Paths Diverged/Divulged by JustSkipIt

Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: Guess what, I don't own W&T, Buffy or the rest of the BtVS crew. Any similarity to actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental and fortunate.
Distribution: Littlecrazy80/Romy
The Mystic Muse /mysticmuse.net
Spoilers: Season 6
Author's Notes: Well I think it's always a good idea to start with the important thanks: Thank you to the love of my life: Rachel. Thank you to Joss Whedon who created these characters and the Buffyverse. Thank you to the fictional characters of Willow & Tara and the wonderful actresses Alyson Hannigan & Amber Benson. Finally thanks to all the Kittens who read and enjoy and comment on these fictions, particularly the moderators and Xita!
Pairing: Willow/Tara

Summary: The sequel to W/T Season 3 Y'all.

Note: The song is by Mary Chapin Carpenter. No copyright infringement is meant by printing the lyrics. Thanks for the perfect words. The other songs, I have no idea. I assume they are in public domain but if not, no infringement intended either.

Ok, the first line was easy to decipher. It was the second round of the round robin and this one was Tara's.

Gotit: Thursday, or tomorrow night, from 8 to 2 and they would meet at Tara and Michelle's. Well that part didn't take much convincing. Gee let me think about it, Willow thought sarcastically. Tara doesn't work tomorrow night so I wanted to see her anyway. It wasn't that the redhead had no life. Actually her days were becoming quite busy with her consulting work as well as the volunteer project she was working on. She had her apartment quite well outfitted and was somewhat surprised to find that her furniture went quite well in the space in spite of the difficult conversation they had been having the day they shopped. At the time her phone rang with the text message she was sitting in a coffee shop reading headlines. It was hard to get over the differences in the two worlds and each day's news was an amusing glimpse into the difference. Of course the Austin paper never included headlines like "Four found Dead of Neck Rupture at Sunnydale Train Station: Chamber of Commerce credits Program to Increase Tourism," or "Mimes Burst into Flames: Crowd Applauds Silently."

She couldn't even begin to decipher the next line: "J—G Globes: Sexy." She sat in the coffee shop for over an hour with a pile of crumpled napkins with attempts to break the code. I hack into government databases for fun and I can't figure out what my girlfriend is saying in a text message? she marveled before deciding to call and ask one of the other girls. Since she knew that Michelle and Tara were both in class she called Eliza who answered on the third ring.

"Sup-Red," the younger girl chanted into the phone causing Willow to wonder if the entire language structure was different here from on her home planet.

"Of course," the other girl repeated causing Willow to wonder if she was intentionally attempting to be dense.

"Well, what does it mean? I mean ok. I get the first three lines," Willow babbled quickly, "I mean ok. It's Tara's turn for Round Two, which we knew. And it's Thursday from 8 to 2 in the morning. But I don't get the third line at all."

"Breathe in, breathe out," Eliza teased mimicking the voice of Mr. Miagi from the Karate Kid. "What does yours say?"

"Probably the same thing yours says," Willow answered exasperated by Eliza's unwillingness to help. "It says: J—G Globes: Sexy." She waited a second before asking, "Eliza? Eliza? Are you there?" All she could hear was the sound of laughter over the connection.

"Globes? Such as they are I guess," Eliza giggled as she tried to get her laughter under control, "Maybe the way they were at Chelle's party.…"

Eliza took a deep breath to calm her laugher and explained clearly, "Wear jeans and a tight Green sweater. I'll let you figure out the code."

"Jeans and a tight green sweater…," Willow murmured a minute. "Ok. Jeans and a tight green sweater. But how did you get that from…Hey! Does yours say the same thing? Are we going to some 'show off your assets or lack thereof' show?" Patrons were starting to look at the redhead as she pondered the implications of Tara's text message.

Finally Eliza's voice permeated Willow's thoughts: "Red, Red! Are you still there?"

"Look," Eliza explained calmly, "mine says 'J/S dark Silk.' Chelle's probably says something similar. She didn't say anything about my globes." The reassurance would have probably been more reassuring if she hadn't giggled at the end.

Eliiza laughed as she explained, "It used to be in the Flightpath but the Airport moved. That's the way we name things and give directions around here. Hasn't anyone told you to turn where something used to be or that something is next to the old Wal-mart or something."

"All the time," Willow half-shouted, "I thought I just didn't understand the directions well."

"Nope," Eliza continued, "it's a Texas thing to give directions where something used to be. You're lucky. Sometimes the directions are more like, 'when you pass the old tank it's a few more miles.' Once someone told me that I should turn right by the cows, like they don't move?"

"Oh you mean as opposed to sitting in a coffee shop reading the newspaper?" Willow deadpanned. "Yes!" Eliza gave her directions to her apartment, which strangely enough Willow had never visited, and the redhead was on the way.

Since both Michelle and Tara would be starting from their house and everyone was likely to spend the night there anyway, Willow found herself driving over at 7:30. She felt positively giddy. Because of tests and work, Tara hadn't had the time to see her in three days. On the second day Willow had gone down to the school and brought the blonde coffee and a Danish between morning classes. Tara was surprised and overjoyed to see her lover. But that fifteen minutes had hardly fulfilled either girl's craving for the other.

The door swung open before she even knocked and Tara stood in the doorway while Scooby bounded down the stairs to sit at her feet and wait for Willow to pet her. Willow thought it was probably a good thing that she had to stop and pet Scooby or she would have rushed to the door, taken Tara in her arms, and ravished her on the spot. Besides the three days of not seeing each other the blonde was wearing blue jeans and an equally tight royal blue shirt. The redhead's heart pounded in her chest as she took in the sight of her lover in that outfit with boots to finish it off. "Shit," she breathed out quietly and knew that Tara heard her by the smile on her face.

"What made you think that?" Willow squeaked as she wondered if they really needed to do this round of the round robin or if they could just stay in.

"We're going, Willow Rosenberg," Tara told her sternly as she led her into the house to wait for Michelle. "So, sweetie, what did you and Eliza do today?"

"Well, a little," Tara explained, "I mean you two have the potential to get in just so much trouble."

