Disclaimers: I don’t own any of the BtVS folks. Please don’t sue. Heck, Mr. Whedon, feel free to use any of my ideas like. Just get Willow and Tara back together where they belong!

Rating: Strong PG13 for implied W&T loving and some not so implied W&T loving.

Angst rating: Barely a Kleenex moment in sight … okay, a have a few tissues handy.

This is a short story, which is a new beast for me. I can’t tell you how hard it was not to make this into a 300 page epic with tons of side plots. I decided to whip this out after last night’s Buffy episode. Seeing Willow and Tara so awkward at the party made my heart ache, and this little twisted tale is the result. The mush factory went into overdrive. By the way… this has NO cliffhangers.

Second Chance

By Lisa Countryman

February 12, 2002

Willow was not doing well. It was February 14^th, Valentine’s day, and all she could think of as she walked along the sidewalk was that she was not spending the day with Tara.

She paused as she neared the Magic Box. She wanted to tuck a note under the door for Anya. Willow had to give Anya a check for her bridesmaid dress. It was hideous, but Willow had agreed to wear it. She knew the shop was closed for the holiday because Anya and Xander were off doing something romantic, which for Anya meant they were probably locked in their apartment having sex.

"I hate this day," Willow grumbled under her breath. She stepped onto the street and a passing car honked. Willow barely had enough time to jump out of the way. She pressed her hand to her chest and tried to still her rapidly pounding heart. ‘That would be just perfect,’ she thought glumly. ‘Brokenhearted lesbian steps in front of truck and kills herself on Valentine’s day.’ She shivered and looked both ways and then carefully crossed the street.

She was almost to the Magic Box when she felt a familiar flutter in her chest. She got the sensation every time she was near Tara. Well, she got a lot of sensations every time she was near Tara, but this particular one was as if her soul was rejoicing at finding its mate. She smiled unconsciously. ‘Maybe she’s checking on the shop.’ She hurried her pace.

"Willow?" Tara called from across the street. Her voice sounded surprised, or maybe excited.

Willow spun, hoping it was excitement she heard in her ex-lover’s voice. "Hey, Tara." She smiled warmly.

Tara waved and sprinted across the street. Her hair bounced as she dodged a car.

"Tara!" Willow stumbled forward. Her heart clutched to a stop until Tara cleared the traffic and stepped safely onto the curb. "You should be more careful," Willow said a bit more harshly than she intended.

"Hi." Tara’s smile was radiant. "Willow, it’s so good to see you." The blonde’s blue eyes were shining brightly as if she were near tears. Her honey blonde hair shone in the sun, and it was bluntly cut just above her shoulders.

"Your hair," Willow said as she started to touch Tara’s golden tresses. She stopped herself just in time. She always had to actively not reach out to Tara. Touching the blonde was the most natural thing in the universe, and Willow felt like she had to defy nature just to keep her hands to herself.

"It’s short." Tara blushed.

"Shows off your neck." Willow frowned. "In Sunnydale, having your neck look all tasty… umm, all available … umm, showing might be bad." At the moment Tara’s neck looked quite appetizing. Willow remembered how soft Tara’s skin was, and how much they both enjoyed nuzzling each other’s neck.

"Do you like it?" Tara asked. She took Willow’s arm and guided her down the street toward the Magic Box.

"Yeah, it’s cute. I mean, vampires aside. You look beautiful. I mean, it looks beautiful." Willow looked down at Tara’s hand twined around her arm. She almost swooned. "It, it’s good to see you, Tara."

The blonde stopped and spun Willow to face her. "I’ve missed you so much." She reached up and traced Willow’s cheek.

A shiver ran through Willow’s body with the touch. She closed her eyes and had to take a deep breath to steady herself.

"You’re the beautiful one," Tara whispered. A tear ran down her cheek. "How could I forget how gorgeous you are?"

Willow opened her eyes and saw Tara’s tears. "What’s wrong?" she asked as she took Tara by the shoulders. The blonde was saying everything Willow wanted to hear, but the tears were worrying her.

