AUTHOR'S NOTE: I will not be updatinghereanymore. I believe most people are going to my web-site to read the stories now, and the lack of reviews here have made the decision for me. This will be the last chapter... So, if you haven't already, click on my name up above and visit my homepage and bookmark for your future usage! Thank you!

As Buffy stretches she looks at the bed, growling. "This is getting old." Buffy bitches to the empty room. Listening intently, she doesn't hear anything. Frowning, she hops out of bed, quickly dressing before running down the stairs eyeing the empty living room before walking to the kitchen, as the kitchen is empty, Buffy feels her heart start to beat quicker in fear as she pulls open the door leading to the garage. The garage door's still down and no Tara.

Turning back, Buffy whimpers. Trying to think of where Tara might be, the light finally goes off and she runs to the back door. Closing her eyes in relief, Buffy tilts her head against the door, calming her pounding heart. "Nothing like getting my blood flowing good, first thing in the morning." Buffy mutters before easing the door open, walking out to sit on the steps, silently watching Tara.

Tara inhales deep cleansing breaths, feeling a hundred percent better. Opening her awareness, she starts to smile as she feels Buffy's unique essence. Slowly opening one eye she looks towards her lover, grinning at Buffy silently bouncing on the seat, tapping her fingers on her leg. "You okay, sweetie?" Tara questions opening her other eye.

"Now I am." Buffy mumbles, frowning. "You leaving me in bed alone, is starting to get old. I just want you to know that!" Buffy hops up, striding across the yard to kneel in front of Tara. "Plus I kind of got worried when I couldn't hear you when I woke up." Buffy admits.

Tara leans in to place a gentle kiss on Buffy's cheek. "I was just doing the meditations, sweetie."

Buffy sighs in relief, hugging Tara to her tightly. "I'm going to run upstairs and take care of my morning rituals." Buffy pulls back, grinning. "I was worried about you and didn't take care of things."

Tara chuckles quietly. "Go use the bathroom sweetie. I'm going to work some more on the painting before I get cleaned up so we can visit with Faith."

"'Kay." Buffy hops up, offering her hand to Tara. "Do you want anything to eat or some coffee?"

"Maybe a little bit of something. Juice would be good." Tara smiles, leaning in to give Buffy a kiss, frowning as Buffy pulls back. "Hey!" Tara frowns.

"Didn't hit the bathroom this morning, remember? Teeth haven't been brushed." Buffy admits, blushing. "I'll be back down in a few minutes to give you a proper good morning. Promise."

Tara chuckles as she watches Buffy run back into the house. Following behind, Tara detours to the garage, turning on the lights before lifting up the garage door. Quickly preparing her supplies, she looks at the painting, tilting her head considering what she's done. Deciding there was a good chance she might be able to finish the painting this morning, she glances up as she catches Buffy coming into the garage out of the corner of her eye.

Buffy carries a glass of orange juice outside for Tara, placing it on the crate before wrapping her arms around the witch, giving her a proper good morning kiss.

"Mmmm. Much better." Tara murmurs, placing a couple soft kisses on the slayer's lips as she brings the kiss to a close. "I wanted to get an early start, so that I could possibly spend more time with Faith, if I need to."

"That's fine." Buffy smiles, hugging Tara to her tightly. "I'm going to run in and do a load of laundry. Do you want me to come and get you at a particular time?"

"What time is it, sweetie?" Tara questions, running a hand through Buffy's hair, tucking her chin over Buffy's shoulder.

"I think it was a little before 9:00 when I just came out." Buffy strokes her hands down Tara's back. "How are you feeling today?" Buffy questions softly.

Tara tilts her head, rubbing her cheek over Buffy's shoulder. "Better. I'd been holding that in for so long…" Tara sighs, hugging Buffy tighter. "Thank you."

"I didn't do anything." Buffy shakes her head, kneading Tara's back gently. "I'm just glad you feel better. I know there are things that we haven't told each other. It's hard to tell each other everything with just the short time we've known each other, but I want you to come to me for anything. Mom will definitely be there for you also." Buffy admits.

"I know." Tara smiles before tucking her head in Buffy's neck, placing a gentle kiss on the skin, before glancing down at where her mark should be. "Now that just isn't fair." Tara grumbles.

"What isn't?" Buffy frowns, wondering at her lover's tone.

"My mark is already gone from your neck." Tara gripes before chuckling. "Slayer healing is a good thing, but at this moment in time, it's irritating me."

Buffy laughs, shaking her head. "You are one strange witch. But you're my love." Buffy giggles as Tara starts placing little nips along her neck.