Willow smiled a knowing smile as she explained, "No trouble but now I know a secret." She flirted, "You could try and interrogate me later if you want."

"But she's still not telling anything," Eliza shouted from the kitchen where she was pillaging the refrigerator of pizza leftovers. "This pizza has no pepperoni!" she shouted.

"What is she trying to survive?" Michelle asked as she emerged from her room obviously ready to go out.

Michelle walked up and wrapped her arms around her girlfriend to kiss her neck. "Everybody ready to go?"

Willow noted that Tara's hard week had her limping more than usual. "I can drive if you want, love," she offered.

Tara smiled knowingly as she refused her lover's offer: "No baby, I think you will want to do some drinking." The redhead raised her eyebrow at the statement but decided to go along with the evening anyway. How bad could it possibly be?

Tara paid five dollars to park in a nearby garage and the four girls walked the short distance to the club. The neon pianos and musical notes on the sign caught Willow's attention immediately. "Ivory Cats: Dueling Pianos" the sign read. Oh fun, she thought picturing something like the Donald Duck versus Daffy Duck cartoon with the dueling pianos. "Hey," she announced, "like Donald and Daffy!"

All three other girls looked at her like they had no idea what she was talking about. "Huh?" Tara asked.

"You know the cartoon? The one where Donald and Daffy Duck are playing the dueling pianos on a vaudeville stage? I love that one!" Willow expounded.

"Donald and Daffy Duck?" Tara repeated looking at her friends for further explanation.

"Ok, note to self, no Donald or Daffy Duck here," Willow mumbled as they walked into the club

All three girls burst out laughing as the pointed at the redhead. "Gotcha!" they shouted in unison and Willow realized that they had probably been waiting for a good opportunity to pull that joke on her.

Tara led them to reserved table near the grand pianos facing each other at the front of the room. One was white and the other equally black. As soon as they sat down a waitress came to take their orders and the blonde ordered drinks for all. Willow looked around, impressed with the club. People were scattered around listening to the nice piano music and having a good time. She leaned over to kiss her girlfriend on the cheek before whispering, "It looks like a good choice, baby." "I like this place," she concluded as she intertwined their fingers.

"I hope so," Tara smiled. "By the way," she whispered directly into her lover's ear, "nice sweater."

"Just so you weren't admiring their globes," Willow teased as she nodded toward the other two girls.

"Oh come on," Tara defended herself, "we dated for two months!" Before the girls had finished laughing an audience member approached one of the pianos with a piece of paper. He handed it over and the piano player read the slip, nodded, and began playing. Willow's mouth hung open as he started singing along, his entire table clapping and hollering at his effort.

"This, this, this…" she sputtered, "is a…it's karaoke. This is karaoke…" she trailed off in amazed and horrified shock.

"Yeah," Michelle agreed, "here you hand the piano player the slip of paper with any song. At karaoke you are limited by what the machine offers."

"Of course," Tara added, "you h-have to know the words unless it's one that they have the music for."

"With singing?" Willow lamely squeaked. As she saw the smug looks on the other girls' faces she locked eyes with Michelle. "But I though you were all with the 'I can't sing either' and 'not in a million years'?"

"I'll start," Tara offered standing to walk to the black piano. "This one's for you," she whispered to Willow causing the redhead to figure that it must be a love song. As soon as the first piano stopped and Tara started singing Willow joined the entire club in their laughter as Tara's choice became clear:

"Do your ears hang low?
Do they wobble to and fro?
Can you tie them in a knot?
Can you tie them in a bow?
Can your throw them over your shoulder like a continental soldier?
Do your ears hang low?"

She took a playful bow to the laughter and cheering of the crowd and returned to the table. "You want me to sing?" Willow asked disbelievingly.

Tara teased her lover, "What, no 'oh baby that was beautiful?' I thought you like my s-singing." She playfully pouted at the redhead.

Willow refused to be pulled in by her girlfriend's adorable flirtation: "You want me to sing?"

Tara kissed her lover on the cheek before explaining, "It can't be as bad as you are pretending, sweetie."

"It can't be as bad?" Willow ranted. "How could you know? I mean I'm like the worst singer of the worst singers. I'm worse than…well really bad."

"How bad could you be?" Michelle interjected as she stood and approached the piano. Before beginning she announced, "This one is for Willow." Then she launched into a truly terrible rendition of "I Will Survive!"

Willow took another drink of her margarita as she mumbled, "Nice to know that the campy songs are the same in this universe."

"Hey," Eliza argued, "what's wrong with 'I Will Survive'?" Michelle reached the table and Eliza gave her a sloppy kiss. "My turn," she announced and approached the piano to whisper to the player. A few seconds later she began singing "Stormy Weather" as the club became very quiet to listen to her wonderful rendition. As she finished, the room burst into thunderous applause. She took a few bows before returning to the table for another drink.

After a few more people took a turn at one piano or the other, Tara urged her girlfriend, "I think it's your t-turn, sweetie." Willow gave her a pouting look so Tara leaned forward to offer, "I'll make it worth your while." She gave a very flirtatious look as she did so.

Willow attempted to drive a hard bargain but the truth was that she would do anything her girlfriend wanted, even singing: "How?"

Tara leaned forward to whisper the redhead's ear. The other two girls didn't hear what she said but they noted the way that Willow's face turned red and she choked slightly on her drink before standing to move toward a piano. All three girls wondered what she would sing and began laughing immediately as she started singing the "Monster Mash." Since it was three weeks past Halloween, the bar was all in the mood for a silly monster song and began singing along which obviously eased the redhead's embarrassment.

Willow felt completely embarrassed but also elated at having finished the song. Even though she knew that her singing was awful, it seemed that the audience had enjoyed it thoroughly, with most people singing along and some standing to dance in the aisles. Tara was gazing at her with that adorable lop- sided smile and it flashed through Willow's mind that this was probably not as hard as it had been for Tara to let the redhead see her scars.

As she started to step toward their table she noticed that Michelle, Eliza, and Tara were all approaching her. As they did Tara handed her a sheet of paper. "Do you know this one, baby?" she asked.

