Well, here it is. The last part. The final chapter. The end of the road.
I have had a ball writing this and sharing it with all of you. You've been great, really. Sorry there was angst, but like I said from the beginning - Willow and Tara will always have a happy ending in my stories. You know, it started out as such a simple little piece of smut...
So there you have it. I had such a great time with this one, I'm actually working on two new stories. The first, called "Into the Woods," is a short, fun-filled romp that's all about humor and the quest to have sex when all forces are conspiring against you (namely Buffy and Anya). The second is called "The Truth of Deception," and will be another very long one. It will have a certain amount of emotional angst, but no apocalypses! It's an AU fic set back during S4, a "what if?" if you will, that's a bit more Tara-centered than The Guardian was (to me, The Guardian was really more about Willow cuz, well, I love Willow).
I'll start posting one or both of these stories in the next couple of weeks, if you're interested, and if the mods don't disagree!
Thanks again for all your great feedback. Enjoy!
***MaClayMagic - Consider this your warning... smut ahead! I wouldn't want you to have a coronary!
***LeatherQueen - Eloquent as ever, my dear. I love when I can reduce you to one word sentences. Hehe.
***capricornmist - Well consider this part your cherry on top.
***xita - Yep, full circle - from smut to, um, smut! Hehe. Well, I hope I contributed a little something more than smut, though if all people got was smut, that works too. I guess I kinda figured after all they went through, they (especially Tara) just would have come far enough they didn't worry about PDA's anymore. Thanks for your support on this fic!
***Thanatopsis - Well, if you were kissing Willow (or Tara), wouldn't you ignore the world, too? I certainly would!
***Scout - Hope you had a nice rst, cuz this part ran a bit longer than I expected. Hehe.
***The Rose24 - Wow works for me.
***Little M - *helps Little M back onto her chair, but places cushions on ground surrounding chair in case she falls off again* No, THIS is the last part. Hehe.
***Jennpurr - Why, you're welcome, Jen! Dude! *G*
***Zooey - Ah, Zooey, my friend. I love it when I make you go *thud* Means you're on the floor waiting for me to read you more smut. I've got your pillow all ready.
***Wolflord - Tell you're g/f she's welcome (she knows what for).
Well, better get your cigs ready - here comes (pun intended) the grand finale!
-BB
Title: The Guardian – Epilogue Part 2/2 - THE END
Author: blameburner
Feedback: Sure… Always a plus
Summary: This is just a nice little story about two witches, facing the apocalypse – again - and love.
Spoiler Warning: Up to and including "Normal Again" in Season 6 – but really nothing major.
Disclaimer: Not my characters, but oh how I wish they were! Joss, blah blah, ME, blah blah.
Rating: NC-17 (I've given up any pretense that it's anything less)
Pairings: W/T… duh. Everyone’s will be here at some point.
Notes: No magic, no evil-dooers - just sex. And poker.
Angst: NO! No more angst! Yay me.
Epilogue Part 2 - THE END
"Oh just deal the bloody cards!" Spike said crankily. He'd been losing all night, mostly to Dawn.
Apparently I taught her a little too well, he thought.
"Yeah, yeah, quit your yapping," Xander answered, shuffling the cards. He was equally as cranky as Spike, mostly because Anya now had pretty much all of his money.
Willow giggled. She supposed she should be cranky, too, considering she had lost all her money an hour ago. She patted Tara's thigh. She just couldn't be cranky, though, when she had spent the entire day making love to the most beautiful woman in the world, who was now sitting in her lap at the poker table. Plus, Tara had given Willow all her money so the redhead could keep playing. The blonde hadn't minded, considering the kiss she had gotten in return for bowing out.
"Ante up, people," Xander said as he dealt the cards. "Five card draw, one eyed jacks and kings with the ax."
"This is worth five, right?" Dawn asked, holding up a tube of strawberry lip balm.
"No, ten. Remember?" Buffy corrected. "Cherry was worth five," she added, tossing in
a fruit roll-up.
