Reward and Reprisal

by Lisa Countryman

© July- October 2001

Please do not archive, link or reproduce without Author's Written Permission

Disclaimers: All characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer belong to Joss Weldon and no copyright infringement is intended. Many of the goddess, sacred places, and legends mentioned are based on actual myths. They have been changed to fit the more ‘good versus evil’ setup in the Buffy universe. Actual Pagan deities were not evil hellbitches like Glory.

This is a sequel to ‘Retribution and Reward,’ and it will help if you’ve read it first.

Spoilers: All episodes are fair game.

Disclaimers: I do not own any of these characters, and I am not making any money on them. (If I owned them, BTVS would be called "Willow and Tara’s Wiccan lovenest.")

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The moon rose over the mountains as Willow and Tara drove north along the coast. The night was clear and the stars seemed to be putting on a brilliant display for the two witches.

"So, we’re heading north," Willow said as she watched the ocean sparkling below them. "Gonna’ give me any more information?"

"Nope." Tara smiled in the darkness of the car. The lights from the dash barely lit her face, but it was enough. Her smirk was clearly visible.

"I think I’ve been very patient." Willow leaned forward so she could look past Tara at the sea. "Oh, pretty." She smiled and wiggled excitedly. "The moonlight is bouncing off the waves."

"I love the ocean at night." Tara took a quick peek at the view but then focused on the winding highway.

"Where are we going?" Willow whined. "Oh, come on … I’ve been really patient. Tara! Tell me."

Tara smiled but said nothing.

"Honey," Willow whined. "We’ve been driving for six hours. Tell me something."

Tara smirked and shook her head. She slowed the car as she went around a hairpin curve that led them inland. The highway was full of switchbacks, necessary for the road to traverse the steep mountains.

"Fine." Willow crossed her arms over her chest and leaned against the door. She rested her head against the glass and watched the scenery. They were traveling through lush hillsides that had been cleared of trees so livestock could graze. Occasionally the road would wind back to the edge of the coast giving them a spectacular view of the sea on one side and the charming ranches on the other.

Tara enjoyed the silent ride. The northern coast was one of her favorite areas. The high mountains offered spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean along with beautiful inland sights full of old growth forests. After another hour, Willow’s patience was gone.

"Okay, where are we going, Canada?" Willow demanded.

"Nope." Tara smiled. They drove slowly through a stand of redwoods along the coast. She slowed the car at a sharp curve and veered off to the right.

"Um, there’s no highway there," Willow pointed out.

"I know that, darling." Tara laughed as she slowly pulled the car onto a gravel road.

"Oh, hey, look at that." Willow leaned forward. "A scary road on the side of the non-scary road." She looked over at her lover. "And why are we heading into the wilderness?"

"This is a shortcut," Tara offered.

"To where? The 1800s?" Willow scooted closer to her lover. "You know, we have these things called paved roads. You really should try them." She rested her hand on Tara’s leg and nervously gripped her denim-clad thigh for support. "Is this where the terror part of the surprise comes in?"

"Honey, it’s just a road, calm down." Tara smiled indulgently at her lover.

"A dark, scary, not paved road in the middle of nowhere." Willow tried to scoot closer, but the seat belt held her in place.

"I’d never let anything hurt you, darling." Tara stopped the car and turned toward Willow. "It’s perfectly safe. I promise."

"Okay." Willow unbuckled her seat belt and scooted snugly against her partner.

"You face vampires and demons every night. This is just a forest." Tara leaned down and looked into Willow’s eyes. "You ready?"

Willow nodded, but she remained glued to Tara’s side for the next half-hour as they continued further into the forest. Tara stopped at a metal gate and put the car in park.

"Where are you going?" Willow demanded. She held Tara’s hand in a death grip as the young blonde started to open the door.

"I’ll be right back." Tara gave Willow a quick kiss. "There’s nothing bad here." She waited for Willow to release her and then hurried out to open the gate and came back to the car and drove forward and stopped again. She hopped out and closed the gate and then jumped back into the car.

"This surprise is very mysterious." Willow hooked her hand around Tara’s arm. "And scary."

"Trust me." Tara twisted and pulled Willow into a passionate kiss. She smiled into the kiss when she heard Willow moan. After a few minutes she pulled back. "Feel better now?"

"Oh yeah." Willow nodded. "Though still not liking the evil forest."

"Darling, this is not the evil forest." Tara put the car into drive and continued along the road. It was lined with dense vegetation. "The evil forest is like a whole mile from here," she added wickedly.

"Tara!" Willow scooted closer until she was almost on her lover’s lap.

"Sorry." Tara giggled. She slowed the car as the road narrowed, then stopped and smiled. "Look over there." She pointed into a small clearing where three deer were grazing.

"Wow." Willow smiled as the animals blinked into the headlights. They watched the deer for a few minutes and then continued on.

"We’re here," Tara said ten minutes later. They rounded a corner and a huge ranch came into view.

"We really did drive into the 1800s." Willow looked around the compound. There were huge barns off to one side with white fences lining the road that winded down to a farmhouse nestled under a stand of redwoods.

"Only if the 1800s had trucks and satellites." Tara pulled the car in front of the farmhouse and shut off the engine.

"Oh." Willow leaned down and confirmed that there were several trucks parked next to the house along with a modern satellite dish pointing up at the heavens.

"Come on." Tara helped Willow climb out the driver’s side of the car so the nervous redhead wouldn’t have to move too far away.

The front door to the farmhouse opened and a woman stepped onto the porch.

"Tara!" the woman rushed to the edge of the porch and leapt down the four stairs in one stride. "I’ve missed you." She pulled Tara into a bear hug and lifted the blonde off the ground.

Willow watched silently, noticing that the brunette woman was about Giles’ age, and she was tall, very tall, her height reaching almost six feet.

"It’s so good to see you," Tara whispered. She squeezed the older woman tightly and then pulled back. "Willow, this is Emma." She smiled at the redhead. "This is Willow."

"Nice to finally meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you." Emma smiled warmly and extended her hand. When Willow took her hand, Emma pulled the surprised redhead closer to the porch so she could see her in the light. "You were right, Tara. She’s absolutely stunning."

"Um, thanks." Willow blushed brightly. "Nice to meet you." She looked around the ranch and then moved back to Tara’s side.

"Let’s get you settled in," Emma said. "I’ll have Carl bring in your bags."

Tara smiled and led Willow up the stairs. A horse whinnied in the distance and Willow froze mid-stride.

"Tara?" Willow asked shakily.

"That would be the terror part of the surprise." Tara bit her lip and shrugged. "Surprise?"

Willow’s eyes shot open like twin full moons.

"They’re not ponies. I swear." Tara pulled Willow up the few remaining steps. "They’re horses. Nice horses."

"Horses?" Willow looked like she might faint. "As in plural?"

"Oh, lord. Tara, I think you’ve got some explaining to do." Emma giggled as she went into the house. "I thought you were kidding when you said she was afraid of horses."

"Not afraid," Willow said in a bit of a daze. She looked into the night where she had heard the whinny. "Terrified, completely phobic, instilled with abject terror at the mere mention of horses, that’s what I am."

"Remember when we talked about you learning to ride with me?" Tara wrapped her arm around Willow. "I’ll keep you safe. Trust me, you’ll love it."

Several horses whinnied in the distance. It was too much for Willow. She sprinted for the door and ran inside.

"They sound hungry," Willow said as she spun and leaned down to look out the window. "Hungry and a little angry and … and … and can they get into the house?"

Emma came into the house and closed the door. She had both hands over her mouth and was trying not to laugh.

"Honey, they’re in stalls, and they eat hay, not people." Tara rubbed Willow’s arm to warm her.

"Can they get in here? I mean, I know they have hooves, but can they open the doors … and … and … I’m being silly." Willow took a deep breath and swallowed. She smiled weakly at Emma. "Okay, so it’s very nice to meet you. Did I say that?"

"I guarantee you, Willow, the horses can’t get into the house." Emma was able to keep a straight face, but only will extreme effort. "Though there’s one out there Tara’s gonna’ try to sneak in when she sees it."

Tara furrowed her brow. Willow’s eyes widened in absolute terror.

"Calypso foaled last night," Emma explained.

"Oh goddess!" Tara jumped up and down and squealed. "Is it a colt or a filly? What’s it look like? Which barn is she in?"

"She’s in the south barn." Emma smiled and raised both eyebrows. "She had a little bay colt. I thought maybe you could help me name him."

"A baby horse?" Willow asked tentatively. The idea of a cute baby horse actually intrigued the redhead.

"You wanna’ see him?" Emma asked.

"Oh yes!" Tara said enthusiastically.

Willow nodded mutely, but she seemed genuinely interested.

"Carl, go get Tara’s bags," Emma yelled up the stairs. "We’ll be out with Calypso."

The south barn was across the small compound. As they entered the well-lit stable area all of the horses nickered and stuck their heads over their stall doors to see who was coming into the building.

"Those aren’t babies!" Willow clung to Tara’s arm and practically climbed onto her shoulders.

"She was bitten by a pony when she was little," Tara explained. She patted Willow’s hand comfortingly. "Honey, these are all very sweet horses."

"A pony?" Emma asked. "Well, no wonder. Ponies are the spawn of Satan."

"I knew it!" Willow said. "That thing was evil."

"Oh, not really. They’re just mean." Emma giggled. "I forget sister witches tend to take that literally."

"You’re a witch?" Willow asked.

"Yup," Emma said as they continued through the barn.

"Brandy!" Tara pulled away and went to a sorrel mare at one of the doors. "Hi, girl." She petted the reddish mare. "Willow, wanna’ pet her?"

Willow shook her head.

"Look, she’s the same color as your hair." Tara smiled brightly. "She’s sweet." She scratched between the mare’s ears.

The mare nickered and rubbed her face on Tara’s hand.

"Honey!" Willow started to move closer but froze.

"That means she happy," Tara explained. She moved closer to her lover. "Come on. We’ll start you with the new baby. You’ll love him."

"Hey there, Calypso," Emma whispered when she reached the stall at the end of barn. "You up for some visitors?"

Tara took Willow’s hand and led her to the stall and they peeked inside.

"Oh, goddess. It’s so little!" Willow edged closer. "Smaller than that evil hell-spawn pony."

The mare whinnied quietly and moved toward the stall door.

"Okay, big horse." Willow backed away.

"She’s sweet," Tara said. "She likes company. Can I go in?" she asked Emma.

"Let me get a halter." Emma grabbed a halter and quickly put it on the mare and led her to one end of the stall. The tiny brown foal walked unsteadily toward his mother. His black mane was sticking straight into the air and his tail was no more than a puff of black fuzz.

"Come on," Tara brought Willow into the stall. The cedar shavings covering the floor gave the small space a clean smell.

"He’s teeny." Willow was hiding behind Tara as the blonde witch knelt.

"Hi there." Tara held out her hand to the foal and he let out a tiny, high pitched whinny.

"Oh…" Willow wiggled excitedly. "He sounds like Trigger on helium!"

"Wait here." Tara went to the foal and guided him to Willow. "Pet him." She smiled warmly.

"Okay, but if he eats my arm off … you are in so much trouble." She reached out her hand and petted the foal’s back. "He’s so soft."

The foal turned his head and nuzzled Willow’s hand.

"His nose is like velvet," Willow said. She knelt and looked the tiny colt in the eyes. "It tickles."

"Velvet?" Emma asked. "I like it. Willow, meet Velvet Storm."

"I named him?" Willow scooted closer and fluffed his downy fur.

"His sire is called California Storm. I think Velvet fits him." Emma scratched Calypso’s head to calm her. "Easy, girl. Willow’s just getting to know him."

Tara moved behind her lover and rested her hands on Willow’s shoulders. They played with the colt for almost half an hour before Calypso began to nervously paw at the cedar shavings. Willow bravely went to the mare and patted her neck. Tara was impressed with her lover’s bravery. She hoped Willow was as daring when Tara explained her plans for the next day.

"Thank you," Willow said as Emma locked Calypso’s stall for the night.

"You’re welcome." Emma turned toward Tara. "You wanna’ say good night to Trance?"

Tara looked like she was about to burst into tears as she nodded her head enthusiastically.

"Is that another baby?" Willow asked excitedly.

"He’s my baby," Tara said. "Well, he was," she quickly amended.

"He still is, Tara." Emma shook her head and sighed. "Why don’t you take him out for a ride while Willow and I get you two unpacked?"

"Ride? Um, hello? Night time?" Willow watched Tara’s face lit up. "You’re not gonna’ ride a horse at night are you? Tara! That’s can’t be safe."

"Can I, Emma?" Tara asked. She looked over at Willow and smiled. "Honey, Emma has a lit arena. It’s completely safe."

"He’s in the north barn, on the left, about halfway down." Emma nodded toward the door. "Go on."

"I’ll be fine," Tara said as she smiled at Willow.

"Are you sure?" Willow could tell her lover wanted to go.

Tara nodded.

"Go on." Willow rolled her eyes and then leaned forward and kissed the blonde. "Be careful."

"I will!" Tara turned and sprinted out the door.

"She loves that horse," Emma whispered.

"What did she mean when she said he was her baby?" Willow asked. She scooted closer to Emma as they walked out of the barn. She was beginning to think that horses weren’t evil, but she was still afraid of them.

"Tara’s mom bought Trance for her," Emma explained. "He was born 12 years ago. Tara was here for the birth and she took him home as soon as he was weaned. She and her mom trained him together."

"Wow." Willow processed that bit of information as they headed to the house. "So … why did she say what she did?"

"When Tara went to school, she made a deal with me to board Trance here. He’s a gentle, well-trained gelding, and anyone can use him on the trail. I get to rent him out and in exchange, I feed and take care of him." Emma trotted up the stairs and waited for Willow to catch up.

"And?" Willow asked.

"Tara’s father got angry with her," Emma explained. "She was seventeen, and he technically owned Trance."

"Oh no." Willow’s heart sank.

"He called and said he sold Trance." Emma led Willow inside. "I was supposed to deliver him to the buyer in LA."

"But you didn’t," Willow said quietly.

"No. I spoke with the buyer and bought Trance from him." She shook her head. "I paid more than I should have, but I wasn’t about to let that happen to Tara."

"Thank you." Willow grabbed Emma and pulled her into a fierce hug.

"You’re welcome." Emma chuckled.

After Willow was settled into her room she asked Emma to take her out to where Tara was riding. She wasn’t prepared for what she found. Tara was riding a beautiful pale horse. The blonde was oblivious to everything outside the confines of the sand-covered arena. She galloped in figure eights and didn’t seem to be guiding the horse all. It was like watching poetry. The horse and Tara moved as one and they seemed to be speaking telepathically.

"She’s not even rusty," Emma whispered. "Disgusting."

"Wow." Willow stared as the horse slowed to a steady trot and circled the arena. Tara rose up and down smoothly in the saddle as the horse reached one end of the enclosure. The blonde had a wide grin as she looked across the arena. The horse began to trot slightly off angle and by the time he reached the opposite end he had crossed to the other side without ever seeming to turn at all. "How does she make him do that?" Willow asked.

"She’s amazing," Emma said. "She’s riding dressage. See that bit, in Trance’s mouth?"

"The metal thingy?" Willow nodded.

"She’s giving him commands by shifting her hands and squeezing with her legs." Emma saw Willow’s brow wrinkle in confusion. "Trance is trained to response to tiny signals. Tara tells him what to do by putting pressure on his sides with her leg and by adjusting the pressure on his mouth."

"It’s beautiful." Willow gasped when the horse began to gallop toward a small jump that was off to one side of the arena. Tara stood in the stirrups as Trance took the gate in a graceful leap. "Is that safe?"

"Yeah." Emma bit the inside of her cheek. Tara wasn’t wearing a helmet, something the blonde should do while taking jumps. "She’s fine."

Tara turned made a tight turn and headed back for the jump. Trance took the jump happily and landed gracefully. He responded instantly when Tara spun him and they galloped across the arena.

"She’s showing off." Emma pulled Willow toward the fence that surrounded the arena. "Hey, where’s your helmet?" she yelled.

Tara spun the horse and trotted toward Willow. The blonde had a sheepish grin. "I forgot," she admitted. She eased Trance to a stop and patted his neck. "Honey, this is Trance."

"He’s … big." Willow looked up at the horse. She had thought he was white, but now that she was standing next to him, she could see tiny flecks of brown scattered over his body. "He has freckles."

"He’s an Arab," Emma explained. "He was gray when he was born, and as he got older, he turned more white. Those freckles are part of his coloring."

"I did not know that." Willow studied Tara. She was completely relaxed in a way Willow had never seen. She kept reaching down and petting the horse’s neck. Whether it was to calm the horse or Tara, she wasn’t sure.

"You wanna’ ride him?" Tara asked. "He’s really gentle."

"Tara, how about we wait ‘til morning when can toss a western saddle on him," Emma suggested.

"Oh, yeah." Tara blushed.

"Good idea," Willow said quickly. She had no idea what a western saddle was, but if it meant delaying climbing onto the huge animal she was all for it.

"At least come pet him." Tara slid from the horse and reached over the fence to guide Willow closer. The horse leaned down and rubbed his face on Tara’s back. "Okay." Tara giggled and turned. "Come here." She scratched his face between his eyes.

"He likes that," Willow observed.

"He loves anyone who scratches him," Emma said. "Go ahead. Trance’s never bitten anyone in his life."

Willow could see how much the horse meant to Tara so she swallowed her fear and reached out to the huge animal. He saw the hand offering pets and edged closer and reached his head over the fence. Willow rubbed between his eyes as she had seen Tara do and smiled when Trance leaned into her touch.

"See?" Tara asked. She ducked under Trance’s neck and tossed one arm up over his broad shoulders at his withers. "He’s sweet."

"Okay, so he’s not an evil pony," Willow admitted. She moved a step closer to the fence. "And he is handsome." She scratched between his ears and he groaned. "Oh, someone likes that." She smiled as she began to relax.

"I’ll let you girls to bond with his royal highness." Emma backed away from the fence. "Tara, no more riding without that helmet."

"It’s Trance," Tara whined. "He would never let anything happen to me."

"Tara…" There was a warning tone in Emma’s voice that made Willow wonder how much danger Tara had put herself into.

"I promise," Tara relented.

After putting away Trance and tucking him in for the night, Tara and Willow went back to their room to wash up for a late dinner. It was a festive event, and Emma had all of Willow’s favorites. They had a traditional Wiccan blessing before the meal and ate with the lights off so they could enjoy candlelight. It reminded Willow of her dinners at her grandparents’ house on the sabbath.

They slept curled around each other and when Willow woke up, she was only slightly terrified at the prospect of riding Trance. After a hearty breakfast, Tara led Willow out to the barn to begin her lesson.

"So, um, why is it so important that I learn to ride?" Willow asked. She held Tara’s hand as they approached the barn.

