Author: Coopster5000
Rating: R for further sakes.
Disclaimer: Buffy the Vampire Slayer is the property of Joss Whedon/Mutant Enemy.

"Wow Willow, you got a lot of puppies," the child's eyes lit up in excitement.

"Yeah she keeps bringing more home," said Buffy leaning down to pick up a reddish brown boxer puppy. "How come Kennedy does not complain about this?"

"It's because she doesn't care and because she hasn't noticed," Willow trailed off.

"How do you not notice four dogs!" seeing the look on her friends face she was almost afraid to ask, "what?"

"It's five," the redhead whispered, her head down turned.

"What?" Buffy asked again.

"I brought another one home a week ago. And it's one dog, three puppies, and a Great Dane that wont stop growing," Willow said while still looking down, digging her foot in the dirt as uneasiness came over her.

"Oh! What's their names," clapped the blonde girl in excitement.

Kneeling down till she was eye level with the blonde she started going over all the dog names. "Well the one Buffy has is Cherry, the Great Dane is Max, the Siberian Husky ," she pointed to a older white an tan dog laying in the middle of the yard, "his name is Bradley, this little guy," picking up a baby Brown Lab "is Buck , and the new puppy is Chance."

"Can I see the new puppy?" asked Emily sweetly.

"Sure. Wait right here," the redhead walked into a little barn that was about a good acre from the house and came out with a little Rottweiler.

"Willow you didn't," said Buffy "I love you Willow for saving these dogs but why do you do this to yourself. You know the doctors say there's only a small chance she'll live."

"And that's why her name is Chance," Willow pleaded her case.

"Why won't she live?" asked Emily after watching both women argue.

"Because her mommy left when she was just born and she got really sick," Willow explained to the little girl.

"Will she be okay," asked Emily with a sniffle.

"I hope so," pulling out a baby bottle that she tucked into the back pocket of her jeans when in the barn, the redhead started to feed the puppy. "Do you wanna sit here and help me feed Chance or do you wanna go play with the other puppies?"

"Can I ride Max?" asked the blue eyed girl as if she had been waiting to ask that question.

"Sure he's a tough guy. Let me just put Buck and Cherry back in the barn so they don't run away." Calling the two younger dogs Willow started walking towards the barn that rested just under the hill a acer away from the main house.

"Hey Will, I'm gonna take Em and Max up front," said Buffy.

"Sure thing be right there," Willow hollered back.

"Hey Will, don't forget Bradley."

"Oh shit. Bradley get over here," Willow yelled to the old dog who took a few seconds to get up and even longer to get to her. "Come on old guy, lets go." After locking the dogs in their individual rooms for the night Willow left the barn.

A half hour later a deep blue Toyota pulled in front of Willow's house.

"Mommy!" yelled the girl running towards the car.

"Hey honey," said the older women stepping out of the car and greeting her daughter.

"Come on mommy you got to see Max," said Emily dragging her mom towards the Great Dane who was chewing on a ball. "Look mom, he's as big as a horse!"

Upon hearing horse Willow went pale, "chill Will. There's no horse, said Buffy before getting up and walking off the porch were she had been sitting with the redhead who was still feeding the sick puppy.

Looking up Willow noticed the other blonde for the first time. She was gorgeous. "Wow," breathed Willow standing up.

"Oh Tara this is my best friend Willow, Willow this my cousin Tara." Buffy did the introduction with a little smile on her face.

"Nice to meet you," said the blonde.

"Like wise," said Willow not yet able to form more words.

"So how did the job searching go?" asked Buffy with a grin.

"Like shit," said the other blonde, disappointment written all over her face.

"Good," exclaimed the redhead enthusiastically. Upon getting quizzical looks from both blondes the redhead started to backtrack. "Oh not good in the sense that you didn't find a job because that sucks but good in a sense for us," pointing to Buffy and herself , "I'm currently in the debate about firing our current fashion designer and Buffy tells me your in the fashion business. So I was wondering if you would like, maybe become our new fashion designer or would like to try it out for a week." after she was finished with her ramble she took a big breath and held it until Tara said anything.

"Wow really? Not that I'm complaining or anything but um.... you haven't even looked at my resume. You know nothing about me."

"I have Buffy and she tells me everything I need to know," Willow gave the blonde a desperate smile, "but if it would make you feel better we could have an inter view on Monday. Is that alright with you?"

"Sure is. What time?" asked Tara trying to hide her excitement.

"Anytime. Just drop on by," she said with a smile. As soon as the words were out of her mouth a red Porsche came screeching into the driveway.

"O' shit Buffy the dogs are out," said Willow, panic written across her face.

Tara looked upon the frighten redhead wanting to help but not knowing what to do. Looking back over her shoulder Tara noticed a stylish brunette stepping out of her car with a frown across her face.

"What the hell is that," she said pointing to the Great Dane that Emily was playing with.

"Uh..uh..uh..." Willow was incapable to form syllables.

"O' that, that's my dog. I hope you don't mind but we had him cooped up in the car almost all day long," said Tara with a smile, "oh hi I'm Tara," she said extending her hand out to the brunette.

"Kennedy," said the women never taking the offered hand. "What about that one?" she asked pointing to the Rottweiler in Willow's arms.

"Oh this little rascal's mine," said Buffy scooping up the dog out of Willows arms. "I was getting so lonely in my apartment alone."

A wave of relief washed over the redhead. She couldn't believe that Tara a women that she just met and Buffy were covering for her.

"Please get these things off my property. I don't want them anywhere near my house," exclaimed Kennedy before walking inside the house .

Looking down the redhead was forcing her tears to stay back. Looking up at the two blondes, "um thanks for um covering for me. I don't know what I would have said," replied Willow with a little grin lowering her head again.

"So where do you keep them if she doesn't know about them?" asked Tara a bit curious.

"There's a barn about a acre back from the house. Completely furnished and everything," said Willow not wanting the blonde to think she ditches her dogs or keeps them in a unsafe place.

"Yeah it's like a second house." chirped in Buffy "except uber bitch doesn't know about it."

"Don't call her that Buffy," asked Willow pleadingly.

"Willow I'm going to go meet up with Amy. I'll be home later," said Kennedy coming out of the house in a pair of faded jeans and a long sleeve white shirt. "Nice meeting you Tamie. And please don't bring your dog or kid here ever again," asked the brunette walking on by never stopping to acknowledge one of the three women.

As she got into her car she turned the engine on, slammed the car in reverse and pealed out of the driveway.

‘Wonder what I did to piss her off now,' said Willow to herself but happening to say it out load as well.

"Does she do this a lot?" asked Buffy placing a hand on Willow's shoulder. Best friend mode kicking in. "Does she just storm in and out for no reason?"

Looking up at her long time friend with sad, teary eye's, "It's alright Buff. I'm fine."

"Umm... maybe I should go. Let you guy's talk," said Tara trying not to look into Willow's sparkling green eye's. "I'll see you guy's Monday okay," she said with a smile.

"Thank you," said Willow extending out her hand to grab Tara's, "for what you did. Thank you."

"Well think of it as a thank you for the interview," with that Tara called for her daughter and they made their way to the car where Tara strapped the younger blonde into the back seat then drove off at a much slower rate then Kennedy.

Turning to Willow "okay lets put these little fella's away then go inside and talk."

"Sounds good," Willow smiled at her high school fried and started walking around the side of the house towards the backyard.