"Mmm, strawberry," Tara said.
"You want me to win that for you, baby?" Willow asked, nuzzling the blonde's ear.
"Actually, I really want the glitter," Tara said, kissing Willow's temple.
"The glitter? Really? Why?" Willow asked. It was nothing special. Just a small jar of body glitter Anya was anteing with.
At least I can taste the lip balm when I kiss it off Tara, she thought.
Tara just grinned and shook her head, toying with the small stuffed animal in Willow's "money" pile. When Dawn had convinced them all to play poker that night, the one stipulation Buffy had demanded was that they didn't bet actual money. Or kittens. Or puppies. So they had each brought whatever items they could find to wager with.
That in itself had been amusing. It had taken well over an hour to haggle about the monetary value of each item. At first it had been pretty simple. Sea shells, stakes, fruit roll-ups and the like had been designated as five cents. Lip balm (except cherry), souvenir mugs, and snow globes were ten cents.
The real debate had been over the big ticket items. Xander's old, very worn baseball glove had been deemed worth a dollar, though Xander had wanted more. Buffy's pom-pons were worth a buck as well, mainly because Spike had argued with Xander that they were worth at least as much as his "bloody baseball glove."
The most interesting fight had been over Mr. Flopsy. Dawn had brought the stuffed bunny down from her room, and everyone had immediately agreed that it was worth five dollars because of sentimental value. Everyone, that is, except Anya.
Anya screeched in horror at first sight of the rabbit. "Get that thing out of here! Get it out, get it out, get it out!" she had screamed while hiding behind Xander. They had all taken turns trying to explain to Anya that it was just a stuffed animal, but to no avail. Finally Xander pacified the bunny-phobic ex-demon by handing her his wallet so she could count his real money.
Tara toyed with the rabbit's ears as everyone anted up.
You're just so cute, she thought.
I don't see how anyone could be afraid of you."I still don't see why we couldn't play with kittens," Spike grumbled.
"Because, Spike, that's just sick and wrong," Buffy said.
"Oh, right. Sick and wrong. I knew that," the vampire muttered. He was still pretty banged up, but was healing quickly. He was feeling even better since Buffy and Dawn had invited him over.
When he had arrived, Buffy had pulled him off to the side and told him they needed to talk. He figured the Slayer had changed her mind and was going to kick him out of her life for good. Instead she had kissed him on the cheek and told him that they would talk later, after the poker game. He had looked at her questioningly, but she had simply smiled and told him that it wasn't bad, what she wanted to talk to him about. And he had believed her.
Maybe things are looking up after all, he thought as he threw a stake into the pot and picked up his cards.
Tara looked at Willow's cards. Her lover was holding the Queen and King of hearts, along with a five of clubs, two of diamonds, and ten of spades.
"Ooo. You've got the King and Queen of hearts, sweetie,"Tara thought to Willow.
Willow giggled outloud, but thought back to Tara,
"Guess that makes me the King, since I've got the Queen of my heart sitting in my lap."Tara turned and kissed Willow softly.
"I love you too, Willow. And as soon as this hand is over, I'll show you how much."Willow blushed.
"Okay. No private spicy-talk between you two!" Buffy admonished, though she was grinning broadly.
Willow just nodded and concentrated on her cards. Tara wanted the glitter and by Goddess she was going to get it.
"I fold," Xander said, throwing his cards down on the table.
"That's okay, Xander. I'll share my winnings with you. Because I am going to win," Anya said. Everyone stared at her, unable to believe she had just said she'd share. Anya was oblivious, however.
"I'll start the betting off with this lovely crystal," Anya said.
"A two dollar item?" Dawn cried. "Already?"
Anya just smiled at Dawn, and the younger Summers mumbled, "I fold."
Everyone else called Anya's bet.
"I'll take four," the ex-demon said.
"Four!" Dawn said, angry with herself at having folded in the face of Anya's now-obvious bluff.
"An, you can only have four if you've got an ace," Xander said.
"Well I do!" she responded.