Willow giggled as she looked at the sheet of lyrics before nodding. "Yeah, we have the Beatles in my world too." She was surprised as Eliza pulled four silly wigs from behind her back and handed one to each girl to put on. Once they did they began singing 'Yellow Submarine' along with the music. Just as Willow was getting used to singing in front of a group and having fun, the piano player began speeding up the music. Then the other piano started playing a different song which completely confused her. She ended up giving up on singing and just tapped her foot as Tara, Michelle, and Eliza continued. They all returned to the table shaking with laughter and happy to accept the drinks sent over from someone else in the bar.

The evening went on with Tara and Eliza singing frequently, Michelle less frequently, and Willow just often enough to keep from being harassed by the other girls. All four got up one more time to sing "In the Jungle" together although Willow contended that it was the #1 – Worst to get Stuck in your Head song in any world. Midway through the evening Tara stopped drinking so that she would be safe to drive the group home.

"I can't believe you took us to live karaoke for your round robin," Willow told Tara as they drove home at the end of the evening.

Tara lifted her girlfriend's hand to her lips to place a soft kiss on the skin. "I just wanted to see how terrible you really were." Before Willow could begin to pout she told her, "You w-weren't as bad as you think."

Willow smiled broadly, "Maybe I'll serenade you with my favorite song when we get home."

"Well," Willow hinted, "I just heard it for the first time a few weeks ago but it made me think of you and me and the way I feel about you instantly."

Michelle and Eliza had been cuddling in the back seat and sat up with a start. "Good job, Tara," both girls reassured the blonde witch. All four girls bid each other a quick good night.

A few minutes later Willow and Tara were snuggled beneath the covers, enjoying the soft feel of each other's skin. "So…?" Tara hinted.

Willow blushed for a second until she looked into her lover's bright blue eyes. They showed not a hint of anything but love for her. Taking a deep breath (in deference to the song's amazingly long first sentence) she started:

If you ever need to hear a voice in the middle of the night
When it seems so black outside that you can't remember light
Ever shone on you or the ones you love in this or another lifetime
And the voice you need to hear is the true and the trusted kind
With a soft, familiar rhythm in these swirling, unsure times
When the waves are lapping in and you're not sure you can swim
Well here's the lifeline
If you ever need to feel a hand take up your own
When you least expect but want it more than you've ever known
Baby here's that hand and baby here's my voice that's calling,
This is love, all it ever was and will be
This is love

And if you ever think of me let it be around twilight
When the world has settled down and the last round of sunlight
Is waning in the sky, as you sit and watch the night descending
A car will pass out front with lovers at the wheel
A dog will bark out back and children's voices peal
Over and under the air, you've been there lost in the remembering
And if you ever wish for things that are only in the past
Just remember that the wrong things aren't supposed to last
Babe it's over and done and the rest is gonna come when you let it
And this is love, all it ever was and will be
This is love, when you let it, if you let it now
This is love, all it ever was and can be
This is love

By the time Willow finished singing there were tears in Tara's eyes. "Wow," Willow joked, "my singing was that bad, huh?"

Tara leaned in to kiss her lover gently, cupping her hands on the redhead's face. "No baby, it was just so beautiful. It's l-like it was written for us," she explained before again capturing her lover's lips.

Willow responded to the kiss fully and finally pulled away breathless, a dazed look in her eyes. A smile spreading across her face she whispered, "Well Ms. Maclay, are you going to pay up on that offer to make it worth my while?"

Tara blushed bright red as she ducked her head under the covers, her voice barely audible: "My pleasure."

If none of those things were enough hint that Eliza had just sent the text message, the fact that Eliza and Tara's phones rang simultaneously was another clue. Obviously the dark-haired girl had decided that they needed two escorts and had text messaged both James and Little Joey. Little Joey called his sister's phone while James called to say that he would leave Dallas shortly and be in Austin well ahead of time.

Willow smiled as she heard her girlfriend's words. She had always liked James in high school, although she never got to know him that well. Now she was getting to know him more and more and really liked the young man. It was apparent that he had a true affinity for Tara and that besides Michelle and Eliza he had been one of her greatest sources of support after the accident. In addition, as a fellow artist he had always been a valuable resource for her in her work. While Willow knew that he was independently wealthy, she respected that he was actually able to support himself through his work rather than live off his family's money. "Good," she whispered.

"No," Eliza explained, "she's out of town." She reached for the newly arrived fortune cookies and broke one open before starting to laugh.

"Hey," Eliza playfully took offense, "there are probably a few things we haven't tried."

All four girls laughed as Willow broke open her cookie next to read: "You have traveled far to find your destiny." She lifted Tara's hand to her mouth to place a soft kiss on the skin before jokingly adding, "…in bed."

Tara broke open her missive next. "Good things come to those who wait," she read, adding the obligatory, "in bed."

Michelle reached out for her fortune from the only cookie that remained. "I guess this one is mine," she announced. "Of course that means that it will contain great wisdom and be absolutely appropriate. Probably the most fitting fortune I've ever had." She cracked it open and read the words inside before reading them in a deadpan: "You enjoy gambling, liquor, and horses…but not to excess."

"In bed!" the other three girls chorused as they guffawed at their friend's fortune and the implications of it in bed.

When they had all finished laughing Eliza stood and picked up the check. "I'll start the paying now but I need to go and study," she explained. The other girls agreed that they had studying to do also, except for Willow, who was happy to go and waste time sleeping or playing with the dog while the others studied. She had just received her acceptance letter to transfer to UT in the spring semester and was sure that her vacation would be short-lived.

By 9:00 all four girls as well as James and Little Joey had gathered at the house to go out. Eliza and Willow wore jeans while the others wore slacks and nice blouses or dress shirts. They had each had a margarita and they were feeling excited to go out. The group split up so that each escort was in a car with one of the couples and drove to the club.

At the door the bouncer seemed impressed with the girls that Joey and James had with them, as if he couldn't imagine that the girls were only with each other. It probably seemed more exciting to him to imagine them as threesomes. Both James and Little Joey were excited to get to come with the girls, not to mention having the bouncer imagine them as such major studs. Who cared that the image was completely erroneous?