Tara smiled sadly. "Goddess, baby, I’m a fool."

"What is it?" Willow asked. Her concern was growing.

"Today," Tara said as if that one word could explain everything.

"Valentine’s day." Willow smiled wryly. "I’ve been thinking about you too."

"I love you, Willow," Tara said as she cupped the redhead’s chin. "Please tell me you know that. You have to know you’re my life, Willow." Tara’s eyes were pleading and her lips trembled. "No matter what’s happened … you are my everything." Tara was crying now; each word seemed to inspire more tears. "You have to know, Willow."

"I do," Willow said as her heart soared. This was like every sappy romantic novel had suddenly come to life, only better. It was her beloved Tara professing love and devotion. It was everything Willow had prayed for over the last few difficult months.

"I wasn’t gonna’ do this," Tara said as she swiped her eyes with the back of her hand. She stared at Willow with a look of raw need that made Willow’s mouth go dry and relocated the redhead’s pulse between her legs.

"Do what?" Willow asked huskily. She knew that spark in Tara’s eyes all too well. Tara used to get that look during boring Scooby meetings. She’d spend a few minutes shooting Willow the smoldering looks and then make an excuse to drag Willow home for an afternoon of wild loving making.

"You’re just so beautiful." Tara took Willow’s face in both hands and leaned closer until the heat from her lips made Willow’s skin tingle, but she didn’t make contact. "You’re just so … Willow."

"That’s me," Willow whispered. "A genuine Willow original." She tilted her head to one side, daring to invite Tara the last few centimeters closer.

Tara pulled the redhead against her body and kissed her. It was a gentle kiss, yet it was full of longing so deep, so painful, it made Willow’s legs buckle. "My darling, I’ve missed you." Tara took a deeper, more primal kiss, as if she’d been crossing a desert and Willow was cool lake in the middle of an oasis. She drank Willow in thirstily, and her body molded to Willow’s in a familiar fit like a lock welcoming its long missing key. This meeting of lost halves opened two aching hearts.

Willow was lost in Tara’s kiss. Some part of her brain reminded her that this might be too easy, but the feel of Tara in her arms made rational thought beyond her ability. Even if reason had been possible, Willow didn’t want to think. She wanted to feel, to feel Tara’s body pressed into hers, to feel the love she’d longed for like a missing limb, and most of all, she wanted to feel whole.

"Tara, oh baby." Willow took a few deep breaths, ignoring the fact that she was making out with Tara on the street. "Goddess, you feel so good, so…"

"Right," Tara said, finishing Willow’s thought. She eased back, keeping her arms firmly around Willow. "I need you."

"You … me … now?" Willow’s eyebrows rose high, and disappeared under her auburn bangs.

"Goddess, Will, it’s been forever." Tara ducked her head and began kissing Willow’s neck.

"Dawn’s at the house," Willow whispered. She wondered how far Tara’s new place was, if the blonde had roommates, and more importantly, she wondered how she was going to survive waiting even a few more minutes to be with Tara.

"Willow … my beautiful willow." Tara pushed Willow against the nearby wall and kissed her with hunger and passion that left Willow trembling.

"Where?" Willow asked breathlessly.

"Anya gave me the keys," Tara whispered as she kissed Willow’s ear. "Will you be okay in the Magic shop?"

"Training room?" Willow asked as she tilted her head to let Tara reach the soft places on her neck that drove both women wild. "No problem. Definitely not a problem. Training room now. Yeah."

"Oh, yeah," Tara said huskily. In the past, the two had spent many hours making love in the training room. The summer after Buffy’s death they would often stop by the shop after patrol and let off some steam before going home. They’d discovered some wonderful uses the thick mats in the training room.

"She really gave you the keys?" Willow pushed Tara back and smirked at the blonde.

Tara nodded and gave Willow a half grin and then glanced toward the shop. "Come on!" She grabbed Willow’s hand and ran down the sidewalk.

"Coming!" Willow giggled as she ran alongside Tara.

"Not yet," Tara said mischieviously. "But you will be soon."