"Then let's see it," Buffy countered. Anya had already tried to get four cards several times throughout the night, so Buffy called her bluff.
Anya hung her head down dejectedly. "Okay fine, give me three."
Dawn giggled as Xander passed Anya her cards.
"Three, please," Willow said happily, despite the fact that she only had two cards that meant anything.
Spike and Buffy both called for two cards, and eyed each other warily.
Anya bet two fruit-rollups and a "I'm with stupid" t-shirt.
Tara got up to get a drink from the kitchen. "You want anything?" she asked Willow.
Willow swatted Tara's rear and grinned when Tara let out a little "oof." Then she turned to Anya. "I'll see your dollar and raise you three bottles of holy water," Willow said.
"Call," Spike said.
"I'll call and raise you Mr. Pointy," Buffy said smugly. Mr. Pointy was worth ten dollars, seeing as how it had saved Buffy's life numerous times.
Xander and Dawn both said "Oooo." Anya didn't miss a beat.
"Fine. I'll see Mr. Pointy and raise you, um, everything I've got!" Anya pushed her entire pile into the center of the table.
Dawn and Xander both said "Ahhhh."
"Bloody hell! I can't call that!" Spike griped.
"Here," Buffy said, pushing her pile to Spike. "I fold, and you can use my stash."
Spike looked uncertainly at the Slayer. She just shrugged and said, "All I had was a pair of twos. Besides, I'm tired."
Spike nodded and took Buffy's pile of money, and then waited for Willow to take her turn.
Willow looked from Anya to Spike. They were both grinning evilly. Then Willow looked down at her pile and pushed it all to the center.
"That's not enough," Anya said gleefully. "You'll have to fold."
"Come on, Anya. There must be something you want," Willow said. "Something that can make up the difference."
"Well," Anya said, a devilish smile pulling at her lips. "There is one thing..."
"Uh-oh," Dawn, Buffy, and Xander all said in unison.
"What? Just name it, Anya," Willow said.
"I want to kiss Tara again," she said.
"What!" Willow shouted, practically knocking her chair over as she stood up.
"With tongue," Anya said, nonplused. Her smile widened.
"Anya" Xander said warningly, but she just kept on smiling.
"You wanna... with my... with tongue?" Willow was horrified. "No, nuh-uh, sorry, no way am I standing by and letting you do that!"
"Do what?" Tara said as she re-entered the living room.
Willow turned to stare at Tara, wide-eyed.
"What's wrong, Wil?" Tara said, hurrying to her lover's side.
"She... she... her... she..." Willow fumbled her words, unable to put a sentence together. Finally, she just pointed accusingly at Anya and yelled, "Tongue!"
Tara looked at Willow in confusion, and then turned to Anya, who simply smiled a smile of complete innocence.
"Will someone please tell me what's going on?" Tara asked, addressing everyone other than Anya and Willow.
"Your bird doesn't have enough to cover the bet, so the ex-demon wants Red here to make up the difference by betting a kiss from you," Spike said, leaning back in his chair with his hands behind his head.
"With tongue," Buffy added, a slight grin twitching at her lips.
"Oh, right. With tongue," Spike agreed.
Tara looked at Anya again, then back at Willow. "Do it," she said.
Willow stared at Tara in disbelief. "What! You want me to... so you can... with her? Tara! You mean you want to kiss her?"
Tara smiled and walked up to Willow, crushing her mouth down on the redheads. Willow's arms came up reflexively to wrap themselves around Tara's waist as the blonde ran her fingers into Willow's hair.
After a long moment, Tara broke the kiss.
"Whoa, momma," Willow said huskily. Her eyes fluttered open and met Tara's.
"Do you really think I want to do that with anyone besides you?" Tara asked sweetly.
"Well, no, but... then why?" Willow asked.
Tara shrugged. "Because I have faith in you. I know that you won't lose. Not when you've got my kiss at stake."
Willow nodded and smiled, then sat back down, pulling Tara into her lap. Willow looked directly into Anya's eyes.