Willow looked around the club immediately upon entering. She had never been to a topless bar or even imagined going. But now here she was. She glanced over to note that the other girls all have very blasé looks on their faces except for Eliza, whose countenance demonstrated her excitement with the evening. It was as if testosterone was in the air. Willow noted all the men sitting at tables or the bar watching the dancers with glazed looks on their faces. She wondered briefly how much money a place like this made in a night.

"I reserved us a table," Eliza announced and led the group to an area cordoned off with a red-ribbon type barrier. The bouncer at the entrance took her name and called over a girl who led them over to a table. Willow noted that apparently the wait staff was not made up of dancers as the girls carrying drinks were all wearing black slacks and white tuxedo shirts with different colored bow-ties. She noticed that the dancers seemed to be mingling in the VIP section.

No sooner had they taken a table and Eliza ordered drinks for them than a dancer came over. "Eliza, Michelle, Tara," she called as she gave each girl a quick kiss and hug and pulled up a chair. "I can sit for a minute before I have to move along," she explained. She smiled at the group as she said, "Unless one of you wants a lap dance."

Tara giggled at the girl's offer. "Kelly, this is my girlfriend Willow." Turning to Willow she completed the introduction: "Willow this is Kelly, a friend of Eliza's from school." The dancer stuck out her hand to shake the redhead's and visited with Eliza for a second about an assignment in one of their classes. Continuing to assess the events, Willow noted that James and Little Joey had now joined the other men in the club in leering unrestrainedly at the women on stage, although they did show a modicum of couth in doing so.

The entire group was having a fun time. They watched the various shows around the room, sometimes oohing or aahing with the rest of the audience at some seemingly impossible stretch or move. Kelly was a particular favorite of the room and Willow could see that she danced not just for the money, which she was making hand over fist, but for a love of dancing. Eliza had been very liberal with ordering drinks for everyone and buying a few lap dances for each escort as well as one for herself. Seeing two dancers with long dark hair enter the area she waved them over and paid for them to simultaneously give her girlfriend a lap dance. While Willow noted the Michelle's embarrassment she also noticed that she was definitely enjoying the attention. Oh well, to each their own, she thought, aware that she personally had no need for a dancer on her lap with Tara in her life.

While neither Willow nor Tara wanted any individual attention from any of the dancers, Eliza had other ideas. "You are going to have a lap dance before we leave here," the dark-haired girl insisted as she slammed two twenties down on the table. Willow and Tara looked at each other as if to show their agreement that neither girl wanted any attention from any of the dancers. In fact, they both had enjoyed the evening but it only served to make them want the other more. Willow would be watching a girl dancing and think, she has nice breasts but not as nice as Tara's, while Tara spent the time evaluating each dancer's hips or belly button in comparison to Willow's and finding all competitors paled by comparison.

Spotting Kelly, Tara decided that if the she paid the girl for a dance, Eliza would be satisfied and at least Kelly would make the money. She waved the girl over and handed her the money, indicating herself and her girlfriend. Kelly seemed to understand immediately their wishes and began dancing for them, keeping herself relatively distant while she used her arms to sensually wave them closer together. By the end of the dance, the two witches were locked in a kiss which had those around them clapping and sounding wolf whistles. As they broke apart they asked with embarrassment, "is that ok?"

Kelly laughed as she explained, "Believe me, this place makes money off sights like that. Usually it's the dancers but if it's you, it's all ok too." She gave each girl a kiss on the cheek and moved to another table.

Michelle leaned her head on her girlfriend's shoulder and pouted, "Can we go home, sweetie?"

"Don't you want to stay a little longer," Eliza urged. At that Michelle leaned over to whisper in her lover's ear.

Immediately their hostess stood up saying, "Well come on, everyone. Let's go!" The group laughed and Tara was pretty sure she heard mumbles of "whipped" to match her own.

The two witches dropped James off at Tara & Michelle's house where he was staying and then continued on to Willow's apartment. They had tried to divide time between the two homes so that both could do any household duties they needed but they weren't willing to sleep apart. On nights that Tara had to work late, Willow would go over to her house and be waiting in the blonde's bed. Tara didn't always wake the redhead but she always enjoyed the warmth of snuggling with the woman she loved.

Tara was feeling tired so she sat on the edge of the bed as Willow went to use the bathroom. Her eyes sparkled as she saw her lover emerging from the bathroom. Willow's hair was dark red, damp around her face where she had obviously gotten it wet when she washed her face. "Well, baby," the blonde asked, "how was your first visit to a topless bar?"

The redhead's eyes glinted as she commented, "disappointing." She took a few steps closer to the bed and elaborated: "I was expecting more stripping. I mean what's the fun if the woman is already nearly naked?" She sat gently onto Tara's lap, ensuring that she wasn't putting any weight on the girl's injury and leaned forward slightly to purr in the blonde's ear: "Why don't we try an experiment?"

Tara was only slightly surprised as her lover stood up and walked over to the stereo, turning on the CD player. Apparently satisfied with the selection, Willow turned back toward the bed. "I really think a more personal dance is better," she whispered as she began to sway to the music. Tara's mouth was dry so she just nodded.

Willow kept her eyes fixed on the blonde's just long enough to see the encouragement and excitement there. Then hers fluttered closed as her body swayed more expressively with the beat. Slowly her fingers traced their way through her hair, bouncing easily with her movements. Continuing the journey, she allowed her fingertips to brush against her neck, running them down the skin and imagining the way she loved to do just that to Tara's sensitive skin. The memory brought a smile to her face and she did nothing to remove it as her hands continued their descent. Unwilling to touch herself too boldly at first she fanned her fingers and rubbed her palms down her arms, cradling her own elbows as she began to deepen the movement of her slight hips.

Taking a step forward she finally opened her eyes and took in the sight of her lover. Tara still sat on the edge of the bed, watching her with darkened eyes. Willow noticed that the blonde managed to stay still although her hands seemed to be opening and closing on their own as if seeking something to hold, stroke, or touch. The redhead held Tara's gaze as she moved her hands to the top button of her blouse and slowly slipped it from the button hole. Without coming closer or changing the rhythm of her movements she undid the buttons one by one until her blouse hung open.

