DISCLAIMER: Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its characters are the property of Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: AU for Who Are You?/This Year's Girl. Request for jade_lennox for the Buffyverse Sandwich (threesome) ficathon for Faith/Tara/Willow, "presence of other cast members in a positive friendship way; music (sung, played, listened to -- not picky); plot," and no "character bashing; dark fic."
ARCHIVING: Only with the permission of the author.
Now You're Inside
By The Last Good Name Left
Willow followed Tara out the classroom, deftly avoiding three sorority sisters flirting and a pair of geeks connecting over science fiction trivia.
"Maybe we should help her," said Tara, pushing open the building doors. She and Willow strolled down the steps out of the English building, and crossed the grass on the way to 19th Century American Women's History.
Willow frowned, and kicked viciously at a balled up piece of paper. Tara raised an eyebrow. Willow blushed and picked up the paper, unfolding it and noting the large red F at the top. She tossed it into the first garbage they passed, and then said, "What do you mean, help her? She's evil." Willow pulled Tara to a stop and said earnestly, "She's bad. She is beyond helping."
Tara frowned. "Sh-sh-she's been in a coma for eight months. A coma Buffy put her in." Tara calmly met Willow's eyes. Willow sighed, and after a moment, began walking again. Tara smiled at her, and Willow beamed.
"What are you saying?" Willow asked, still tingling from Tara's smile.
Tara shrugged and hugged her books to her chest. "M-m-maybe she's not so bad." Tara's voice quavered, and she sounded wistful.
Willow frowned. "You don't know Faith," said Willow, shaking her head. "She's bad. She's as bad as bad gets." Willow's face lit up. "Worse. She's the baddest thing ever."
Tara suppressed a smile at Willow's enthusiasm, and Willow flushed again at Tara's attention. "Worse than Adam?"
Willow stared at Tara, confused.
"I just mean, maybe she deserves a second chance," said Tara.
"No. No second chances," Willow stopped walking again and tried to reached for words to make Tara understand. "Tara, you don't get it."
Tara nodded but kept walking. "Maybe," she said over her shoulder. "Or maybe you don't understand. You've told me what she did, but not why."
Willow stared after Tara, briefly distracted by the lines of her back and the drape of her skirt. Willow blinked herself to attention, and then shouted, "Because's she evil!"
Several students walking by looked at her. Willow blushed and hurried after Tara, dropping her pencil twice and her history book once in the face of all the spectators.
"You said she didn't have any friends—" Tara said when Willow had caught up.
"So she tried to steal Buffy's!" interrupted Willow.
"And she lived in a motel—" Tara continued, ignoring Willow's outburst.
"Because she killed her watcher!"
"And she made a mistake," said Tara, talking over Willow once more.
Willow scowled. "It wasn't a mistake. She meant to."
Tara asked quietly, "Like when Buffy killed that man her mother was dating?"
Willow stopped, shocked. "That's not fair," she said, and worried her lip, remembering.
Tara raised an eyebrow, but didn't reply, and instead opened the door to the History building and went inside.
"It's not the same thing at all," called Willow. Tara ignored her. Willow fumed for a moment, twice turning away from the building doors and toward Giles' apartment, before she gave a huge sigh and hurriedly followed her girlfriend to class.
"This is a bad idea, Tara," said Willow as they crossed the lawn again after their class. "We don't know what she's like. She could still be evil."
Tara had ignored Willow throughout class, and hadn't read any of the three notes Willow had pushed over to her during the lecture. When class was over, Tara had stopped to talk to the Professor, and Willow had waited at the door. She felt conspicuous joining Tara and the Professor's conversation as they left the classroom, so she had skulked around thr door. And now, Tara was marching across campus as if on a mission.
"What makes you think she's evil, Willow?" asked Tara reasonably. "Because she fought Buffy?"
Willow opened her mouth to reply, but someone beat her to it.
"Yeah, Willow, why would you think I'm evil?"
