Okay so i wrote a sequel to Meeting The Parents and was just wondering if some of you kitties would be kind enough to read it.
It's kinda long and this is only the first part of it. I'll try and get the next part up soon.
WARNING!!!
Cliff hanger!!!
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: Maybe a few. Some season 3 ones maybe.
Summery: They got together. They got engaged. Now it’s the big time…but it’s a bumpy road ahead.
Pairing: Main are Willow and Tara, but A/X and B/R are in there too.
Disclaimer: *Pouts* Joss Whedon owns all the characters, I own nothing but my imagination…no, wait. A guy from Calcutta bought that last Tuesday…
Note 1: This is a direct follow up from Meeting the parents.
Note 2: Glory never existed…thank god. (No pun intended) And Dawn isn’t the key she is Buffy’s real sister.
Untitled
EXT: The Bronze. Night.
Buffy and Riley are at the bar getting drinks. Xander and Anya are talking to Tara about her and Willow’s visit to the Rosenberg’s, and Willow just sits there, smiling, looking back and forth between the ring on her finger and Tara.
Xander: But they were okay with it afterwards?
Tara: W-well…her mother was okay with it from the b-beginning…kinda. And her father…he um, kind of well…
Willow: He freaked.
Tara turned to her fiancé and smiled.
Tara: Yeah…he did. B-but he was o-okay afterwards.
Willow: Yeah, he warmed up to the idea.
Anya: (Suddenly) I want to see the rings again.
Willow and Tara exchanged smiles and Tara stretched out her arm so Anya could get a good look at the ring.
Anya: It’s so pretty…(Raises her voice slightly) I wish I had one.
Xander takes the hint.
Xander: Anyone want drinks? Never mind I’ll just get everyone something.
Xander makes a quick exit out of the conversation and Anya watches him go, still holding on to Tara’s out stretched hand.
Anya: It’s very pretty.
Tara: Thanks.
Anya got up, mumbled something about the toilet and left.
Tara fiddled with the ring for a second and then turned to Willow. A slow song started and a few couples got up to dance.
Willow: Having fun?
Tara: Uh-huh. You?
Willow: (Smiling) I know what would make my night.
Willow stood up and took hold of Tara’s hand.
Willow: Can I have this dance?
Tara: You can have every dance.
Willow lead Tara to the dance floor and put her arms around Tara’s waist. Tara put her arms around Willow’s neck and rested her forehead against Willow’s.
Tara: I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy.
Willow: Me neither.
Tara: I love you so much, Willow.
Willow: (Smiling) I love you too.
They both leaned in for a kiss and then continued to sway to the music.
**********
The Bronze, later that night…
All the Scoobies are assembled around the table.
Willow and Tara are sitting in the middle, with everyone else crowding round wanting to hear the full story of their trip to the Rosenberg’s.
Buffy: So he just stood there yelling?
Willow: Pretty much. But I explained that this wasn’t just some experiment and that there was no way I could love anyone but Tara, and he was okay with it…eventually.
Tara was just smiling at her girlfriend. She had gotten lost somewhere around “love anyone but Tara.”
Tara tapped Willow on the shoulder to get her girlfriends attention.
When Willow had turned to Tara, Tara kissed Willow with all the love and passion she held for the other witch. Well, that left Willow speechless.
Tara smiled shyly at Willow and got up.
Tara: I’ll be right back.
Unable to form any words, Willow just nodded.
Tara left the table and made her way to the toilet.
Buffy looked over to her still stunned best friend and smirked at her.
Buffy: Uh, hello? Earth to Will…you in there girl?
Xander: (Smiling) I think that kiss blew her away.
Riley: Yep.
Anya: (To Xander) Why don’t *you* ever kiss me like that? I bet you don’t love me, as much as Willow loves Tara do you?
Xander: Ahn…come on…can we have this conversation later?
Anya: Piff…I guess…
Suddenly Willow made a noise and spoke.
Willow: What? Oh uh…
Xander: World of her own.
All the scoobies just smiled and giggled at Willow.