Tara stared unabashedly at the strip of skin exposed by Willow's blouse, or rather lack of blouse. Her smooth neck seemed to flow into the beautiful skin of her chest. The bare swell of her breasts was only hinted at by the skin exposed around the delightful green bra and its front clasp and finally the flat white skin of her stomach seemed to invite a line of kisses that would eventually make it even lower.

The look in Tara's eyes did not go unnoticed by her lover. Even though the women at the bar hadn't particularly turned Willow on, it was virtually impossible to be near Tara for any length of time, hell to think about her for any length of time, and not be aroused. The redhead allowed her blouse to slide down both arms simultaneously, catching it in one hand and playfully swinging it around her head before tossing it at her lover's feet. Willow allowed her hand to follow the path Tara's eyes were tracing, her thumb and finger grasping the first button on her jeans before quickly tugging all five buttons apart.

The blonde was surprised as Willow slowly turned her back to her and slid her hands down her sides inside the jeans. The denim material followed the motion of her hands and she bent at the waist as she pushed them to the floor, twisting slightly to smile at the blonde over her shoulder before stepping out of the clothing. As she did, she turned back toward the bed and slowly approached Tara, settling again on her lap. The blonde began to raise her hands to Willow's hips but was quickly admonished, "No touching the dancers, miss." Tara smiled slightly and nodded that she remembered the standard rule. As if to reward Tara for quickly removing her hands, Willow ran one fingertip along the lace of her bra. "My lover bought me this bra," she whispered. "She wanted the green to match my eyes."

"Beautiful," Tara managed to whisper. She was finding it increasingly difficult to speak and keeping her hands off Willow was nearing the level of impossibility. Seeing the look in Tara's blue eyes and feeling that same passion herself, the redhead slid her fingertips to her clasp and released it. For a second she held it closed, half-teasing both girls, before dropping it completely and allowing the lingerie to fall to the floor.

"Fortunately," she whispered as she bent her lips to Tara's neck, "the dancer can touch the customer as much as she wants." She knew that she hadn't finished her performance, that she still wore her the matching emerald green panties, that if she were a topless dancer, Tara hadn't gotten her entire money's worth yet. And yet, she couldn't keep herself from her newest task. Her hands fumbled only momentarily with the buttons on Tara's top as she gasped, "I need to feel your body naked against mine." Tara's hands wrapped around the redhead's hips as she pulled her down onto the bed.

Tara approached the door to her girlfriend's apartment tentatively, not because she was expecting Willow to open it, but the opposite. She knew that Willow wouldn't be answering the door. Thursday was one of the days the redhead spent at a nursing home, helping the staff and residents use the new computers. But the key the girl had given her on her first visit would make Tara's clandestine visit possible. And that visit... Tara's lips curled up in a smile as she remembered that night. She had gone to Willow's apartment open to the possibility of making love but not definite that it would happen. But as would happen with them so many times, everything fell into place beautifully and it was the perfect time for her to confess and then share her feelings with the redhead.

But back to this sneak attack on Willow's apartment... She shifted the box she held to her other hand as she worked her keys from her pocket. Why did I put them in there to begin with? she wondered as she finally extricated them. Even though she knew that her lover was not at home, she still unlatched and opened the door as quietly as she could and stepped through it, pushing it closed behind her.

"Oooo, pressies," the girl sitting on the couch announced excitedly as she set down the remote and locked her eyes on the blonde.

"Uh, w-w-well," Tara stammered, shocked by teenager's presence as well as her appearance. The girl wore black jeans with a wide belt, a mid-riff T-shirt, and no shoes although hers sat on the coffee table next to an open bag of Cool Ranch Doritos. Her hair was long and dark but had blue, pink, and green streaks running through it.

She assessed the blonde quickly, muttering, "Tara," before picking up the remote again and returning to flipping channels.

Tara stared wide-eyed at the youngster as she set the box on the table near the door. Hearing the meowing coming from the box she quickly opened it and pulled the kitten from within, holding her close and petting her. It had finally happened. The vet's office always had stray cats and dogs to give away and they tried to pawn them off on anyone who came through the door, including the employees.

With the exception of Scooby, who had taken to the blonde witch when she was just barely walking, Tara had resisted the temptation successfully for years. And Scooby was a unique case. She was dropped on the front doorstep of the office when she was barely 2 months old. Everyone reasoned that she would grow and get stronger along with Tara and since the girl had become so attached, the Vets knew that she would take the dog home.

She had been thinking of getting Willow a pet for some time. At first she thought of getting the girl a dog because she so obviously loved Scooby, but then the reality of coordinating care for dogs living at two separate homes when the girls always spent the night at one place or the other, had set in. But she thought and hoped that Willow would love the kitten. Tara considered giving Willow the present for her birthday but she had something else special to share with her lover and didn't want to take any focus off her planned gift. In the meantime, if Willow didn't love the kitten, Tara would take it back to the office.

As soon as Tara picked up the animal, Dawn jumped from the couch to meet her at the door. "Can I?" she eagerly asked.

Tara still wasn't sure who the girl was or what she was doing in Willow's apartment but she handed over the kitten nonetheless. Something about the teenager seemed just so familiar, so comfortable, to her.

Just as Dawn was turning to return to the couch, the door to the patio slid open. Tara looked up to see another girl entering the room, "Yo sis. You should see the freaking view from this patio. I saw this totally hot bl…" She looked up and saw Tara at the door to the apartment and allowed her gaze to travel lustily over the girl. "Gotta be Tara," she announced, "No wonder Red came to find you."

"Damn. Not just hot but smart too," Faith joked as she tossed her body heavily into a chair.

"Faith and Dawn," Tara repeated as she moved over to sit on the couch, first shoving a pile of magazines off the cushion onto the table. She looked at the two girls intently.