Tara and Willow both spun around. Faith was lounging on a picnic bench behind them, leaned back against the table and face tilted up toward the sun. Tara smiled and Willow stared. Willow glanced around, frantically, looking for police, or Buffy, or anyone to come take the fugitive away. Faith didn't seem concerned, and the closest Blue Light Emergency Phone was back at the History Building.
"You should be wearing sunscreen," Tara said.
Willow and Faith both stared at her, incredulous. A smile played across Faith's lips. Willow opened her mouth three times to say something, but nothing came out.
"You should," repeated Tara.
Faith snorted. Willow stared at Faith, but Faith went back to sunning herself, and ignored them both.
Tara calmly walked over to Faith, and asked, "How are you f-f-feeling?"
Willow frowned at Tara's stutter. She wanted to move closer, to protect Tara, but she didn't want to get any closer to Faith. She swayed forward, and then back again as her competing desires fought for action.
Faith smirked at Tara's question. "Five by five."
Tara put her books down on the table, and sat down next to Faith on the bench. "What does that mean?"
Faith stared at Tara for a moment before bursting into laughter. She shook her head, and looked at Willow. Willow shrank back from Faith's look. "Didn't you tell her what it means, witchy-poo?"
"Tara's a witch, too," said Willow without thinking, and then she berated herself. Faith didn't need any more ammunition.
Faith looked at Tara appraisingly, and nodded. "Way to go, girl."
Tara blushed again, and Willow fumed. "Are you going to tell me what it means?" Tara asked.
Faith closed her eyes again and looked up at the sun. A half-smile played across her lips.
Willow frowned and took a half step toward the table. "We're going to be late for our meeting," she said to Tara. Tara glanced up, and then back to Faith. Willow stepped forward again, but stopped when Faith shifted position.
"I think I'm going to stay here," replied Tara.
Willow's face contorted, and she said viciously, "We should really go, and leave psycho-girl here to burn."
"You going to try something?" Faith asked, and opened her eyes. She stared at Willow fixedly, and Willow took an involuntary step back.
But Willow straightened up and met Faith's eyes. "I meant sunburn. Eight months in a coma doesn't do much for your complexion."
Faith nodded and leaned back again. Willow took a deep breath, but didn't say anything more. They all fell silent. Tara pulled out a book and began to read, but Willow remained standing, watching Faith. Faith ignored both of them. After a while, Willow cautiously sat down on the opposite side of the table, facing Tara. She watched Faith carefully, waiting for some movement. She wanted to sprint back to the History Building and call Giles or Buffy and warn them, but she couldn't leave Tara alone with Faith. She wanted to study, but someone had to watch Faith.
After nearly an hour of silence, broken only by Tara turning pages and the drifts of conversation as people passed their bench, Faith spoke. Willow jumped at the sound. She had been so fixed on Faith's unmoving posture that she had forgotten that Faith could speak.
"My dad used to say it," said Faith. Willow frowned, confused once more.
Tara looked up from her book. Faith's eyes were still closed, and her face was very pink. Willow opened her mouth, and Tara silently shushed her. Willow glared at Tara's book.
"What's it mean?" Tara asked.
"It's a pilot thing, I guess. He never explained."
Willow tried to remember everything she knew about pilots, but Faith's phrase still didn't make any sense.
"He was a pilot?" asked Tara.
"Yeah," said Faith, a small smile playing across her lips. Willow stared at Faith's lips; it was the first time she could remember seeing Faith truly smile. "Navy, and then big passenger jets."
"And he said it?" Tara asked. Willow glanced at Tara, who was watching Faith intently. Willow's stomach jolted at the look on Tara's face, but Tara didn't seem to even notice Willow.
"All the time," said Faith. Faith turned to look at Tara, and their eyes locked. "I should go," Faith said. "Places to be, people to kill." But she didn't move.
Willow stared at Faith, paralyzed: she was going to kill again. They had to warn someone. And Tara and Faith needed to stop looking at each other like that.
Tara nodded, still looking at Faith, and closed her book. "If you want, I could give you the keys to my room. Willow and I should really go to this meeting. We'll be back later."