Xander: Got any ideas for the wedding yet?
Willow: Not really.
Buffy: I think you two are gonna be happy together no matter what.
Willow: Me too.
**********
Tara’s dorm room later that night…
Willow is getting into her pyjamas and Tara is playing with Miss Kitty Fansastico on the bed.
Willow: We need to talk about the wedding.
Tara: (Worried) What do you mean?
Willow: Maid of honour, best man uh…will we have best man?
Tara: Depends what kind of wedding we have I suppose.
Willow walked over to the bed and sat next to Tara.
Tara put Miss Kitty on the floor and watched her scurry away.
Willow: Tara…
Tara: Yes.
Willow: Um…who’s gonna give you away?
Tara looked hurt for a moment and then stared down at her lap.
Willow: (Noticing this) Oh baby, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to-
Tara: No. It’s okay. I just hadn’t given that much thought to it.
Willow: I just meant that…I don’t think your father will want to…I mean…this is coming out all wrong…
Frustrated, Willow lay down on the bed and looked up at the ceiling.
Tara: (Looking down at Willow) I know what you mean and it’s okay…I kind of had one idea but I’m n-not sure on it.
Willow sat back up and looked at Tara.
Willow: What? Or uh, who?
Tara: M-Mr Giles.
**********
Magic shop.
1 month until the wedding.
Buffy and Xander sit at the table talking, Anya occupies herself by arranging things on the shelves and Giles serves a customer.
Buffy: So…have you got them anything yet?
Xander: No. I’m at a loss. I’ve never been to a wedding before…I don’t know what to buy them.
Buffy: Maybe something magical…like a…(Giving up) magic blender.
Xander: Can you get those?
Buffy rolled her eyes and made her way to the training room just as Willow and Tara came through the door.
Xander: Hello ladies. And where have you two been all morning?
Willow muttered a hello and Tara blushed slightly.
Xander gave them both a knowing wink and went back to reading his comic.
Willow sat down across from Xander and looked around the shop.
Willow: Where’s Buffy?
Xander nodded his head in the direction of the training room.
Xander: Working off some thinking steam.
Willow: She okay?
Xander: Yeah. Just a little pent up. So…how goes the wedding plans?
Willow smiled at Tara and then turned back to Xander.
Willow: It’s going okay. We’ve got a few ideas put together…nothing big yet.
Xander: Well…you better put on your thinking hats cause there’s only like a month left.
**********
Willow’s dorm room…
3 weeks until the wedding.
Willow sits at her desk, pen in hand making notes on a pad in paper.
Candles and flowers…
A knock at the door caused Willow to jump and stuff the pad of paper into her bag.
Willow: (On answering) Hell-oh hey baby.
Willow smiles at her fiancé and kisses her.
Willow: How was your day?
Tara: Lousy…but it’s better now.
Willow let Tara in the room and they both sat on the bed.
Tara: How was yours? Been busy?
Willow: Making a few plans…what do you think about writing our own vows?
Tara smiled.
Tara: I think that’s a wonderful idea. All we need now is an idea for the ceremony itself.
Willow thought back to the list she had just been adding too.
Willow: Well, I did have one idea...
**********
Magic shop later that day…
Giles stood at the counter counting the money from the till.
Giles: (Muttering to himself) One hundred and ten…twenty…thirty…just a sec…where’s Anya?
A knock at the door causes him to jump and lose count.
Giles: (Whispers) Oh bloody hell.
Beat
Another knock.
Giles: I’m sorry we’re closed. You’ll have to come back in the morning.
Willow: (VO) Giles it’s me and Tara.
Giles: Oh…terribly sorry.
Giles rushed over to the door and let the girls in.
Giles: What are you two doing over here so late…Buffy not with you?
Willow: No. She’s out with Riley, and we…Tara…has something to ask you.
Willow gave Tara a reassuring smile and went off to browse the shelves.
Giles went back round the side of the counter and Tara followed but she stayed on the other side.
Giles: Well, what can I do for you?
Tara: W-well, um…you know that the w-wedding is in less than a month.
Giles: Yes.