"Yes, I am. But it isn't right that you can place your mark on me, but mine won't stay for 12 hours!" Tara mutters against the slayer's neck as she nips along the strong column before sucking on her ear lobe. "Maybe I shouldn't paint at all this morning." Tara murmurs suggestively in Buffy's ear before licking over the sensitive skin behind her ear.

Buffy whimpers quietly, then groans as Tara shifts her body in even closer to her. As their breasts press strongly against each other, Buffy's hands shift down, clasping Tara's butt, urging her in even tighter against her body, smiling as Tara grinds her body into her. "Oh, God, that feels good." Buffy groans hoarsely as Tara's thigh settles in perfectly between her legs.

"Upstairs?" Tara questions hopefully. Shifting her hands to caress down Buffy's sides, Tara's fingers stroking teasingly over the side of Buffy's breasts.

"You don't make things easy." Buffy whispers, unconsciously, pushing herself down on the strong thigh. "Thought you wanted to finish your painting? Then visit Faith, come back home for dinner. Then sneak off to your dorm to give mom some quiet time before seeing Faith tomorrow."

"So are you trying to say you would rather wait till later to have some one on one time?" Tara questions quietly, nibbling on the sensitive skin of the slayer's shoulder.

Moaning at the caresses, Buffy starts to whimper quietly. "I want you, no denying that. But I was just thinking we could have a longer time together, if you finished everything here first."

"Hmmm. So you have an ulterior motive with your thoughts." Tara smirks. "Longer period of one on one time, huh?" Tara sighs quietly. "Promise me that tonight you'll let me spend all the time I want learning your body?"

Buffy feels her body jerk slightly at the thought of Tara spending hours touching, kissing, nibbling her body.

"It's only fair. You said that you have the memories of the slayer, that you know about what pleasures are to be had…" Tara trails off smirking before nipping a little firmer on the skin at Buffy's pulse point. "I only have a brief encounter with a book to give me ideas, so I want to see what you don't like, like, and really like." Tara chuckles.

"I don't think you'll have to worry about me not liking something." Buffy murmurs, groaning loudly as Tara sucks strongly on her neck. "Tara?" Buffy whimpers, pushing her neck into the witch's mouth.

Sucking strongly for a few moments longer, Tara releases the skin she'd attacked. "Better go, before I decide to take advantage or you." Tara takes a deep breath, before releasing the slayer from her clasp.

"As someone very wise said, is it taking advantage if you want it?" Buffy murmurs, before chuckling quietly at the flair of desire crossing Tara's eyes. "I'm gone. I'll be back in a couple hours, okay?" Buffy softly runs a hand down Tara's cheek, smiling as she presses into her hand.

"Go, sweetie." Tara murmurs placing a kiss in Buffy's palm. Sighing quietly, she watches Buffy quickly stride out of the garage. Glancing back at the painting Tara rolls her eyes. "You are NOT what I want to do right now, but since what I want to do is gone…" Tara quickly works on mixing her paints together, to get the right shade before working quickly and efficiently on the painting, immersing herself completely in what she's doing.

Buffy quickly gather's all the clothes from the different hampers taking them downstairs. Sorting them, she smiles looking at Tara's skirts. "Why do you wear these when you look so delicious in jeans?" Buffy questions quietly. Sighing, she finishes sorting the clothes before deciding to do the jeans first. Loading the washer, Buffy trots back up the stairs, deciding to get some cleaning done around the house for her mom, since she has energy to burn.

As Buffy finishes placing the laundry in her drawers she looks around the cleaned bedroom, smiling. "Who knew that channeling pent up frustration into cleaning would actually make me feel better?" Buffy smirks. "Would rather have put the energy to something else."

Tara grins from the doorway. "What would you like to put it to?"

Buffy jumps, having been so engrossed in what she'd been doing, she didn't hear Tara come upstairs. "You know what I want to be doing." Buffy rolls her eyes, before laughing quietly at the paint smears over Tara's face, arms, hands and in her hair.

"You're laughing at me, aren't you?" Tara glances down at her paint splattered body. "I get into what I do. What can I say?" Tara looks back up, wiggling her eyebrows. Tara looks over Buffy's room. "So your extra energy went into cleaning the house, I take it?"

Buffy blushes and nods her head. "Yeah. Kind of had to do something." Buffy closes the distance between them, running a finger down the blue streak of paint on Tara's cheek. "Why don't you shower and I'll try to figure out something for us to eat." Buffy offers softly, looking over Tara for a moment. "Did you finish your painting?"

"Yes. Or at least pretty much. I'll wait 'til next weekend and look it over again to see if there's anything I want to work on more." Tara smiles at Buffy. "You already took a shower, didn't you?" Tara runs a hand over the damp ends of Buffy's hair.