"You don’t have to if you don’t want to," Tara said quietly. She lifted Willow’s hand up and kissed her fingers.

"No, no, if it’s important to you, I’ll try." Willow scooted closer when Carl led a bay filly across their path.

"If you get to scared, just remember, I’m here." Tara smiled and kissed Willow’s cheek. "Thank you, darling."

"Keep giving me kisses and you can get me to do anything." Willow smirked the rest of the way to Trance’s stall.

Tara tied Trance to a hitching post and asked Willow to help brush him out so the redhead could to get comfortable with the horse.

"He’s very nice." Willow combed Trance’s mane and watched Tara clean the horse’s hooves. "Big feet. Why is there metal on his feet?"

"Come here." Tara guided Willow’s hand closer and let her explore the metal horseshoes.

"Do they hurt?" Willow poked his hoof.

"Nope. It’s like our fingernails … well, giant fingernails they walk on." Tara tilted his hoof so Willow could see underneath. "The metal keeps his hoof from chipping and it protects this soft part here."

"So … he gets a pedicure?" Willow smiled and patted his belly. "Lucky horse."

"All done." Tara put his hoof down and stood. "Okay, now he just needs the saddle and you can get your first lesson."

Willow’s eyes widened and she swallowed with a loud gulp.

*****

"Okay, what is this place?" Anya was not amused. Giles had promised shopping, but he refused to drop her at the mall before he went to see his mystery contact.

"I believe it is a nightclub." Giles doubled checked the address.

"Since when to mystical big wigs hang out in nightclubs?" Jenny asked.

"A shot up, run-down, demon blood splattered night club," Xander piped in.

"Oh sure, insult my club when you’re asking me for a favor," Lorn said as he opened the door. "You’re cute, but not too bright," he told Xander. "Just the way I li—" He stopped midsentence. "Anyway, come inside and no more badmouthing my establishment."

"He has horns," Buffy whispered as they followed the Host into Caritas.

"And green skin," Anya pointed out. "He’s not from this dimension. No sirree."

"He is the fastest available conduit to the Powers That Be," Giles said sternly. "Now behave."

"Well, let’s get this over with." Lorne went behind the bar and poured himself a drink.

"Aren’t you gonna’ offer us drinks?" Anya stepped over a broken chair and moved to the bullet riddled bar.

"We’re closed." Lorne took a satisfying drink of his Seabreeze. "The only reason you’re here at all is because Angel cakes begged me." He raised one eyebrow high onto his green, scaly forehead. "Do you have any idea how long I’ve been waiting to see him beg?"

"I don’t like using Angel’s help." Jenny wrapped her arms over her chest and backed over to one of the walls.

"You the dead lady?" Lorne looked her over. "Nice look. I guess that Glamour spell is still holding."

"Can you help her?" Giles asked.

"Hey, leave that alone," Lorne yelled when he saw Buffy poking around his broken karaoke machine.

"Sorry," Buffy tossed a shattered speaker onto the floor. "What happened here?"

"Some pals of Angel showed up." Lorne smiled cruelly. "So you’ll forgive me if I’m not exactly thrilled with the idea of inviting you into my suddenly humble establishment."

"We need to you tell me what the Powers That Be want from me." Jenny didn’t move from her position against the wall.

"Yeah, we were hoping you could give us the cliff notes version." Buffy leaned down and picked up a crossbow bolt and studied the craftsmanship.

"You gotta’ be Buffy." Lorne sighed and came out from behind the bar. "Okay, lay it on me." He pointed at Jenny and waggled his finger.

"What do you wanna’ know?" Jenny pushed off the wall and moved toward Lorne.

"Sing. Come on, sweetie. I haven’t got all day." Lorne rolled his eyes. "Look, I read auras, but only if I see you sing. So … getting singing."

"You want me to sing?" Jenny frowned.

"Well, my karaoke is shot, literally, so you’ll have to belt it out a cappella." Lorne put his empty glass on the bar. "Come on. Chop chop."

"Oh, she’s gonna’ put on a show." Anya grabbed a chair that was lying on the floor. She pulled it upright and sat. "Sing something sexy."

Jenny slowly turned and stared at Anya.

"Not for me." Anya rolled her eyes. "For Xander. Singers get him hot. I’m just gonna’ reap the lusting dividends. Know any Brittany Spears?"

"An? Honey, you’re not helping." Xander blushed and looked for a place to hide.

"Sing." Lorne glared at Jenny.

"What should I sing?" Jenny whined. "And hey, they should have to wait outside."

"Nothing doin’, sweetie. My customers usually have to sing to a packed house." Lorne looked at his watch. "Come on, the carpenter is due any minute, and I hate to keep a man with power tools waiting."

"I’ll bet," Anya quipped.

Giles cleared his throat and glared at the exdemon.

"What? I’m just agreeing with the green horny man." Anya smiled suggestively.

Lorne laughed heartily. "I like her." He looked over at Jenny. "I haven’t made up my mind about you. Now, sing." He grabbed a songbook and handed it to her.

"Fine." Jenny flipped through the book. "No," she said as she flipped the page. "No." She flipped another page. "No way in hell," she said as she read through the titles. "Can’t I just sing happy birthday or something?"

"Much too unoriginal." Now Lorne wanted to see what Jenny would choose.

"Fine." Jenny cleared her throat and shot a glare at the others that let them know she would kill anyone who made so much as one snide remark. "Not one word," she warned Giles.

"Of course not," Giles said innocently.

"You better have my information," Jenny told Lorne and then she began to sing. "Those fingers in my hair, that sly come-hither stare, that
strips my conscience bare … It’s witchcraft." She was off key and her tempo was off and it was too much for Lorne.

"Good lord, stop! Enough." He covered his ears with both hands. "You’re comin’ through loud and clear and did I mention … loud?" He shook his head and blew out a breath of air. "You’ve got some serious overcrowding in your aura, little lady."

"What can you tell us?" Giles asked.

"Well, you aren’t getting any info." Lorne pointed at the door. "Everyone except Miss Jenny has to go. This is for her ears only." He smiled fondly at her. "And nice ears they are too. Your witchy friends did a great job whipping up this body for you."

"Okay, we came all they way down here to get the scoop," Buffy said angrily. "I want some scoopage. Now!"

"Sorry, Goldilocks." Lorne shrugged. "This is Powers That Be stuff."

"Well, I am the freakin’ Slayer," Buffy pointed out.

"And we’re her Scoobies," Xander said indignantly.

"Where’s the closest mall?" Anya asked.

"Go on," Jenny said quietly. "Take Anya to the mall. I have a feeling this is gonna’ take a while." She had a feeling Lorne didn’t have good news.

"Let’s go," Giles said as he took Buffy’s arm and guided her toward the door. He shared Jenny’s feeling of dread.

"He’s dreamy." Lorne watched Giles leave.

"Yeah." Jenny sat at what was left of a table. "So, what happened to this place?"

"A group of gung ho demon hunters came in with machine guns blazing." He sighed. "I lost a lot of good customers that night."

"What did you see?" Jenny asked as she brushed wood chips off of the tabletop.

"You don’t belong here." He smiled sadly. "But you knew that."

"When?" Jenny asked.

"When are you going back?" Lorne took Jenny’s hand. "Sweetie, they didn’t give me a travel itinerary. All I know is that you’re supposed to finish something. Did you happen to leave some cookies unbaked when you died?"

*****

"He’s bigger than he was a minute ago." Willow stared at Trance and felt her courage slip through her fingers like water through a sieve.

"Trust me." Tara led the gray horse over next to a small step and stopped. "Stay," she told him.

"I trust you. It’s the huge horse I’m having doubts about." Willow wouldn’t take her eyes off of Trance. He seemed gentle enough, but he was a giant creature, a creature that looked suspiciously like an over-sized pony.

"Up." Tara took Willow’s hand and placed it on the saddle horn. "Remember what I told you? Left foot in the stirrup, hold the saddle horn, and carefully pull yourself up as you straighten your leg. I’m right here."

"I can do this," Willow whispered. "I fight vampires and demons and hellgoddesses. One little horse isn’t gonna’ hurt me." She pulled herself up and settled into the saddle and looked around. "Or … not so little."

"That was great." Tara had a huge smile that almost made Willow glad she was on the horse. "Hold on," Tara cautiously took the saddle horn and vaulted effortlessly onto the horse behind Willow.

"Oh, goddess." Willow squeezed her eyes closed until Tara was safely sitting behind her.

"Better?" Tara whispered huskily. Her breath was warm on Willow’s neck and the blonde cradled her lover protectively. Her arms were snugly holding Willow in place.

"Hmm?" Willow lost herself in the sensation for a moment. "Oh, yeah … much better."

"I thought you’d see it my way." Tara squeezed her legs and Trance moved slowly forward. "See? Piece of cake."

"Okay, it’s not as bad as I remember," Willow admitted. She fell into the calming rhythm of Trance’s cautious gait. The big horse seemed to sense Willow’s apprehension and he slowed his pace accordingly. "Kinda’ nice, actually," Willow said after they circled half the arena.

"He’s a sweety." Tara was holding the reins and she kept the horse on a straight line along the fence. "Wanna’ steer?"

"Okay." Willow took a deep breath and tried to remember everything Tara had told her earlier. "I don’t know the leg signal things," she reminded her lover.

"That’s okay." Tara positioned Willow’s hands on the reins. "That was for riding English. Trance knows the difference."

"How?" Willow turned and gave her lover and incredulous stare.

"We’re using a western saddle, and he isn’t wearing a bit." Tara smiled. "This is a hackamore. It doesn’t pull on his mouth, so even if you get nervous and yank on it, it won’t hurt him. He knows to pay attention to your reins when he’s wearing this."

"Smart horse," Willow complimented.

They spent the next half-hour riding in slow circles until Willow felt confident that she could give Trance the correct instructions and then Tara let Willow try it alone. The redhead was nervous, but she had an excellent sense of balance and as soon as she relaxed, Trance picked up the pace to a brisk walk.

After another half hour, Willow felt confident enough to try trotting, which Tara quickly overruled.

"Not yet. First you have to learn to stand up," Tara decreed.

"Stand up?" Willow’s eyes threatened to bulge out of their sockets. "On the horse? Are you insane?"

Two hours later, Willow was standing up in the stirrups and galloping around the arena. Tara was bursting with pride.

"Now this galloping is fun," Willow yelled and she crossed the arena. Trance’s stride was long and smooth and he was careful not to break off to either side and unseat his novice rider. Willow squealed and tried to get Trance to go faster.

"Easy, cowgirl." Tara laughed and jumped down from the fence she was sitting on. "This morning you were scared to death, now you think you’re ready for the grand nationals."

"Whoa," Willow said as she leaned back and waited for Trance to slow to a trot. She turned him back toward Tara and bounced happily toward her lover. "See?" she asked as she pulled to a stop a few feet from Tara. She was not as elegant as the blonde, but she was having fun. "Lookit’ me, all the horseback ridin’ gal."

"You sure are." Tara rested her hand on Willow’s leg and gave it a playful squeeze. "Ready to try the trail now?"

"Trail?" Willow’s eyes widened. "As in out there … ‘not in here … trail with bumps and trees and other things that will knock me on to the hard ground’ out there?"

"Trance would never let you get hurt." Tara moved closer and wrapped her arms around the horse’s neck and hugged him. "Would you?"

Trance leaned into Tara’s embrace and tried to get his nose behind her. Tara laughed and backed up.

"He’s hugging you," Willow said, her voice full of wonder.

"He’s after a snack." Tara turned and Trance leaned down and grabbed a carrot that was sticking out of the blonde’s pocket.

"No biting that butt," Willow warned.

Tara turned and smiled. "My butt’s safe."

"Good." Willow smirked. "If there’s any nipping of that behind, I wanna’ be the one doing the nipping."

"Vixen." Tara smiled up at her lover. "Ready to get down?"

Willow hesitated.

"It’s fun, isn’t it." Tara smiled smugly.

"Okay, it’s not horrible." Willow eased back on the reins and made a clicking sound with her cheeks. The horse obediently backed up. "Mildly enjoyable." Willow’s smile grew and she turned and clicked again. "Woo and hoo." Willow giggled and she guided Trance into a gallop.

"I’ve created a monster." Tara smiled proudly.

*****

Jenny studied the green-skinned man sitting across from her. The term ‘lounge lizard’ kept coming to mind.

"So after I do whatever it is I have to do, then what?" Jenny asked.

"Your soul leaves," Lorne said bluntly. "This shell … dies." He pointed at her body.

"Lovely." Jenny sighed and leaned back in her chair. She rubbed her face with both hands and wondered how she was going to tell Giles. "I don’t suppose I get to come back as the daughter of two cute little witches?"

"No. That child’s soul has been waiting centuries." Lorne smirked at Jenny’s confused expression. "You still have some of Tara’s aura mingled with yours. You got a bargain, two readings for the price of one." He laughed as he pictured Jenny’s future. "Your new parents are much more … colorful."

"More colorful than lesbian witches?" Jenny raised her eyebrows skeptically.

"How’s a demon chaser married to an ex-demon sound to you?" Lorne asked.

"Anya’s gonna’ be my mother?" Jenny’s jaw dropped.

Lorne nodded. He had a smug smile as if he had all the answers to the universe at his green fingertips.

"Xander … my father?" Jenny dropped her head onto the table and let out a long sigh. "Oh boy."

*****

Emma walked up beside Tara and rested her arms on the fence and joined the blonde in watching Willow ride.

"She’s good, a natural." Emma smiled as she thought about Tara’s plans. "Lucky for you."

Tara nodded, but she couldn’t pry her eyes off her lover. Seeing Willow take such joy from riding Trance made Tara’s heart swell. The redhead was walking the patient horse around a series of obstacles. Most were jumps, but Trance knew better than to go over them with his inexperienced rider, so he walked slowly around them.

"I’ve got a young gelding here from Edington farms," Emma said casually. "He refused one of the gates at the national trials. He won’t go near it."

"How’s his disposition?" Tara asked as she continued watching her lover.

"He’s high strung, but otherwise willing." Emma watched as Tara crinkled her brow. She could tell the blonde was intrigued.

"Did you bring in a replica of the gate?" Tara asked.

"It’s set up in the big arena." Emma smirked. "You wanna’ give him a try?"

"I’m gonna’ take Willow onto the trail." Tara turned and faced Emma. "I don’t want anything to happen to her."

"Give it an hour. I’ll work with Willow here and give her some pointers." She smiled evilly. "Though I won’t be riding behind her acting like an octopus clinging to her."

Tara rolled her eyes. "Hey," she said as Willow came over to the fence.

"Tara, I’m having so much fun." She patted Trance’s neck and then played with his mane. "Thank you for sharing this with me."

Tara beamed proudly.

"Willow, how about I give you some pointers while Tara helps me with a horse we’ve got here for some lessons?" Emma asked. "She’ll only be an hour."

"Is it safe?" Willow asked slowly.

"Of course," Tara and Emma both said.

"You want to?" Willow asked.

Tara smiled and dipped her head.

"Go on, honey." Willow looked over at Emma. "I’ll be fine."

"Okay!" Tara wiggled excitedly.

"Carl has him saddled up." Emma waved Tara on her way.

"I love you," Tara said as she scrambled up the fence and leaned over and kissed Willow’s cheek. "Bye!"

"Will she be okay?" Willow asked.

"She’s fine." Emma sized up the redhead who had so obviously taken Tara’s heart. "You, on the other hand, are going to get a thorough grilling."

"Oh boy," Willow whispered.

Tara hurried to the tack room to get her helmet. She spun to leave the small, dark room and lost her balance. She grabbed a beam to steady herself and took a deep breath.

She rubbed her face and felt something wet. She pulled her hand away and looked down and saw a streak of blood. "Oh boy," Tara said with dread.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Willow climbed into the saddle and gingerly steered Trance out of the arena onto a small trail. She was nervous, but the horse seemed at ease and soon Willow’s only concern was what Emma intended to grill her about. They rode for some time with Emma pointing out interesting things along the path. The narrow trail was mostly flat and it meandered through the tall redwoods. Once the trail widened, Emma motioned for Willow to ride alongside her.

"How long have you been in love with Tara?" Emma asked bluntly.

"Probably since the first moment I saw her." Willow smiled as she remembered how shy Tara had been when she first saw her at the Wicca meeting. Something about Tara’s blue eyes had called to Willow. "We’ve been together for over a year. She has my heart." She smiled shyly and looked over at Emma. The older woman was studying her intensely, as if trying to decide if she would hurt Tara.

"What are your intentions?" Emma asked.

"To spend the rest of my life loving her," Willow said with absolute conviction.

"Then welcome to my family." Emma sighed. "Tara’s mother was like a sister to me. She asked me to make sure Tara’s heart was safe." She guided her bay gelding around a fallen log. "Now I know it is."

"What was Tara’s mother like?"

"When we were kids, she was very much like Tara is now, happy, loving, full of light." Emma looked away. "After she married Tara’s father, a part of her was lost. She couldn’t practice her craft freely, and it ate away at her soul."

"But you’re a witch, right?" Willow nudged Trance into a trot so she could keep up with the older woman.

"Yeah." Emma looked into the distance at the high mountains. "When they came here, we used to have rituals. They were happy."

"I never knew Tara could ride horses so well," Willow said as she rubbed Trance’s neck. "Could her mom ride?"

"Tara’s mother was an incredible rider, but she wasn’t as good as Tara." Emma looked into Willow’s eyes. "Tara was supposed to be on the Junior Olympic team before her mom got sick."

Willow’s eyes widened in surprise. "On Trance?" She looked down at the horse and gave him a reverent pat.

"No." Emma laughed. "Trance is an Arabian. He’s a good jumper, but at the Olympic level, you need a horse with more stature. She rode a thoroughbred of mine. His name was Midnight Mist."

"Is he here?" Willow wanted to see the horse that Tara had ridden at such a high level.

"No. I gave him to Tara to ride when he was two years old. She and her mom trained him." Emma’s voice cracked. "We agreed that he’d be Tara’s to ride as long as she wanted him, then we’d split any money from his sale."

"You sold him?" Willow couldn’t imagine Tara parting with any animal she was attached to.

"Tara’s a phenomenal rider," Emma explained. "And an exceptional trainer. Mist has great bloodlines, but at two, he was unproven. When Tara finished working with him he was incredible. After she spent a year on the circuit with him, he’d tripled in value."

"Why did she sell him?" Willow asked. "Why didn’t she go to the Junior Olympics?"

"Her mom got sick, and they didn’t have any insurance." Emma sighed. "I didn’t that kind of money, so we sold him to a young man in Virginia."

"Well, how much was he worth?" Willow’s heart ached at the thought of how much Tara had lost in her short life.

"We sold him for 90,000," Emma said casually. "He won the silver at the 1998 games. Tara could have taken the gold."