Willow felt like she was floating on air. ‘Heck, I might be in a few minutes. Goddess, I love Valentine’s day,’ she thought happily. She spooned Tara from behind as the blonde unlocked the door and they stumbled inside. "Hurry." She kissed Tara’s ear from behind.

"Have to lock … door … me locking now." Tara flipped the lock and spun around. She grabbed Willow and kissed her greedily. They stumbled backwards and knocked over a display rack.

"Oops!" Willow giggled as she guided Tara over to the research table.

"Training room?" Tara asked between kisses. She was frantically tugging Willow’s blouse out of her skirt.

"Can’t wait," Willow said with a gasp. She swept her arm across the table sending books flying across the floor. "Goddess, Tara, it’s been too long." She pushed Tara onto the tabletop and straddled her.

"Much too long," Tara agreed. A flash of sadness clouded her eyes, but it was swept away by passion when Willow ripped open the buttons of her blouse and began kissing her breasts. "Willow!"

"Goddess, I’ve missed you," Willow said as she gently cupped Tara’s full breasts. She kissed the ultra soft skin between them and pushed the soft flesh against her face.

Tara whimpered happily and ran her hands through Willow’s silky hair.

"My Tara." Willow moved her hands down and caressed her lover’s sides. She paused, and then lifted her head studied her lover’s ribs. "Baby, you’ve lost weight." She traced the now visible ribs with her fingers as concern filled her heart. She couldn’t imagine Tara dropping so much weight, though her baggy clothes certainly would have hidden it from everyone.

"I can’t eat." Tara reached up and took Willow’s jaw and gently turned the redhead so they were looking into each other’s eyes. "Nothing matters without you."

Now that Willow was looking closely, she noticed that Tara’s cheekbones stood out a little more, and her eyes looked tired. ‘I should have noticed,’ Willow chided herself mentally. She wondered why she hadn’t noticed at Buffy’s party. "When we’re done here, I’m taking you out for a good meal." Willow leaned down and kissed Tara’s exposed ribs. "I want my honey healthy."

"Speaking of good meals…" Tara’s voice dropped to its lowest, most sensual register.

"Vixen." Willow smiled and pressed her body over Tara’s. "We’ll talk more about this … later." She kissed Tara’s throat and sucked on her pulse point.

"Much later," Tara said as she arched her body up into Willow’s.

They lost themselves in each other. Passion broke like waves crashing down on a storm swept beach. Clothing flew onto the floor and the table legs creaked as the two became reacquainted. After each woman had satisfied the other, they lay wrapped around each other, desperately clinging together, naked on the oak table.

"Blanket?" Tara asked as she yawned with a squeak.

"I think that fuzzy purple one is still in the training trunk," Willow said happily. "Though if Buffy ever finds out what kind of training we use it for, she’s liable to slay us."

"I’ve missed you so much, baby." Tara buried her face on Willow’s shoulder and sobs wracked her slightly thinner frame. "Please forgive me," she begged.

"Hey, we’re together. That’s all that matters." Willow didn’t want to examine things too closely. She was afraid she’d wake up and the entire day would be a dream.

"So, training room?" Tara asked with a sniffle.

"Well, that purple blanket hasn’t had much use lately," Willow joked. "You up for some fuzzy snuggling?"

"Take me to the training room," Tara with a smoldering look that could melt stone. "And then take me."

Willow didn’t need to be asked twice. She climbed from the table and extended her hand to Tara and guided her blonde lover to the floor. She pulled Tara toward the training room, gathering up their scattered clothing as they went. "We might need these later," Willow said with a giggle. "Much later."

"Much," Tara agreed. She grabbed Willow’s bare bottom and chased her into the training room. They tumbled to ground on a pile of mats and Tara ended up on top of Willow. "I love you," she said firmly. "Never doubt that, baby. I have always loved you. I always will."

"I love you too, Tara." Willow ran her fingers through Tara’s new shorter hair. "You’re my everything," she swore. "I’m better now, I promise."

"I know." Tara dipped her head and she kissed Willow tenderly. "I trust you, baby."

