“I’ll get the door. You two get some clothes on!” Tara yells as her two lovers run up the stairs laughing. “Damn slayers.” Tara chuckles opening the door and opening her eyes wide in surprise. “Mister Giles!”
“Tara.” Giles smiles as he’s wrapped up in a warm hug. Hugging her gently, he chuckles quietly. “So I assume the other two are upstairs?”
Blushing lightly Tara pulls back and grins. “They better be if they know what’s good for them. Come in.” As Tara steps back she sees a woman standing behind Giles.
Giles glances back and smiles encouragingly. “Tara, I would like you to meet Jacqueline Morssey, the newest slayer.”
“Jacqi.” The tall strawberry blonde smiles.
“Hey! It’s Giles!” Buffy yells jumping down the last five steps closely followed by Faith. “What are you doing here Giles?” Buffy asks while hugging the watcher strongly.
Faith chuckles. “Give him a chance to answer, B.” Faith looks at the woman beside Giles and raises an eyebrow. “New Slayer?” At the woman’s nod and shy smile, Faith smirks. “Didn’t take long for him to bring you here.”
“I was trained pretty much all my life. They figured they’d get me here quick. Something about if I could live through you guys I could live through anything?” She questions slightly confused.
Tara rolls her eyes. “Assholes. Come on in. The brunette is Faith, the blonde lifting Giles is Buffy.”
Faith chuckles quietly while shaking the woman’s hand. “That’s because everyone but the witch here has died.” Faith wraps her arm around Tara placing a kiss on her neck. “And she’s not allowed to. I don’t think me or B have the mojo to bring her back.”
“Hell no, she ain’t allowed to die. I’ll be finding the Goddess and kicking her ass.” Buffy growls before looking the new slayer up and down. “So… Jacqi.” Buffy walks around the woman sizing her up. “Faith you want her or do you want me to take her to the garage?”
Tara watches her lover shaking her head. Seeing the slightly scared look crossing Jacqi’s face, she chuckles. “Don’t worry, Jacqi. She’s a pussy cat. She just wants to test you out. If you want to change, the bathroom’s upstairs. The first door on the left.”
“Thanks.” Jacqi sighs in relief, grabbing her bag and heading upstairs.
“So, Giles. What’s up?” Faith questions before plopping down on the couch watching as Giles sits in the chair.
Buffy shakes her head slightly before sitting down beside Faith and smirks as Tara sits on the other side of their lover. Both of them unconsciously for the past month have been keeping the slayer between them.
“I wanted to make sure everything is really okay here.” Giles starts off, and sighs as he sees the three women look at him. “I wanted to talk to you and let you know how Willow’s doing.”
“I don’t give a fuck how she’s doing.” Buffy growls, jumping up off the couch.
“Buffy.” Tara quietly says her name watching her lover pacing back and forth.
“Damn it Tara! She’s alive. She should consider herself lucky. She killed Faith, she sliced your back. You’re going to have a scar for the rest of your life clear across your back because of her.” Buffy growls.
“Yes. But Faith’s alive, we’re all alive. She’ll never be able to use magic again. I completely stripped her of her powers. We can at least listen to what he wants to tell us.” Tara explains quietly, calmly.
Faith snarls her lip. “She better not be fuckin’ coming back here is all I have to say about the matter.”
“No, she isn’t coming here. I just wanted you to know that she’s coming along. It was questionable the first couple weeks.” He glances up catching Tara’s eyes and seeing her nod of understanding he quirks his lip slightly. “She realizes what she’s done and she sends her sincerest regrets.”
“Fine. You told us and you gave us her message. Talk of the bitch is over with.” Buffy growls out angrily before easing her way between her two lovers and wrapping an arm around each.
Giles sighs, realizing the redhead had completely severed her friendship with these three women. “I brought Jacqi here for you three to continue her education. She’s already a very talented slayer. And even though I had to fight the rest of the Council to let her come here, I believe it is best that she learn from you three.”
“Three?” Tara questions looking at Giles.
“Yes, you, too.” Giles nods his head smiling slightly. “Whether you know it or not you are an integral part of what she will need. She has some latent magical ability and I was going to have her study with the Coven in Devonshire, however they actually believed you would be better to train her. The Council will be sending you money to pay for her expenses.”
“About time they paid for something’.” Faith growls in displeasure. Turning to look at Tara, Faith raises an eyebrow. “You okay with this?”
Tara nods her head. “I’ll train her.”
“Thank you.” Jacqi smiles slightly coming down the stairs, having quietly been listening to the discussion. “I know you really don’t want to talk about her, but Willow is extremely sorry for what she’s done. She hopes one day you three don’t hate her too much, but she honestly doesn’t ever expect to have your forgiveness.”
“Good.” Faith growls nodding her head. “She done burnt her fuckin’ bridges with us.”
“Faith.” Tara sternly states the slayers name. “I think we three are going to have to have a discussion.” Tara looks from Faith’s to Buffy’s unforgiving eyes and shakes her head. “She fucked up. We know it, she knows it. But one day you two are going to need to let it be. We don’t have to see her or talk to her, but carrying this hatred inside you isn’t good for either one of you.”