Willow’s eyes widened. She couldn’t imagine a horse being worth that much money. Emma seemed to read her thoughts.

"Most of Mist’s value was because of Tara. She trained him, and believe me, she can get the most from any horse." Emma smiled. "You wanna’ see what I mean?"

"Um, sure." Willow was still in shock.

"Let’s go watch your girl work." Emma pulled her gelding to a stop and then turned him back toward the ranch. "She’s amazing."

"Well, I already knew that." Willow spun Trance around. She clicked her cheek and broke into a gallop. She was suddenly very curious about Tara’s hidden skills as a horse whisperer.

*****

Giles and the others returned to Lorne’s destroyed nightclub after shopping for an hour. The Englishman had endured all the shopping he could. He and Xander had barely survived the brief visit to the mall with the three professional shoppers. Buffy, Dawn and Anya had taken the huge mall by storm, but with only an hour to shop, and an extremely limited budget, the three young women were left unsatisfied.

"I rode all the way to LA and that’s all the shopping I get?" Anya whined as they entered Lorne’s club.

"Yes," Giles said bluntly.

"I have my own money, you know." Anya crossed her arms over her chest. "I invested." She glared across the room at Jenny who was sitting with Lorne. "Of course, I wouldn’t have to use my beautiful money if Jenny would take me on a shopping spree like she did Dawn. I want stuff. I want stuff from the ill-gotten-lottery gains."

Giles and Buffy rolled their eyes in unison as Dawn prayed Giles wouldn’t make her return all of the things Jenny bought her when she had been in Tara’s body.

"You’re right," Jenny said. She stood and went to Anya’s side. "That wasn’t fair, and I intend to rectify that right now. Come on." She pulled Anya toward the door.

"Excellent." Anya smiled brightly. "I love ill-gotten gains."

Xander giggled.

"What?" Buffy demanded. She wanted some of the ill-gotten gains as well.

"She said rectify." Xander giggled again.

"Oh, dear lord." Giles let out a disgusted sigh.

"Well, I didn’t get any stuff." Buffy looked over at Jenny and pouted. "I wanna’ get rectified!"

Xander covered his mouth and then burst into howls of laughter.

"Shut up!" Anya and Buffy yelled.

"I’ll take Anya shopping right now," Jenny tilted her head to one side as she smiled at Buffy. "Then later I can take you and Dawn." She pulled the former demon out the door. "Giles, I want a room at the Hilton. I’m paying. Register us and we’ll meet you there."

"Why can’t we go now?" Dawn whined.

"Well, I should find lodging for the night. I suppose the Hilton will do nicely," Giles pointed out. He could sense that Jenny wanted some time alone with Anya.

"Good. It’s settled." Lorne stood and shoved them toward the door. "It’s been … well, it’s been. Now get out."

"Man, first Giles takes us speed-shopping, then the green horny guy throws us out." Buffy gave Giles a baneful glare. "I hate LA."

"And I just love taking three squealing girls shopping." Giles opened the door. "You’ll have to curtail any shopping until Jenny returns for you."

"Fine, but I better get some serious ill-gotten gains," Buffy grumbled.

"I’m sure Jenny pilfered enough money for everyone." Giles followed Buffy outside and wondered exactly how much lottery money Jenny had managed to win using her powers.

*****

"So, dead lady, why are you taking me shopping?" Anya asked as she climbed into a cab with Jenny. "Not that I’m complaining mind you."

"I like you," Jenny said honestly. "You’re a lot more fun than the rest of them."

"Well, we’re not gonna’ have the kind of fun that you and Giles have, but I think we can do some damage at the mall." Anya smiled and got a far away look in her brown eyes. "Have you seen the mall? It’s huge and full of wonderful stores just waiting for us to make our purchases."

"What are you in the mood for?" Jenny studied the young woman next to her and tried to picture her with a child.

"Well, how much money did you scam from the lottery?"

"I didn’t scam it. I won it fair and square," Jenny insisted.

"Using magic isn’t fair, but I’m not complaining. Did you know the state takes taxes out of my paycheck? Out of my hard earned dollars. That’s after the feds take my money. Aren’t the states part of the federal government?"

"Using magic is perfectly fair." Jenny smirked. "Besides, I call it payback for all the witches persecuted over the years … and they do take your taxes."

"Shopping as a method of revenge?" Anya sighed happily. "I’m in heaven. Can we go to a shop with sexual aids, because then this little foray would have everything I love; revenge, money and sex. Wow."

"We’ll see what we can do." Jenny blushed as she thought about a few items she could pick up for Giles at an adult oriented store.

*****

Willow and Emma returned to the ranch and put their horses away. By the time they got to the large arena, Tara had already been working with the young gelding for almost an hour. She was calm and patient with the skittish animal and had managed to quickly gain his trust.

Emma held her finger to her lips signaling for Willow to be silent as they came into the large training facility. The redhead swallowed hard when she saw her lover leading a huge black horse. The animal towered over the blonde witch.

"He’s huge," Willow whispered in a squeak.

"She knows what she’s doing," Emma assured her quietly. They sat on the bleachers beside the arena and watched Tara work. She had the jump disassembled and lying in pieces on the sand of the arena floor. She slowly led the tall gelding to each piece until he reached the black and white checked center section. The horse reared back, dragging Tara with him.

Willow gasped and started to stand but Emma took her hand and held her in place.

"She knows what she’s doing." Emma nodded toward the arena.

Tara eased the frightened horse to a stop and gently stroked his neck until he calmed. She then slowly began moving him back toward the section he had been frightened by. Tara would take the jet black animal one step closer at a time. Each step toward the checkered section was rewarded with kind words and pats on his muscular neck. Ten minutes later, Tara had the horse standing over the piece of the jump that had frightened him.

"Is she done?" Willow asked.

"She’s only started," Emma said. She didn’t add that now was when the task became most dangerous.

Carl and Tara put the jump together in the center of the arena, but they only set up the outside sections. Tara led the horse through the open jump several times and then Tara strapped on her helmet and climbed onto the huge animal. Willow’s throat went dry.

The horse trotted from side to side and snorted at the jump even though the checkered section was not there yet. Tara was calm and spoke in soothing tones until the animal relaxed and stood patiently. From there, Tara rode the horse through the jump at a walk. When he had mastered that, she trotted him through, and finally, she cantered through.

"Okay, she’s done, right?" Willow was now officially terrified.

"She’s doing great," Emma assured her.

Tara patted the horse’s neck and then nodded to Carl and the ranch hand put the checkered jump into place at its lowest setting.

"Okay, so this is completely safe, right?" Willow asked.

"Yeah," Emma said nervously. She tensed as Tara took the horse in a wide arch and brought him towards the jump and a slow gallop. The animal was uncertain, so Tara had to commit her body to the jump completely. If Tara hesitated or tensed in anticipation of the horse balking, the horse would react by refusing the jump. Just as the horse neared the obstacle, Tara whispered to the nervous animal and he leapt over it.

"She did it!" Willow said excitedly. "She did it and that was so cool." She turned toward Emma. "And now she’s done, right?" She wanted Tara off the spirited horse.

"She’s done," Emma said with a laugh.

Tara continued to gallop around the arena. "Good boy," she said as she patted him on the neck. "One more time." She headed for the jump. She wanted the horse to gain confidence, and he would only do that by repetition. The horse cleared the jump, but he landed roughly. Tara pulled up and helped him gather his footing, but Tara’s balance was slightly off. Her lingering headache was effecting her sense of equilibrium and the blonde witch shook her head as she tried to focus.

"Tara?" Willow could sense that something wasn’t right.

Emma looked over and knew at once that Tara was in trouble. "Carl!" she yelled as she jumped to her feet and moved toward the arena.

"Easy," Tara told the horse. He could feel Tara’s weight shifting and it was making him nervous. Tara pitched to one side and then overcorrected as a wave of dizziness hit her. The frightened horse didn’t understand why his rider was moving erratically so he reacted to the shifting weight and turned sharply. Tara managed to stay in the saddle but horse tossed his head.

"Tara, you okay?" Carl moved forward, but he didn’t want to startle the horse. He could tell that Tara was completely off balance, something he had never seen in all the years he had watched Tara ride.

"I’m fine." Tara eased the horse to a stop. He snorted and trotted in place. "Easy," Tara said. She moved the reins to one hand and rubbed his neck to calm him. She felt something splash on the back of her knuckles and saw a red splatter running down her fingers.

"You all right?" Carl was almost to the horse. He looked up at Tara and saw that there was blood coming from both of her nostrils. He barely had time to register what he was seeing when he saw Tara’s eyes roll back into her head. "No!" He lunged forward, spooking the horse.

"Son of a bitch," Emma said as she vaulted over the railing and headed toward the unfolding scene.

Just as Tara’s eyes rolled back, the horse spooked away from Carl, pitching Tara to one side. As she fainted, she fell forward limply onto the horse’s neck and slid from the saddle. Unfortunately, as she fell, her arm tangled in the reins. The horse reacted to the sharp yank on his mouth by backing away with Tara dangling in the reins.

Willow froze at the edge of the arena and tried to think of a spell that might help, but she had no idea what to do about a frightened horse that was about to trample the woman she loved.

Tara’s legs hit the ground but her upper body was temporarily spared because her arm was caught in the reins. She lifted her head and groaned as she realized she was being pulled across the arena.

"Whoa," Carl said as he tried to grab the horse. The frightened animal reacted by moving faster.

"Stay back," Tara said groggily. "Easy," she whispered as the horse continued to scurry backwards. He had backed across the arena and was about to bump squarely into the jump that had terrified him earlier. If he hit it, he would react by charging forward over the top of Tara. Tara lifted her arm into the air and felt the rein slip loose. She hit the ground solidly but her helmet absorbed the impact. "Ouch." She rolled to one side and crawled to her knees and faced the horse as he hit the jump. She knew what would happen next.

Willow watched as Tara managed to free herself from the rein just as the horse lurched forward. Tara waited until the giant horse was almost on her before she rolled out of the way. Carl grabbed the reins and eased him to a stop and Emma ran to Tara’s side. She dropped to the ground next to the blonde witch and took Tara’s face in her hand.

"What happened?" Emma tilted her head from side to side trying to see Tara’s pupils. "You completely lost your balance up there."

Willow ran to Tara’s side and dropped to her knees on the sand. "Baby?"

"I’m fine." Tara turned toward her lover and gave her an embarrassed smile. "Just took a little spill."

"Tara, you didn’t fall off. You passed out." Willow wiped the blood from her lover’s nose and held it out. "What happened?" she asked in an accusing tone.

"Nothing." Tara struggled to stand but she lost her balance and ended up slamming back to the ground on her butt.

"Have you been casting?" Emma asked.

"Why?" Willow asked in a panic.

"Let’s get you inside." Emma helped Tara stand and then wrapped her arm around the unsteady witch.

"Inside is good." Willow wrapped her arm around Tara from the other side. "Inside away from all these big horses. Maybe you should ride Trance with me, only after you’re done being dizzy."

Tara leaned against Willow and smiled.

"Helmet off," Emma said. She helped Tara remove her helmet and hooked it over the gate as they left the arena. "Then you can tell me why you look like you’ve been using dragon’s blood."

Tara bit her lip and tried to ignore Emma’s comment.

"Why wouldn’t she use dragon’s blood?" Willow asked

"Because her mother had nasty reactions every time she used it. Tara knows better than to mess with it." Emma guided Tara through the huge door into the sunlight.

"Apparently, she doesn’t." Willow’s voice was hard and cold.

"Am I in trouble?" Tara quietly asked her lover.

"Tara, you used dragon’s blood? What the hell were you thinking?" Emma was furious.

"Yes. You’re in trouble," Willow told her lover. Her tone let Tara know that she wouldn’t get any rescue from Willow.

Emma was too angry to speak. She brought the two young witches into the house and pointed at the couch. "Stay," she said as she stormed out of the room.

Tara smiled at Willow and bit her lip.

"You should have told me." Willow was scared and angry, a combination that did not bode well for Tara.

"I’m not my mom," Tara said quietly. "I don’t react to dragon’s blood."

Willow raised both eyebrows and focused on the dried blood on Tara’s upper lip.

"Okay, I don’t react as much." Tara sighed. "Honey, it’s nothing. I was just really tired and we used a lot of dragon’s blood in that spell."

"You shouldn’t be using it at all," Emma said as she came into the room. She had a steaming mug in one hand and a mortar and pestle in the other.

"No," Tara whined.

"Just be glad I’m not mixing it in cod liver oil." Emma sat next to Tara and began stirring a mixture of ground herbs into the steaming water in the mug.

Willow watched curiously. She smirked when she saw Tara wrinkle her nose. She could tell her lover didn’t like whatever Emma was mixing.

"Serves you right." Emma handed the mug to Tara. "What the hell were you thinking? First you use dragon’s blood and then you ride a strange horse over jumps?"

"It was only one jump," Tara pointed out. She looked at the mug for a moment and then drank down the bitter herbs. "Yuck," she said when she finished.

"Which you jumped twice, and I’m betting you’ve been dizzy since you used the dragon’s blood." Emma looked to Willow for an answer.

"No, she would have told me." Willow looked at Tara expecting her lover to agree. Instead, the blonde looked away. "How long have you been getting dizzy?"

Tara wouldn’t look up.

"You’ve been dizzy all along!" Willow furrowed her brow and looked at Emma. "Give her some more of that yucky tea."

"Willow!" Tara looked up. "I don’t usually react like this. I swear." She stared at the mug and then back to her worried lover. "It’s been so long since I had a reaction I forgot."

"What was the spell?" Emma asked. "If it was especially difficult or if Tara was overtired, that might have made her react more intensely."

"Um, well, let’s just say it was intense, and leave it at that." Willow wasn’t about to tell Tara’s friend what she and the other scoobies had faced.

Tara nodded.

"Fine." Emma pushed the herbs closer to Tara. "You’ll need more of this in an hour."

"She’ll be okay?" Willow asked.

"Yeah. She just needs some rest. She’ll be fine for tomorrow." Emma smiled and then reached out and ruffled Tara’s hair. "No more dragon’s blood. Okay?"

"Okay." Tara smiled shyly.

"Tomorrow?" Willow gave Tara her best puppy dog eyes.

"It’s a surprise," Tara said enigmatically.

"I’ve had all the surprises I want, thank you very much." Willow shivered as she remembered seeing Tara tangled in the tall gelding’s reins.

"I’m fine, darling." Tara moved closer to her lover and pulled her into a hug.

"Then tell me about the surprise," Willow whined.

"Nope," Tara said with a smirk.

****

"Thank you for spending so much of your hard earned stolen cash on me." Anya had four bags of clothes draped over her arms and she couldn’t have been happier. "I never have this much fun when I shop with Xander."

"Well, as sweet as he is, he’s not a woman." Jenny nodded toward a small ice cream shop. "Let’s take a break."

"He’s definitely not a woman," Anya agreed. "But you toss one spider onto him while he’s sleeping, and he screams like one."

"Thanks for that image." Jenny held up two fingers to the waiter and he smiled and grabbed some menus.

Anya ordered a banana split and Jenny had a traditional hot fudge sundae. After a making small talk for a while Jenny decided to delve deeper.

"Do you remember your parents?" Jenny asked.

"My real parents?" Anya set her spoon down and thought for a moment. "I think they were peasants, and I remember the roof leaked in the winter."

"What about your mom?" Jenny took a sip of coffee.

"I think she was nice," Anya said quietly. "But I don’t think she lived very long." She looked down at the table. "There were lots of ways to die back then." She sighed and lifted her face. "You made me sad."

"I didn’t mean to." Jenny took Anya’s hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "I was just thinking about my family, and I can’t go see them even though they’re still alive."

"Cuz they think you’re dead and seeing you would give them heart attacks or make them think you’re some evil vampire, right?" Anya squeezed Jenny’s hand. "I’m very sorry you can’t see your loved ones because you’re dead."

"Thanks," Jenny said with a smile. "I was hoping maybe you and I could maybe be like family." She smiled shyly. "Since we both have a habit of making Giles clean his glasses and scoff.

"I’d like that," Anya said sincerely.

"My mom used to take me shopping once every month," Jenny said as she pulled her hand back and dug into her ice cream. "She and I would talk over hot fudge sundaes and I’d tell her all my problems."

"Even when you were a teenager and you had sex problems?" Anya gave Jenny a respectful nod. "Most adults have a difficult time with that."

"My mom died when I was nine," Jenny said sadly. "That was before my problems got more complicated than needing the latest Barbie dream house."

"Well, we can have our own ice cream tradition." Anya smiled but then suddenly looked crestfallen. "I finally get a maternal figure in this century and you’re not gonna’ live long enough to ever eat ice cream with me again."

"I wish I could." Jenny scooted around the booth and wrapped her arm over Anya’s shoulder. "We’ll just have to make the time we have count."

"Can we come for ice cream tomorrow?" Anya asked tearfully.

"We can come for ice cream every day that I’m here," Jenny promised.

"Well, we don’t want to get fat," Anya said with a sniffle. "Maybe we can go for diet sodas every other day."

"We could go jog along the beach," Jenny suggested.

"That would involve sweating." Anya reached over and took a bite of Jenny’s sundae. "I don’t sweat unless it involves sex and I’m not doing that with you."

"Diet sodas it is." Jenny leaned back and smiled at Anya.

*****

Tara endured five more doses of the herb treatment before it was time for bed. As the blonde witch crawled into bed she was feeling better than she had in weeks, but Willow wasn’t convinced.

"Honey, no." Willow giggled as she squirmed out of her lover’s hands. "Emma’s right down the hall and you’re sick."

"I’m going to marry you, Willow. There’s nothing sick about loving you." Tara’s hand wiggled back to Willow’s breast as she teased her lover.

"That’s not what I meant, doofus." Willow rolled her eyes and caught Tara’s errant hand. "You’re ill."

"Well, I think you did." Tara tried her best to sound offended. "You’d better make love to me right now so I know you didn’t." She rolled over and pinned Willow to the bed. "Or you could just relax and let me make love to you." She leaned down and nuzzled her lover’s neck.

"Oh, goddess." Willow didn’t want Tara taxing herself but every touch of her lover’s hands was making her forget why. "Tara, oh, we shouldn’t … we … oh goddess, a little to your left."

Tara smiled as her hand moved exactly where Willow wanted it. "I love you," she whispered and then pressed her lips to Willow’s.

Any thoughts of resisting Tara’s attentions were forgotten. Willow groaned and arched her back. "Ta-ra," Willow whispered brokenly. "Don’t stop, baby."

Tara laughed evilly and doubled her ravenous touches. "I thought you didn’t want to," she pointed out as she ducked under the blankets.

"I changed my mind." Willow yanked the covers up over her own head and disappeared under the soft sheets with her lover. "Now kiss me." She giggled and pulled Tara closer.

Tara happily complied.

