"Buffy told me that you were...together," she said. She stared in my eyes. "Xander told me that you were in love with her." I crossed my arms in front of my chest. "Yeah, that's true." "He said that you asked him to read a spell, and throw some dust at Tara," she continued. "Did you do a love spell on her?" "What?" I asked, floored. "Did you make her do this? Did you force her to love you?" Anger flared through me. "I don't fuck around with people's heads, Willow. That's your department." She reared back her head as if I had slapped her. "Then what was the spell all about?" she asked. "It's really none of your business." "Tara is my business," she said angrily. "I love her. I fought a god for her. I won't let anyone hurt her." "The only one in this room that hurt her is you," I said. We glared at each other. Demon jumped off the bed and ran through the open door. "Oh, fuck!" I chased down the hall after the kitten. She loped down the hallway, and turned the corner to the elevator. I rounded the corner and jumped for her, as she was about to run in the open elevator door. I slid on my stomach and captured her in both hands. "Morning, Brenda," I said to the chubby blonde who stood inside the elevator. "Hi Spike," she said brightly. "We still on for 'Passions' this afternoon?" "You bet," I responded as I struggled to hold the angry kitten. I carefully got to my feet and turned around. Willow stood there. "Is that Tara's cat?" "Yeah," I explained. "And she's not allowed out of the room. Pets aren't allowed in the dorm." A cloud passed over her face. "I know." She reached out and gently petted the cat. "What's its name?" "Her name is Demon Kitty," I explained. Willow smiled. "She seems like a sweet little kitten to me," she said in a sing song voice. She looked up at me sheepishly. "Sorry. I have a soft spot for cats." "Quite alright," I replied. "I talk to her in a silly voice all the time. And Tara is even worse. All baby talk." The witch and I shared a smile. I walked back down the hall towards Tara's room, Willow beside me. "I'm sorry," she said. "I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions. But Tara and you together. It's weird." "It is weird. But we're happy." We reached the room and I turned and looked at her. "I really do love her. It's not a spell, not a game." "I believe you," she replied. "And you both deserve to be happy. Take good care of her. Or I'll stake you." She smiled at me, but it didn't quite meet her eyes. She turned and walked away. I went inside the room and put down Demon on the bed. "You're a naughty, bad kitten," I said seriously. "You bloody well know that you're not allowed out." "Meow," she replied. "Well, I know I left the door open. That's really no excuse." I turned and put a cardboard box on the bed. I unpacked it, sorting things into loose stacks. I made a pile of books, a pile of clothing, and a pile of crap to toss. At the very bottom of the box was a velvet bag. I emptied it onto the bed. Inside were some hair combs, a brooch inlaid with small diamonds, a ring with a large ruby, a small porcelain doll. Dru's things, long forgotten. There was also a flat box of burgundy leather. I snapped it open and looked inside. Two gold filigree bracelets rested on a bed of lush velvet. I set the jewelry aside. I could pawn it, maybe buy Tara a present. **** Tara brushed out her hair and secured it in a bun with several small pins shaped like butterflies. She turned and smiled at me. "What do you think?" "Honestly?" "Honestly." "I like it better when it's down." She frowned. "It looks nice up too," I reassured her. I went to her and rubbed my hands up and down her arms. She wore a blue velvet choker around her neck. She wore them all the time now, to cover up the marks I made. We tried to be careful about the bloodplay, but I had left several scars on her neck. She reached up and pulled out the pins. "You didn't have to do that, ducks," I chided her.

Found