“Well, right now I’m not ready NOT to hate her.” Faith snarls quietly before looking in Tara’s eyes and sighs quietly. “But I’ll work on it.”
Buffy watches Faith and then turns to look at Tara and sees the serious look on her lovers face, and whines. “Tara!”
“Buffy.” Tara calmly replies and as Buffy’s shoulders drop, Tara smiles before leaning in and kissing her gently on the lips. “Thank you.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Buffy shakes her head, before burying it in the witch’s neck. “You are so going to owe me for this.”
“Both of us.” Faith chuckles quietly.
Giles shakes his head in disbelief at the discussion. “How is your back, my dear?” Giles questions quietly.
Buffy smirks looking up at the watcher. “Tons better than it should be.”
“What?” Giles questions with a confused look.
Jacqi’s sitting on the stairs watching the interaction between the three women. It had been explained to her that the three were together, but she hadn’t been prepared for the three beautiful women. Shaking her head and smirking slightly to herself, she prays they aren’t like this all the time.
“Let’s just say she has a very pale scar left, is all.” Buffy smiles winningly.
Giles sighs and looks to Tara for a straight answer.
“It seems there was a side effect to the spell we used to bring Faith back. It seems some of Buffy’s slayer healing worked its way through me. It only took a couple days for the wound to heal instead of the weeks it should have. And it only left a raised thin, pale scar.” Tara explains quietly.
“Oh, my.” Giles whispers ripping his glasses off and pinching the bridge of his nose. “Any other side effects?”
“Not so much that we‘ve noticed. She just doesn’t seem to need to sleep as much anymore.” Faith smirks slightly.
“That’s of the good.” Buffy smiles wickedly, before opening her eyes wide and glancing at a blushing Tara. “Sorry.” She whispers.
“You’re going to be the one paying now.” Tara shakes her head at her lover. “You two need to remember we don’t have the house to ourselves anymore. By the way, when is Dawnie supposed to be back home?”
“Any time.” Buffy answers. Looking to Jacqi she smiles. “I’m assuming they explained to you our unique relationship?” At Jacqi’s blush and nod, Buffy smirks. “Good. That much less I have to worry about explaining.”
“Do you have any other gear that needs brought in?” Faith questions standing up.
“Yeah, I got another bag of clothes and my gear bag.” Jacqi answers nodding her head.
“Is the vehicle unlocked, G-man?” Faith questions the watcher and at his nod, she grins. “You staying, too?”
Giles shakes his head. “I have a flight back to England in a few hours.”
“Probably a good thing. You would have had to crash on the couch if you stayed here.” Faith growls before laughing. “I’ll go get your gear, and take it up to your room while B gives you a good breaking in.”
Buffy smiles as Faith heads out the door before leaning over and kissing Tara briefly. “I’m going to take her to the garage and see what’s the what.”
“Be nice.” Tara warns with a glint in her eyes.
“I’m always nice.” Buffy smirks. Raising an eyebrow at Jacqi she tilts her head. “Come on young ‘un. I want to test and see how good you are.”
Tara laughs quietly as she watches Buffy lead Jacqi to the garage. Glancing back towards Giles she sees him watching her intently. “What’s the matter, Mister Giles?”
Giles tilts his head looking the young woman over. “Well, I’ll probably be considered a dirty old man, but I must say you look extremely good and happy.”
Tara blushes lightly then smiles. “Thank you. I’m more than happy, Mister Giles. I never imagined being in this kind of a situation, but I have to admit I don’t think I could be any more complete.”
“Damn good thing. We ain’t makin’ this a foursome.” Faith growls as she comes in with one bag hoisted over her shoulder and carrying the other. “I’m gonna put these up in the spare bedroom. Do you mind if I go watch B put the new kid through her paces?”
Tara chuckles. “No, no foursomes. I like things just the way they are. Of course you can watch Buffy. Just remember if you two decide to show Jacqi some of your moves, keep them on the PG side, please.”
Faith opens her eyes wide. “We would never do something like that in front of someone else.”
“Yes, right. I remember the furniture store, Faith. So try again.” Tara narrows her eyes slightly at the woman.
“I’m gonna go upstairs now.” Faith grins before quickly running up the stairs.
Tara watches her lover, chuckling as she comes running back down to head to the garage. Smiling softly she turns back to Giles.
Giles is pinching his nose and shaking his head before he grins briefly. “I must say, dear. Just from the little bit I have seen here you have made an immense change in those two women. Faith laughing and being affectionate is almost unbelievable. And Buffy…” He smiles softly thinking about his slayer. “She’s happier than I ever remember her being. If nothing else, I would give you the world just because of that.”
Tara blushes looking down briefly before lifting her head and smirking. “It isn’t just me, Mister Giles. It’s all three of us together. Fortunately Buffy was very understanding with the time I spent with Faith when we were first together. Part of it we couldn’t help, with her working and my schooling. Then the problems with Willow…” Tara trails off frowning. Shaking her head she looks back up into Giles’ eyes. “Needless to say things are on a more even keel now. Plus those two have helped me out just as much if not more than I helped them.”
