Title-Take Comfort in Faith part 1
Author- Magrat
Spoilers- Season 6 to “Wrecked” but this fic is an AU and totally changes after that point.
Ratings- R

Tara flopped down on the couch exhausted. “Who thought moving house would be so much hard work.”

“I’ve put the kettle on and think I’ve got the coffee machine to work,” said Moira. “So who wants what?”

“You’re an angel,” said Giles sitting down beside Tara. “Tea for me.”

“Chamomile,” said Tara.

Willow came bounding into the sitting room, a manic grin on her face. “The guy from the furniture shop has bought in the last bed. Who wants to help me make it up?”

“Do you ever stop?” asked Moira.

“No, she doesn’t. We’ve tried looking for her power source, but to no avail,” teased Tara.

“Hey, less with the mocking,” said Willow.

“Only a little,” grinned Moira. “Tea or coffee?”

“You got the coffee machine to work?” asked Willow.

The older woman nodded.

“Great, coffee it is. I’ll be upstairs,” said Willow.

“I’m not sure if we should let you have any caffeine, sweetie,” said Tara. “Although, if we hook up the electricity to you it would probably save us some money.”

“I get it, Willow’s the target for mocking today, and it’s okay I can take it,” said Willow. “Enough chat, I’m going to get Dawn’s room ready.”

“Will, stop please,” said Tara. “Dawn isn’t arriving ‘til tomorrow.”

“But it’ll be out of the way,” said Willow.

“Sit by me. I’ve hardly seen you all day. I miss you,” said Tara giving Willow her little lop-sided smile.

“But…”

“Please,” said Tara.

“K,” said Willow and sat on the floor in front of Tara and leaned back against her. Willow’s eyes closed as she felt the blonde’s hands start to massage her shoulders. “Hmm, that’s nice.”

The doorbell rang.

“What do you think?” asked Willow. “Some kindly folks welcoming us to the neighbourhood?”

“I’ll get it,” said Giles rising. He went to the front door and opened it.

“Hey Giles,” said Connor. “Can you help with the bags, while I pay for the cab and help Dawn in.”

“Sure,” said the older man surprised by Connor’s arrival. “Tara, Willow you have some visitors.”

“Maybe, you were right sweetie,” said Tara. “We have friendly neighbours baring gifts.”

Willow pulled Tara up and they went to the door.

“Connor,” squealed Tara.

“Hey Tara, Willow, I have something special for you,” said Connor pulling the taxi door open and revealing Dawn.

“Dawnie,” said Willow. “Why didn’t you call…we could have met you at the airport…and I thought you weren’t coming until tomorrow?”

Dawn struggled out if the cab she looked at Connor. “Have you got my crutches?”

“Yeah, they’re here,” said the young man helping Dawn with her balance.

Willow and Tara watched Dawn concerned, both noting the heavy brace on her right knee.

“Should you have been travelling so soon after surgery?” asked Tara.

“Yeah, it’s fine, I drank plenty of water on the flight, had my meds and kept my legs moving, no big, said Dawn.

“No big,” said Willow shaking her head. “You had major surgery and you…”

“And you keep me on the doorstep,” said Dawn. “Will, you sound worse than Buffy and I was hoping to escape from being big sistered all the time.”

“And you thought things would be easier with me and Tara,” Willow couldn’t help but giggle at the irony, but still blushed slightly when she realized in her anxiety she hadn’t let the younger woman into the house. “I’m sorry Dawn, welcome to our new home,” she said making a big sweeping motion with her arm.

*****************************

Moira picked up the phone. “I take it no one wants to cook tonight?”

Lots of muffled groans told her that this was so.

“Does Chinese sound good?” asked Moira. “Edinburgh’s pretty well know for their Chinese. The Indian takeaways are a bit ropey.

With the approval of everybody else she made the call.

“So Connor why are you here, exactly?” asked Willow. “Not that I’m displeased at seeing you…”

“It was sort of me,” said Dawn. “Connor spent so much time taking me back and fore to the hospital, putting up with my moods, I just thought he could do with a vacation.”

“Hey, it was fun, I enjoyed going to the physio department, more fun could not be had in a big city,” said Connor. “I hope I’m not putting you out…”

“Of course we don’t mind, you being here,” said Tara.

“And I thought I could help you with any manly tasks you need doing in the house,” said Connor.

“Have you been spending time with Xander?” asked Willow.

“Oh,” said Dawn. “I have tons of photos of the new Mr. Harris,”

“And how is my little nephew doing?” asked Willow.

“He’s good,” said Dawn. “And I don’t think I have ever seen Anya happier. She wanted to know when you are going to come visit again?”

“Half-term, maybe,” said Tara.

“And you, the university lecturer now,” said Dawn.

“Well starting a week from Monday,” said Tara.

“Have we caught up on all the news then?” asked Giles.