Tara: And my history w-with m-my parents isn’t…I d-didn’t have the best time when they c-came to visit me.
Giles Yes, that was terrible…it um, turned out okay though.
Tara: (Looking over to Willow) Better than I could have ever imagined.
Tara tared her gaze away from Willow and looked at Giles.
Tara: I think what I’m t-t-trying to say is…Mr Giles…will you give me away?
Giles looked as if her was about to cry for a moment, then his face erupted into the biggest smile Tara had ever seen on his face.
Giles came round the side of counter and pulled Tara into a hug.
Giles: Nothing would make me happier.
Tara breathed a sigh of relief and hugged Giles back.
Willow popped her head around the side of one of the shelves and smiled.
Willow: He said yes then? Told you he would.
**********
Tara’s dorm room later that night…
They are both lying in bed, snuggling and talking.
Tara: It sounds amazing.
Willow: It is. Well the way I see it anyway. It’s just…getting it the way I see it that’s the problem.
Tara: But the actual ceremony will be at night?
Willow: It’s gonna have to be. Not that I mind it being at night though.
Suddenly the phone rang and startled the two witches.
Willow: It’s midnight…who the hell calls this late at night?
Willow got up out of bed and picked up the phone.
Willow: Hello?
Buffy: (VO) Will?
Willow: Buffy? What are you doing calling here-
Buffy: (VO) It’s Oz.
Willow: What?
Buffy: (VO) Oz…rung here…I’ve just finished talking to him.
Willow: Oh my god…what did he want?
Buffy: (VO) He called to tell me…he called to tell me Faith has been released.
Willow: What! Why? When?
Buffy: (VO) He didn’t go into details…he’s in LA with Angel.
Willow: What’s he doing there?
Buffy: (VO) He went to see how Angel was and Angel told him that Faith had been released.
Willow: I’m coming over…
Buffy: (VO) No! Will, it’s too late…I don’t want anything to happen to you.
Beat
Buffy: (VO) He asked how you were…
Willow: Did you tell him about the wedding?
Buffy: (VO) No…I wasn’t sure whether you’d want me too, so I didn’t say anything.
Willow sighed and glanced over at Tara.
Willow: Thank you. But what are we going to do?
Buffy: Could you ring Xander and tell him and Anya to meet us all at the magic shop tomorrow…we need to sort things out.
Willow: Yeah. I’ll do that first thing tomorrow. You know what Xander’s like, he’ll be asleep by now.
Buffy: Okay then, see you tomorrow.
They both said goodnight and hung up their phones and Willow crawled back into bed beside a worried looking Tara.
Tara: Honey? What was all that about?
Willow: It’s Faith…she’s been released.
**********
Magic box next day…
All the scoobies are there minus the slayer herself.
Xander: I wonder what was so important…I was having a really good dream.
Giles: I’m sure Buffy has something important to tell us other wise she wouldn’t have-
Buffy, Willow and Tara coming through the door of the Magic Box interrupted Giles and his explination.
Anya: Finally. I thought I was going to be here all day.
Xander: Ahn…
Anya: Sorry…good morning Buffy? Sleep well?
Buffy: No and no it isn’t.
Xander: Isn’t what?
Buffy: A good morning.
Giles: What’s wrong?
Buffy: I really think you should be sitting down when I tell you about this.
Giles did as he was told and sat down.
Buffy: It’s Faith. She’s out.
Silence filled the room.
Giles took off his glasses and a cleaning cloth and began cleaning them as he always did when he was nervous.
Xander just sat open mouthed.
Anya’s expression hardly changed.
Willow sat looking at Tara, who was looking at her lap.
Giles: How? When?
Buffy: All I know is she’s been released. Oz didn’t tell me much.
Xander: Oz?!
Willow: Oz.
There was another moment of silence before anyone spoke.
Tara: Oz?
Willow tuned to Tara and took hold of the other witches hands.
Willow: I’m sorry I didn’t tell you straight away. I didn’t want you to get upset.
Tara looked down at the ring on her finger for a second then looked back up at Willow.