Willow made a small frantic sound, and Faith and Tara both looked at her. Willow shook her head vigorously at Tara, but Faith smirked. Willow turned bright red, and glared at Tara. Tara ignored her.
Tara reached into her bag and pulled out her keys. She laid them in front of Faith. Willow reached over to grab them from Tara, but Tara moved them out of Willow's reach. Willow half stood and leaned over the table.
Tara said to her, "We should go." Willow froze. Faith was watching them, but Willow couldn't look away from Tara.
"Tara," Willow said, agonized. Tara stood up and smiled at Faith. "We'll tell Buffy and Giles you said hi?"
Faith stared at Tara, not moving; Willow was still leant over the table, also not moving.
Tara was smiling at both of them as if there wasn't anything wrong, and then Tara smiled, and said, "Come on, Willow, we should go talk to everyone. Bye, Faith. See you later."
Willow stood up and came to Tara's side. She grabbed Tara's hand and clutched it possessively, looking imperiously down at Faith. Faith smirked, and closed her eyes again.
Tara shook her head, looking long suffering. She grabbed Willow's arm and dragged her away. Willow protested, loudly, the entire way. When Willow glanced back at Faith, she was staring after them, a strange wistful look on her face.
When Willow and Tara arrived at his apartment after a long and slightly frosty trip across town, Giles was pacing and waving his glasses. "We haven't any idea where Faith is now?" asked Giles.
Buffy and Riley, sitting on the couch, shook their heads. Xander whimpered from his spot by the window, and clutched Anya tighter.
"Actually," Tara began, standing in the doorway. Willow winced, waiting for the explosion that was about to erupt.
Giles turned to her and said, "Yes?"
"She's in my dorm room."
"She's what?" demanded Xander, letting go of Anya. Anya frowned, but it didn't seem to be in relation to Faith. Buffy and Riley sat up straight, and focused on Tara. Willow's eyes widened at the authority and control being projected at Tara, but when she stepped forward to protect her, no one backed down.
"In Tara's dorm," repeated Willow. "Tara thinks she might not be all bad." Buffy and Riley's faces hardened, and Buffy's eyes seemed to flash. Giles frowned thunderously.
"And Tara knows this how?" Xander asked, standing up. Behind him, Anya looked affronted. Xander began pacing, a short three steps out and three steps back. He started talking about Faith, and their connection, and her evilness, but Willow tuned him out. So did everyone else.
"I th-th-think she might be—" Tara started. She took a deep breath, and sat down at Giles desk. Willow hovered over her shoulder, while Giles stood frowning down at her. "She's scared, and hurt," said Tara. "She didn't have anywhere else to go."
"And you just let her in, just like that?" Xander said, waving his hands around. Anya ducked back to avoid being hit, but Riley wasn't so fast. Xander didn't even notice he had whacked Riley on the jaw. Willow smirked a little, but Xander's rant was gathering steam.
"What else should she have done?" Riley interrupted, rubbing his jaw. "We can keep an eye on her, see what's she's up to. Willow and Tara are pretty good judges of character."
Xander say down abruptly, and Anya clutched at him. Willow smiled at Riley's approval of Tara, despite the current circumstances. "You think this is a good idea?" Buffy asked, pushing Riley's hand away from his mouth and poking at it herself. Willow laid her hand on Tara's shoulder. Giles resumed his pacing, which he had stopped when Xander had started.
"It's not a bad idea, as ideas go," Riley said, wincing at Buffy's ministrations. Willow squeezed Tara's shoulder, and Tara reached up and caressed Willow's hand. They exchanged a quick smile.
Willow wrapped her hand in Tara's, and said, "I'm not so sure this idea is of the good and the sane, but Tara thinks Faith isn't going to go psycho again, and I trust Tara." Buffy and Riley narrowed their eyes at her in concert, and Willow straightened her back. Giles took off his glasses and put them on again without cleaning them, but at least he had stopped pacing.
"We all trust Tara," Xander said.
Anya frowned at this. "Why do we all trust Tara? We don't all trust me," she began, but Xander was already talking again.