*****

Willow awoke and immediately noticed two things; she was naked, and she was alone. She sat up with a perplexed frown on her face and looked around the room. The room was semi-dark with the only light coming through the window from the rising sun. Willow looked down at the empty bed and sighed. Just when she was about to break into a full-blown pout, the door opened.

Tara tiptoed through the door balancing a tray. She put the tray onto the dresser and closed the door. The blonde witch was going out of her way to be quiet, so Willow snuggled back into the covers and pretended to be asleep.

Willow heard muted rustling and her curiosity got the best of her. She opened one eye and saw Tara slipping out of her clothes. It was too tempting, so she sat up and openly stared at her lover.

Tara had her back to the bed so she had no idea she had an audience watching her every move. She put her nightgown on a chair and quietly picked up the tray and turned to see Willow sitting wide eyed in the center of the bed.

"Willow!" Tara squeaked. She almost dropped the tray in her shock.

"Well, hello there." Willow licked her lips and gaped at her beautiful lover.

"I brought y-you breakfast." Tara smiled and extended the tray.

"I can see that." Willow’s eyes locked on a target well below the tray.

"Pancakes," Tara said with a snort.

Willow pouted and continued staring at Tara’s other appetizing assets.

"Honey," Tara whined. "We have places to go." She climbed onto the bed and settled the tray onto Willow’s lap. Her lover’s sassy breasts momentarily distracted Tara. Willow was uncovered from the waist up, and now Tara was the one who wanted something for breakfast other than pancakes.

"Oh, sassy eggs!" Willow said as if hearing Tara’s thoughts.

"Uh huh." Tara let go of the tray and couldn’t stop herself from leaning down and tasting her own sassy treat.

"Oh! T-t-tara!" Willow gripped the sides of the tray as her head rolled back and her chest arched into Tara’s mouth. The tray tilted and would have spilled, but Tara grabbed it releasing Willow’s breast in the process.

"Sorry," Tara said with a smirk. "Couldn’t resist."

Willow took a few deep breaths and tried to decide which would be worse, having Tara stop what she had been doing, or losing the tray.

"We’ll have time for that later." Tara bit her lip and gave Willow her half-grin.

"Where are we going?" Willow asked as she picked up her fork and tasted the pancakes. "Oh, these are good," she added around a mouthful of pancakes.

"I guess I can tell you." Tara scooted under the covers and leaned toward Willow and opened her mouth.

The redhead dutifully gave her lover a bite of pancakes.

"These are good." Tara moaned in decadent pleasure.

"Where?" Willow asked as she held out another bite. She pulled it back playfully and waved it in front of her lover as bait.

"We’re going to the cabin where my mom and I used to go every summer. She and I would go up there alone, just the two of us." Tara looked longingly at the bite of pancakes and smiled when Willow gave it to her.

"Is that where you learned to do magic?" Willow asked as she got another bite ready for her lover.

"I did my initiations there," Tara said quietly. "Every degree."

"I … I’ve never been initiated," Willow admitted.

"We could do that after our ceremony," Tara suggested. "Or maybe make a special trip back up here to do it."

Willow smiled and fed Tara another bite of pancakes and then took one for herself. "I love you." She kissed Tara’s cheek and giggled when she left a smear of syrup on her lover’s face. "Oops." She giggled and licked the syrup off, but that only made it worse.

"I’m gonna be covered in syrup by the time you’re done," Tara said with a dramatic sigh. She squirmed as Willow continued chasing syrup. She blushed as she thought of a new use for syrup. She decided she’d pack a bottle of the sticky maple treat to take with them to the cabin.

"You’re better than the pancakes," Willow said as she took the tray and put it onto the dresser.

"Guess we’re gonna’ get a late start." Tara felt the flame of desire spark as she watched Willow lean over the bed. The redhead’s blanket slipped down giving Tara and perfect view of an even more perfect behind. They would definitely get a late start.

*****

"Wait … wait … wait…" Willow shook her head. "No. You cannot be serious." She pointed at the horses saddled and waiting next to the barn. "We are not riding into the mountains to this cabin of yours. No!"

"Honey, you get to ride Trance." Tara smiled and took Willow’s hand. "You like Trance."

"Yeah, but you were almost killed yesterday!" Willow pointed to the arena in the distance. "I’m not letting you anywhere near another horse."

"You’re afraid to let Tara ride?" Emma asked. She covered her mouth with both hands and snickered.

"She was almost killed!" Willow repeated indignantly.

"I fainted," Tara pointed out. "I mean … I almost fainted," she quickly amended. "And now I’m fine. And no, I do not need any more of those disgusting herbs." She glared at Emma just in case the older woman wanted to send an herbal care package along for the ride.

"Are you sure?" Willow looked into Tara’s eyes.

"Honey?" Tara moved closer and wrapped Willow in her arms. "Did I seem tired or worn out last night?" she whispered wickedly.

"Well, no." Willow blushed the color of the nearby barn.

"What exactly did you two do in my guest room?" Emma put her hands on her cheeks and did her best to look shocked. It didn’t work.

"Wouldn’t you like to know," Willow said primly.

"Actually, no." Emma laughed and went over to a small bay mare and checked her pack.

"Why do we have three horses?" Willow seemed to just notice the small mare.

"She’s carrying our stuff," Tara explained. "It’s okay. I’ll lead her."

"Is your horse nice?" Willow eyed the sorrel gelding saddled and waiting for Tara. "Nice like Trance?"

"Tori’s a sweetie," Tara said as she went to the gelding and rubbed his neck. "Hi, Tori. How’ve you been?"

The gelding nickered and shook his head.

Trance whinnied jealously.

"Poor baby." Willow went to the gray horse and rubbed his forehead and then snuck a carrot out of her pocket and gave it to him. "I still love you," she whispered. Willow was amazed at how much she already cared for the sweet horse.

"Fickle." Tara shook her head and sighed. "My best girl and my best horse … both fickle."

"You should get going," Emma said. She went to Tara and handed her a small package. "Be careful." She pulled the young blonde into a hug.

"We will." Tara eased back and studied the package. She knew what was inside and just thinking about it gave her happy butterflies.

"Willow, take care of her. I’ll see you on Saturday." Emma hugged the redhead.

"We will." Willow nodded and then climbed onto Trance with a loud grunt. "He’s bigger than he looks," she said when she finally settled into the saddle.

"Yeah," Tara agreed. She grabbed her saddle horn and gracefully vaulted into the saddle of her much taller horse.

"Show off." Willow rolled her eyes.

"Always." Emma handed Tara the rope to the packhorse. "Be careful," she repeated. She stood on the porch and watched the two witches ride into the dense forest. She remained there for a long time and when she was certain the two were well into the woods she turned toward the house. "Carl!"

"Are they gone?" Carl leaned out the front door with a huge grin on his face.

"Yep. Let’s get a move on. We’ve got tons to do by Saturday." She shooed him into the house and hurried to the phone.

"Miss Tara’s gonna’ skin you alive," Carl said with a broad grin. "She wants simple."

"She’s not having a tiny ceremony." Emma read a number from her phone book and dialed. "Mister Giles? Yes, they just left. Did you get everything I asked for? Okay, hurry." She smiled and hung up.

"She’s gonna’ kill you," Carl said as he went to the kitchen.

"Let her." Emma laughed and hurried outside.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

The mountains on the California north coast offered a unique beauty that mesmerized Willow. Tara had to constantly remind the redhead to watch the trail. Willow would look off into the towering redwoods and simply get lost.

"Honey," Tara said sweetly. She shook her head and watched Trance carefully move along the narrow trail. Tara loved the horse and knew he would keep her distracted lover safe.

"Tara!" Willow spun and saw her lover looking back at her. "Did you see that?" She pointed off to her right. "It’s a waterfall! Well, not a huge waterfall, but it’s water and it’s falling and did you see it?"

"Yes, love." Tara had been smiling all morning and she didn’t think she would stop anytime soon. "You need to pay attention up ahead, okay? We’re gonna’ be on the edge of a … hill. You can see the ocean. You’ll like it."

"Hill?" Willow crinkled her brow. "Are you taking me onto a cliff?"

"It’s a small cliff," Tara admitted.

"Oh, boy," Willow tightened her hold on the saddle horn as they rounded a corner and came out of the trees. "Oh, goddess." Willow pulled Trance to a stop and stared at the view.

"Pretty cool, huh?" Tara waited until her lover nodded.

"Tara, this is so incredible. Thank you for bringing me here." Willow nudged Trance forward and had the urge to lean away from the cliff and into the hillside. "Um, and that’s a big cliff." Willow focused on the path and the fact that Trance didn’t seem to mind the steep cliff off to one side.

After a short distance they headed inland again and Willow could relax and watch the countryside. After another mile she gave up steering and let Trance follow patiently along behind Tara and the other horses. Willow was thoroughly enjoying the beautiful countryside.

"Ready for lunch?" Tara asked. She twisted around and smiled at Willow as she continued along the trail.

"Sure." Willow sighed. "Do you know a good place to stop?"

Tara nodded and gave her horse a gentle nudge. She laughed as she trotted into the treeline. Willow smiled and followed. She caught up just as they crested a hill that overlooked a sprawling meadow.

"One picnic spot, as ordered." Tara climbed down from her saddle and tied her horses to a tree.

They shared a leisurely lunch and then rode another two miles to the cabin. It was more than Willow had ever imagined. The small two-room cabin was on a high bluff that had a view of several low mountains, and in the distance, they could see the ocean. The two witches brushed out the horses and put them into a large paddock and gave them each a large flake of hay. They spent the rest of the day walking around the grassy bluff and talking about their future. Neither witch suspected their joining would be anything more than a simple ceremony, and only Tara knew they would be having guests.

"Tara?" Willow asked as she snuggled on top of her lover.

"What is it, love?" Tara scooted closer. They were snuggled in the queen-sized bed that dominated the one bedroom of the cabin.

"This is so perfect." She sighed and snuggled closer. "I loved watching the sunset with you, especially since there aren’t any fangy nighttime guests out here." She sat up and looked down at Tara. "There aren’t are there?"

"No, honey." Tara giggled and pulled Willow back to her. "Come back here."

"Okay." Willow grunted happily and snuggled into Tara’s arms. "I like it here," she said a bit sadly.

"You wish Buffy could be here for our handfasting," Tara interpreted.

"Well, a little," Willow admitted. "But we’re gonna’ do a reception after we get home, right?"

"Right," Tara said with a smile. "A big reception with food and dancing and little wacky party favors."

"And cake?" Willow asked happily.

"A big cake, with two brides on top," Tara promised. "We can glue little tiny witch hats on them too."

"But no vampires?" Willow inquired.

"No vampires. Well, maybe Spike if he’s being good." Tara giggled. "Or Mister Angel, if you want him there."

"What about rice?"

"For dinner?" Tara rolled over and looked down at Willow. "We can have whatever you want for dinner, honey." Her blue eyes sparkled with mischief.

"To throw, you goof." Willow tickled her lover.

"Oh, to throw." Tara crinkled her brow as she considered the request. "Birdseed is the politically correct tossing item," Tara pointed out.

"Nope. I want politically incorrect rice. White rice, not healthy brown rice." Willow ran her hands down Tara’s back, pausing to massage the muscles of her lower back. " I want old fashioned white rice …. uncooked," she added knowing her lover’s playful streak.

"You can have anything you want." Tara wrapped her fingers in Willow’s hair and leaned down to kiss her. "Anything."

"I have everything I want right here." She caressed Tara’s cheek.

*****

Willow woke up to sound of birds singing. There were not a few birds, there were thousands, maybe millions … or perhaps a dozen hyperactive birds … on birdy crack. They were not sweet melodic, Disney birds. These were Hitchcock birds, and they were singing their beaks off. If they didn’t shut up, Willow was going to cast a birdy laryngitis spell on them. She looked over at Tara and smirked. The blonde was out cold, well not cold, she was quite warm, just the way Willow liked her. The point was, Tara was sleeping soundly, as if the riotous birds outside weren’t even there.

A loud squawk was too much for Willow. It sounded like the bird was pressing his obnoxious beak to the window or maybe it had a miniature bird bullhorn. She rolled away from her lover and another sound interrupted Willow’s mission.

Tara snorted loudly and rolled over in search of her warm lover. "Willow?" the blonde mumbled. She flopped her arm wildly trying to find her missing lover and then whimpered pitifully.

"Right here, baby." Willow scooted back into place and pulled Tara into her arms. The demonic birds could wait.

An hour later Tara woke up to find Willow studying her. "What?" Tara asked shyly.

"You sleep so … so … like you do everything, with your whole heart," Willow said wistfully.

Tara twisted her lip into a wry grin and crinkled one brow.

"Really," Willow insisted. "You don’t just rest. You dive into sleep, you make love to it, and I watch you and wish I could be there with you, so I could feel all of that passion."

"You are there with me." Tara covered her mouth with the back of her hand as she yawned. "Every night in my dreams."

"What’s on the agenda today?" Willow asked. Her voice cracked and she looked away. Tara never ceased to amaze her.

"Just you and me." She turned Willow back to face her. "That’s the only agenda."

"Well then." Willow wiggled excitedly. "I declare this the first annual naked cabin day. No clothing. None. Nada. Zero clothing."

Tara smiled tolerantly. "Honey?"

"Yes?" Willow drew the word out as she snuggled closer to her lover.

Tara tossed the covers back and the chilled air slammed their bodies like a bucket of ice water. Willow squealed and yanked the blanket back into place.

"Naked cabin day is officially canceled!" She shivered and rubbed her body against Tara like a cat in heat. "Warm me up. Now!"

"I can do that." Tara disappeared under the blankets with a giggle.

"Not what I had in mind," Willow admitted. She smiled and let out a contended purr. "Nice. Much better. Definitely feeling warmer now."

*****

"Where is this place?" Buffy stared out the window at the increasingly dense forest.

"And why does it have to be on a road shaped like a freaking snake going through a picket fence?" Xander was two shades past green, not surprising since he could get car sick driving a lawn mower down a drag strip.

"Are you gonna’ vomit?" Anya asked. "We should really pull over if you’re going to vomit because vomit can be very messy. Especially after that greasy breakfast you had. I don’t want to see that vomit."

"Anya, could you stop saying the ‘v’ word?" Please?" Xander pleaded. He rested his face against the cool window and closed his eyes.

"Rupert, maybe you should pull over," Jenny suggested.

"He gets this way whenever we travel." Giles didn’t even glance in Xander’s direction. "He bellyaches and makes me pull over and nothing. It’s all in his head."

"Um, Giles, I think that’s a good idea." Buffy saw Xander’s face contort and she scooted away from him.

"Hey," Dawn gave Buffy a shove as she crowded her, then she saw Xander. "Giles, Now!"

"What is—" Giles looked back at Xander. "Oh, dear lord. Don’t you dare." He pulled to the side of the road. "Not in my car."

"Window," Xander said as he covered his mouth. "Door!" He leaned forward. "Some form of an exit, please!"

Jenny jumped out even before the car stopped. Xander barely made it out of the car before he was sick. He staggered over to the weeds and continued retching.

"Xander? Honey pie? Can I get you anything?" Anya went to his side and rubbed his back.

"Willow owes me big time," Xander groaned.

"Well, on the bright side, Buffy told me Tara took Willow horseback riding." Anya smiled gleefully. "Willow hates horses. I’m sure she’s miserable."

Xander lifted his head and stared at Anya and a smile slowly covered his face. "Good." His eyes widened and he leaned over and lost the last of his greasy breakfast.

"Well, at least he didn’t make you pull over for nothing," Buffy cheerfully told Giles.

"Charming." Giles rested his forehead on the steering wheel.

"I hope a pony bites Willow," Xander grumbled as he came back to the car. "Who gets married in the woods? Are they bears or lesbians?"

"Lesbians like the outdoors," Anya explained. "It’s a good excuse to wear flannel."

"And boots," Jenny chimed in. "Can’t forget the boots."

"That’s right," Anya said as she helped Xander into the back seat. "All lesbians have boot fetishes. It’s very bizarre."

"Dear lord, now we have two Anyas." Giles glared at Jenny. "Don’t encourage her."

Jenny smiled innocently and shrugged. The ‘what am I doing?’ was implied.

"You were encouraging her, and you know it." Giles frowned at her.

"Was not," Jenny whispered.

Buffy and Dawn exchanged knowing looks in the back seat and began to giggle.

"Bloody hell." Giles started his car. "Why are they doing this in the middle of the woods. It’s uncivilized."

"We covered that," Jenny said dryly

"Flannel and boots, remember?" Anya added helpfully. "It’s like lesbian bait."

"Works better than a Melissa Etheridge CD," Jenny said seriously.

Giles groaned and tried to ignore his traveling companions.

*****

Naked cabin day turned into scantly clad cabin and forest day. Willow and Tara spent the day romping in the meadow near the cabin and riding along the bluff. Part of that time was spent gloriously naked. They made love under a tall redwood near the cabin and Willow’s screams frightened most of the local wildlife. The redhead had smiled and commented something about ‘paybacks for the damn demon birds.’

Their meals were simple and satisfying. Emma had arranged for the cabin to be completely stocked and the two witches fully enjoyed themselves. Emma had also made sure they had plenty of magical supplies so the two could ready themselves for their handfasting. The cabin had a huge wood stove and a wood heated hot tub on an enclosed deck. They put both to good use.

When night fell, they lit candles in the meadow and did a prehandfasting ritual to rid themselves of all past troubles and concerns. They wanted to enter their union with a clean slate. After another night of tender lovemaking, they went to sleep knowing it was the last night they would ever spent unbound.

"I’m going to kill them all," Willow mumbled as one eye cracked open. The demon birds had returned and apparently brought company. The chattering from the day before was nothing compared to the cacophony of squawks outside the window.

"What is it, darling?" Tara opened her eyes and ran her hand through Willow’s rumpled hair.

"Evil birds," Willow whined. "Interrupting my sleepy time.

"My poor baby." Tara scooted closer and smoothed every wild strand of red hair into place. She then kissed every inch of Willow’s face with fluttering kisses.

Willow murmured and wiggled closer to her lover.

"Better?" Tara settled Willow onto her chest and began softly humming to the disgruntled witch.

"Much." Willow sighed contentedly.

"What do we do today?" Willow asked after a few minutes.

"We get married, silly." Tara gave her lover a squeeze.

"I know that." Willow sat up and gave Tara a crooked grin. "What does that include?"

"You, me, a priestess, a lake, a ceremony … you know, basic stuff." Tara was being intentionally vague and it was driving Willow insane.

"Darling, I love you and I trust you, but if you don’t tell me what you have planned, I’m going to tickle you until you scream." She moved her hand down to Tara’s belly to prove her point. "Enough surprises. I’m surprised out. I want info, darn it," she added in a pathetic whine.