Dawn was in her own world, petting the kitten and trying to get it to purr and meow at her. She held the kitten up to her face and rubbed it against it until it made her sneeze, then laughed and teased the cat that it had made her sneeze and why did it do that? Faith had picked up the remote and was flipping channels. "Girl's got 300 channels and no porn?" she fussed.

"Is she smart or what?" Faith now asked the shocked blonde. Changing subjects she told Tara, "so you weren't with the other girl. That's cool."

"Did you go to school at all?" Dawn teased her sister, "it's like vacation for Austrians."

"Australians," Tara muttered under her breath as she reached out to take back the kitten.

"Forget the walkabout thing," Faith answered as she got up to get a coke from the kitchen, "You usually break into people's homes in the middle of the day and unsteal animals?"

"It was a p-p-present," Tara explained wondering vaguely why she was defending her actions, "And Willow g-gave me a key."

Dawn reached over to grab the remote from her sister's hand. "Hey," she announced, "it's almost five. Willow said to call for pizza when we're hungry." She continued, "of course the way you eat, she'll be broke in no time."

"Naw," Faith told her sister, "she's spending her money on my new tat." Before either Tara or Dawn could respond, Tara's phone rang with a text message. She wasn't surprised to read the final announcement:

RR#4 – W 8:00 today – 12:00 tonight. Rend: W Wear: Dark clothes: jeans, dark sweatshirt…

"See," Faith told Dawn as she shoved a handful of chips in her mouth, "I knew she was smart."

"There's vampires everywhere," Faith explained, "You just have to look harder for some. I think that Red looked up some places to start."

Reaching for a handful of chips herself Tara asked, "So she's buying you a tattoo?"

"Yeah," Faith explained, "I'm thinking a hand with a stake, something tough and unique right here." She pulled up the back of her shirt and exposed the skin at the small of her back. "Too bad I can't draw what I want."

Tara pulled a pad and pencil from her bag. "L-like this?" she offered as she began working on a sketch for the Slayer. While Dawn got up and ordered pizza, Faith and Tara made modifications to the drawing until Faith was satisfied that it represented what she wanted. She wasn't aware that the witch had imbedded symbols of strength and protection into the design but knew it felt powerful and "cool."

"No we're not going dancing but I think you'll have fun," Willow was saying as she came in the door holding her cell-phone to her ear. "Tara…," she trailed off as she saw her girlfriend and Faith looking over the drawing paper on the coffee table.

"Shit, Eliza, I know your name's not Tara," Willow muttered into the phone, "She's here." She continued, "No. I mean yes, it's always good when she's here but …oh Fuck. I gotta go Liza." She hung up the phone looking back and forth between her lover and the Slayer.

Tara just smiled at Willow as she reached out for her cane and got up to walk over and place a soft kiss on the redhead's lips. "Hi, sweetie," she whispered.

"Yep sis," Faith wisecracked, "go to college and you too can state the obvious."

"Higher education is sounding more and more like a bargain every time you bring it up, Faith," Dawn teased back.

"Come eat some dinner, baby," Tara urged as she pulled away from their embrace but led her lover by the hand toward the table.

"Hey, what's this?" Willow asked as she picked up the drawing pad that Faith and Tara had been so immersed in when she entered the room.

"Faith says you're buying her a n-new tattoo," Tara explained as she put a few slices of pizza on a plate for the redhead and pulled out a bottle of water from the refrigerator.

"I guess you figured out my round robin," Willow supposed sheepishly to her girlfriend as she took the plate and moved to sit by Dawn, safety away from her lover's artwork.

Tara giggled as she nodded at the two sisters, "well it's not that often that you have visitors and the fact that one of them is the slayer…"

Dawn giggled as she wiped her fingers on a napkin and reached for the drawing pad, "yep. That's why Willow's buying me a new tattoo."

"Dream on," Faith answered as she picked up the pad. "What do you think, Red?" She paged through a few designs.

"Nice work, baby," Willow complimented her lover. She recognized some of the power and protection symbols Tara had put into each design. She also knew that Tara knew much more than she did about imagery and art and that there were probably many symbols that she didn't even recognize in each work.

"How long are you two staying?" Tara asked, shifting the conversation to the two sisters.

"Yeah, well…evil things to kill tend to hang out on the Hellmouth so G-man says to make it a short visit," Faith said. "Oh," she remembered, "he said he and Jenny would really love it any time you can come visit again."

Willow smiled as she heard Faith's statement. "Thanks," she agreed, "we'd love to come sometime soon."

"That too," Faith agreed as she started on what Tara estimated was her sixth slice of pizza. Noting the blonde's stare the slayer explained, "I work off a lot of calories slaying."

"Ok," Tara emphasized, "I g-got it." She cut her eyes to Dawn as if to say, "should she be hearing this?"

The younger girl picked up on Tara's look and sighed loudly. "Faith's my sister, Tara," she said, "Do you seriously think I don't know about this stuff?"

"Point taken," Tara agreed as she reached for her ringing phone. The other girls continued eating as the blonde carried on her conversation. It was obvious that Eliza and Michelle wanted to know what the event was going to be but she didn't give them any information past what Willow had sent in their summons. Willow interrupted the blonde's conversation to give directions for a change in plans. Since she had realized that they would need two cars to get to the cemeteries, she wanted the other couple to meet them there.

After Tara hung up the phone Faith and Dawn both asked, "We're driving to patrol?"

"Just to the cemeteries," Willow explained. "I found three possibilities in the police databases but getting around in Austin's not like getting around Sunnydale."

"But we still walk to actually patrol, right?" Faith teased. "We're not going to like ride around in a Hummer and shoot the bad guys with laser guns?"

"Didn't work that well for the initiative," Willow mumbled as she stood to take her plate to the sink. "No," she finally answered Faith's smart-ass question, "We'll definitely walk the patrol."

"Good," Faith answered as she stood up and started stretching her arms, "I need to work off this pizza." She playfully grabbed Dawn in a headlock and patted the younger girl's stomach. "So does the kid."

"I'm svelte," Dawn argued. Tara and Willow both laughed as the young girl pushed out of the hold and teased, "why don't you go look that up in the dictionary while I go play with the ki…I mean the uh…cable. Yeah cable." She plopped down on the couch and quickly started flipping channels on the television quickly.