"We just don't trust Faith," he said. Willow nodded, and was about to speak, but Buffy answered Xander first.
"Maybe it's time we started trusting her," said Buffy slowly. Riley frowned at Buffy, but didn't say anything. Xander had sunk into his corner, and Anya was running her fingers through his hair.
Willow pursed her lips, and tried to think of a counter-argument to trusting Faith.
As they had took time to think about the idea, Giles poured himself a drink. "Yes, well, this seems like an idea," he said. "Tara, Willow, you go back to your room and check up on Faith. Ask her if she's willing to come see me tomorrow; I'd like to know what her future plans are."
Willow wiggled her eyebrows at Giles' orders, but didn't say anything. Tara nodded.
"You don't think she's evil?" Buffy asked. She had moved away from Riley on the couch, and was examining her hands. Willow watched her pick at her nails.
"No," said Tara softly.
A series of quick expressions passes across Buffy's face but Willow couldn't distinguish them clearly; mostly, Buffy looked conflicted. Then Buffy stood up and walked to the door, grabbing two stakes from Giles' desk on the way.
"I'm going on patrol."
Riley stood as well. "I'll go with you."
"No," said Buffy shortly. "I need to be alone right now."
Riley slunk back. "Are you sure?" he asked.
"Yes," said Buffy without looking at him, and left. They watched her leave, and the Tara moved over to the couch. Willow watched her go, but rather than follow, sat down on one of the barstools next to Giles. He poured himself another drink, and offered a glass to Willow. She ignored Tara's outraged look, and accepted, smiling smugly despite her terror.
"I still think this is a bad idea," said Xander.
"Xander," began Giles.
"No," Xander continued. "No, I'm on board, if Wills and Tara think it's okay. But if things go wrong, I'm all about the I told you sos."
Willow smiled thankfully at Xander. "I understand," she said, and they exchanged rueful looks.
"I don't know if they're wrong," began Giles, but he didn't get a chance to finish because Xander interrupted once more.
"Fine. I'm going home," said Xander.
"Yes, let's go home. Finally," said Anya, and pulled on Xander's hand, dragging him out the door. Willow smirked after them, and then looked over to where Tara was sitting, all alone on the couch.
"What should I do?" asked Riley, still hovering near the door. Willow had forgotten he was there.
"I have no idea," said Giles. "Continue to research Adam, I suppose."
"Great. I'll let you know if I come up with anything," Riley said, and left.
Giles finished his drink, and examined Tara, still sitting on the couch. Willow refilled her still half-full glass, and hopped down. She wandered over to the couch, but didn't sit down. Instead, she perched on the table, watching Tara.
"Explain to me why you invited Faith to share your room, Tara," he said.
"Everyone deserves a second chance," she said.
Willow frowned, but stayed quiet while Giles and Tara talked. Tara seemed calm, and she wasn't stuttering. Willow realized that Tara was very confident about her decision. She took a deep swallow of her drink to distract herself, and choked slightly. Giles frowned at her, and Tara smiled. Willow blushed.
"Yes, well, I can't emphasize enough how dangerous this course may turn out," Giles said.
"I know," said Tara. "We'll be careful."
Willow stalked after Tara. Tara had left Giles' very pleased with herself. Willow was cranky that Giles hadn't been able to convince Tara to change her mind, but Willow wasn't going to try, either. They entered Tara's dorm, and Tara reached out to hold Willow's hand. Willow accepted the gesture, and they went upstairs in silence.
Tara pushed open her door a crack and peered into the room. Over Tara's shoulder, Willow could see Faith curled up on the bed, fast asleep. Tara smiled and opened the door wider. Willow followed her in, and they stood in the doorway for several moments, watching Faith sleep.
"She's so young," Willow whispered.
Tara nodded.
"I didn't realize—" Willow broke off.
"How old is she?" Tara asked.
"I don't know. Giles never got any watcher records, and Wesley took whatever he had."