"Okay," Tara relented. "We’ll feed the horses and have breakfast, and then we’ll ride about two miles up the mountain to a small lake. Emma and Carl are meeting us there. You and I will each have ritual baths … separately, and then Emma will perform the ceremony down by the water."

"Emma can do that?" Willow couldn’t believe how much effort Tara and her friends had put into the handfasting on such short notice, then an idea occurred to her. "How long have you been planning this?"

Tara blushed.

"Tara?" Willow straddled her lover and ran her fingers through her blonde hair. "How long?"

"Since before Glory … hurt me," Tara admitted. "I wanted it to be perfect. I just never knew when we were gonna’ get around to it."

"It will be perfect," Willow promised.

"I’m sorry Buffy and the others aren’t here."

"Tara, you and I are here. That’s all that matters." She pressed her lips to Tara’s and tried to show her beloved exactly how much she appreciated her efforts. The kisses became deeper and Willow’s hands began to roam. A whinny in the distance broke the moment.

"That’s Trance," Tara said breathlessly. "He’s hungry."

"So am I." Willow slid her hand between her lover’s thighs and reminded Tara exactly what the ravenous witch wanted for breakfast.

"Wil-low…" Tara’s eyes fluttered shut and she bit her lip. "Umm," she whimpered as another whinny echoed outside.

"I guess we should be good horse mommies and feed them?" Willow asked as she kissed Tara’s neck.

It was moment before Tara could answer. Her breath was stolen by Willow’s roaming lips. "Um, yeah," Tara stammered. "Feed them. Good idea."

"Let’s hurry so I can finish what I started." Willow started to ease away, but her hand detoured and she took possession of Tara’s mouth and her hand did the same below. She enjoyed both explorations for a moment and then pulled back and waggled her eyebrows at Tara.

"Oh, sweet goddess!" Tara took in a gulp of air and decided the horses could wait a few hours.

"Oh, yeah, I need to finish what I start … but…" Willow removed her hand and rolled out of bed. "Come on, we’ve got chores, missy." She shifted from foot to foot on the cold oak floor.

"You’re evil," Tara accused. Her entire body was throbbing, and there were turbo-charged throbs in one particular area.

"Maybe next time, you’ll tell me about the surprises sooner." Willow quickly dressed and ran into the next room.

"She is so dead," Tara grumbled. She dressed slowly completely distracted by her lingering arousal. When she went into the kitchen she found Willow struggling to start a fire in the wood stove.

"I was gonna’ start the fire while you fed the horsies, but I’m having some trouble," Willow said without lifting her head. She was bending over and looking into the wood stove. Tara grabbed her around the waist and pulled her to a standing position and kissed her neck.

"You started a fire already." Tara’s hands moved over Willow’s breasts. Her nipples were already rock hard and sensitive thanks to the chill in the room. "You left me very warm," Tara whispered as she gently bit Willow’s throat.

"Oh." Willow swallowed and her legs went weak. Tara could ignite her passion instantly and at the moment the blonde witch was doing just that. "Okay, back to bed," Willow said as she spun and kissed Tara roughly. "Right now," she growled as she tugged her lover toward the door.

"Nope." Tara extricated herself from Willow’s embrace and walked out of the cabin. "Hungry horses, remember?" Tara said sweetly.

"You … we … ah!" Willow glared at the closed door. "Tara!" she yelled to the empty room. "No fair!" She pouted for a moment and then went back to the wood stove. "Two can play at that game, missy." She stuffed newspapers into the wood stove and then crammed enough kindling for three fires in as well. "Incindar!" she said as she pointed at the dry wood. The fire roared to life and Willow had to slam the small door on the stove to contain it. "Leave me all smoldering, will you…" She went to the cupboard yanked the supplies out and slammed them onto the counter.

Tara tended to the horses and hurried back to the cabin. When she came into the kitchen area, she burst into laughter.

"It’s not funny." Willow was covered with white powder. "Stupid flour."

"What happened, baby?" Tara grabbed a towel and began wiping her lover’s face.

"I was frustrated," Willow whined. "Which was all your fault I might add." She folded her arms over her chest as Tara cleaned her cheeks. "I kinda’ slammed the bag on the counter and it poofed out everywhere. That’s poor quality craftsmanship. Bags shouldn’t explode."

"They shouldn’t," Tara agreed. She kissed Willow’s nose and smiled. "I’m sorry I made you all frustrated, baby."

"We were both playing," Willow admitted. She looked like a scolded child, a flour-covered, pouting scolded child.

"Well, at least you get to wear white for the wedding," Tara offered with a crooked grin.

Willow smirked and nodded.

"Come on, darling." She pulled Willow toward the bedroom. "You get a change of clothes and I’ll spark up the hot tub."

"Kay," Willow said pitifully.

Three hours later they were both clean and satisfied. They gathered their things and saddled the horses and rode into the mountains toward the lake.

*****

Jenny sat on a large boulder and stared at the area prepared for the handfasting. The old growth redwoods seemed to reach the clouds, and the grass was emerald green covering the rich soil near their bases. Wild ferns covered the shaded area under the tress and smaller saplings dotted the area to provide contrast. The sacred circle was surrounded by white candles that flickered in the shade of the redwoods and the scent of incense mingled with the fresh forest air. White ribbons hung from branches and quivered in the light breeze and magic hung in the air with the smoke from the candles and incense. It had taken a trunk full of supplies from the magic shop and hours to set everything, but now that it was finished, Jenny was amazed.

"This is incredible," Jenny whispered.

"Indeed." Giles looked down the hillside at the crystal clear lake. It was small, and the shoreline curved around a small bluff in the distance. It looked like a bowl of sapphires.

"Suddenly, I’m not minding the drive into Jellystone park," Buffy said as she rested her hands on her hips. "But if I see one bear, I’m staking it. I don’t care if its name is Yogi and it has a silly hat."

"Tara was very specific," Emma said as she put a large bolt of white silk on the grass in front of a small altar. "She wants this to be perfect."

"This is so cool." Dawn was tying the last of the ribbons onto the low tree branches. "I can’t wait to see Willow’s face."

"Neither can I," Xander said with a dark smile. He had been sick four times on the trip to the ranch the day before, and another three times on the winding dirt road to the lake. He wanted to Willow arrive on horseback. He smiled, remembering the pony incident from their childhood.

"Xander, I hope you’re taking notes." Anya was marching around the wedding area like a general inspecting enemy troops. "This is romantic. You better do something bigger and better than this for our wedding."

"You want horses?" Xander asked. His car sickness was mostly gone and now he was focused on seeing Willow in misery. He chuckled at the thought of the redhead being forced to endure riding a creature that terrified her.

"You really shouldn’t enjoy Willow’s misfortune," Buffy warned.

"What misfortune?" Emma asked. She placed a silver chalice on the altar and went over to where the others were waiting.

"Willow hates ponies," Xander said with a huge, toothy grin. "Almost as much as I hate winding along backwoods, vomit inducing roads."

"Really?" Carl asked. He put a tray of snacks onto a picnic table and turned toward Xander. "Well, she’s not on a pony."

"I know." Xander laughed demonically and did his best mad scientist impression. "Horses are giant ponies." He laughed again and rubbed his hands together. "Giant ponies with huge teeth," he said evilly.

"Here they come," Dawn said excitedly. She pointed to a break in the treeline. Tara came galloping out of the trees on a reddish brown horse.

"Poor Will," Buffy said as she shook her head. She would have expected Tara to take it easy on the redheaded witch.

"Woo hoo!" Willow screamed and she came shooting out of the trees on a white horse. She leaned forward and the horse sped up and caught Tara’s steed and then passed him on the trail.

"No fair!" Tara yelled. She urged her horse on and an all out race ensued.

"She doesn’t look terrified to me," Anya said in a bored tone. "I’ve seen terror, and that ain’t it."

The two witches stampeded to the lakeshore. Willow arrived first and pulled her mount to a stop. Tara was close behind, but when she reached the lake, she maneuvered her horse alongside Trance and hopped onto him behind Willow and hugged her lover. Both witches were laughing and breathing almost as hard as the horses.

"That was so fun," Willow said as she loosened her reins and let Trance walk into the water to get a drink.

"I’m so proud of you." Tara kissed her neck and draped her arms around her waist. "You’re a natural."

"Well, Trance is so sweet, and the galloping? Wow. Fun. Better than a race car." She squeezed Tara’s hands and giggled. "Not that I’ve ever driven a race car but … wow."

"Emma’s gonna’ be so surprised." Tara hugged Willow tightly.

"Oh, where is she?" Willow turned her head and looked around. Her eyes widened when she saw Buffy and the others walking down the hill toward her.

"Surprise," Tara whispered.

"Oh, Tara." Willow burst into tears. She twisted as much as was possible while sitting on a horse and awkwardly hugged her lover. "I love you." She was sobbing and sniffling loudly.

"Now that looks more like terror," Anya said as they neared the witches.

"Look at you, Willow Rosenberg, action horse gal." Buffy whistled in appreciation.

"Buffy, you came." Willow beamed. She twisted around the other way to see her friends and squirmed in the saddle. Trance lifted his head and gave the newcomers a careful once over and then took a few steps onto the shore and began grazing.

"Of course we came," Giles said with an insulted tone.

Tara slid gracefully to the ground and then held her arms up to Willow. The redhead’s dismount was more cautious, but she had the pleasure of Tara’s hands on her waist to steady her.

"So, Willster … horses … you riding of the horses. What’s the story?" Xander smiled despite his lingering nausea. It was obvious how happy his best friend was.

"Tara taught me," Willow said proudly. "She’s like horsie knowledge girl."

The blonde witch blushed.

"I’ll bet that’s not all she taught her," Anya said under her breath.

Jenny giggled and nodded to the former demon and mouthed, ‘Flannel.’

Anya’s eyes widened as she noticed that Willow was indeed wearing a flannel shirt. It was lavender, but it was definitely flannel.

"I’ll separate you two if I must," Giles whispered harshly to Jenny. His eyes betrayed him. He was almost as excited as the two brides were.

Jenny nodded toward Tara and then she moved her eyes to the boots the blonde was wearing. She looked back at Anya and they exchanged knowing smirks.

Giles sighed and tossed his hands into the air.

*****

The witches used two of the small vacation cabins next to the lake as their dressing rooms. Emma knew the owner of the small resort and it was the off season so she convinced him to close it for the weekend.

Tara had burst into tears as soon as she saw the sacred circle. She ran around it, spinning and laughing as she inspected each candle and ribbon. She was shocked that her friends had transformed the forest into an enchanted wedding chapel.

Buffy helped Willow prepare for the handfasting and the two friends spent the time laughing and sharing and bonding. It was a healing time for both. Buffy still hadn’t told Willow about her time in the afterlife, but at least they were sharing good times again.

Willow took her ritual bath with Buffy acting as her assistant. The Slayer brought Willow a white silk robe and two white cotton towels. She did excuse herself while the redhead changed into a simple white cotton dress.

"Buffy, am I ready to be a wife?" Willow fidgeted with the sleeve of her dress.

"Willow, the way you two look at each other … you’re more than ready." Buffy reached into her pocket and pulled out a tiny white box. "Here."

"What is it?" Willow’s eyes lit up like they always did when a present was involved.

"A gift."

"I can see that." Willow lifted the top off of the box and gasped. "This is too much," Willow said. She shook her head. "Is it real?" She looked down a gold chain with a half-karat solitaire diamond on a simple setting.

Buffy nodded. "It’s from me and Dawn."

"But you have no money!" Willow continued shaking her head.

"Mom had a pair of earrings. Dawn and I wanted something special so we had two necklaces made. Giles paid the jeweler." Buffy smiled. "Dawn’s giving Tara hers, so you can’t refuse. Dawn would be crushed."

"Oh, Buffy." Willow pulled the Slayer to a strangle hold that passed for a hug. "Thank you," she whispered.

*****

Emma helped Tara prepare. The older woman was happy to be there for Tara, but it was a bittersweet happiness. She wished Tara’s mother could be there. Emma helped Tara into her white cotton dress and the older woman almost cried.

"Your mom would be so proud," Emma whispered. "Do you have the package I gave you?"

"I kept it with me the entire time, just like you asked." Tara went to her clothes and pulled out the box. "Are these our rings?"

Emma nodded and took the box.

"Thank you for getting them for us." Tara looked down shyly. "It kinda’ wasn’t in our budget and scholarships don’t cover wedding rings."

"I didn’t get these for you," Emma said and she tucked the box into the pocket of her indigo ritual robe. "Your mom did."

Tara furrowed her brow.

"She designed the rings in this box for you and your future wife," Emma said with a smile. "She knew even then."

"But how?" Tara’s throat constricted and she stared at the bulge in the pocket of Emma’s robe.

"She loved you." Emma took Tara’s hands in hers. "She designed these rings and bought enough gold to cast them. She asked me to hold onto the gold and the design until it was time. As soon as you told me the ring sizes, I had them made."

"Mom?" Tara’s eyes filled with tears.

"She loved you, Tara, more than life." She pulled the young witch into her arms and held her. "You were always her girl. Donnie is your father’s son, but you were always your momma’s spitting image in every way."

"She knew? About me?" Tara sniffled.

"Yes, dear." Emma eased Tara out of her arms. "And she loved you just the same."

"You think she’d like Willow?" Tara asked.

Emma laughed and wrapped her arm around Tara. "She’d adore her." She pulled Tara over to a small wooden hope chest and then rested her hand on top of it. "This is for you and Willow. Carl made it from one of the redwoods that came down in a storm. Remember, even when times get bad, something good always comes from rough weather."

"It’s beautiful." Tara ran her hand over the smooth wood. There was a pentagram carved on top of the box and the sides were edged with rune carvings.

"Tara," Emma lifted her young friend’s face so they could lock eyes. "There are two letters inside here, one for you, one for your new bride. Read them after the ceremony."

"Thank you." Tara blushed at the sentimental gesture.

"Honey, they’re from your mom." Emma waited until understanding lit Tara’s eyes and a new wave of tears threatened to fall. "She wanted to be here with you on this day. At least you’ll have her words."

"Oh, goddess." Tara rested both hands on the hope chest and leaned onto it. Her legs felt weak and her heart filled. "Willow’s gonna’ cry," she said as tears rolled down her own cheeks.

"She’s in good company." Emma wiped her own wet cheeks and laughed. "Come on, your bride is waiting."

As they came out of the small cabin Dawn was waiting.

"Hey, Dawnie." Tara held out her arms and hugged the teen.

"This is for you," Dawn shoved the small box at Tara. She shifted from foot to foot and bit her lip.

"Thanks." Tara smiled and opened the box. "Dawn…" She lifted her face and couldn’t speak.

"Do you like it? Buffy’s giving Willow hers…"

"This … your mom’s earrings." Tara recognized the small stone. She had helped Mrs. Summers look for her earrings on several occasions. Dawn’s mother wore them often and she sometimes misplaced them in the flurry of demon activity. She knew that Buffy and Dawn must have spent a lot of time deciding to part with something so precious. She also knew it meant she and Willow were more than friends; they were family.

Dawn smiled. "So, you like it?"

"I love it." Tara pulled Dawn to her chest and held her there until the teen squirmed to get loose. "Thank you," she whispered when she finally let go.

*****

The ceremony began perfectly. Giles led Willow to the edge of the circle and waited with her as Jenny brought Tara to the opposite side. As soon as Willow and Tara saw each other both witches began to cry.

"Why did I even put on make up." Buffy sobbed. "It’s so beautiful." She sniffled and went into full-blown Slayer tears.

"We should have brought more Kleenex," Anya said with a sigh. "I’ve seen her when she gets like this. It’s only gonna’ get worse."

"They have a beautiful love." Buffy grabbed Dawn began wailing. "A beau-ti-ful love."

"Oh, geez. Why I do I get blubbering Buffy?" Dawn wriggled, but her sister wasn’t letting go. Dawn sighed and stiffly patted Buffy’s back. "Yes, it’s a beautiful love. Now shut up so I can hear the ceremony." She shoved a handful of tissues into her sister’s hand.

Buffy pulled away and nodded. "A miraculous love," she whispered and then blew her nose.

"It’s time," Emma said. She smiled at those gathered and then looked at Tara and moved to the edge of the circle in front of her. "How do you enter this circle?"

"In perfect love and perfect trust." Tara took a deep breath and crossed into the circle. She took Emma’s hand and they walked to the silk material spread on the ground.

"Wait here," Emma whispered. She went to the other side of the circle and smiled at Willow. "How do you enter this circle?"

"In perfect love and perfect trust." Willow smiled at Tara as she took Emma’s hand.

The older woman led Willow to her lover and then sealed the circle before returning to the two witches and joining their hands. "Kneel," Emma instructed. She waited until they were settled onto the pristine white silk before she continued.

Giles and Jenny went back to where the others were standing. Jenny took his hand and leaned against his shoulder. He shifted and wrapped his arm around her and kissed her forehead. "I love you, Jenny," he whispered.

Jenny looked up at him and squeezed her arms around his chest. Their eyes met and then they turned and listened to the ceremony.

Emma took her athame from the altar and held it to the East. "Blessed be by the element of air. May this union be blessed with communication, intellectual growth, and wisdom," she said with a warm smile.

Willow squeezed Tara’s hand and blinked back a fresh set of tears. Tara was her touchstone. The blonde witch offered all that Emma just mentioned.

Emma turned toward the South and raised her athame. "Blessed be by the element of fire. May this union be blessed with harmony, vitality, creativity, and passion." She smiled at the two witches.

Tara listened to Emma’s words and thought of Willow. She had all of those qualities in abundance.

Emma turned to the West.

"Blessed be by the element of water. May this union be blessed with friendship, intuition, caring, understanding, and love," Emma said to the sky.

The two witches grinned and looked into each other’s eyes. They already shared those blessings.

Emma finally turned to the North and raised the athame.

"Blessed be by the element of earth. May this union be blessed with tenderness, happiness, compassion, and sensuality." Emma cleared her throat and raised one eyebrow letting Tara and Willow know she thought they had that aspect covered as well.

Anya snorted and elbowed Jenny. ‘They had sex in the priestess’ house,’ Anya mouthed. It was as close to being subtle as Anya got.

Jenny looked over at her new cohort and smirked. ‘Oh yeah,’ she mouthed silently.

Giles quietly cleared his throat and watched as Emma went to the altar and lifted an ancient brass bell and rang it twice.

"Hear me, you guides and guardians of Willow and Tara." Emma held the bell over the young couple’s heads. "What you once did for one, you must now do for two. By the power of the Goddess, I charge you to perform your tasks with love and compassion, blessing this couple each day anew." She turned and put the bell away and picked up two unlit white candles and gave one to each witch.

Willow squirmed nervously. She looked over and saw Tara biting her lip.