“You’re good for each other.” Giles quietly states. “I must admit I always hoped that Buffy would find someone like you. She needs a calm steady influence in her life. And if Buffy needed that, Faith really truly needs it a hundred times more.” Giles admits. “I never would have wished what happened to have come to pass, but I honestly believe it may be the best thing for all involved.”
Tara opens her eyes wide in shock at Giles before smiling genuinely at the older man. “Thank you, Mister Giles. There is something else that I don’t think either woman mentioned to you.” Tara frowns slightly, thinking about it.
“They’re your warriors. Or, the Goddess’ warriors, as the case may be. They’re marked as yours, aren’t they?” Giles’ lip twitches up slightly.
“How did you…?” Tara sits looking in stunned surprise at the watcher.
“Did you ever realize what the Goddess’ will was, Tara?” Giles smiles gently at the witch.
“I figured it was to do with Willow.” Tara tilts her head inquiringly at the man.
“No. After this all went down I came across something else about the prophecy. It seems the Will of the Goddess was the Dark Warrior to be saved.” Giles admits chuckling quietly.
Tara shakes her head before collapsing back into the couch. “You mean to tell me, that for me to become the Embodiment of the Goddess, Her Vessel to do Her will, Faith had to die. But Her will was for Faith to live?” At the watcher’s smirk and nod Tara growls. “Fucking circular thinking.”
Giles blushes at Tara’s phrasing before coughing into his hand. “I think you may be spending a bit too much time with Faith.”
Tara waves her hand at the watcher. “Sorry.”
Giles chuckles and leans forward, placing his elbows on his knees. “Are your eyes still different colors to those two?” At Tara’s nod, he grins. “Only the true warriors of the Goddess will be able to see your eyes that color. Your warriors. It was in that other tidbit of information I came across.”
“But why can’t I see it?” Tara questions before thinking quietly. “Because I’m not a warrior. I’m part of the Goddess, right?” Tara looks towards the watcher and as he nods smiling she rolls her eyes. “They just like messing with everyone’s mind is all it is.” Hearing loud laughter coming from the garage, Tara raises an eyebrow. “Now that scares me.”
She quickly hops up off the couch and runs to the garage, opening the door seeing Buffy flat on her back with a smirking Jacqi standing over her and Faith laughing hysterically.
“She got your ass good, B!!” Faith gets out between laughs.
Buffy growls from the floor looking at Faith with narrowed eyes. “It wasn’t that funny.”
“Yeah it was.” Faith smiles before laughing again. “B got bested by the new kid. You are never gonna live this one down.”
“It was one lucky hit.” Buffy growls as she flips herself up. Striding towards Faith with a gleam in her eyes. “You want to take me on, F?”
Faith raises her hands, getting her laughter under control. “No, old lady. I think you took a good enough beating. I don’t want ya’ to be put on your back twice today.”
Tara chuckles quietly looking from one woman to the other. “I hate to say this, but she’s already been on her back more than twice today.”
“TARA!” Buffy yells, blushing deeply, before glancing from Giles to Jacqi and back at her lover. “That was wrong in so many ways.” Buffy grumbles as she stomps into the house, leaving Faith and Tara laughing behind her.
“That was a good one.” Faith smirks at Tara. “But now you’re gonna owe her again.”
“I know. But I just couldn’t resist.” Tara smirks looking into the kitchen to a pouting Buffy. “Oh, poor baby’s pouting.” Tara smirks as she watches Buffy pout her lip out even further. Turning she winks at Faith before walking into the kitchen, shutting the door behind her.
Faith rolls her eyes before grinning at Giles. “So, G-man. Anything I need to know?”
Giles shakes his head laughing quietly. “I’m just glad I’m not going to be staying here. The damn pheromones are enough to give me a heart attack.” Giles runs a hand through his graying hair. “Actually I explained pretty much everything I knew to Tara. I’m sure you can discuss it after I’ve left.” Giles looks down at his watch and sighs. “Which I need to get ready to go.” Looking back up he smiles apologetically at Jacqi. “No matter how these three may act, you are actually in probably the best hands available.”
Jacqi smiles and nods her head. “Thanks, Giles. I have a feeling we’ll get along fine. I’ll just need to know when to run to another part of the house when things get a little… hot and heavy?” Jacqi grins at Faith.
“You’re gonna be running a lot.” Faith growls out before smirking at the young woman. “How old are you, anyway?”
“Just turned 17.” Jacqi smiles glancing at Giles.
“So, we’re gonna need to get you in for your Senior year?” Faith figures quietly.
“No, she’s actually graduated. She was ahead in her classes. Very smart young woman, is our Jacqi.” Giles smiles in admiration of the woman. “She was wanting to take time off before deciding on college, then she was called. So I guess she needs to decide what to do now.”
Jacqi nods and smiles at Giles. “It isn’t that big of a deal. I’ll figure it out. Thanks for escorting me here, Giles.”