Tara nodded again, and moved closer to the bed. Willow stayed in the doorway, wondering how much else they didn't know about Faith. Before Tara got halfway across the room, Faith jerked awake, a broken branch clutched in her first. Willow raised her hands to protect herself, and then rolled her eyes; Faith was on the other side of the room, and she was startled, not violent.
"It's just us," said Tara softly.
Faith looked around the room, briefly looking at Willow, and then back at Tara. She sat up slowly, hunched over, and said, "Sorry. I guess I fell asleep."
"You must be tired," said Tara. Willow closed the door and stood in the middle of the room, picking at her sleeves.
"Been asleep for eight months," said Faith wryly. "I don't think I should be tired."
"You were in the hospital," Tara reminded her. "You need to let your body recover."
"Is that what B's waiting for? She doesn't want to off me when I'm down?"
Willow opened her mouth to reply, but Tara spoke first.
"Buffy isn't going to kill you," Tara said.
Willow frowned, and wondered where Buffy was, and if she would be able to get to them before Faith changed her mind about accepting Tara's hospitality.
"Could have fooled me." said Faith. Willow nodded in agreement.
"Faith," said Tara, "Buffy doesn't want to hurt you. You can stay here until you're better, and then you can—" she hesitated.
"Then I can what?" Faith asked. "Go home with the Council? I don't think so."
"We're not going to send you to the Council," said Tara.
Willow stared at Tara. She didn't remember that part of the conversation; Buffy might no be working for the Council any more, but that didn't mean that they weren't a viable back-up, if necessary.
Faith relaxed fractionally.
"We're going to help you," Tara said.
Faith said what Willow was thinking. "We who? They don't like me," she said, gesturing at Willow, and continued, "They want to send me to the loony-bin, or prison, or a casket."
Tara glanced back at Willow, disapproving, and sat on the bed next to Faith. Willow threw herself down on a chair in the corner and glared at the bed.
"It doesn't matter what they want," said Tara. "What matters is what you want, and I'm going to help you."
"What if I want to give Buffy what she's got coming?"
Tara smiled, and Willow was shocked to see Faith grin back. It wasn't a malevolent smile; it was friendly and engaging. Tara said, "Buffy has a lot of things coming, but right now, unless you're planing on rewriting her sociology test, I don't think there's much you can do about what's coming for Buffy."
Faith frowned at this, and Willow wondered suddenly if Faith missed the Mayor.
"Yeah, I guess you're right," Faith said. She poked at Tara's alarm clock, and didn't meet Tara's eyes.
"Well, what should we do?" asked Tara. "Faith? What do you want?"
Faith looked up through her eyelashes. "You got any pizza?"
"We can order some," said Tara. Willow took a deep breath; whatever else she had planned for the evening, it seemed now it would be taken up with Faith.
"Can we do that?" asked Faith. She sounded unsure, and Willow drew her brows. Willow knew that Faith liked pizza, but perhaps it wouldn't be the best thing just out of a coma.
Before Willow could protest, on behalf of Faith's stomach, Tara said decisively, "Pizza and a movie."
"Oooh, goody," Willow said dryly instead, and picked up Tara's phone. "What do you want?" she asked the other two women.
"Mushrooms?" asked Faith, still uncertain. Willow frowned at her, and Faith looked away.
"We can have anything you want," said Tara, and then glared at Willow. Willow gave a longsuffering sigh, and searched for the number of the pizza place.
"Mushrooms and olives?" Faith asked Tara, ignoring Willow.
"Pepperoni?" asked Willow. Faith and Tara looked at her, surprised, and Willow blushed and then berated herself for blushing. She was trying to help.
Faith shrugged. "If you want."
Tara shook her head. "Not if you don't."
"Mushrooms and olives," Faith said. "And extra cheese."
"Mushrooms and olives and extra cheese," Willow repeated, offering a smile. Faith ignored her. Willow focused on the phone. Tara got up and rummaged around her side table.
"So, movie?" Tara asked, holding three videos and staring at several more.
Faith slid off of the bed and edged closer to Tara. She peered at the titles.
"Is this good?" she asked, pointing at a copy of the Indigo Girls, Live at the Uptown Lounge. Willow's eyes widened at Faith's question.
