "Does anyone even remember what Faith was like?" Willow turned back to face Tara. "You know, want, take, have, Faith. Why is everyone acting like she *didn't* try to kill us all?"
"She's changed Willow. You can't honestly still be mad at her for all those years ago. She was confused and she was only 18, Will."
"Yeah and I was 16. We were friends with her, we accepted her sraight away and she betrayed us. Who says she's not going to do it again? She tried to kill my friends, all of us, Tara. She held a knife to my throat and she..." She stopped suddenly.
"She what?" Tara asked, pretty sure that Willow didn't have a third point.
"Nothing," the brunette replied through a clenched jaw. She'd told herself she'd never have that conversation with anyone. She sat down on the bed and let out a long drawled out sigh. She fiddled with her hands and looked to the floor, letting the first tear slip over her cheek.
Tara looked at her sympathetically before sitting next to her on the bed. Hesitantly, she reached out and grabbed one of Willow's little hands. "I know it must have been hard to see me and Faith all... couple-y, but, you just left, Will. I waited, I did, but you never came back and she was just there as a comfort... And, eventually that comfort turned into something more..."
"Is that s'posed to make me feel better?" Willow asked half-jokingly with a small smile.
Tara smiled back and squeezed her hand. "What I'm saying is I do care for Faith. I don't love her, but I do care for her. I-It's nothing like w-what we had... but us didn't work. I still want to be friends, the last three years has been so strange without you a-and we were all so worried... I'm so glad you're back," she finished with a smile.
Willow wrapped her arms around Tara's neck and pulled her into the strongest embrace she could muster. She felt Tara place a gentle kiss on her cheek as her arms went around her back. She whispered in Willow's ear, "You'll always have a place in my heart." This caused more tears to fall. When the two finally pulled out of the hug, Tara placed a light kiss on Willow's lips. She knew it was goodbye.
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Yawn.
Yes, yawn. I'm yawning at my own story. How crap.
Next chapter will move faster. And be more interesting probs.
Reviews though?
Taaaaar =]