"Yeah, a little while ago." Buffy nods towards the bathroom. "Go shower. I'll go find something for you to eat."

"Yes, ma'am." Tara murmurs before leaning in for a soft kiss. "Bagels would be fine for breakfast."

"Okay." Buffy's eyes follow Tara out of the bedroom, her body moving to watch as Tara slides into the bathroom. Standing there for a moment, Buffy smiles. "Love you." Buffy calls out quietly before jogging down the stairs, pulling out butter, cream cheese and jams out of the refrigerator. Buffy walks over to the bread box. Listening to the shower running upstairs, Buffy sets the bagels on the counter before curiously walking out to the garage. Flipping the light on, she walks over to the painting, raising an eyebrow at the likeness of the woman compared to the picture. "Damn." Buffy murmurs before leaving the garage.

Hearing the shower shut off, Buffy slices one of the bagels in two before placing it in the toaster. Surprised to hear Tara already coming down the stairs, Buffy turns to watch her walk into the kitchen.

"Hah!" Tara snorts in laughter at the surprise on Buffy's face. "Leaving the shower running fooled you, didn't it?" Tara chuckles before walking towards the slayer.

"No tricking the slayer, that's mean!" Buffy mumbles before groaning as Tara kisses her thoroughly.

"Have to stay ahead of you." Tara murmurs quietly before kissing Buffy again. Cupping Buffy's cheek, Tara smiles. "I love you."

"I love you." Buffy smiles back placing a quick kiss on her lips. "Here, let's get the bagels done so you can eat."

Tara looks at the island chuckling. "Did you get out every kind of topping you could?"

"Yeah. Didn't know what you were in the mood for." Buffy admits as she places another bagel in the toaster, handing Tara the plate.

"Thanks, sweetie." Tara sits down looking over the toppings. Spreading cream cheese on one half, she slowly nibbles on the bagel while watching as Buffy throws a third bagel in the toaster before sitting down across from her. Finishing the first half, Tara spreads some jam on the second half watching as Buffy hops up grabbing the other bagel out of the toaster and placing half on each of their plates. "You eat it, sweetie."

"I had a couple earlier in between cleaning." Buffy watches Tara intently. "Eat. I want you to have your strength built up."

"I'm starting to think you're wanting to fatten me up, too." Tara mumbles before taking another bite of her bagel.

"I wouldn't complain." Buffy eyes the witch. "Even though you look absolutely gorgeous as it is." Tilting her head, Buffy considers the witch. "Can I ask you something?"

Tara looks up making eye contact with Buffy. "Of course, sweetie."

Buffy quirks her lip at the witch. "Why do you almost always wear skirts when you look so good in jeans?"

Tara blushes looking down for a few minutes. "I don't know what you mean."

"Tara, you have a body to die for." Buffy explains softly. "You hide it behind those long skirts. Hell, even the jeans don't do your body justice." Buffy grins, making Tara blush even deeper. "You have a gorgeous body, Tara. If I thought you would, I'd love for you to run around naked all the time. Of course, I wouldn't ever get anything done because I'd always be watching you."

Tara bites her lip before chuckling quietly. "So all you'd be doing is watching me?"

Buffy rolls her eyes. "I'm sure I'd be touching, kissing and other things, too." Buffy grins, her eyes twinkling.

"Buffy, my body's nothing. Yours is the one that's perfect." Tara states sincerely. "You're sleek, powerful, and beautiful." Tara whispers, looking deep into Buffy's eyes. "You're like a panther." Slowly a smirk crosses Tara's face. "My sleek, powerful, beautiful, purring panther."

"Be careful or this panther is going to pounce." Buffy's eyes narrow on Tara.

"Okay." Tara wiggles her eyebrows before laughing. Shaking her head, Tara finishes her food. "Let's get ready to go, sweetie."

"I'm giving you a heads up now, I am going to pounce on you here very, very soon." Buffy growls as they clear the table, putting away the items.

"Good." Tara smirks, before running a soft hand over Buffy's shoulder. "Because I plan on doing some pouncing of my own."

"Ooooh. Promises, promises!" Buffy grins. "Come on, beautiful. Let's go to the hospital."

Tara shakes her head at her lover. "Let's go."

Tara smirks at Buffy as she paces back and forth in Faith's hospital room. "Thanks, sweetie."

"Yeah, yeah. I can't have them seeing you do your mojo to try and figure out why all of a sudden they're getting major activity going on with Faith's brain functions." Buffy looks over as Tara prepares herself. "And you already laid the groundwork yesterday with the religious belief thing."