Willow raised her eyebrow first at Dawn and then at Tara and Faith who were intently pouring over the artwork. "What did she say?" she asked.

"Dawn," Willow answered. "What did Dawn say?" She was starting to feel impatient. It was obvious that the girls were playing a trick on her. Spying the closed door to her bedroom she started quickly toward there, aware that Tara was reaching for her cane to stand up from the table.

The redhead opened the door and let out a shriek as she ran toward the bed. The shriek woke the kitten who was sleeping on a pile of the girl's clothes but it merely rolled over, its claws pulling a shirt with it. Once the shirt got tangled over the pet's head, Willow started giggling and helped extricate the kitten before she picking it up and petting it.

The smile on the redhead's face as she turned and walked over to kiss her girlfriend left no doubt that Tara wouldn't need to return the kitten to the office. "You got me a kitten?"

"…you didn't want to coordinate sleeping arrangement?" Willow finished for the blonde. As Tara nodded Willow leaned over to whisper in her lover's ear: "Believe me. I don't want anything to interfere with my sleeping with you every night." The kitten gave a loud meow and pawed at the two kissing girls who pulled away to began to address the fluff-ball. "What's wrong kitty? You want more attention?"

After a few minutes of petting and tickling the kitten both witches heard Faith's voice from the other room, "if you're done playing with your pussy, do you want to go and kill some vampires or what, girls?"

"Thank you," Willow whispered as she let the kitten down and kissed Tara. The two girls started down the hallway toward the living room and Willow asked, "Is that my birthday present?"

"N-n-no. I have something else for your b-birthday present," Tara explained somewhat nervously.

"Let's go," Faith encouraged as she tossed a jacket to each girl and jingled Willow's keys.

"Awww," Willow pouted, "she's so cute. I don't want to leave her." She knew that she was being silly. It wasn't a good idea to take a kitten patrolling but she just wanted a few more minutes with the adorable pet.

As the redhead set the kitten on the bed Tara asked, "What are you going to call her?"

"How about Faith?" the slayer suggested as she grabbed yet another piece of pizza from the box and started out the front door of the apartment.

"Wow you used the word subtle, Faith," Dawn teased, "Have you been studying that word of the day calendar Giles gave you?"

"Faith," Willow stood outside the driver's door, "you're not driving." She held out one hand palm up and the other on her hip in a determined look.

"By that theory Tara owns the bed and couch here and can use …well maybe that's not the best example but you're still not driving," the redhead said as she grabbed the keys from the dark-haired slayer and unlocked the doors.

The four girls pulled into the parking lot of the cemetery just before Eliza and Michelle arrived in their car and all of them stepped out onto the blacktop. After making introductions Willow took a moment to assess both girls' clothing choices. Michelle was wearing dark jeans and a navy sweatshirt but Eliza had apparently gone all out. The girl wore leather pants perhaps as tight as what Willow had sported for Michelle's birthday party and an equally revealing black silk camisole. "Aren't you going to be c-cold in that?" Tara asked as she took in the somewhat distracting sight of her friend wearing lingerie to the cemetery in late November. Even in Texas, a chill was in the air and she thought the girl might think better of her attire.

Michelle didn't acknowledge the slayer's tone other than grabbing her girlfriend's hand and asking, "so what are we doing?"

Willow nodded to Faith who pulled a few wooden stakes from her jacket and tossed them to the newcomers.

"Well…I don't know about smart," was as far as Faith got before Tara interrupted: "good g-guesses." She turned to her girlfriend to suggest, "Sweetie, do you want to explain?"

"Sure," Willow smiled, "Welcome to my round." She sounded proud and excited as she explained, "We're going to patrol and dust vampires."

"Hey," Faith interrupted, "I've got a great idea. Everyone keep being loud as hell while we walk around so the vamps can come to us." She started walking between headstones looking left and right as she went. "Sunny," she whispered, "Stay close."

"Hello, grown up here," Dawn muttered exasperatedly but moved closer her sister nonetheless.

"Well," Willow answered, "I figure three may rise from the last two days and maybe the three that sired them? Could be fewer."

"We'll torch them if we need to," Willow explained. She glanced to Tara to ensure that the girl agreed before continuing, "but really we want to let Faith do most of the work. Your stakes and our magic are for self-defense. I want you to see a slayer in action."

"So you invited your friend to come and work for your round robin?" Eliza teased.

"Plus," Dawn piped up, "she's paid for our tr…" That was as far as she got before three vampires rushed from behind a tree toward the group. Faith was in action quickly exchanging punches and kicks with the apparent leader. Willow watched the other two closely. On one hand, as the most experienced member of the group besides Faith, or perhaps Dawn, she wanted to keep her friends safe but she also wanted to let Faith show off a bit.

Michelle, Eliza, and Tara all backed up a few steps from the action but Dawn and Willow remained close. Suddenly Willow was knocked to the ground from behind by a vampire she never saw. Before she could get to her feet she saw the creature that knocked her down burst into flames and glanced over to see the residual spark draining from her lover's fingertip. That was all the time that the other two original vampires needed though. Both attacked Dawn at once. It was obvious that neither was expecting the girl to put up a fight as she cleanly shoved her stake through the first creature's heart. As he was crumbling, the second grabbed her shoulders and lifted her off the ground. Hearing her sister's scream, Faith dusted her opponent and turned to see the remaining vampire knock Dawn awkwardly into a close headstone.

Willow began the incantation to set fire to the vampire currently holding Dawn a few feet off the ground. Before she could get half-way through it, Faith had reached her sister and grabbed the vampire from behind. "That's my sister, you piece of shit!" the slayer screamed as she grabbed him and threw him to the ground. She looked worriedly at Dawn while keeping an eye on the vampire slowly rising behind her.

