Title: "Second Guessing."

Author: A.M. Glass

Copyright: July 15, 2000

SLIGHTLY REVISED: May 4th 2002.

EMail: glasswrks@yahoo.com

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: The characters from "Buffy, The Vampire Slayer", belong to Joss Whedon, et al. No copyright infringement is intended or inferred. This a non-profit piece of fan fiction, the story is the sole property of the author.

SPOILERS: Reference to "Dopplegangland", not so much the episode as to a line from it.

Distribution: Feel free.

Author's Note: I hope this one makes up for the last one. Oh, I have a reference to the first "Austin Powers" movie, and frankly, I don't remember if the movie was out during Buffy's fourth season.

Feedback: Up to you.

"Do you think she'll like it?"

"Oh yeah. I mean... if I were you're girlfriend, and the Slayer, I'd love it," Willow replied, smiling at the other girl, handing the gift back.

"Thanks, that means a lot to me," Tara said quite pleased with herself, as she placed the small box to the side.

"So, when are you going to give it to her.. the present I mean," Willow said, realizing how her comment sounded.

Tara tilted her head to the left, while shrugging her shoulders, "I thought I'd give her the gift tonight, after she finished patrolling."

"Seems like the perfect timing. Of course the fact that I'm going to be at the Bronze with Oz has nothing to do with said gift giving..."

"Oh... no... not at all," Tara replied, blushing.

"I thought so," Willow said, bouncing slightly on her bed. "So... have you two... you know..." she asked arching her eyebrows up and down a few times.

Tara looked at Willow for all of two seconds before it dawned on her what she was being asked. "OH... nn... no... we... no," she stammered.

"Tara, it's okay. Don't worry about it," Willow said, placing her hand on top of the other girls'.

"I'm wondering if I should be worried about this," they both heard coming from the door, a minute later.

"Buffy," Willow said, swinging her legs off her bed and heading towards her friend.

"Worried?" Tara asked, as she turned to face the door.

"Well... I see my girlfriend and my best friend on her bed, just looking at each other... while holding hands," she replied.

"Buffy," Willow said, playfully hitting her on her shoulder, "Ouch... " she shook out her hand, "I've got to remember, no hit. You know she hasn't been around you long enough to know when you're kidding... you are kidding right?" she asked, suddenly not sure as Buffy hadn't smiled.

"Gotcha."

"Oooh... I would hit... but hitting means I hurt more than you... so... 'Very bad Buffy, bad girl.. bad. No treats for you'."

"Tara... it's okay. I was joking, honest," Buffy said as she approached her girlfriend.

"Really?" she had to ask, just to be sure.

"Really," Buffy replied, kissing her quickly on the lips.

"Well, I guess I should be going then," Willow said grabbing her jacket and her backpack.

"Will, you don't have to leave," Buffy said, turning her attention to her friend.

"That's okay. I've got some studying to do. Besides, you two look as if you could use some quiet time," she replied, heading for the door.

"Willow," Tara said.

"Yeah?"

"Thanks."

Willow smiled, "You're welcome, see ya." And with that she was out the door.

"Hi," Buffy told Tara after Willow had left.

"Hi."

"I've missed you today," Buffy said, sitting down next to her.

"Well," Tara began as she looked over at the clock. "We haven't seen each other for all of two hours."

"The longest two hours of my life," Buffy replied, before leaning in and kissing Tara longer than she did earlier.

****

'What happened in there?' Willow asked herself as she headed towards Oz's place. Tara hadn't said anything, so perhaps what she felt when she placed her hand on top of other girls was just in her mind. But, she felt... something.

And where did the time go? She was sure that Tara hadn't heard Buffy opening the door, she knew she hadn't.

And were they 'holding' hands?

She couldn't remember.

'You're just imagining things Rosenberg,' she told herself. 'Besides, Tara and Buffy are together... and you.' She let the comment drift off. 'I think I'm kinda gay.' Popped into her head. "Where the Hell did that come from?" she said out loud, then remembered exactly when she'd uttered the comment... she decided to let the matter drop... completely... utterly... forever. She sighed as she continued to walk.

****

"Tara?"

"Hmm," she replied, her eyes closed, basking in the afterglow of the kiss.

"Would you spend the night with me?" Buffy asked, watching Tara's eyes pop open.

"Wha..."

"Would you like to spend the night with me... here. I have a feeling Will won't be back tonight... and you could use her bed, I'm sure she wouldn't mind, and I'd really like to spend more time with you, not that we don't spend time together, but..."

"Yes."

"I just want to be... yes?"

Tara nodded her head. "Yes, and I see Will's babble is catching," she said jokingly.

"Yeah I guess, occupational hazzard. So, you'll stay?"

"I'll stay. I... I was going to wait to give this to you, but..." she reached for the box she had moved out of the way earlier. "Here, this is for you," she said, handing it to Buffy.

"What is it?" Buffy asked as she took the small box from Tara's hand.

"Open it and see," she replied, feeling nervous, regardless that Willow had assured her that Buffy would like the gift.

Buffy opened the small felt box and looked at what was inside. She pulled out a thin silver necklace, and stared at the charm that was with it. "Is that what I think it is?" Buffy asked Tara, looking at her then back to the charm.

"Yes it is. Do you like it?"

"I love it," Buffy replied, kissing Tara, then putting the necklace on. "How did you ever find it?"

"I didn't find it, I had it made. I just told them that it was a gift for someone who loved vampire movies," she smiled.

Buffy reached into her denim jacket and pulled Mr. Pointy out. "Look Mr. Pointy... 'I shall call him mini-me'," she said ala "Dr. Evil" while holding out the stake charm.

They looked at each other and began to laugh.

****

"Hey, is everything alright?" Oz asked.

"Yeah, why do you ask?"

"You seem distracted," he replied, as he finished loading the van with his equipment.

"No, I'm fine."

He nodded. "Ready to go?"

"Yeah, let's."

****

"You'd better get ready," Tara said.

"I will... in a minute," Buffy replied, stroking Tara's hair, as they laid down on her bed. "I like this."

"So do I... and the sooner you're back..."

"The sooner we can do this again... I like you're thinking," Buffy said, reluctantly moving from Tara' side.

"I'll be waiting... be careful, please?"

"I'll do my best. I'm really glad you're here," Buffy told her.

"Me too."

"I'll be back soon," she said, kissing Tara gently, and putting her coat back on, making sure Mr. Pointy was securely in place. Heading for the door, she took one last look at Tara, and smiled. 'Watch out guys, 'cause I'm in a hurry to get home,' she told herself. "Bye..."

"Bye," Tara answered, watching as Buffy finally left the room and closed the door behind her. She frowned briefly. 'Now, what was that all about earlier?' she mused as she thought about the brief surge of... something, when Willow had placed her hand ontop of hers.

The End