“Not quite,” said Willow. “We’ve been keeping a little secret.”

“Okay, if one of you are pregnant, I’m calling the papers,” said Connor grinning.

“Because you’re conception, that was normal,” said Dawn sticking out her tongue.

“At least I was conceived and not a just small ball of energy,” countered Connor.

“Children, please,” said Giles interrupting the friendly bantering. “I for one am fascinated to hear what news they having been keeping secret.”

“Hmm, Giles, it’s nothing…we didn’t know when it was the right…we wanted everyone to know and I suppose that since Xander and Anya won’t travel with the baby…Oh Buffy and Fred, they’re not here but I could talk to Buffy later on the net and I’m babbling again aren’t I?” asked Willow breathlessly coming to a stop.

“What my wonderful girlfriend is trying to tell you in her oh so inimitable way is that I asked her to marry me, and she accepted,” said Tara looking at Willow with total adoration.

“At last,” said Giles. “I was wondering when you were going to get round to telling me.”

“What do you mean?” asked Willow.

“Willow, I’m not blind. I had noticed the diamond ring you have been sporting on your left hand for the last couple of months,” said Giles quite enjoying the redhead’s slight discomfort, he then changed his stance and smiled. “I’m sure you two will have very many happy years together.”

“You don’t mind?” asked Willow.

“Why should I mind? I think you are made for one another,” said Giles sweeping them up both up in a big hug and kissing Tara on the top of her head.

Everybody else milled round the happy couple wishing them well.

Connor caught Willow by the arm and moved her away slightly. “I’d like to say sorry,”

“Connor you’ve already apologized, you don’t have do it again,” said Willow.

“I do, I was so bad to you and I love Tara, you know,” said Connor.

“I know,” said Willow quietly.

“She glows, when you see her, she just gives off these wave of happiness,” said Connor. “And it is all down to you. Thank you for making her so happy. I think I’m just starting to realize what a special person you are.”

Willow instinctively hugged him touched by the sincerity of his words.

“Hey, is this a private snuggle or can anyone join,” said Tara.

“There is always room for you,” said Willow.

*************************


The group had a pleasant dinner and near the end the conversation changed towards everyone’s plans for the next few weeks.

“How long are you staying Connor?” asked Tara.

“I don’t know,” said the young man. “I thought I might stay here a while and then head off to Ireland, see where dad came from”

“Sounds nice,” said Willow.

“I hope so,” said Connor. “Dawn can come with me if she wants.”

“Willow that reminds me when do you want to start…you know?” asked Moira brought up short not sure how much Willow wanted to reveal in front of Connor and Dawn.

“It’s okay Mo, everyone knows about it. I don’t want any secrets,” said Willow. “What do you want me to do?”

“I want you to come to my house, just you and me, for about 3 to 4 days,” said Moira.

Willow looked at Tara. “K, after Tara’s first week at the university and only then if it goes fine.”

“Willow, I’ll be okay, Dawn and Connor will be here to keep me company.”

“Take her out to parties, clubs and restaurants,” said dawn.

Willow threw a cushion at Dawn. “Hey missy, you will look after my fiancé and not corrupt her.”

“Yeah, ‘cause that’s Will’s job,” said Tara giggling and then more seriously to Dawn. “We booked you on a ghost walk on Saturday night as you wanted, but I’m not sure if you’ll manage…”

“I can get around fine on those,” said Dawn pointing to her crutches

“It’s pretty uneven and a little slippy when you go underground,” explained Tara.

“Don’t fuss,” said Dawn. “It’ll be fun. I’ve wanted to go on one ever since you told me about it.”

“If you’re sure,” said Tara not liking it one bit.

******************

Tara spooned behind Willow holding her lover close. “Our first night in our own home. Things couldn’t get much better.”

“I don’t know,” said Willow. I could think of a way…”

“I bet you could, but you had better save that thought for another day,” said Tara.

“You too tired baby?” asked Willow.

“A little,” admitted Tara. “Plus too many people in the house.”

“I have an idea about that,” said Willow.

“I always said you were the brainy one,” said Tara laughing softly and kissing the back of the redhead’s neck. “So tell me your idea.”

“You know Giles and Moira go home Friday,” said Willow. “I thought it would be a good idea if Connor went with dawn on the ghost walk. If she has any problems he could carry her…”

“Leaving us in an empty house too enjoy the facilities,” said Tara.

“Exactly,” said Willow. A new couch, shower, dinning room table…”

“Dinning room table?” asked Tara smiling softly in to the back of Willow’s neck.

Willow turned round and kissed Tara. “I thought I could lay you down and…”
Willow started to kiss Tara breasts and slowly moved down the blonde’s body giving her a quiet preview of the plans she had in store for on Saturday night.

TBC

These five words in my head scream "are we having fun yet?"

Chad Kroeger