"The sharing of a life-path is not to be undertaken lightly," Emma said as she turned and took a candle from the center of the altar. She turned toward the young lovers and smiled. "It requires much love, commitment, trust, and work. Many times it also requires compromise of desires. Life’s path may become rocky with illness, periods of financial troubles, sorrow, or a host of little nagging difficulties. Look upon these as tests of your love and dedication to each other."

Both witches nodded as they listened.

"Each of you is giving your heart and dreams into the keeping of the other," Emma said reverently. "Do not break the trust you have been given, for it is sacred before the Goddess. If you can speak in honesty before the Goddess Herself, answer ‘I will.’"

"I will," Tara said as she looked at Willow and almost swooned.

"I will," Willow’s voice cracked and she gave her lover a crooked grin.

"Here are the outward symbols of your inner dedication to each other," Emma said as she carefully held out her lit candle to the young witches. "Before these witnesses, light the candle of your chosen mate and pledge your troth."

Willow took a deep breath and went first. She lit her candle and then waited for Tara to do the same.

"I have chosen you above all others. I share with you my love and the light of the Goddess," Willow said. She let out a relieved sigh. She was scared, petrified, that she would forget the words to the oath.

Tara smiled and squeezed the candle she was holding. "I have chosen you above all others. I share with you my love and the light of the Goddess." She let out a breath and shared a smirk with her lover. They had rehearsed the lines at their cabin, but now the simple oath seemed to carry more weight.

"Give your love the light you carry," Emma said as she put her own candle back on the altar.

Willow and Tara exchanged candles. It was difficult because both witches were nervous and their hands were shaking uncontrollably. When they were finished, Emma extended a candle snuffer.

"You forever carry your love’s light within," she said as she snuffed each candle. She took them and placed them on the altar and turned with a caldron in her hands. She knelt in front of the two witches and carefully positioned the caldron so it was near the silk but not touching it.

"Are they gonna’ make a brew?" Xander whispered.

"Shh," Anya said as she squeezed his arm. "Brews are for the reception, you idiot."

Emma reached into the caldron and pulled out three ribbons. She untangled them and held them up for everyone to see. She nodded to Willow and Tara and the witches scooted closer together. Willow reached across Tara and rested her left hand over Tara’s left. They intertwined their fingers and waited.

"These ribbons symbolize the Triple Goddess in Her aspects of Maiden, Mother, and Wise One." Emma pulled the white ribbon loose and wrapped it around their locked hands. "White is the Maiden, the bringer of new life and new goals."

Tara shivered as a flash of energy washed through her. She glanced over at Willow and smiled. Willow had felt it too.

"Red is the Mother, the Creatrix of growth and sometimes changes," Emma said as she pulled the red ribbon loose and tied it around their hands.

Tara inhaled sharply. She felt a tingling in her belly. She looked over but apparently Willow had not felt that surge.

"Black is the Wise One, the keeper of the cauldron, the one who ends all life and prepares for new beginnings," Emma said as she tied the final strand around their joined hands. "This is the pattern of all life-paths, that our lives begin new cycles, they grow, and then they either change to new beginnings or they die."

Willow’s eyes widened as she felt a flash of power. She squeezed Tara’s hand and raised an eyebrow. Tara smiled cryptically.

"Can you accept this?" Emma asked as she clasped her hands over their bound wrists.

"Yes," Willow and Tara said in unison. They smiled at each other and both women shifted nervously on their knees.

Emma reached into her pocket and removed the rings. She held the simple gold bands on her palm for Willow and Tara to see. The bands had a simple wave design reminiscent of ancient Greece. They were exactly what the two would have chosen for their bonding.

"Oh, Tara," Willow whispered hoarsely. Her eyes widened and she looked up at Emma with a guilty expression.

Emma smiled, letting Willow know her outburst hadn’t interrupted the ritual.

‘I love them,’ Willow mouthed silently.

"These rings are a symbol of your love and the sacred circle. They are also a blessing from one who loves you eternally." Emma ran her fingers over the bands.

"Who … what … huh?" Xander asked.

"What he said," Buffy whispered. "I’ve followed along just fine until now … now I’m lost," she added in hushed tones.

Giles looked to Jenny, but she shrugged.

"These rings were designed before Tara ever met Willow, but I have no doubt Willow was meant to wear this band." Emma handed Tara Willow’s ring.

"This one was meant for Tara and was created in perfect love." She gave Tara’s ring to Willow.

The two witches could feel the magic in the rings. They waited as Emma paused to collect her thoughts. Emma cleared her throat and had to wipe her eyes before she could continue.

"Tara’s mother, my best friend, designed these rings for this day." Emma smirked as she watched Willow’s eyes almost pop out of her head. "I had them forged as soon as Tara told me of their engagement, from that design."

"Dead women give the best gifts," Anya whispered. She smiled and ran her hand over the beautiful gown she and Jenny picked out during their recent shopping spree.

"Tara," Emma said patiently. She nodded at the nervous blonde witch.

"With this ring I offer my eternal pledge of love," Tara whispered shakily. She waited until Willow nodded her acceptance of the offer and then slid the ring onto her finger. "Yay," Tara whispered as she wiggled excitedly.

Willow’s smile continued to grow. She waited until Tara had the ring in place and then spoke. "With this ring I offer my eternal pledge of love." She looked up and giggled at her lover. Tara was nodding enthusiastically as she slipped the ring on and sighed happily.

"May you always stand together, but not too close together," Emma said as she untied the white ribbon. "May you be as one, but keep your own self free." She undid the red. "May you love fully, but not smother with that love." She unfastened the black ribbon and took all three and closed Willow and Tara’s hands over them. "And may you walk the path of the Goddess each day of your lives. So mote it be."

"Why did she untie them?" Xander was confused. "I thought this was the hand tying deal?"

"They have to be able to cruise around at the reception," Anya pointed out.

Emma lifted a chalice over the newlyweds. "By the power of the Goddess granted to me, I declare Willow and Tara joined in handfasting. Goddess, as Your Priestess, I ask that You bless this fair company with joy and happiness. To all the goddesses! Blessed Be!" She sipped from the chalice and then handed it to Tara.

Tara smiled and held the silver cup for Willow to sip from. When Willow was finished she took the chalice and gave Tara a sip as well.

One final ritual had to be performed. Emma took a broom and placed it on the ground at the edge of the white silk. "Over the broom and into new life!" she said as she helped both women stand.

Tara and Willow, witches, friends, lovers, and now wives, held hands and jumped over the broom and giggled.

"Let us rejoice with our friends and celebrate their special time, for the Goddess is honored by joy and love. You may kiss your wife," Emma said to both of them.

"Oh, smoochies." Willow draped her arms over Tara’s shoulders and leaned into her.

"Wifely privilege," Tara whispered. She nudged Willow’s lips and then took a slow, sensuous taste of her wife’s mouth. She dug her fingers into Willow’s hair and held her as she kissed her passionately.

"Go, Tara!" Anya yelled.

"Um, quickly moving into the ‘get a room’ category." Buffy cleared her throat and looked away.

"Nice technique," Jenny joked, but she did turn discretely away.

"Very nice," Anya chimed in when Willow reached behind Tara and squeezed her butt with both hands.

"Ladies?" Emma cleared her throat. "Save something for the honeymoon." She waited until both witches broke apart and regained their composure.

"Sorry, kinda’ got caught up." Willow blushed.

"She does that to me," Tara added as her face shaded the same red as her lover’s.

Emma faced the small crowd and smiled. "Tara and Willow are bound. Let no one come between them. Offer them your guidance when they ask it, your help when they need it, and your love so long as your souls exist."

"Here, here," Giles said as he turned away and took off his glasses.

"Cool," Dawn said happily.

"They have a miraculous love," Buffy blubbered.

"Oh geez." Dawn escaped while she could.

"Uh…" Xander was too slow. Buffy grabbed him and sobbed into his perfectly pressed shirt. "Man," he whined. He looked for Anya but she was off with Jenny whispering near the snack table.

Tara and Willow made the rounds and got hugs from their friends. Buffy pulled Willow aside.

"Okay, so any chill in the region of the feet?" Buffy asked.

"No cold feet here." The smile that lit Willow’s face almost made Buffy gasp. "Warm feet. Happy, toasty warm feet." She turned her head and sighed when she saw Tara next to the table talking to Dawn. "Definitely no cold feet," she added in an emotion filled whisper.

"Good." Buffy lifted her friend’s hand up and eyed her new wedding ring. "Wow."

"It’s beautiful, isn’t it?" Willow eyed the ring, turning her hand over so she could see it from the other side. "I can’t believe Tara’s mom did this."

"It’s special," Buffy said sincerely. "Just like Tara."

"Yeah." Willow twisted her neck as she looked over at Tara. The blonde was now off talking to Giles.

"She’s not goin’ anywhere, Will." Buffy rolled her eyes.

"I know." Willow turned around with a classic pout. "But, hello? I just married her and everyone’s all stealing her." She spun around and let out a squeak as Anya pulled the blonde witch away.

"It’s called a reception. We steal you both. That’s the idea." Buffy snickered when she saw Tara turn and look for Willow. Tara’s eyes lit up when she found her lover’s eyes. "Geez, you two are impossible." She grabbed Willow and pulled her over to where Tara was talking to Anya.

"Hi," Tara said as her entire face beamed.

"Tara, Willow, now is a good time for the first dance." Buffy shoved the two witches together.

"There’s no music," Anya pointed out.

"Yeah, like that matters." Buffy yanked Anya away as they left the two witches alone.

"I missed you," Tara said as she pulled Willow into her embrace.

"Me too." Willow rested her arms on Tara’s shoulders and purred like a cat in the sun when Tara’s hands rubbed her back.

"Willow?" Tara’s eyes filled with tears.

"Yeah, baby?"

"I love being your wife." Tara smiled shyly and dipped her head down.

"Oh, Tara." Willow lifted her beloved’s chin and held her gaze. "I love being married to you." She leaned up and left a sweet kiss on her wife’s lips. When the kiss was finished, another started and their passion flared.

"Now that’s what I call dancing," Xander said loudly. He flicked on the stereo system and began playing a slow song.

Jenny grabbed Giles and led him to a quiet spot and they danced without saying a word.

Buffy watched, feeling her loneliness bite like a blast of arctic wind. She was happy for her friends, but as she looked around, she realized that she was truly alone. Even Anya and Xander were getting married. She rolled her eyes as Anya danced with Xander. The former demon kept pointing to Willow and Tara and warning Xander that he had to look more in love than they currently did at their wedding. ‘Not gonna’ happen,’ Buffy thought as she looked back at the two witches. They were lost in each other, their eyes locked as they slowly swayed with the music. Anya stormed off to talk to Jenny.

"Hey," Dawn interrupted. "So, I guess us Summers women have to go solo."

"Yeah." Buffy stared at Willow wondering when her shy, nerdy friend had grown into such a beautiful young woman.

"So… horses?" Dawn asked.

"Sure." Buffy spun and the two sisters went to pet the horses grazing in the meadow.

Giles sat at the table staring at Jenny. She was across the meadow helping Anya plot something. The two women had become as thick as thieves and Giles began to wonder what the two might be planning.

"We can’t do that," Jenny said as if she was reacting to Giles’ concern.

"Why not?" Anya asked. She marched past Jenny and went over and tapped Willow on the shoulder. The redhead didn’t respond immediately because she was in the middle of a heated kiss. "Can I cut in?"

"Cut in?" Willow broke the kiss and gave Anya a confused look. Tara was too dazed by the kiss to do more than just stand there wearing a silly grin.

"For a dance, not the kiss," Anya clarified. She furrowed her brow as she considered that." Well, actually … if that really is an opt—"

"I’d love to dance with you," Tara said before Anya could complete the sentence. She pulled the ex-demon away and they danced with a respectable distance between them.

"Dancing good." Xander grabbed Willow and waltzed her away even though the song didn’t resemble a waltz in any way.

"I…" Willow leaned past Xander and looked longingly at Tara.

"So, how’s the married part of the married life treating you?" Xander spun Willow and got her attention. "Anything scary yet? Tara whipping out curlers for her hair at night? Cold cream covered faces making a guest appearance? Any sign of fuzzy pink wife slippers?"

"No, Xander." Willow rolled her eyes and giggled. "Although, we haven’t spent a night as an old married couple yet. She could have packed slippers and curlers."

Xander’s eyes bulged.

"Kidding," Willow said with another giggle.

"That is so not funny," Xander whined. "Anya’s already turning into the queen of nesting. Next thing you know, she’s gonna’ want plans for a nursery."

Willow smiled cryptically and looked over at Tara. She wondered what their daughter was going to look like. ‘Will she have Tara’s eyes?’ she thought to herself. ‘I hope so.’

Tara had her own situation to handle.

"So, do you feel any different? Magically monogamous?" Anya inquired. "I’ve done vengeance spells on tons of husbands. They stray. Does having a witchy wedding mean no straying? Because I don’t want to ever have to call my ex-boss again."

"Xander would never stray," Tara assured Anya. She smiled and tilted her head to one side as they danced. "Why would he? You’re everything he could ever want, and more."

"Thank you." Anya pulled Tara a bit closer. "Just bonding, not jumping the sexual fence or anything. Though in my younger days, I did have quite the swinging gate installed." She waggled her eyebrows. "Men … women… men … women. Fences are stupid."

Tara blushed.

"But even if I still had that gate, I’d stay outa’ your yard," Anya assured her. "I mean, Willow is so not my type, and you, well, look at you. Sure, you’re beautiful and soft and curvey … and you’ve got that sweet smile and the captivating blue eyes … and the really kind heart … and…" Anya swallowed with a loud gulp. "But you’re with Willow. The powerful and sometimes frightening witch. Married to her. Go, marriage! Yay, marriage. Soon to be married myself." She smiled proudly, impressed that she had so skillfully saved the conversation before it became awkward. She snuggled closer and rested her head on Tara’s shoulder. "And soft. Can’t forget soft," she whispered. "Not that I have a gate anymore."

Tara’s jaw dropped, but she managed to keep dancing.

"My turn," Jenny said as she tapped Anya on the shoulder. She took Tara in her arms and they danced as the ex-demon wandered off to find Xander.

"Thanks," Tara said shakily.

"Anya say something mean?" Jenny brushed a stray lock of hair out of Tara’s face.

"No," Tara said as she let out a long breath of air. "That I’m used to."

Jenny smirked and raised one eyebrow.

"She was nice," Tara said nervously. "Too nice." She shivered. She wasn’t used to anyone noticing her looks, and certainly not in a positive way. Growing up, her father had constantly told her how ugly and fat she was.

"Hey, you’re beautiful," Jenny said. She could see the emotions play across Tara’s face and after having shared a body with her, she had a pretty good idea what was causing her such anguish. Her brief stay inside Tara’s mind had given her glimpses into a childhood fraught with sadness and pain.

"Having someone notice isn’t always a good thing." Tara smiled shyly and looked over at Willow. The redhead was dancing with Giles. She didn’t even want to imagine Willow’s reaction to Anya’s comments about the gate.

"Willow needs to rein in that temper." Jenny said quietly. "She needs to rein in a few things."

"She has been," Tara said proudly. "No magic the entire weekend."

"Well, good." Jenny let out a relived sigh. "Very good." She twirled Tara and headed toward Willow so they could swap partners.

The rest of the reception passed in a blur. It was a small party, and other than a single layer wedding cake, it could have been mistaken for an informal gathering. When the sun began sinking toward the west, Tara regretfully told the others that she and Willow had to go. They changed clothes and rode back to their cabin. They spent their first night as a married couple completely blocked off from the outside world. It was perfect.

*****

The sun rose and the birds began their morning serenades. Willow groaned and pulled her pillow over her head. Tara had made certain that the redhead didn’t get more than a few minutes of sleep the previous night.

"Shut up," Willow whimpered from under the pillow.

"What?" Tara’s eyes flickered open and she blinked as she studied the pillow that was pressed over Willow’s head. "Honey?" Tara smirked and wriggled her face under the pillow in search of her wife. "Willow?"

"Make them shut up," Willow whimpered.

"Who, baby?" Tara giggled and snuggled closer. She kissed Willow’s cheek when she finally found her hiding place.

"Evil birds," Willow mumbled.

"Ignore them." Tara tossed the pillow off so she could see her lover. "Happy day after our wedding, my wife." She bit her lip and her eyes lit with mischief.

"Ignore them?" One of Willow’s eyes pried open. She smiled unconsciously as soon as she saw Tara. "How do I do that when someone kept me up all night long?"

"Complaining?" Tara kissed her wife’s cheek. She was rewarded with a happy sigh from Willow, so she shifted her weight and kissed the other side as well.

"About you keeping me up?" Willow opened both eyes. "Never." She ran her hand through Tara’s tangled hair and smirked. "About the hell-spawn that pass for birds around here? Yes."

"Want me to ask them to leave?" Tara leaned down and kissed Willow’s neck. It was too tempting so she stole a bite that quickly turned into a series of kisses.

"Don’t stop what you’re doing," Willow ordered. "I’ll just zap the birds with a silence spell." She twisted to get a good angle at the window.

"Willow." Tara sat up and looked down at her lover with a concerned expression.

"Kidding," Willow said as she pulled Tara back to her. "Kiss my neck," she said with a pout. She frowned knowing she could have easily silenced the birds.

Tara locked eyes with her lover. "You really were kidding, right?"

"Yes, darling. I haven’t used magic the entire time we’ve been here." Willow smiled as Tara pressed down on her. She didn’t mention the one teeny tiny fire-starting spell she had used because it was so tiny it shouldn’t count.

"Good." Tara took possession of Willow’s mouth and didn’t relent until her wife was moaning and writhing under her like a basket of highly aroused snakes, only the redhead was much cuter. "No more magic unless it’s an emergency." Tara began loving Willow. She was relieved that her wife seemed to finally be using magic more responsibly.

"Absolutely," Willow agreed. Of course, what Willow considered an emergency was far different than what Tara did. Willow decided to forget about spells for the moment because Tara was working her own magic with her beautiful, enchanted mouth. Besides, what Tara didn’t know, wouldn’t hurt her.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Jenny and Anya were just unpacking their latest spoils from the mall wars when Willow and Tara arrived back from their honeymoon.

"Hey, looky here," Xander said with a huge smile. "It’s the wild, witchy wives. Welcome back." He came out from behind the counter. He had been delegated to shopkeeper while Anya fondled her latest purchases. "So?" he asked. "Was the honeymoon full of honey with plenty of moon?"

"Plenty of moon?" Dawn asked with a confused expression.

"Witches like moons," Xander insisted. "And … and… honey is good in tea." He pulled Willow into a hug. "I missed ya, Wills."

"Me too," she answered and then inhaled sharply and bowed her body away from him.

"That’s a non-Willow reaction to a Xander hug." His concern showed on his expressive face.

"Tara, welcome back." Dawn pulled the blonde witch into a hug. Tara held a special place in her heart, something more than a friend, something almost maternal, and while Dawn may not have a word for it, she cherished it.