Tara: It okay.
Xander: Okay, but know back to the problem…what are we going to do about Faith? Why was she released? Where will she go? This is too much for my brain to take…
Willow and Buffy exchanged frowns.
Giles: If we were to think logically…wouldn’t here be the first place she’d come?
Buffy: I don’t think so. The last time we talked she was running scared from me. There’s no way to be sure she’d come here.
Xander: But what if she does? I mean, I think I speak for everyone here when I say I’ve had enough psycho slayer to last me the rest of my life.
Buffy: Xander, the last time I saw her…she was different. She wasn’t the Faith we knew when she worked for the mayor, or the Faith we knew when she swapped bodies with me, she wasn’t the Faith we didn’t know at all. She was the same Faith we knew before all that. She’d changed.
Another silence filled the room as Buffy’s words sank in.
Giles: Willow, would you call Angel. See if there has been any more news?
Willow: Yeah, sure.
Willow made her way over to Buffy first.
Willow: Are you okay?
Buffy: Shouldn’t I be asking you that?
Witch and slayer exchanged smiles.
Suddenly the phone rang.
Giles: Magic Box. You one stop shop for- Angel?
Everyone in the Magic Box turned to Giles as he said this.
Giles: Yes, Buffy told me…you mean…oh…yes of course…I realise that but are you sure you should…yes…I see…okay…goodbye.
Giles hung up and made his way to where the rest of the group were sitting.
Giles: Angel also seems to believe that this will be the first place Faith will come…he’s bringing Cordelia and Wesley, along with a person called Gunn, here.
Buffy: To do what? Take her back? No. There was a reason she was released and I’m going to find out what…even if I have to go through Angel to do it.
With that Buffy left the Magic Box and headed home, leaving the magic Box and its silence behind her.
**********
Buffy’s house later that night.
Buffy is sitting on her bed looking at pictures of the gang from high school.
Willow, Buffy and Xander are all in focus, but Faith is in the background, more or less blurry.
Buffy: (Whispers) She never felt like part of the group.
Another picture. It’s Xander, Buffy Willow and Giles. Faith isn’t in this one at all.
Buffy: (Whispers) She must have thought I didn’t care.
Another picture. This one is of Buffy and Faith. Arms around each other’s waists, smiling.
Buffy: (Whispering) But I did.
**********
Tara’s dorm room same night.
Tara is lying in bed and Willow is pacing the room.
Willow: I don’t need this now Tara. Not so close to the wedding.
Tara: Willow…
Willow got teary eyed as she continued.
Willow: She was so evil…she tried to kill Xander and me...she tried to kill everyone. What if she tries again before or even during the wedding…or worse…what if she tries to kill you? I couldn’t take that Tara. I couldn’t take it.
Tara: Willow…
Willow stopped and looked towards her girlfriend. Her fiancé.
Tara: Come here.
Willow crawled up the bed and into her girlfriend’s arms.
Tara: Nothing like that will happen. Faith won’t try to hurt me, or the rest of the gang. Not if what Buffy said is true.
Willow: But what if she was wrong? What if Faith is still evil? Buffy went through hell when she found out Faith had turned to the dark side. It seemed like her whole world had crumbled and it was all Faith’s fault. It killed her.
Something seemed to click in Tara’s brain as Willow said this. But she decided to question the slayer about it herself tomorrow.
Tara: And what if Buffy was right? What if Faith has changed? What if she isn’t, evil, anymore?
Willow thought for a moment, not quiet knowing what to say straight away.
Willow: Then she has some explaining to do. Then, and only if what she says makes sense, I might be able to live with myself if I forgive her.
**********
Buffy’s house next morning.
Buffy and Dawn sit in the living room watching cartoons on TV.
Dawn is smiling happily and laughing at the cartoon cat gets his tail trapped fro the third time. But Buffy is doing the complete opposite, looking glum and deep in thought.
A knock at the door makes Joyce’s voice surface.
Joyce: (VO) Oh, Buffy, could you get that?
Buffy didn’t move.