"It's Willow's favorite," said Tara, smiling. Willow squirmed at Tara sharing this little piece of information. "It's good if you like the Indigo Girls."
Faith shrugged. "We can watch that, I guess," said Faith.
"Goody," said Willow humorlessly, and then turned back to the person on the phone. "Oh no, not you. You, two large pizzas, both with mushrooms and olives and extra cheese."
There were barely fifteen minutes into the video when Faith began nodding off. Willow watched from the corner of her eye as Tara reached over and began to spread a blanket across Faith's legs, but Faith jerked open her eyes before Tara could deposit the blanket.
"What?" Faith demanded. Willow tensed, but Tara merely smiled.
"You were falling asleep. Here," Tara said, and offered the blanket.
Willow scowled, still facing the television; Tara had never offered that blanket to her. They were usually on the bed, and sharing a blanket, but still, it was an affront.
Faith stared at the afghan without touching it, and Willow felt a strong sense of satisfaction that Faith at least knew better than to take the blanket.
"It's pretty," Faith said.
"My mom bought it when I was little," said Tara.
Willow stared at Tara in shock at this information before remembering to concentrate on the video. Tara didn't seem to notice Willow's reaction, but Faith seemed confused.
"I thought—" Faith began. She shifted on the couch, moving closer to Tara. Willow growled, and then blushed at herself, but neither Faith nor Tara heard. "I thought maybe someone made it for you," Faith said.
"No. Just bought."
Willow stopped watching them in her peripheral vision, and focused entirely on the concert in front of her. Amy was singing about fear, and Willow tried to block out Faith and Tara and focus on the music.
"But it's still from your mom," said Faith.
"Yes," agreed Tara. "It's from my mom."
Willow could picture the look on Tara's face, even if she wasn't looking at her: Tara would be smiling slightly, with a welcoming look. She would still be holding out the afghan, waiting for Faith to take it. Tara was probably completely ignoring Faith's animosity and Willow's anger. Willow sighed, and steeled herself against looking at them again.
"She gave it to you?" Faith asked.
Willow wanted to shout at Faith to grab the blanket already, but instead Tara nodded, and draped the blanket over Faith. Faith stared down at the blanket. Tara turned her attention back to the video, and wrapped an arm around Willow. Willow tensed briefly, but quickly relented, snuggling into Tara.
Faith whimpered, and rolled over on the floor. Tara looked down at her and frowned. Willow rolled over and stared at the ceiling.
"Is she okay?" asked Willow, staring at Tara's back.
"I don't know," whispered Tara, peering down in the dark. "She's having a nightmare."
Faith whimpered again, and whimpered, "No, don't, please."
Willow looked over Tara's shoulder at Faith. She was curled up on the floor in a fetal position, clutching Tara's afghan and shivering.
"What should we do?" asked Willow.
"Wake her up, I guess," said Tara. They had gone through this already multiple times, but Willow deferred to Tara on matters of Faith.
"Again?"
"It's a nightmare, Willow, she probably terrified," said Tara, looking over her shoulder at Willow. Willow nodded, and Tara looked back down at Faith.
"Waking her up doesn't make them go away," Willow pointed out. Whenever Faith fell asleep, she had twenty calm minutes, and then the trembling started, and the whimpers, and the defensive posturing.
"No," agreed Tara. Willow wrapped her arms around Tara's back, snuggling in. Tara accepted Willow's cuddle, but kept her attention on Faith.
"Shouldn't we try to make them go away?" asked Willow
Tara finally rolled over and looked up at Willow. Willow met Tara's eyes, and pleaded with her silently. Faith didn't deserve this kind of torment.
"What are you talking about?" asked Tara carefully. Willow shrugged and then glanced at Faith again.
"Shouldn't we try and make her feel better?" Willow asked, instead of answering Tara's question.
Tara smiled, and her teeth shone in the dim light from the streetlights. "I though you didn't trust Faith?"