"We missed you, Dawnie." Tara pulled away and grimaced.

"There it is again." Xander pointed. "That ouchy response. Is this a married thing? Are you not allowed to hug anyone else?" He spun and gave Anya a terrified glared. "Hugging is harmless."

"Relax, Xander." Willow snorted. "It’s just our tattoos."

The room went dead silent. Buffy stumbled out of the storeroom with a jar of newt eyes dangling in her hand.

"Just little ones." Tara smiled and bit her lip.

"You both got them?" Buffy asked. She spun around and pointed the jar full of newt eyes at Dawn. "No way. No way in hell are you getting one," she insisted as she anticipated her sister’s interest.

"You got tattoos?" Dawn ignored her sister completely. "Where are they? I wanna’ see ‘em."

Tara scooted closer and took Willow’s hand. Both witches blushed.

Anya saw their reaction and the twin blush. "Now I wanna’ see them too!" She waggled her eyebrows. "Come on, show some skin."

"Anya, what on earth are you talking about?" Giles asked as he wandered up the basement stairs for the tail end of the conversation. "No, on second thought, I’m sure I don’t want to know." He shivered and went over to Jenny and kissed her cheek. "Though I’m sure you corrupted the conversation in some manner."

"I haven’t had time to corrupt the conversation." Jenny smiled sweetly. "Give me five minutes." She waggled her eyebrows.

"I think not," he answered with a quirky grin.

"I wanna’ see the tattoos," Dawn whined.

"Okay," Willow said with a sigh. She shrugged her overnight bag to the floor and began unbuttoning her jeans.

"Whoa, let me get a closer look at this." Xander hurried closer.

"Exactly where are these tattoos?" Buffy raised an eyebrow and took Dawn by the arm.

"N-nowhere bad," Tara stuttered. She pushed her skirt carefully down on her hips and then lifted her blouse. "See?" she asked shyly.

"Don’t touch!" Willow backed away as Dawn tried to touch her tattoo. "Still sore," Willow explained with an embarrassed smirk.

"It’s so cool." Dawn bent down and studied the simple black scrollwork that went one quarter of the way around Willow’s navel. "Is it Celtic?"

"It’s pre-Celtic," Tara said. She blushed even darker as Buffy leaned closer to see her navel. "A tribe of Amazons in an area just outside what became Mesopotamia designed these tattoos. Some of their members immigrated to Greece and some went to the British Isles."

"I want one." Dawn stood and raised one eyebrow defiantly. "I’m getting one," she told her sister.

Before Buffy could respond, Anya intervened.

"I wouldn’t suggest that," Anya said as she examined the tattoos.

Tara and Willow were shaking their heads vigorously.

"What’s it mean?" Dawn asked as she realized the symbols might have a specific significance.

"Who cares what it means," Anya said with a snort. "Ask what it does."

"What does it do?" Dawn asked, her voice full of awe. "It’s magic?" She spun and gave Buffy her best pout. "I want one!" She ran her fingers around the edge of Tara’s tattoo.

"Um, Dawnie…" Tara smirked. "These tattoos … are gonna’ help me get pregnant."

"What?" Dawn jumped back and rubbed her hand on her jeans as if she was going to catch the condition.

"That’s some tattoo," Xander complimented. He looked over at Willow’s tattoo and reached out to touch it. "Two tattoos. So, um, two babies on the way?"

"No, just one." Willow swatted his hand away. "And not any time soon either. We have to finish college," she said as if everyone in the room was insane.

"So, what’s new? Any new evil?" Tara covered her stomach and then reached over and made sure Willow’s belly was also hidden from view.

"No," Buffy said grouchily. "What with Halloween coming up, things have been dead." She sighed. "And not the dead that becomes undead either. Just regular old dead."

"Boring even," Dawn chimed in.

"Want me to make some stuffed animals dance for you?" Willow smirked and waved her hands in front of her face. "Remember how you used to love that?"

Tara’s smile disappeared. She looked over at Giles and saw that he was frowning as well.

"Kidding," Willow quickly said. "So, what are we doing?" Willow took Tara’s hand and pulled her alongside her as they walked over to the large table full of books.

"Getting ready for the big Halloween rush." Anya smiled brightly. "Much commerce will surely ensue."

"Can we help?" Tara asked. She picked up a book and frowned at the title, ‘Love Spells and Money Charms for the Modern Witch.’

"We need to move all the extra crystals and the rest of the crap books up from the basement," Anya said as she waved her hand toward the stairwell.

"Crap books?" Jenny giggled as she took the book from Tara. "That’s a good name for them."

"Let’s get cracking," Anya ordered. "Those books won’t carry themselves."

"They could." Willow pulled away from Tara and grabbed a bottle of herbs from the counter. "I could just shift them out of phase. They’d be really light and I could levitate them up here like that." She snapped her fingers and smiled proudly as she started thinking of a good incantation.

"Willow…" Tara’s voice had a warning tone that made her feelings about the casual use of magic quite clear.

"Zoinks! The wife tone rears its married head." Xander took a step back.

"Willow," Tara repeated. The concern in her voice was tinged with anger.

"What? It’s an easy spell." Willow smiled smugly. "Well, it is for me," she bragged.

"I’m gonna’ go get some of those books." Tara quickly walked away.

"Willow, we need to talk." Jenny grabbed Willow’s arm and pulled her away before the young witch could protest. She pulled her into the storeroom and then leaned against the shelf and gave the redhead a disapproving glare.

"What?" Willow whined.

"Magic isn’t your private plaything," Jenny warned. "There are consequences."

"I wasn’t playing," Willow said defensively. "I was working. Do you have any idea how long it’s gonna’ take to move those books by hand?"

"Every time you use magic, you add another notch in the tally of what you owe the universe." Jenny moved closer. "Willow, you’re running up a hefty bill, and I think it’s time someone cut up your credit card."

"Think you’re strong enough," Willow said with a smile, but there was an implied threat in her tone and her eyes were dark and cold.

"It won’t be me," Jenny said just as darkly. "When the time comes, paying this debt is gonna’ hurt."

"Are we done now?" Willow asked in a bored tone. "I’m a newlywed and I really don’t need all this heavy stuff bringing me down."

"When it comes time for you to be brought down, you’ll know it," Jenny said sadly. "Willow, what can I say to convince you that you’re out of control?" She rested a hand on Willow’s shoulder.

"I’m in perfect control." Willow’s eyes narrowed and she levitated a crate next to Jenny.

"Ca-ching," Jenny said as she imitated a cash register ringing. "Just adding another item to your bill."

"Miss Calendar, I know what I’m doing." Willow sighed and the crate dropped with a loud thud. "I’m a powerful witch. Everyone seems to forget that."

"No, Willow, none of us ever forgets that." She sighed and rubbed her temples. "You’re starting a new life with Tara, don’t you want to start it on a strong foundation?"

"I’m very strong," Willow pointed out.

"I’m talking about you and Tara." Jenny let out a frustrated growl. "Willow, every time you abuse magic, you push Tara away. Is that what you want?"

"She loves me." Willow smiled. "Besides, she always forgives me." Her eyes flashed. "Not that there’s anything to forgive."

"What if she doesn’t forgive you one of these times?" Jenny asked sadly.

"That won’t happen. I’ll see to it." Willow turned to leave.

"What does that mean?" Jenny grabbed Willow’s arm and stopped her.

"Nothing," Willow said defensively. "Just that I’d never do anything that Tara couldn’t forgive me for." She sighed and yanked her arm free. "Now, are you finished?"

"Yeah." Jenny let out a sigh and rubbed her temples again. "I’ve done all I can do."

"Good, cuz Tara and I are going out to dinner." She left Jenny standing in the storeroom. "I ordered take out from her favorite restaurant and we’re gonna’ have a picnic in the park."

"How can you be so lovable and so aggravating at the same time." Jenny grabbed Willow and stopped her. "I care about you."

"I know." Willow sighed and then smiled at Jenny. "I’m being careful. I promise. And I’ve always been the teacher’s pet. Would I lie to you?"

"You were always so much more than a teacher’s pet." Jenny pulled Willow into her arms. "I love you. I want you to be happy."

"I am happy," Willow said sincerely. She eased back and squeezed Jenny’s hand. "I’ll be more careful, okay?"

"Okay." Jenny smiled. "Now, go help your wife before Anya works her to death."

"Oh, my honey!" Willow hurried away.

"Young love," Jenny said with a sigh. She walked out to the front of the store just in time to see Willow scoop an armload of books out of Tara’s hands. "Willow, you’re so whipped," she whispered to herself with a smile.

An hour later, Willow, Tara, Anya and Buffy had all the books moved upstairs. Dawn was decorating, but every few minutes Willow would check on the teenager to make sure she wasn’t using any stereotypical pagan images around the shop.

"Jenny?" Giles went over to where Jenny was sitting at the oak table. "Are you feeling quite all right?" He rested his hand on her forehead when she didn’t respond immediately.

"No, I definitely don’t feel all right."

"You’re freezing." He took off his jacket and draped it over her. "Perhaps you’re coming down with something."

Jenny shivered and looked up at him. Her eyes were filled with sadness.

"No," he said angrily. "No. It’s not fair." His voice raised as fear filled his heart.

"Giles?" Buffy stepped out from behind the counter where she was stacking crystals. "What is—" She dropped the box she was holding and ran toward him. "No. It’s too soon."

"What’s wrong?" Dawn asked.

"Get Tara and Willow," Buffy yelled. "They can do a spell."

"Oh, god." Dawn realized what was happening and she sprinted downstairs to get the two witches.

"Rupert, they can’t do anything for me," Jenny said with a half-hearted smile. "Don’t worry them."

"What’s all the screaming? You should be busy stocking the store for customers." Anya froze when she saw how pale Jenny had become. "No," she cried as she dropped stack of invoices and went to Jenny’s side. "You can’t leave. We haven’t gone shopping today." She picked up Jenny’s chilled hand. "And … and … I was liking the idea of the ice cream. Stay," she pleaded. "I’ll even get fat for you."

"Anya, it’s my time." Jenny cupped the young woman’s cheek and ran her thumb over her face. "I wish I could have had a daughter like you." She leaned over and pressed a kiss to Anya’s cheek.

"Well, you can," Anya said as tears ran down her cheeks. "You and Giles can adopt me. He already gave me the store. That’s a very paternal thing to do."

"Are you certain?" Giles knelt next to Jenny and held her hand. "It could just be a bug," he said unconvincingly. He could see the spark leaving Jenny’s brown eyes.

"Jenny?" Willow bolted into the room from the stairwell. "No," she said as she hurried over. She couldn’t get too close because Giles and Anya were at Jenny’s sides. "I can do a spell. I’ll freeze time and then I can figure something out."

"You can’t interfere," Tara said as she wrapped her arm around her wife. "They gave her extra time already."

"No," Willow whined. "It’s not fair."

"Miss Calendar?" Dawn edged past Willow and stepped timidly closer. "It doesn’t hurt does it?"

"No, sweetie." Jenny gave the young girl a genuine smile. "It’s my time. I’m finished here."

Willow’s eyes widened as she remembered the argument in the storeroom. She had angrily asked Jenny ‘Are you finished?’

"You can’t go. Xander isn’t here." Anya had tears streaming down her cheeks. "He’ll be very upset, so just tell the Power That Be you can’t go yet."

"Don’t cry." Jenny wiped away the tears from Anya’s cheeks and she had a sudden vision into the future. For a brief instant she saw a different Anya, an older Anya, holding a tiny, wrinkled infant. This spectral Anya had tears on her cheeks as well, but they were tears of joy. "It’ll be okay," Jenny promised the former demon.

"No it won’t," Anya yelled. "You’ll be dead, Giles will be broken hearted, and I won’t have anyone to eat ice cream with and get fat."

Giles smiled despite the somber mood. "I love you, Jenny. I always will." He leaned in and kissed her softly. "Thank you for coming back."

"Hey, I had to get a little more of that Rupert magic," she joked. Her eyes darkened. "I love you Rupert. I don’t want you moping around when I’m gone." She let go of Anya and cupped Giles’ face with both hands. "You’ve already mourned me once. Don’t you dare do it again, or I swear, I’ll haunt you."

"I dare say you would." He glanced away. "I will miss you."

Tara went behind the counter and gathered up an armful of magical supplies. She hurried over to where Jenny was sitting.

"Finally you come to your senses," Willow said as she prepared to do a spell to save Jenny.

Tara dumped the supplies on the table in front of Jenny and opened a bottle of sacred oil. She wet her finger and anointed Jenny’s forehead. "May your passing be gentle, and your journey swift," she said reverently. She knew Jenny’s last passing had been violent and she wanted this time to be a sacred event.

"Tara?" Willow’s face was crestfallen.

"It’s what I want," Jenny said with a smile.

Anya stood and picked up a small bag of herbs. "We should cast a circle," she said with a sniffle.

Willow nodded in agreement, though all she really wanted to do was to save Jenny.

"I call the East, Air, new life," Tara said as she raised an athame into the air. "Guide our sister behind the veil. Help her pass quickly so she might return to us anew."

Giles stood and helped Jenny move to the floor and positioned her in the center of the circle.

"I call South, Fire, high noon in the wheel of life," Tara said as she faced that direction. "Jenny’s time is past, but we celebrate her passion and the fire she brings us all. May her spark never leave us."

"I’ll miss you," Willow whispered as took the sacred oil and began anointing Jenny’s hands.

"We call you, West, Water, the evening of our life." Tara cleared her throat and sniffled. She had done a similar ritual for her own mother and the memories were painful. "Move her gently through this passing, and help us as we feel her loss. Like water, she moves around us, but never leaves us completely."

Dawn sat beside Jenny and held one of her hands while Giles sat on the other side.

"We call on the North, winter, the ending of our long journey." Tara faltered and her hand shook as she held the athame in the air.

"We ask that Jenny cross over with the blessing and guidance of our night goddess the crone," Willow said as she wrapped her hand over Tara’s on the sacred athame.

The circle began to glow pale blue. Jenny smiled and her eyes fluttered. Giles gathered her into his arms and held her to his chest and kissed her hair.

"Goddess, ease Jenny through the veil," Tara said. "As we near Samhain, and the veil is at its thinnest, the wall between the worlds is easily crossed. Take our sister and guide her to the other side."

"Though we will miss her…" Willow paused and dropped her knees and hugged Jenny.

"She will never truly leave our heart," Anya finished as she stood next to Tara. She reached down and pulled Willow to her feet and began a sacred chant. "We all come from the goddess, and to her we shall return."

Tara and Willow knew the chant well and they joined in. "Like a drop of rain, flowing to the ocean."

The three young women joined hands and continued singing as Giles held Jenny and Buffy tried to console Dawn.

"Hoof and horn, Hoof and horn, all that dies shall be reborn." Anya’s lips quivered and she closed her eyes as all three young women sang.

"Corn and grain, Corn and grain, all that falls shall rise again." Their voices quieted to gentle whispers as they continued the chant.

Giles looked down at Jenny and smiled. "You are my goddess," he said shakily. "Diana and her darling crew shall pluck your fingers fine, and lead you forth right pleasantly, to sup the honey wine." He swallowed and continued. "To sup the honey wine, my love, and breathe the heavenly air, and dance as the young angels dance. Ah God, that I were there."

"Raleigh," Jenny said with a smile. "To his queen, not his goddess." She raised one eyebrow. "Didn’t think I’d know that one, did you?"

"Of course I did," Giles said tearfully. "You know everything."

"Rupert, Xander needs a father," Jenny whispered. "His own isn’t worth a damn."

"I’m here for all of them." He quickly glanced over at Buffy and Dawn and then at the women who were still chanting softly.

"Sometimes being there for them means letting them go," Jenny said as she took a difficult breath.

"I know," Giles said quietly. His eyes were drawn to Buffy. He knew she had been depending on him heavily since her return, perhaps too heavily.

"Promise you won’t mourn me." Jenny’s grip loosened and she slid slightly away form him.

"I shall celebrate every moment we’ve been given," he swore with tears in his eyes.

"Liar," Jenny whispered. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply.

Tara stopped the chant and the small group gathered around Jenny.

"Say hi to my mom," Dawn said brokenly. She spun and buried her face into Buffy’s shoulder.

"I’ll miss you," Tara said as she ran her hand through Jenny’s hair. "I kinda’ liked that wild side you shared with me."

"You’ve got your own wild side," Jenny assured her. She looked over at Willow. "I’m sure someone can help you bring it out."

Willow sniffled and rested her head on Tara’s shoulder.

"I’ll miss shopping with you." Anya tried to smile but failed miserably. "And … I’ll really miss our talks after."

"You can still talk to me," Jenny said warmly. "It’ll just be harder to hear my answers."

"I wasn’t a very good listener anyway." Anya managed a weak smile.

"You were," Jenny corrected. She had spent hours with the former vengeance demon and she knew the young woman had a huge heart and a willingness to help that was just beginning to bloom. "Take care of Xander."

Anya nodded.

"It’s time," Jenny said as she looked into Giles’ eyes.

"No." Willow pulled away from Tara and fell onto Jenny’s lap and sobbed. "Please don’t go. I can do something."

"Willow, just love me." Jenny combed her fingers through Willow’s hair. She was growing weaker by the second and it took some effort. "And love each other."

"We will." Tara knelt beside her lover and ran her hand down Willow’s back and lifted the brokenhearted redhead into her arms.

"Safe journey." Giles bent down and kissed Jenny. It was a delicate, gentle kiss but it was filled with emotion and devotion.

"Rupert." Jenny smiled up at him and then her eyes faded and her body went limp.

Willow turned her head and sobbed as she clung to Tara.

"Baby, it was her time." Tara murmured words of love and devotion into her lover’s ear as Giles lowered Jenny to the floor.

"I hate being human." Anya covered her mouth and her body shook with the sobs she refused to release.

"We were blessed by her return and I won’t have anyone spoiling that gift by carrying on like old women at a wailing wall." Giles ran his hand through Jenny’s hair. Her body began to glow and he moved slightly back just as a flash of light erupted. When the light dimmed, Jenny’s body was gone.

"Come on," Buffy said as she helped Dawn stand. "She’s in a better place now. She’s happy." Buffy’s voice had a hint of bitterness as she led her sister away. Buffy hoped Jenny was in the same place she had been during her own death. She had been at peace, happy and content. She hoped Jenny there now.

The front door opened with the jangle of a bell and Xander came into the room with a box of donuts.

"The donut man cometh," he said happily. "So where’s the undying gratitude of all those who worship sugary goodness?"

"Xander!" Anya sprinted across the room and grabbed him. She knocked the donuts to the floor and she clutched him.

"An?" He looked over her shoulder and saw that everyone in the room was crying. "What is it?"

"Jenny," Anya sobbed.

"Oh, man." Xander closed his eyes and squeezed Anya to his chest.

