Author: ittybittyone
Rating: I dunno, not from around these parts..I think PG at first but eventually NC17 ( I think that is the naughty one)
Disclaimer: Has anyone really been sued for not putting this in?
Feedback: Go nuts, I need all the help I can get
Summary: Tara left Sunnydale after the fight. Willow didn’t spazz out & go feral. This is Three years later.
Chapter One
She holds out the notes she has been clutching in her hands since leaving the airport. The driver looks at them, and screws up his nose whilst deciding if he wants to touch them. She throws the bills on the dash board and slams the door shut. “Stupid bloody sweaty hands...Ha! I said Bloody, Buffy would kill me if she heard me say that”. She shakes her head in mild disgust. “I’ve been gone for way too long”
She slings her bag over her shoulder and wipes her palms on her jeans. She looks up at the sky, stretches her muscles and takes a deep breath to calm her nerves.
It had been three years since she walked away from Sunnydale. At this moment she couldn’t quite remember what she had done for three years, it all seemed kinda blurry. Sure she met loads of new people and saw the most beautiful art, but she always carried a piece of Sunnydale around with her and wished she had the love of her life to share it with. She thought of calling her and picked up the phone on numerous occasions, but it was too awkward, what would she say?
“Hey I saw this amazing painting of a nude Goddess and thought of you”.
So here she was, three years later and totally unprepared. She wasn’t really sure what the reception would be like if she was honest with herself. Sure she had kept in regular contact through letters and phone calls with her adopted family. They had also come over to visit. But somehow now, standing out the front of the Summers house the idea of seeing Willow again for the first time, was freaking her out to say the least.
In the back of her mind Tara could hear a squeal & before she could process what was being said she found herself tangled in a web of gangly arms and legs.
“OhmygodOhmygodTaraICantBeleiveYourReallyHear”
Tara nearly fell back with the force of the hug, and giggled as she established her balance “Argh Dawnie! ..You scared the living shit out of me…Oh I missed you so much, Give me a good look at you”
She released the hug but continues to hold her hands and stretches them out in front to get a good look. “My God you have grown into a woman since I saw you last and your hair is all long again”. Tara draws Dawn in for another hug before Dawn can notice the glassyness of her eyes
“What are you doing here Tara, does Buffy know you were coming, because she is in big trouble for keeping that bit of information to herself” she said with a pout.
“Actually she didn’t Dawn so you can let her off the hook, I was kinda unsure if it was going to happen so I didn’t want to say anything and jinx it”
Dawn untangles herself from Tara and motions towards the house.
“So you going to come in?
So much for psyching myself up, Tara thought.
“Or you gonna stand out here and be all thinky?”
“That obvious huh?” Tara replied with a bemused smile.
“If I didn’t see the look on your face earlier, I would have just assumed anyway, if it’s any consolation she won’t be here, she is pretty busy with things these days”.
Tara thanks the Goddess in her mind “I thought Buffy didn’t work on Wednesdays”. Dawn pushes Tara lightly in the shoulder, “We both know I was referring to the redhead”. Tara rolls her eyes, walks towards the front door with a smile and mumbles under her breath just loud enough for Dawn to hear. “Smart Ass!”
“Buffy”, “Buffy”….”Dawn quit yelling already slayer hearing remember, its not Tuesday so it can’t be…Tara oh my God what the hell are you doing here…Its not a hellmouth reason it is?” “Geeze Buff, paranoid much, no hellish reason to speak of.. As far as I’m aware anyway”
The girls sat down on the lounge “So..What are you doing here, not that I don’t think its great, but it’s unexpected” Buffy says a little flustered.
“Well I may be sticking around permanently depending on how things go, I have an interview with the high school, they are paying great too…I think it might be the danger money but I didn’t think it was appropriate to ask” Tara answered with a smirk.
“Wow that’s fantastic, when is your interview”
“Tomorrow at 9...I’m a little nervous” Tara replied while dramatically slumping back on the couch.
“About the interview or about staying” Buffy asked as casually as she could.
Tara blushed she had missed having someone close to talk too who understood her situation. “Both to be honest, What if I get the job, and then…wow I don’t even want to think that far ahead of myself …there is a lot to work out
“Does that mean you won’t take the job if you get it, your just going to leave us again?” Dawn said angrily.
“Ahh Dawnie, come here” Tara put her arm around the girl she thought of as her sister.
“Its not that I don’t want to be near you guys, in fact that was a big influence in me coming back, I miss you all so much..Its just 3 years is a long time and I kinda left with a lot of loose ends and I don’t want to just waltz back in here and expect everything to be fine, because that wouldn’t be fair.. to anyone”
“I know I understand, it’s just you being here would just be like old times and before you say anything I don’t mean with you and Will, I just meant with the hanging out and talking”.
Tara gave her a half smile “Its ok I know what you meant sweetie”
Just then the door swung open and Tara jumped off the couch…"OK so where is she” Anya grunted as she burst through the entrance, dragging Xander behind her.