"I may have laid the groundwork, but it didn't really occur to me to threaten them with a lawsuit if they tried to interfere." Tara's lip quirks up. Glancing back at Faith, she runs a gentle hand over the woman's forehead. "I'm almost ready." Looking back over at Buffy, Tara smiles softly. "You have the cloth?" At Buffy's nod, Tara looks over her lover, noticing that she's a lot calmer than she was yesterday. "I love you, sweetie."

"I love you, too." Buffy watches as Tara calmly places one hand over Faith's temple and another over her stomach like she'd done yesterday. As she starts the chant, Buffy relaxes back against the wall by the door to wait patiently.

As soon as Tara immerses herself in Faith, Faith's aware of the woman. Faith feels surprise shoot through her at the thought the woman was willing to come back to visit her again. Being honest with herself, Faith knows that she probably wouldn't come back to visit her. Taking her time, Faith listens as Tara calls to let her know she's there. 'Like I couldn't tell.' Faith chuckles to herself.

Slowly working her way towards the woman, Faith notices how she's feeling stronger, better. Frowning, Faith concentrates on her psyche, seeing the thread of her essence to the pure light feeding it. Thinking about it for a long time, Faith finally realizes that Tara's giving her own strength to help her. Frowning even deeper, Faith wonders why she would do that for someone she didn't even know. Someone that has killed, and tried to kill her lover and the rest of the Scooby gang.

"I know you're close by, Faith. If you don't want me here, I'll leave." Tara calls out softly. "I don't want to force myself on you."

Faith sighs before coalescing in front of the witch. Looking at the blonde woman, with the sapphire eyes, Faith tilts her head. "Is that what you look like in real life?" Faith questions hoarsely.

Tara glances down at her form before looking back up at Faith. "Yes. Would you prefer I look different?"

"Nah. I was just curious." Faith prowls around, glancing over at Tara occasionally. "You're strengthening me. Trying to heal me." Faith comments.

"Yes." Tara answers quietly, trying to figure out where Faith is going with this.

"Do you have any idea what I've done in the past?" Faith stops, staring at the witch with cold brown eyes.

"I was told Buffy's point of view." Tara watches the dark-haired slayer.

Faith nods, glancing away. "Told you what a cold-hearted bitch I was, did she?"

Tara sees the flash of pain coming from the slayer. Sighing mentally, Tara shakes her head. "No. She told me about a confused, scared, young woman that came here to Sunnydale looking for help. And what you found was a slayer, whose accomplishments were probably thrown in your face, hiding her vampire lover from everyone." Tara thinks for a moment. "She blames herself for being so self absorbed, that she ignored you. Used you for her own selfish reasons. Never allowed you to have the support and caring that you should have had."

Faith stands there in shock looking at the witch. B, worried about her? Blaming herself for the stupid fuck-ups she'd done? "Why would she think she's to blame for my own fuck-ups?" Faith growls.

"She feels that if she'd been there for you, actually been a friend to you, that things would have been different." Tara explains softly. "Faith…" Tara starts to take a step towards the woman, but stops, realizing that she may not want her to be closer to the woman. "Faith, I would suggest you actually discuss this with Buffy. I can tell you what we discussed, but I can't tell you everything that is in her heart. Only she can explain to you what she feels."

Faith clenches her jaw as she thinks about talking with Buffy. "I ain't ready for that." Faith admits.

"That's fine." Tara watches the woman. "Do you want me here, Faith?"

Faith's eyes slowly come to gaze on the witch. "Tell me something…" Faith starts hesitantly.

Tara waits, and as Faith doesn't continue, she tilts her head. "Go ahead, Faith."

Faith sighs quietly before looking around, almost afraid of what the answer is going to be. "Yesterday, after you left me?" Faith glances quickly at the witch and as Tara nods, Faith continues quickly. "Was Buffy angry at you yesterday?"

Tara blinks for a minute before slowly nodding her head. "Sort of. She's worried that something is going to happen to me." Tara admits quietly. "How much do you remember?"

Faith starts pacing back and forth agitatedly in front of the witch. "I-I was thinking I was dreaming all this time. Buffy and Xander both have been to visit me before, haven't they? Even Joyce has come by a few times." Faith looks up almost scared at the witch.

"Yes." Tara states softly, not knowing how Faith is going to react after finally realizing whatever had been said before is the truth, not dreams.

"I-I got to think." Faith shakes her head, her projected self paling considerably.

"Do you want me to come back tomorrow?" Tara offers quietly.

"I…I don't know." Faith looks around like a trapped animal.

"I'll come back, if you decide you don't want to talk, I'll leave." Tara tries that, as Faith nods her head before she quickly disappears, Tara sighs quietly. "See you tomorrow." Tara calls out quietly, as she slowly stops the flow of power to the slayer, before coming back to her own body.