Dawn: (looking at Buffy and giving her a nudge) Hey.
Buffy: Huh?
Dawn: Door.
Joyce: (VO) Buffy? Can you get the door, I’m busy.
Buffy: Oh, huh, sure mom.
Buffy got up and made her way to the door.
Buffy: Oh, hey Tara.
Tara: Hi.
Buffy: Willow not with you?
Tara: Um, no. I was kinda w-wondering If I c-could t-talk to you about s-something.
Buffy moved to the side and let Tara in.
Buffy: Um, sure. We can talk in the kitchen.
Both girls sat down at the table.
Buffy: (Trying to sound more cheerful) So what can I do for you?
Tara: Um…well…it’s about Faith.
A painful expression swept over Buffy’s face.
Buffy: What about Faith? Have you heard from Angel? Is she okay?
Tara: W-we haven’t heard anything. I was just w-wondering…
Buffy: What?
Tara: Well…when you were t-talking about her yesterday, you c-came across…it seemed like you-you’d thought about her a lot.
Buffy was slowly losing herself in her thoughts again. She tried to snap herself out of it.
Buffy: I have. I still do.
Tara: Why? I mean…if you don’t m-mind me s-saying, some of the th-things Willow has told me seemed to make me th-think that you wouldn’t care what happened to her.
Tara knew lying was wrong, but it was the only way she would able to get what she wanted to know out of Buffy with out asking straight out.
Buffy: It’s not like that. Sure Faith put me through hell…but I never stopped caring. I kinda feel that it was partly my fault she started working for the mayor in the first place.
Tara: W-why?
Buffy: I didn’t do enough to make her feel she was part of the group.
Beat
Buffy: She must have thought I didn’t care about her.
Tara: But you did.
Buffy looked up at Tara and saw that the witch knew everything Buffy was afraid of admitting.
Buffy: More than anything.
Beat
Buffy: I still do…
Tears began to slide down Buffy’s face and Tara got up and hugged her.
Tara: It’ll be okay.
Tara wasn’t sure how everything would turn out okay, but she had to say something.
**********
Magic Box 2 days later.
All the Scoobies are there. All of them assembled around the table.
Buffy: Angel said they’d be here later today.
Giles: How long will they be staying for?
Buffy: He didn’t say.
Giles: He has a place to stay I assume.
Buffy: Probably…I just hope Cordelia didn’t book them into some really posh hotel somewhere.
Xander: Knowing Cordelia she’ll probably have them pumping Champaign through the taps.
Everyone but Tara, who didn’t know Cordelia, moaned in agreement.
(VO) My, isn’t this a fun place to be on a Saturday morning.
All the heads in the Magic shop turned to find Cordelia standing the doorway.
Cordelia: How about, Hi Cordelia. It’s nice to see you looking so well. How have you been?
Xander: (Putting his head on the table) And it begins.
Buffy: Hello Cordelia. Where’s everyone else?
Cordelia: They should be here in a minute.
At that moment Wesley, Angel and Gunn came through the door of the Magic shop.
Gunn: So this is Sunnydale magic shop.
Buffy got up walked over to Angel.
Buffy: Any news?
Angel: No. But I think we should wait until everyone gets here before we talk about things.
Buffy: What do you mean everyone?
Beat
(VO) Hey.
All heads in the magic shop turned to the front door once again, but they didn’t expect to see this person standing there.
Willow: Oz…
Silence once again filled the room.
Oz: Um, Angel said it would be okay for me to come along. I wanted to help.
Buffy turned to look at Willow who just sat looking anywhere but at Oz. Then she turned her attention to Tara who was looking down at her lap.
Buffy: Okay. But I don’t think you really needed to come her.
It was Wesley who spoke next.
Wesley: There is a dangerous slayer out there somewhere, and we are to believe that she will come here first.
Buffy: Why?
Wesley: What?
Buffy: What has given you reason to believe that she will come here first?
Wesley: She came for revenge last time. We think it’s possible she will come for more.
Buffy: Why?
Wesley: She’s been in jail for a while, Buffy. She-
Buffy: I didn’t put her in there. She confessed remember? She has no reason to come here.