"Stop crying this instant." Giles cleared his throat and stood. "Jenny would be appalled." He took off his glasses and wiped them. "And I for one don’t want to make her angry. She did threaten to haunt me."

Tara smiled at his obvious attempt to shift the mood. Her smile disappeared when Willow snuggled closer and let out another strangled sob.

"I say we have a party for her," Buffy chimed in. "A Jenny party, with everyone doing something wild in her honor." She eased Dawn out of her arms and looked into her younger sister’s eyes. "Except you. No wildness for you … and no tattoos."

"What should we do?" Anya asked with a sniffle. She wanted to do something to honor the woman who had come to mean so much to her in such a short time. "She liked to shop. We could shop. Or we could look at men’s butts. She liked that too."

"Perhaps we should close the shop and take this back to your house," Giles told Buffy. He wanted to get as far away from the circle of herbs on the floor as he could.

"Yeah, good idea." Buffy eased Dawn toward the door.

"Jenny would want us to miss out on profitable sales?" Anya asked with a frown. "Okay." She took Xander by the arm and leaned against him.

"I say we do something completely non-hellmouth related." Xander moved his arm around Anya.

"We could speed through town in Giles’ car," Anya said with a sniffle.

"I could hack into some government sites and change all the seals to ‘In Goddess We Trust,’" Willow said with a tiny smile.

"We could go to the movies, and see something wild and wacky," Xander offered.

"I don’t really think seeing the latest action thriller is a fitting wake." Giles scowled, but then he smiled knowingly. "Although…"

"Why is Giles smiling like that?" Buffy took a step back as she watched a devious grin cover his face.

"Let’s make a night of it," Giles decreed. "The revival house has a midnight showing of—"

"Giles!" Dawn yelled. "How do you know about that?"

"Huh?" Buffy gave her sister a perplexed look.

"Geez, Buffy. Don’t you even read the theater signs while you’re out on patrol?" Dawn rolled her eyes.

"Uh, no." Buffy shrugged. "I’m generally too busy killing evil nasties and fighting for my life." She narrowed her eyes. "And why do you know about a midnight movie?"

"Never mind that," Dawn stalled. "They’re playing ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show.’" Dawn pointed at Giles. "And he knows!"

"And stuffy Watcher-man would know this … how?" Buffy turned and smirked at Giles.

"I make a rather dashing Doctor Frank-N-Furter," Giles said primly.

Every jaw in the room other than Giles’ dropped at least an inch as everyone stared at the reserved Watcher.

"Well, I do," Giles said indignantly. "Jenny thought so."

Tara began to giggle. She waved her hand at Giles and cleared her throat. "Do you … um, dress for the part?"

"Tara!" Willow’s eyes shot open wide. "Of course he doesn’t!" She slowly turned toward Giles. "Do you?"

"Well, it isn’t much fun singing in a crowded theater while wearing tweed, now is it?" he asked innocently.

"Oh … my … god." Buffy covered both eyes with her hands and flopped into a chair. "My eyes. My brain, someone please, get that image out of my head."

"Buffy?" Giles smirked and cleared his throat loudly.

The Slayer slowly lowered her fingers and raised one eyebrow at her beloved … apparently not so stuffy Watcher.

"Why don’t you stay for the night," Giles said in a perfect Frank-N-Furter voice. "Or maybe a bite." He smirked evilly, and even without make-up, he became Doctor Frank-N-Furter."

"Ack!" Buffy covered her eyes.

"Stop it!" Willow covered her eyes and began singing. "La, la, la. I am so not listening."

"Xander look." Anya was smiling broadly. "Giles is making everyone sexually uncomfortable. Jenny would be so thrilled."

"I do believe she would," Giles said with a sad smile. "So, who’s up for a night on the town in Jenny’s honor?" He checked his watch. "We have several hours to round up the necessary supplies."

"Come on, it’ll be fun." Tara pulled Willow’s hands from her face and saw that the redhead had her eyes screwed tightly shut. "Honey?" She smirked and ran her hands through her wife’s hair. "Jenny would love this idea. It’s nutty and kooky and I’ll bet she laughing right now."

Willow’s eyes slowly opened. "She’s not the one whose gonna’ be severely traumatized by this little jaunt."

"You might have fun," Tara said with a suggestive leer.

"With Giles in drag?" Willow asked incredulously. "Hello? Sunnydale psych ward calling, we have your room booked, Miss Rosenberg, come on down."

"Shouldn’t that be … Ms. Rosenberg-Maclay?" Tara asked innocently.

"Ms. Rosenberg-Maclay—" Willow’s eyes glazed over and she literally swooned.

"Easy, love." Tara pulled Willow into an embrace. It began more supportive than romantic, but Tara managed to make it both.

"I get to be the little guy with the hump!" Xander bent over and limped toward Dawn.

"Ew!" Dawn jumped back.

"Xander, he’s gross. Be someone sexy," Anya insisted.

"I could be Eddy." Xander suggested.

"Dead biker. Gee, how romantic," Anya said as she rolled her eyes. "What with the evil bikers who tried to slaughter us all the night we brought Buffy back!" She smacked him on the arm. "You better get romantic, now." She pointed at Willow who was still in a daze. "Make me swoon, damn it."

"Giles … in … drag." Buffy was shaking her head.

"Willow would make an excellent Magenta," Giles suggested as he rubbed his chin.

"Giles … drag … Rocky Horror…" Buffy shuttered. "One of these things is not like the others…" Buffy said in a singsong, Sesame Street voice. Her eyes were vacant and she looked like the Buffybot right before a full systems crash.

Giles began rummaging around behind the counter. "You know, most of my things are in storage," he said to himself. "Bloody hard to find a corset in my size on such short notice."

Anya giggled. "Giles is gonna’ be a transve—"

"Don’t say it." Xander covered her mouth gently with one hand. "An, honey, that’s one visual I’m gonna’ spent the rest of my life burning from my memory. I don’t need mental previews."

"I’m gonna’ join the ‘ew crew’ on this one," Willow admitted. She furrowed her brow and looked over at the Watcher. He smiled when he found some treasure behind the counter. "I mean, he’s … Giles."

"You’ll have fun," Tara promised. She glanced around the room at the others and made sure they were all in various stages of shock and then leaned in closer to Willow so she could whisper in her ear. "I was feeling done in, " she sang softly. "Couldn’t win. I had only ever kissed before…"

Willow pulled back and gaped at her lover.

Tara smiled seductively. "I thought there’s no use getting, into heavy petting, it only leads to trouble and seat wetting. Now all I wanna know, is how to go. I’ve tasted blood and I want more." Her eyes were smoldering with lust as she bent back to Willow’s ear. "I’ll put up no resistance, I want to stay the distance. I’ve got an itch to scratch, I need assistance." she sang quietly.

"Oh my god." Willow pulled back and covered Tara’s mouth with both hands. "We are SO going to the theater tonight." Her nostrils flared as passion bolted through her body and settled between her legs. "We should go now." She pulled Tara toward the door and looked back at the others. "We should get costumes. We need … stuff. We should … practice."

"We’ll call you," Tara told Giles. She smiled as she stumbled after her wife.

"What are they gonna’ practice?" Dawn asked.

"Never mind." Buffy gave her sister a shove. "Okay, so there must be one wholesome character Dawn can be."

"Have you seen the movie?" Xander asked with a smirk.

"I could be Janet." Dawn smiled.

"Tara’s got that covered." Buffy coughed as she tried not to laugh.

"How do you know?" Anya asked. She had wanted to be Janet.

"Slayer hearing," she explained. "She was singing to Willow right before our little Wiccan got so overheated."

"Overheated?" Dawn asked innocently. She loved to make her sister squirm.

"From the ritual," Buffy said quickly. "It’s very hot work."

Dawn rolled her eyes and headed toward the door.

"Uh, Dawn, I think we should go to Xander’s." Buffy bit her lip.

"I thought we were going to our house," Dawn said.

"I believe a change of plans is in order." Giles wasn’t about to go to Buffy’s house while Tara and Willow were burning off excess energy. "Shall we regroup at your apartment?" He looked to Xander.

"Sure, regroup." Anya glared at Giles. "I guess Xander and I won’t get to do any practicing before the show."

"Come on, An." Xander led her toward the door. He tried not to think about Jenny’s loss, but his heart ached. "Hey, if Tara’s Janet, who’s Willow gonna be?"

"I just don’t want her showing up in a gold metallic bikini as Rocky." Buffy shuttered. "That’s almost as bad as Malibu Drag Giles."

"I heard that." Giles shooed everyone out and locked the door. He stared through the front window at the sacred circle in back near the table. ‘I hope you’re enjoying this, Jenny,’ he said in his thoughts. ‘I’ll never live down tonight.’

Willow and Tara were late to the movie, but they had a wonderful time. The scoobies took the night off from vampires and enjoyed themselves. They did of course swear to never discuss seeing Giles in drag … ever. It was a perfect wake for Jenny. She would have loved to see the spirited group of demon hunters singing along with the silly lyrics of the movie. Afterwards, Anya insisted that they continue the celebration. They went to Buffy’s and had ice cream sundaes and talked about Jenny.

Willow came out of the bathroom after a long hot shower. It had taken her three thorough scrubbings to remove the pale make up. She smiled as she rubbed a towel through her hair. Tara had enjoyed seeing Willow dressed as Magenta.

"Hi," Willow said as she came into the bedroom.

"Hey." Tara was sitting Indian style at the top of the bed in a pair of flannel pajamas. Her hair was wet, but she didn’t seem to notice. She had the redwood hope chest sitting on the bed in front of her and she had both hands resting on top of it.

"Gonna’ have a replay of our little practice session this afternoon?" Willow climbed onto the bed next to Tara and rested her chin on the blonde’s shoulder. "Naughty singing really does it for me," she added with a leer.

Tara smiled shyly and looked down at the comforter. "Kinda’ figured that out," she whispered with a giggle.

"So, whatcha doin’?" Willow leaned closer to see what her lover was examining. "I can’t believe Carl made this for us. It’s so pretty." She wiggled closer. "Whatcha wanna’ keep in it?"

"We have letters," Tara said. She turned and looked into Willow’s eyes. "From my mom."

Willow’s eyebrows climbed high onto her forehead.

"Emma’s been holding them for us."

"Us?" Willow took a deep breath and stared at the carved chest.

Tara nodded. She twisted a small latch and opened the chest. The smell of the cedar lining filled her senses. She smiled and closed her eyes and inhaled deeply.

"I was hoping Carl used cedar on the inside." Tara ran her fingers over the grain of the wood. "It always reminds me of freshly cleaned stalls." She took a deep breath held it as she reached for two letters at the bottom of the box. The papers were stiff with age but they had obviously been kept safe over the past years. She cradled the letters reverently, lifting them to her face and inhaling deeply. She smiled when she smelled a hint of lilac, her mother’s favorite.

Willow ran her hand down Tara’s back offering her support.

Tara looked at the first letter. Her name was scrolled in her mother’s neat handwriting. She set that letter aside and smile at the second one; it read, ‘to my new daughter.’

"Goddess," Willow whispered.

"This is yours, love." She handed Willow the second letter and picked up her own. "You wanna’ read them at the same time?"

"No." Willow shook her head. "You read yours." She smiled sheepishly. "This is kinda’ like meeting my mother-in-law. I’m a little nervous."

"Don’t be." Tara kissed her wife’s cheek and then focused on her own letter. She opened the seal and lifted out a single page of fine stationary. She remembered it well. Her mother had saved the high quality, fiber rich bond for special occasions. "Mom," Tara whispered as tears formed in her eyes.

"I’m here, baby." Willow snuggled closer and rested her cheek on Tara’s shoulder and closed her eyes, not wanting to read the private words uninvited. She needn’t have worried.

"My Dearest Tara," the blonde read out loud. "How I wish I could have walked you to the sacred circle on your beautiful day. I love you. Always know that. I hope you like the rings. My precious baby, I want only happiness for you. Tara, stop crying, right now." Tara laughed and wiped her eyes.

"She’s good," Willow said with a chuckle. She was looking at Tara now, watching her expressive face as she made a connection with her mother.

"I’ve spent many hours scrying as I tried to figure out your future," Tara read. "And I know that sweet young woman sitting next to you right now holds your heart completely."

"She’s really good," Willow amended.

"My sweet child, I know you’ve had challenges, learned things about your family that I couldn’t help you through, but I’ve always been with you." Tara paused and wiped her eyes again. "I know that this love you share with your new wife is meant to be. There will be bumps in your road, but never doubt the strength of your love. Sometimes when things are darkest, you must step back and find a different inroad, but you will always find each other." Tara paused as a cold chill ran through her body. She knew all couples had troubles, but she didn’t like thinking about something coming between her and Willow. "Have faith in each other and your love, and know that I am always with you. I miss you, my darling Tara. All my love, mom."

"I wish I’d known her." Willow wiped her eyes and then squeezed Tara closer.

"You do." Tara turned and smiled sadly. "I’m a part of her."

"Then I really wish I’d known her, cuz if she created you, she must have been magical." Willow waited for Tara to carefully fold the letter and tuck it away, and then she opened hers. "Here we go," she said nervously. "Message from my mother-in-law from beyond the grave."

Tara shifted nervously as Willow slowly opened the letter. After a few moments Tara needed to put her hands somewhere to keep from fidgeting so she scooted back and repositioned her herself directly behind Willow. She spooned her lover from behind, wrapping her legs around Willow’s on the bed.

"Hello, daughter," Willow read as her voice cracked. "Pardon me for being so familiar, but daughter-in-law seems so stuffy." Willow turned her head and shared a quick smile with Tara. "I’ve felt you coming toward my daughter for years, since her birth. Please, I beg you, never take her heart for granted. She’s waited lifetimes to be with you." Willow rested the letter in her lap. "Wow."

"I waited so long," Tara whispered as she rested her face against the back of Willow’s head. Her mother’s words explained so much. When she had first seen Willow at the Wicca meeting, it was as if she was seeing a lost love. Her heart had come alive.

"And I found you," Willow said. "Just like I always will." She picked up the letter and continued. "You are strong, but don’t let that power blind you. Tara is a born witch, and her power runs deeper than even she knows. I wish I could be there to help her tap into all that she will become, but I cannot. So, my new daughter, I am entrusting you with my most precious treasure in this or any life. Hold Tara closely, love her, and support her as she moves toward her power. You are her family. Never let your own quest for power blind you to the radiance Tara has within." Willow took a deep breath and leaned back toward her wife.

"But I’m not strong," Tara said curiously. She rested her chin on Willow’s shoulder.

"You’re the strongest person I know," Willow corrected. She looked down at the letter. "And she knew it too." She cleared her throat and finished. "Love my beautiful Tara, trust her, and cherish her. She was my light. When my life became too dark, I looked into her eyes and I saw sunshine and hope. I give you my precious light. Don’t ever take her for granted. All my love, your new mother."

"I never knew," Tara whispered. "How could I be her light?"

Willow put the letter into the hope chest and set it onto the floor. She turned toward Tara. "You are my light. You always have been."

Tara looked away shyly.

"Don’t you know that, baby?" Willow lifted Tara’s chin. "You’re my everything. When Buffy was gone, and everything seemed so horribly dark, I’d wake up at night just to look at you so I could feel hope again."

"Oh, Willow." Tara pulled her smaller lover into her arms and they fell back into the pillows. "You’re my light. You gave me the sun, the moon, every star in the night."

"Then we’re even." Willow smirked as she wiggled into a comfortable position between Tara’s legs. "You’re my girl, my everything." She leaned down and gave Tara a tender kiss. "Don’t ever leave me," she pleaded. She clung to Tara’s chest and sobbed, overcome by emotion.

"Baby, you’re my soul mate." Tara gathered Willow in her arms. "My wife." She smoothed Willow’s damp hair as she tried to calm her shaken lover. "You and I are on the same path. We’ll never stray so far that we can’t find each other."

"I couldn’t live without you," Willow sobbed.

"You’ll never have to," Tara swore. "Nothing can tear us apart." She kissed the top of Willow’s head and smiled. She loved the fragile woman more than she could explain with words, so she gave up trying. She carefully rolled over so that Willow was beneath her. "Our love holds us together," Tara promised. She kissed Willow, letting her passion build slowly. "We hold our own destiny, darling." Tara’s hand moved down Willow’s body, gently soothing away her fears and replacing them with the familiar warmth of their bonding.

"You’re my destiny," Willow said as she tangled her hand in Tara’s hair. She pulled her down for a heated kiss that didn’t break until both women were starved for air. "Make love to me," Willow asked reverently.

"Always," Tara swore. She bit her lip and then gave Willow a wicked half-grin that always melted the young redhead’s heart.

"Oh, goddess." Willow tossed her head back and sighed.

They made love slowly, with tenderness and devotion. It was less playful and athletic than their afternoon practice session for the movie had been, but the depth of love could have filled oceans. Their passions rose slowly until they reached the peak together, crashing down to earth again and again throughout the night.

In the next room, Buffy only lasted a few minutes.

"I so have to get some ear plugs." Buffy tried pressing her pillow over her head, but all she succeeded in doing was nearly suffocating herself. She finally gave up and escaped downstairs to the kitchen for a snack. She came into the small room and saw Dawn eating a bowl of Trix.

"Thin walls?" Dawn asked around a bite of cereal.

Buffy blushed crimson.

"I’m fifteen, not stupid." Dawn smirked and pushed the box of cereal toward her sister.

"We so gotta’ do something about those walls." Buffy listened to the pleasant tinkling of the dry cereal bouncing in her bowl. That was a reassuring, happy sound that inspired happy dreams of the non-sexual variety.

A loud thump upstairs caused both sisters to momentarily shift their eyes toward the sound, but a muted moan followed by a high pitched scream quickly made them focus on their bowls again.

"So, think we can move them into the basement?" Dawn asked innocently.

"It does have thick walls," Buffy commented. She was more embarrassed than she had ever been. Trying to make small talk over the sounds of her friend making love was more than Buffy was ready for.

The sound upstairs got louder and Buffy’s eyes shot open wide when she heard Willow screaming. It was muted, but she distinctly heard Willow crying out, ‘Oh, Tara, yes.’

"TV?" Dawn asked as she swallowed with a gulp.

"TV," Buffy confirmed. They ran to the living room and spent the next few hours watching late night television. Buffy wasn’t a fan of ‘The Big Valley’ or ‘Bonanza,’ but having a late-night western marathon was certainly better than hearing first hand how skilled Tara was as a lover.

When Willow and Tara got up they next morning they found Buffy and Dawn curled up together on the couch. Willow smiled brightly and commented how great it was the two sisters were bonding. If the redhead had known the catalyst for their late night sister-fest, she would have blushed for a week.

The end!

*** Handfasting section was taken from actual Wiccan marriage ceremonies. I combined several from this site: http://www.thetask.com/thresholds/handfastings/handfast2.htm

*****