"Hey, what’s this?" She traced a small cut on Tara’s arm.

"It’s nothing, baby. It happened a few weeks ago." She leaned forward and kissed her lover. She had other things on her mind. "Willow, darling…" She glanced down coyly and then slowly looked up and locked eyes with the redhead. "Make me … complete."

"From this day forward, that’s all I want to do." Willow rolled over and guided Tara back and began kissing her way down the blonde’s body.

Willow’s heart was full. She joyously made love to Tara, and her body sang under Tara’s skilled touch. They spent hours making love, occasionally taking time to cuddle while they rested. As the sun set outside, both witches seemed to get a second wind.

Tara moved her hand up Willow’s belly and cupped her lover’s rounded breast. She leaned over and kissed a small hickey just below Willow’s collarbone. "Baby, I need you."

"Again?" Willow asked with a huge grin. She let out a satisfied sigh. "I think I can manage that." She rolled Tara over and pinned her to the mat.

Both witches giggled as Willow managed quite handily.

*****

Buffy hurried toward the Magic Box. She wanted to check the answering machine messages and get back onto patrol. "Anya really gave you the keys?" Buffy asked. "She never trusts anyone with the keys."

"Well, key. Just the one key, right here," Tara said with a warm smile. "I have to work up to the others."

"Okay then." Buffy waited as Tara opened the door and went in first. As Slayer, she made a point to always enter a room first to make sure it was safe. "Wait," Buffy said as took Tara’s arm.

"W-what is it?" Tara leaned around the Slayer and saw the tipped over display case. "That’s not good."

"No, it’s not." Buffy stealthily moved further into the shop. "Books," Buffy whispered.

"Maybe someone broke in to find something," Tara whispered. She clung to Buffy’s arm as they edged toward the table.

"Well, yeah, generally burglars break in for something," Buffy hissed grouchily.

A long, drawn out scream from the training room echoed through the small shop.

"Stay here," Buffy ordered she reached down and yanked a sword out of a hidden scabbard under the tabletop.

Tara wrapped her arms over her chest and looked nervously around the room. She thought about Buffy facing an unknown attacker, or maybe more than one attacker. The blonde witch rushed over to the bookcase and reached into a secret compartment and grabbed a stake. She ran to catch up with Buffy.

The Slayer rushed to the door of the training room. She stepped over the threshold and held the sword in front of her. "Whoever you are, come out," she said dangerously.

Willow squeaked and sat up. She was mostly hidden behind a trunk, but her naked chest was visible over the top of the crate.

"Willow?" Buffy asked. Her eyes widened as she realized the redhead was naked, and then she noticed that there were two extra legs, shapely, feminine legs, sticking out from behind the trunk. "Oh, god…" Buffy noticed that Willow’s face was covered with a light sheen of sweat. "Oh god…" She tossed the sword aside and rubbed her face with both hands.

Tara heard Willow’s name and she started into the training room in a panic.

"No!" Buffy spun and ran out of the room before Tara could see what was going on and shoved the blonde witch away. "Okay, we need to go. Now." She grabbed the stake from the blonde and tossed it away. It rolled along the hardwood floor and clattered to a stop at the wall.

Tara’s expression was full of pain and disappointment. "Is s-she doing m-magic?" she asked shakily.

In the training room, Willow looked down at her lover and smirked. "I think we shocked Buffy." She chuckled as she reached over and grabbed their clothes.

"You have no idea," her lover said as she sat up and pulled on a shirt.

Buffy didn’t know what to tell Tara. "You know what? We should go. She’s not doing magic."

"W-well, what is she…" Tara’s eyes shot open and her jaw dropped. "She’s not alone, is she?" Tara’s voice was hollow, just like her heart.

"We should really go." Buffy pointed at the door.

Willow’s voice echoed from the other room. "Hey, Buffy, no need to panic," the redhead yelled. "This isn’t the first time."

Tara backed toward the door, her heart breaking with each step.