"Done," she said, challenging the ex-demon, who now looked extremely concerned.
"Okay, my turn," Spike said, pushing his pile into the center with the others. He looked to Anya. "What have you got?"
Anya took a moment to answer, as she was still staring at the smug expression on Willow's face.
"Oh, um, I've got a full house. Queens over fives," Anya said.
"That's good," Spike said, "but not good enough. I've got a Dead Man's Hand. Aces over eights. Pretty fitting, don't you think?"
Dawn giggled and Buffy rolled her eyes.
"What?" Spike said defensively. "Oh come on! That was a good one! Okay, fine," he said, turning to Willow. "Beat that!" he said, "so I can claim my prize." Spike rubbed his hands together gleefully.
Willow stared at Spike. She hadn't even thought about the fact that Spike could actually win the kiss. She shuddered.
"Wil?" Tara said in a high pitched squeak as she saw the way Spike was looking at her. "Honey, please tell me you can beat Spike. Please? I'm begging you."
Willow kissed Tara's cheek and said, "Would I ever let Spike kiss you?"
Tara shook her head no, and Willow smiled triumphantly as she laid down her cards. She had a royal flush.
"I'll be a monkey's uncle!" Spike said in wonder.
Dawn and Xander both started clapping, as did Buffy. Anya stood and grabbed Xander's hand.
"Well, so much for that. Come on, Xander. Time to go home," Anya said, dragging Xander out the door and slamming it shut behind them before Xander even had a chance to say goodbye.
"I guess the thought of kissing Tara got Anya-"
"Dawn, don't you dare finish that sentence!" Buffy said.
Dawn nodded, and giggled.
"Right. Guess that's it then," Spike said, getting up to leave.
"Spike, wait. About that talk..." Buffy trailed off.
Spike turned and said, "How about I go out with you on patrol?"
Buffy nodded and turned to Dawn. "You'll be all right here?"
Dawn nodded.
"Come on, Dawnie. Help us carry my booty upstairs," Willow said, filling her arms with her winnings.
Tara giggled.
"You said booty," she thought to Willow.
"I know. Guess I've got booty on the brain," Willow thought back.
"Your booty, that is."Dawn obliged and helped Willow and Tara carry everything upstairs, depositing it all on the bed. Buffy and Spike went out to patrol.
"Okay, looks like we got it all," Dawn said. Dawn watched Willow and Tara watch each other, and decided she best get out of the way.
"All righty, then. I'll just be going to my room, then. Where I'll listen to music. With headphones. Really loud. All night," Dawn said, backing out of the room quickly and closing the door behind her.
"Night, Dawnie," Willow called out absently.
"Good night, Dawn," Tara added, staring into Willow's eyes the whole time.
Willow shook her head and broke away from Tara's gaze. She walked over the bed and started pawing through her winnings.
"We should separate this stuff so we can give the important stuff back to its rightful owners tomorrow," Willow said thoughtfully, setting aside Mr. Pointy, Xander's baseball glove, and several other items.
Tara nodded and sat down on the bed across from Willow to help her sort. Willow grabbed a pillowcase from the closet and started shoveling the non-important items into the makeshift bag.
"I believe you wanted this, my lady?" Willow asked, holding up the jar of body glitter.
Tara's eyes lit up enthusiastically. "Oh, yes," she said, taking the jar from Willow.
"What's so appealing about the glitter, anyway?" Willow asked.
Tara lifted an eyebrow and set the jar on the nightstand.
"Oh, I see. You're gonna be all secretive about it," Willow said, setting the bag down and crawling onto the bed towards Tara.
Tara didn't say anything. Instead she slowly leaned back onto the bed as Willow closed in, propping herself up on her elbows. Tara bent her left leg at the knee, bracing the sole of her foot on the bed.
Willow crawled closer until she was leaning over Tara.
"Vee have vays of making zee talk," Willow said in her worst German accent.