Willow sighed and collapsed on to Tara. "That was before she spent two weeks sleeping on your floor, waking us both up screaming every hour." Willow shivered, thinking about the lack of sleep they were all getting. She had missed professors giving out three assignments, and had to ask other students about them; it was horrible.
"And you want to—?" Tara asked, leadingly.
Willow burrowed into Tara's neck. "I know what makes my nightmares go away," she teased.
"You want to sleep with her?" Tara asked, completely serious. Willow pulled back and stared at Tara.
"No! I was thinking magic. But—" Willow peered at Tara. Willow hesitated. "Do you want to sleep with her?" she asked, softly.
"You know, I can hear you guys." Faith's said.
Willow jerked and fell off of Tara, rolling back on the bed. "Oh! I'm sorry— I forgot," Willow stammered. "I'm sorry."
"You want me to leave? I can," offered Faith, sitting up. Willow buried her head under her pillow, but Tara sat up too.
"No, no, it's okay," said Tara, swinging her legs over the side of the bed.
Faith stood up. "Hey, no skin off my back. Joyce said I could crash with her for a while," said Faith doubtfully. Willow listened from her hiding place, waiting for Tara to take Faith up on her offer.
"No. Please, stay," said Tara.
Willow pulled her head out and stared at the back of Tara's head. Faith briefly met Willow's eyes behind Tara, and then looked back at Tara. Willow imagined that Faith looked pleased. Willow sighed and rolled on to her back.
"Yeah, stay," Willow repeated.
"If I'm keeping you awake," Faith said, sitting down abruptly. "You guys have to go to class and all."
"We're fine," said Tara soothingly.
"Is there something?" Faith asked, picking at the afghan. She wasn't looking at either Willow or Tara, but Willow was examining Faith.
Tara nodded encouragingly, and Willow could see Faith pull her strength together.
"Willow said there was something you could, to make them go away," Faith said.
"Yes," said Tara. Faith looked relieved, and for a moment, Willow was irritated that she had even brought up Faith's nightmares. She deserved them.
"Something magic," Faith said flatly. Willow frowned; she hadn't realized how antithetical to magic Faith really was.
"We could do magic," said Tara, "but there are other ways."
Faith looked happier at the thought of non-magic solutions. "Like what?"
Tara and Willow exchanged silent glances, and then Willow inhaled deeply. Steeling herself, Willow climbed out of bed and knelt next to Faith. Willow reached out and brushed Faith's hair back. Faith flinched without moving. Willow pulled back, but Faith's dark eyes bored into her. Willow blinked, and glanced back at Tara.
Tara said, "It's not magic, exactly."
Willow smiled, and looked back down at Faith.
"What are you—" Faith began, but stopped when Willow touched her lips. "What are you going to do?" Faith asked.
Willow traced Faith's lips, settling her hips down on Faith's. Faith lay below Willow, blinking up at her slowly but not moving. Willow smiled as she ran her fingers across Faith's face.
"We're going to love you," said Tara, and Willow nodded.
Faith turned to Tara, but Tara wasn't looking at her. Tara was staring at Willow, and when Faith looked back at Willow, she realized why. Willow had pulled off her top, and was massaging her breasts. Willow moaned briefly at the attention of both women; the stares were intense, and she could feel the power growing in the room. Faith stared, and Willow straddled Faith's lap. Faith leaned back, accepting Willow's weight, and Willow rolled her hips into Faith's. Faith began to move with Willow, but quickly stilled and glanced at Tara. Willow made a small sound of dismay, but Tara grinned, and came down to the floor to recline next to Faith. They both watched Willow continue to play with her breasts.
Tara said, "It's okay."
Faith swallowed, but remained still. Willow watched hungrily as Tara slipped her hand under Faith's shirt, and began to caress Faith, mimicking Willow's movements. When Willow pinched her own nipple, Tara pinched Faith's. Willow grinned. Faith's hips had resumed their movement under Willow, and Willow drove her hips into Faith, pushing Faith into the floor. Faith moaned, and Tara, watching them, smiled softly.
"Trust us?" Tara asked.
Faith slowly nodded, and Willow smiled.
The End