"Sorry we shocked you, Buffy," Willow said as she came out of the training room with her sweater half over her head. "We kinda’ got carried away," she added with a giddy grin. She yanked her shirt down and locked eyes with Tara. "Wh—" Her jaw dropped and she pointed at Tara. "But we, you…" Willow’s face drained of color and she spun and pointed at the training room.

"N-no," Tara said. "You can, we’re not together … you h-have, you can, you…"

"How could you bring some woman here?" Buffy asked in a harsh whisper. She grabbed Willow’s arm and shook her.

"But I didn’t … Tara." Willow pointed at the other room.

"Hey," Tara said from the door of the training room. She ran her hand through her blunt cropped hair. "Buffy … you look great."

"Two Taras?" Buffy yelled. "You made a Tarabot?"

"No!" Willow yelled. She looked back and forth between the two Taras. "Oh, goddess, what’s happening?"

"It’s okay," said the shorter haired Tara. She looked at the other Tara across the room. "And no, Willow didn’t make a copy of you."

"How?" Tara asked the mirror image of herself.

"She’s a vamp!" Buffy yelled. "She’s some vamp-Tara from another reality and she took advantage of Willow." She Grabbed Willow’s sweater and yanked it down to check for bite marks, but all she found was a fresh hickey.

"Hey!" Willow swatted the Slayer’s hand away.

"I’m not a vampire," the new Tara said. She went to Willow and reached for her hand.

"Get away from me!" She jumped away from the woman she had just spent the day making love with. "What are you? How could you do that to me?"

Willow’s Tara rushed to her confused ex-lover. "Did she hurt you?" She leaned down to catch Willow’s eyes. "Are you okay, sweetie?"

"Oh, god, Tara…" Willow’s lips trembled as she looked at the familiar face of her former lover. "I didn’t know."

"Shh…" Tara’s heart was breaking for Willow.

"I thought she was you," Willow sobbed. She wrapped her arms around her chest and squeezed her hands tightly. "How could I have thought you’d want me after all I’ve done?"

Buffy grabbed the newcomer and slammed her into the wall. "What the hell is going on here?"

"Ouch." The new Tara squirmed. "Buffy, you’re hurting me."

"Yeah?" Buffy pulled her forward and slammed her into the wall again. "Then maybe you better start explaining."

"And, and, get your own face," Willow said angrily. Tears ran down her cheeks. "Oh, god, oh-god, oh-god, oh-god, oh-god." She buried her face in her hands. "I … she … we…" She pulled her hands down and looked desperately at her ex-lover. "Please forgive me, Tara," she begged. Willow was hyperventilating and she looked like she might get sick.

"You didn’t know," Tara said even as she cringed internally. She took Willow’s hand and then positioned herself between Willow and the familiar looking stranger next to Buffy. "Who are you?"

"I’m you," the Tara against the wall said.

"And I’m supposed to believe that?" Tara demanded. She squeezed Willow’s hand and glared at the double.

"You’ve been waiting for Willow to prove she could stay clean," the doppelganger said sadly. "You have it all planned out. On May 23, when Willow’s been away from magic for six months, you’ll take her back."

Willow leaned forward and looked at her Tara. She wanted to believe her former lover would take her back.

The doppelganger sighed. "You’ve even got that ring with the mended hearts to give her," the new Tara said softly. "The one you bought when you went up the coast for that weekend." She sniffled and wiped a tear from her cheek. "You thought it could represent your repaired relationship."

"How do you know that?" Tara demanded from her twin.

"There’s one small problem with the grand plan," the blonde at the wall said as tears ran down her cheeks. "On May 23^rd, Willow will have already been dead for 98 days, six hours, twelve minutes and a few seconds."

Buffy released the blonde and took a step back. "You’re from the future…" Buffy looked at Willow and felt fear fill her body.

The short haired Tara nodded.

"You came back to fix it," the Tara at Willow’s side said quietly.

"I didn’t mean to let…" The doppelganger nodded toward the training room. "To let that happen." She sighed and looked longingly at Willow. "You’ve been gone for 364 days, baby." She blinked as fresh tears ran down her face. "Goddess, it’s hell," she sobbed. "For 364 nights, I went to sleep in an empty bed … crying for you; 364 mornings waking up … praying it was all just some hellmouth vision… and every single horrible day I have to face my worst nightmare. You’re dead."