Tara giggled until she felt Willow's right hand start slowly sliding up her left thigh, pushing her skirt up. Once it was pushed up to mid thigh, Willow slid her hand underneath the gauzy material, gently massaging the soft skin in tiny circles as she worked her way higher.
Tara moaned and her eyes closed, her head falling back, just enjoying her lover's touch.
Willow smiled and ran her hand around the back of Tara's thigh, sliding her hand down the backside to the knee, and then running her hand back around the top. Willow slid her hand up again, her thumb grazing the inside of Tara's thigh until it skimmed the edge of Tara's panties.
Tara's head shot up at the contact, desire burning in her eyes. Willow stilled her hand, eliciting a groan from Tara.
"What's the glitter for, Tara?" Willow asked softly.
Tara smiled seductively and flipped Willow onto her back, catching Willow off-guard.
"You're not the only one with ways," Tara said, her voice huskily low.
Tara swooped down and nipped Willow's neck, and then ran her tongue slowly up the salty-sweet skin. Willow tilted her head back and groaned, which quickly turned to a groan of protest when Tara abruptly got up off the bed.
"Tara?" Willow asked in confusion, her body humming with lust.
Willow watched as Tara walked to the foot of the bed and faced her lover. Tara brought her hands up to the buttons of her blouse and slowly undid one, then another.
When the blonde was half-way down her shirt, she started lightly swaying, as if she were moving to a rhythm only she could hear. By the time she finished unbuttoning the blouse, her hips were rocking seductively, her hair swinging back and forth from the motion of her body.
Willow's nostrils flared at the blonde's impromptu strip-tease. Willow felt her pussy dripping with excitement, and her heart started beating wildly in her chest.
Tara slid her blouse off her shoulders and down her arms, letting it flutter to the floor. One corner of her mouth turned up as she saw the effect she was having on Willow, giving her the courage to continue.
Tara slid her thumbs into the waistband of her skirt, sliding it over her hips and down, letting that too fall to the floor. Willow sat up, her mouth falling open as she stared unabashedly at her lovers satin-clad body.
"Now you," Tara said softly.
Willow jumped off the bed and started ripping off her clothes.
"No, baby," Tara said, "do it slow."
Willow gulped at the fire burning in her lover's eyes and the low timbre of her voice, but complied. Never breaking eyes contact, Willow slowly stripped off her jeans and shirt, until she was standing only in her panties and bra as well.
Tara reached up and slid one bra strap off her shoulder, then the other. Willow mirrored Tara's movements, taking her cue from the blonde. Both women reached behind them and unhooked their bras, allowing their breasts to fall freely. Then they slide their panties down their hips, until they both stood naked and completely open to each other's appreciative gazes.
Tara walked over to Willow and, without touching her, reached around the redhead to retrieve the glitter off the nightstand.
She unscrewed the lid and dipped in her index finger, scooping up some of the shiny gel. Tara touched her gel-covered finger to Willow's left breast, circling the nipple. She did the same with the other breast, and then reached her finger back in for more gel.
Willow shivered at the touch, the cool gel delicious against her heated flesh. Her nipples puckered into tight nubs, her nerve endings raw and alive and sending tingles all the way down to her toes.
Tara trailed her finger down the center of Willow's chest, from the tip of her chin all the way down to her navel and beyond. Then Tara stated drawing lines all over Willow's body, on her arms, her thighs, her butt, the swell of her breasts.
Willow just watched Tara as she concentrated on her living work of art. It was erotic but also full of love.
Finally Tara stepped back to admire her work, and nodded her approval. She then offered the jar to Willow, who shook her head.
Tara looked at the redhead, disappointment evident in her features. Willow simply smiled and walked around the blonde and over to the pillowcase she had used as a bag earlier.
Willow rummaged around inside the pillowcase for a minute, and Tara heard periodic grunts and snorts while Willow searched for whatever it is she was looking for.
After a moment, Tara heard an approving "aha" from the redhead. Still bent over the bag, Willow turned her head back to Tara. "Close your eyes, baby," Willow said.
Tara obliged and shut her eyes.