Buffy wished that this was wrong but she knew that it was the truth.
Wesley: That maybe so but, what real reason did she have last time?
I made her feel left out. Like she wasn’t a part of the group…not wanted.
Buffy: Last time was…she was different. Angel…you remember what she was like when she came to you in LA. She wanted it all over, she knew she had done terrible things and wanted you to kill her. And you know why? Because she thought that would make everyone happy. But she was wrong. She wants to change. I believe that and if you can’t, after what you saw when she was with you…I have no faith in you anymore.
With that said Buffy made her way to the training room.
An uncomfortable silence filled the room.
Oz: She okay?
Xander: This whole Faith thing is kinda getting to her. She’ll be okay after it’s all over.
Only Tara knew how wrong Xander was. If Faith came and was taken away or left…it would destroy Buffy all over again.
**********
A hotel in Sunnydale later that night.
It’s posh and well decorated.
Cordelia: (Coming in through the door) Not bad. Not bad at all.
Angel: (Coming in behind her, Wesley and Gunn follow) Cordy…are you sure we can afford this?
Cordelia: Sure we can. It’s not much.
Wesley, Gunn and Angel exchanged sceptical looks. Oz just looked around.
Wesley: Just how much is not much Cordelia?
Cordelia: 300 dollars.
Angel and Wesley breathed a sigh of relief but Gunn didn’t believe all he was hearing.
Cordelia: A night.
Wesley & Angel: What?!
**********
Tara’s dorm room.
Willow sits on the bed and Tara is in the bed under the covers.
Willow: All I’m saying is I’m worried.
Tara: Buffy can look after herself, Willow.
Willow: I know that, but it was hard when Faith was around. She had trouble dealing with things. It was hard for her.
Tara: You mean, you had trouble dealing and it was hard for you.
Willow’s word game had come to an end.
Willow: How selfish can one person be?
Tara: Oh Willow honey, you’re not selfish. You went through a lot when Faith was around and now that she might be coming back you feel threatened again.
Willow: She and Buffy had a bond. Something me or Xander couldn’t touch.
Tara: But you and Xander had something with Buffy that Faith couldn’t touch.
Willow sighed and crawled under the covers.
Willow: Can we talk about something else? I don’t want to have to talk about Faith until she gets here.
**********
Buffy’s house.
Buffy: Will do. Night mom.
Joyce: (VO) Goodnight sweetheart.
Buffy made her way up the stairs and stopped in front of Dawn’s room.
Buffy: Hey.
Dawn: Hey.
Buffy: You okay?
Dawn: (Smiling) Shouldn’t I be asking you that?
Buffy smiled back her Dawn and came in to sit on her bed.
Dawn: Are you?
Buffy: Am I what?
Dawn: Okay.
Buffy: Oh.
Beat
Buffy: I’m dealing. It’s kinda hard and all Faith was…
Dawn: She put you through a lot. I remember.
Buffy: Yeah. She did.
They exchanged smiles once again.
Buffy: Well, I’m gonna turn in.
Buffy kissed Dawn on the head and got up off the bed.
Buffy: Sweet dreams.
Dawn: You too.
Buffy closed the door to Dawn’s room and walked into her own.
Buffy got changed and lay down in her bed.
I just wish I knew where she was.
Suddenly, Buffy heard a rustling noise come from outside her window.
She grabbed a stake from the top draw of her dresser, got out of bed and made her way to where the noise was coming from.
Vampires. They never know when to leave slayer alone.
Buffy: Okay buddy, I’m having a bad day. You picked the wrong time to come out to play.
As Buffy moved closer to the window all she could see was a shadow. It was sitting on the roof out side her window looking right at Buffy.
When Buffy got directly in front of then window, the moonlight poured into the room and she was able to see what was waiting for her. She dropped the stake to the ground in shock.
Faith: Hey B.
TBC…
Hope you all liked it. If you think there is anything i can change or add to make it better let me know 
[This message has been edited by xita (edited June 26, 2001).]