"How do I know you’re telling the truth?" Buffy asked skeptically.

The newcomer leaned forward and whispered in the Slayer’s ear. "Spike still getting those muscle cramps?"

Buffy pulled back and stared slack-jawed at the second Tara. "It’s her."

"Willow, forgive me," the new Tara walked toward the redhead. She paused when the other Tara glared dangerously. "Look, I never meant to let this happen. I was just going to warn you," she told Tara. "But when I saw her…" She looked at Willow and sighed sadly. "My Willow… my baby, my darling…" She closed her eyes and tears erupted again. "After 364 days knowing I’d never touch your skin, taste your kiss…" She opened her eyes and edged closer so Buffy couldn’t hear. "Knowing I’d never feel the softness of being inside you, that I’d never feel you take me … I couldn’t help myself."

"I’m not your Willow," the redhead said as she moved closer to her Tara. "And if my Tara can forgive me, I’ll wait as long as she needs me to … but she’s the one I want."

"You don’t have any time left!" the new Tara yelled. She tossed her hands into the air. Her shoulders slumped as her eyes lost their spark. "You go to Buffy’s tonight for a girl’s night," she said hollowly. "A group of vamps attacks you on the way. Spike tries to help you. They nearly kill him." She looked over at Buffy. "He begs Willow to use magic to save herself, but she tells him she can’t betray me." She lowered her head shamefully.

"They kill her?" Tara asked. She pulled Willow closer, not caring that they were supposed to be broken up.

The newcomer lifted her head. Her eyes were awash in pain. "They tore her into little pieces." Her voice broke. "They laughed while she screamed and still she wouldn’t use magic." She couldn’t look at Willow. The pain from losing her own redhead was too intense. "It was Valentine’s day, so they ripped your heart out and brought it to me. They’d seen us on patrol together, before Buffy came back."

"Oh god." Buffy shuttered as the images assaulted her mind.

"Spike tried," the doppelganger said hollowly. "They carved him up too. He lost his left hand, and he never forgave himself for not saving her."

"What are we supposed to do?" Buffy asked gently.

"Change it," the blonde said calmly. "Make sure you take all the Scoobies out to the big house at the end of your street and clear out the vamp nest … carefully." She turned to the slightly younger version of herself. "And you…" She raised both eyebrows. "You will never leave Willow alone after dark again, not ever." She smiled at the redhead and then looked back to her double. "Don’t lose her. You won’t want to live. It hurts to breathe. You hate your heart for beating without her. You’ll only eat when your friends force you, and even when you do, everything tastes like ashes. Nothing’s real without Willow." She looked over at Buffy. "After Spike’s chip broke, I begged him to kill me." She saw the Slayer’s eyes widened. "He refused."

"So, he stayed good?" Buffy asked hopefully.

"No," the new Tara said darkly. "He said it was too much fun to watch me suffer without my lovely Red."

"What will happen to you?" Willow’s Tara asked.

"Well, as long as you keep being a hardass, nothing." The new Tara crossed her arms over her ample chest. "As long as you refuse to believe me, Willow’s still gonna’ die. As soon as you change history, I cease to exist." She smiled. "And my pain finally stops."

"Well, I believe you," Buffy said. "Isn’t that enough?"

The shorthaired Tara shook her head. "Only I can change my own destiny." She looked at her younger self.

"So you just stop being?" Tara asked the other blonde witch. She didn’t like the idea of a copy of herself just poofing away. Even if she was furious that the newcomer took advantage of Willow, she didn’t want her dead.

"Don’t worry about me." The new Tara smiled and stared at Willow. "For the first time in 364 days, I had a few hours that didn’t feel like my heart was being ripped out."

"Why didn’t you tell me?" Willow asked.

"Willow, darling, you would never cheat on me … not even with me." The new Tara smirked coyly.

"Oh, well, yeah…" Willow looked at her Tara. "I really thought she was you."