Willow walked over the blonde and started to circle her.
"Wil, that are you- ohhhhh," Tara said as something soft touched her skin.
Willow trailed the mystery object lightly down Tara's arms, across her stomach, up her back - so lightly it almost tickled. But Tara was too aroused to be ticklish.
Willow knelt down in front of Tara and moved the blonde's feet apart, spreading her legs slightly. She reached the object up from between her legs to reach the top of Tara's butt, and then slowly, tantalizingly drew it down over her rear and forward until it brushed her pussy.
Willow then drew it up Tara's stomach as she stood up in front of her lover, and then back down to once again brush the blonde's curls.
Tara grabbed Willow then and brought their mouths together, the object falling out of Willow's hand, forgotten. Tara pushed Willow back onto the bed, following her down, their bodies pressed tightly together. Playtime was over.
Tara attacked Willow's neck, licking and sucking her way up to the redhead's earlobe, pulling it into her mouth. Willow's hands found Tara's ass, and she squeezed, pulling her lover's core tightly against her own.
Tara's hands found both of Willow's breasts and began squeezing urgently, pinching the nipples and rolling them between her fingers. Willow groaned and flipped Tara on her back, seeking out her mouth with her own. She slid her tongue in easily into Tara's hot mouth, both women kissing each other frantically and with abandon.
Willow clutched Tara's hips and began grinding down. She slid her legs to either side of the blonde's hips, straddling her so that their centers were sliding hot and wet against each other.
"Willow," Tara moaned as Willow sat up and started rocking their hips together. Their curls became slick with each other's wetness as Willow braced her hands on Tara's abdomen. Tara grasped Willow's hips and pushed harder against her lover, reveling in the feel of her lover's pussy grinding down on her own.
Willow increased the pace, rubbing furiously against Tara. Tara's hands came up to Willow's breasts to tweak the hardened nipples. Willow threw her head back in ecstasy, moaning Tara's name.
"Oh, Goddess, Willow. Faster, baby! Oh yes!" Tara shouted as her orgasm welled up inside of her.
"Oh God, Tara!" Willow cried out as she exploded against Tara. Willow's cries and shuddering body sent Tara over the edge.
They both shook with the force of their mutual release, and finally Willow collapsed on top of Tara.
"That was... incredible," Tara panted.
"Oh, yeah," Willow agreed.
They lay in silence for a few moments, unable to even think about moving. Then Willow's stomach growled.
"'Scuze me," Willow said sheepishly.
"Oh, baby. Are you hungry?" Tara asked.
"Guess so," Willow responded. "Ooo, wait, I know..."
Willow got up and went back over to the pillowcase, digging around until she came up with a fistful of fruit-rollups. She ran back over the bed and snuggled back down next to Tara.
"Good thing I won that poker game," Willow said as she bit into her prize. "Provisions!"
Tara giggled and bit into hers.
They ate in comfortable silence, their bodies intertwined.
"Willow?" Tara asked after she finished.
"Yeah, baby?" Willow answered.
"What
was that thing you were running all over my body?" Tara wondered.
Willow looked down at Tara, her eyes getting a bit wide for a second. Then a sly grin covered her face.
"I'll never tell," she said as she leaned down to kiss her lover. Tara was immediately distracted and forgot all about her question.
Underneath the bed, Mr. Flopsy lie on the floor, forgotten. If it were possible for a stuffed animal to grin lasciviously, that bunny was grinning from big floppy ear to big floppy ear.
THE END.
"And remember... if you hurt her I will beat you to death with a shovel. A vague disclaimer's nobody's friend. Have fun!"
Is it the finale btw?? Cos I wouldnt mind reading more 
by Little M » Sun Jun 09, 2002 2:35 am 
WOLFLORD 
Loved this!!
WOW... thank you for that chapter. I'm sad it's the end, but this was just... WOW. And yes... please post your other stories. The first one sounds very interesting. 
and leave feedback now, even though this fic has been finished long ago.
and 
is just great.