“Hi Anya I was” Tara was cut off by Anya’s ranting. “So how long have you been here, and why didn’t you call and tell me, I wouldn’t have told anyone you know, we are best friends I could have kept a secret, hurry up and hug me already, that is what best friends are supposed to do you know”
Anya flung her arms around an amused Tara who gave her a brief squeeze before trying to get the ex-demons attention. “Anya I just got here and was planning on surprising you as soon as I got settled, how did you even know I was here”
Anya’s expression changed to a warm smile, “I rang your place and your roomie said you
were in Sunnydale, I got all excited and ran right over here, sorry I guess I could have ruined the surprise if you weren’t here yet…I didn’t think”
The rest of the room stood dumb found by Anya’s apology and stared at her in wonder. Thinking that the ex demon might have been the victim of a body swap, after all stranger things had happened in Sunnydale
“What!?” she addressed the group. “Your all staring at me like Xander does when I wear that leather”
It was at that point that Xander put his hand over Anya’s mouth and the rest of the group signed in releif that Anya was definitely Anya.
“So…” Xander changed the subject. Welcome home Tara, we have all missed you. He lent over and gave her a chaste kiss on the cheek. “It’s been too long young lady” he said with mock glare
Thanks Xander, its great to see you all again, I missed you guys.
Tara relaxed a little in the company of her friends, she really had missed having them around and the banter between them all.
.
“So Tara you are definitely staying here for how ever long you are around”
“But I don’t think” Buffy cut Tara off and put up her hand. “And we will take no excuses Miss Maclay, you have many weird and wonderful stories to spill and it has been way too quiet since Will moved out. Plus dawn and I need a mediator when we decide who’s turn it is to wash the dishes.
“Oh” Tara said as she crinkled her brow “So she ahh…moved out then..she doesn’t live here?”
“ummm..I kinda thought Dawn may have told you about all the recent changes” She paused and appeared to consider something a moment. “There is probably a few things we need to tell you. She moved a few months ago, something about needing to fend for herself and move on with her life..I think she felt like she was hanging onto the past here”
“It makes sense actually, I can understand that..It sounds like she is really doing well for herself according to what Dawnie has said about her business and stuff, I knew she would always do great” Tara said with pride and a hint of sadness.
Dawn could sense the mood declining and decided to change the subject. “So Tara let me show you what we have done upstairs”. She grabbed Tara’s hand and led her towards the stairs. “We have changed everything around and my old room is the spare now…Is that Ok coz you can stay in my room if you want..I don’t mind really”
Tara squeezed her hand, “Any room would be fine, plus I think I might get a little nostalgic in the old room, so the spare is perfect”
“Great, lets give you the tour to refresh your memory”. Dawn seemed horrified at her own words and gave Tara an apologetic look…”Ow crap um didn’t mean, you know with the memory comment, I just”
Tara Cut her off “Dawn…If I was still that sensitive about all that, I don’t think I would have had the courage to come back here, you don’t have to walk on egg shells around me really”
The girls shared a brief hug as they walked into the spare room..”Wow Dawnie this looks fantastic, you might find it hard to get rid of me out of here”
“I knew there was an evil scheme to get you to stay forever behind our re-decorating plan…so it’s settled, your staying and we can get your bags and you can get comfy”
“Sounds perfect … I would love to grab a shower and relax a bit, I have to prepare for this meeting tomorrow as well”
Buffy was down in the living room exchanging a uncomfortable glance with Xander and Anya.
“Well….I think it is pretty safe to say she doesn’t know yet?”
“Hey Buff, you hear it’s only me, I got those books you wanted while I was out and thought id drop them over while I was on my way”
Three pairs of eyes instantly looked up at the approaching figure
“Wills!..your here”
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
I have more but am still making changes, plus i like to be all dramatic. If no one gets the title, well you must not have seen Monty Python. Tuff titties for you I guess. I can change it and am open for suggestions. Let me know if this totally sucks asses so i dont waste my time making up junk.
Thanks a bunch for reading
Tray
Edited by: maudmac
at: 9/25/04 8:39 pm
are you kidding? you had better write more.and the title is
more
ock
This is great! This might actually be the first fic i have read from the very beginning... It might make me crazy having to wait for the update intervals... oh well! 
. I am normally one of those readers who totally hate the feedback because it’s a shit scrolling through it to find the story. Being on the other side of the fence, makes you appreciate it. Glad you all like the title, wasn’t sure if I would get any response at all, with people thinking its some Spanish historical piece 
so made my day.... then well The Girlfriend stepped in the picture.. well i'm gonna go prepare of WW3..
.......
because she called her Dawnie was great. She lets Tara call her Dawnie... 
And Willow has a girlfriend... this should be interesting, especially since it seems no one really likes her, it is more that they tolerate her for Willow's sake. Update soonish!
So I'm reserving all my negative feelings for Jennifer, thank you very much.
-Cameron 
there im prayin!