"I know," Tara said. She traced the redhead’s cheek. "Baby, she is me."

The new Tara smiled and then her face contorted in agony. She dropped to her knees and grabbed her belly. "Willow!" she gasped.

Willow rushed forward and grabbed the fallen blonde. "We have to do something," she said as she looked up at her Tara.

"She changed history," Tara said as she knelt next to the twin.

"Tara?" the other doppelganger asked. She was shaking and her face was covered in sweat.

"What is it?" Tara asked as she wrapped an arm around Willow and held out a hand to her double.

"Don’t wait," the dying witch said. She grabbed Tara’s hand and both blondes screamed. The doppelganger began to glow from within and then disappeared in a flash of brilliant light.

"Baby?" Willow asked as she gripped her ex-lover.

Tara coughed and opened her eyes slowly. She pulled Willow into a hug and clung to her, refusing to let go.

"Um, I should call the others." Buffy backed away from her two friends. "Big vamp nest to deal with and all."

Willow nodded and looked down at Tara. "Are you okay?"

The blonde nodded and snuggled closer.

"Buffy, don’t go after those vamps alone," Willow warned.

"I won’t," Buffy called out from across the room.

"Tara?" Willow asked gently. "What did she do to you?"

Tara was silent for long moment. She wouldn’t loosen her grip. "She gave me a gift," the blonde whispered.

"What was it?" Willow was concerned, and she was feeling more than a little guilty.

"She gave me her memories," Tara said as she pulled back and cupped Willow’s jaw in her hand. "Of you and her … well, me."

"Oh…" Willow blushed. "I really thought she was you."

"She was," Tara said firmly. She leaned forward and left a tender kiss on Willow’s lips. "I also saw what she’s been through in the last year…" Her brow furrowed. "Well, the next year… her last year…"

"This time stuff is worse than alternate dimensions," Willow said with a smirk.

"Will, it was awful." Tara took Willow’s hand and held it to her heart. "I know we still need to work on things, but I can’t risk losing you … not again."

"What are you saying?" Willow asked hopefully.

"I want to work on it together. Take me home," Tara whispered. "To our bed, in our happy little home with triangle pancakes and Dawn using all the hot water in the mornings."

"Oh, baby." Willow leaned forward and pressed her forehead to Tara’s. "You forgive me?"

"For being a horndog and jumping my alternate self’s bones?" Tara asked playfully. She smiled wickedly. "In my memories, it was me."

"Let’s go home, baby." Willow stood and pulled Tara to her feet.

"Um, we still have some vamps to deal with," Tara pointed out.

"We will." Willow pulled Tara to the training room. She cringed as they crossed the threshold. "Um, I need weapons." She pointed to the wall where Buffy’s arsenal hung.

"Willow, when we get home tonight…" Tara smiled shyly.

"Yeah?" Willow asked as she tested the weight of a double-headed ax.

"Tonight … I want to make some memories of my own," Tara said with a glimmer in her blue eyes.

"Oh…" Willow blushed and dropped the ax onto the floor. It took a chunk out of the hardwood floor.

"Is that okay?" Tara asked.

"Yeah," Willow said quickly. She blushed further. "It’s just … between you … and, well, the other you, I think ‘you’ might just wear me out."

"I’ll do my best," Tara said impishly.

Willow’s expression turned serious. "Tara, I never would have … with anyone else. I thought she was you."

"Baby, she was." Tara grabbed an ax and swung it. "Now, let’s go deal with those vamps." She kissed Willow’s nose. "Nobody messes with my girl."

"I am yours," Willow swore. She leaned in and kissed Tara deeply, letting all of her devotion come through in the touch.

"And I am yours," Tara said when the kiss finally broke.

They walked hand in hand out to the front of the shop and waited with Buffy until the others gathered. Then they went to the vamp nest, and together they defeated the demons. Willow and Tara went home, to their bed, and they said a prayer of thanks to the woman who gave them a second chance at happiness. That night, Tara thoroughly ravaged Willow, and the redhead loved every hour of it.

The end