The dark-haired slayer turned back toward the creature, moving toward him like she was stalking her prey. Perhaps realizing that this encounter was more than he bargained for, the vampire looked around as if hoping for an escape route. "Don't even think about it, bumpy," Faith told him. "You touched my little sister. Not a good idea. Not good at all." She circled him twirling her stake as she went. "No one touches her," she continued, "You see she's the most important thing in the world to me." She seemed to stop to think before letting a side-kick fly. As the heel of her boot caught him in the jaw, knocking him to the ground she concluded, "Nope. Not a good idea at all."

While Faith taunted and circled the vampire, Tara and Willow ensured that Dawn was not hurt. They helped the girl up and Tara did a quick check. "I can h- help those not b-bruise," Tara offered, indicating the red marks on the girl's upper arms and another on her back. At Dawn's nod Tara placed her hands lightly over the area and immediately began her healing magic. For a witch of her skill and power, it only took a few seconds before the red marks were completely gone. In the meantime Willow watched the dark-haired slayer's battle with the offender.

For the first time, Willow saw the kind of fury and rage she was used to from the Faith she knew. Whereas in Willow's world, Faith's rage had seemed unfocused which perhaps caused her to latch on to the affection offered by the Mayor, this rage was completely focused on the vampire who had hurt Dawn. The redhead was relieved that Faith was fighting on the side of good this time as the dark-haired girl unleashed blow after blow at the barely resistant vampire. Kneeling above him as she pummeled him, she continued to lecture him. "You never touch my sister. Ever. Ever. It's the last thing you ever touch, scumbag." Each sentence was punctuated with a blow and Willow noted that Michelle, Eliza, and Tara were all looking away from the gory scene.

Willow tried to get the slayer's attention: "Faith? Faith?" She moved closer trying to decide how to stop the girl without incurring her wrath.

Before she could move close enough to stop the slayer, she saw that Dawn had approached the girl. "Faith," Dawn whispered.

The slayer's hand stopped almost in mid punch and although she couldn't entirely stop its movement forward, she slowed it enough to allow it to barely glance off the unconscious vampire's shoulder. Before turning to look at the younger girl, Faith whispered, "are you ok?" and for the first time Willow realized that she was crying. She jumped to her feet and started running her hands over the younger girl, checking for injury before pulling her into a hug.

After a few seconds Dawn whispered, "I'm fine sis. Why don't you let go so Tara can take a look at your hand?"

Faith nodded and started to hold up her hand. She stopped for a second before asking, "Willow, can you take care of …that?" A nod clarified that she meant the unconscious vampire.

"Sure, Faith," Willow answered as she stepped forward to pick up the stake lying by the prone figure. She momentarily considered allowing Michelle or Eliza to do the deed but decided that this really wasn't the time. Without further ado she staked the remaining vampire and dropped the stake in the center of the dust. Standing up she gently patted the slayer's arm. "I think that's it," she explained. She turned to the group and attempted to break the uncomfortable tension, suggesting, "who's up for dinner on me?"

As they began walking back to the car Faith was obviously recovering quickly as she announced, "You know…I always get hungry and …"

"This isn't t-too bad," Tara announced after assessing the condition of Faith's hand. She knew that anyone else would have numerous broken bones from hitting anyone that hard that many times but Faith's strength was apparent and the blonde suspected that her slayer healing was already at work. On the drive to the restaurant, Tara and Faith sat in the back seat and the blonde witch healed the open cuts on the slayer's hand as she thought about what she had seen and everything she had heard about these visitors.

The rest of the visit was without incident. The girls all enjoyed getting to know each other better. Both Willow and Tara were amazed at the level of love and affection that Faith and Dawn held for each other. The witches exchanged hugs and promises to visit soon with their visitors as they left the freshly tattooed slayer and her sister at the airport the next day.

Tara glanced once again at her lover who fiddled nervously with the seat belt, the emergency exit card, the in-flight magazine, her pockets, and anything else she could get her hands on. "Are you nervous, sweetie?" she asked gently.

"Huh?" Willow started. "Oh, no nervous," she attempted to dissuade the blonde of her suspicions, "I…why would I be nervous? Nope, not nervous, not me." She sealed her pronouncement by leaning over to kiss Tara before returning her attention to her programming journal.

Tara smiled at the redhead who was obviously attempting to appear calm and comfortable with the trip to the farm for Thanksgiving. Of course, who wouldn't be nervous going to meet her lover's family? And this was even stranger since Willow would be re-meeting them but not really them. The two girls had talked at length about Tara's counterpart and Willow's relationship with the other girl, but hadn't really visited about Willow's relationship with the other Tara's family. Both seemed to shy away from such a confusing and sensitive subject. The blonde smiled again as she noted the way Willow's hands had returned to fiddling with the pages of her journal and picking at her cuticles. Reaching out to hold her girlfriend's hand Tara sarcastically commented, "Well, it's a good thing you aren't nervous, sweetie."

Willow folded her magazine closed as she took a deep breath. "Ok," she conceded, "maybe I'm kind of nervous."

"They're all going to love you," Tara attempted to reassure the redhead. She leaned closer to whisper in Willow's ear: "Not quite the way that I love you but I'm sure you'll charm them." She punctuated her flirtation by tugging on the other girl's earlobe with her teeth.

"You're the first g-girlfriend I've ever brought home?" Tara suggested. "My family knows I'm gay, baby. They've never expected me to bring a man home for the holidays."

"Kids these days," Tara scoffed, "they really try some crazy stuff." Both girls laughed at their teasing. After they quieted down Tara asked, "So why are you nervous about the trip, lover?"

Willow took another breath before beginning to explain: "I've been thinking about …well… things."

"Wow, things?" Tara teased again, wanting to lighten the mood. "It must be serious then."

Willow playfully lifted their joined hands to her mouth and kissed the blonde's hand before nipping at it with her teeth. "I've been here for three and a half months," she started. "I mean here-here," she clarified.

"When I was on the way here," Willow continued explaining, "I stopped and spent the night at the Royal Arms. That was when I still thought you were with Michelle."

"Right," Tara agreed, "you told me that. And that was where you and she f-first m-made l-love right?"

"Yeah," Willow said, "that's right. She and I had been there." She took a breath to continue, "but I've been thinking about it and that's the only place I've been in this world that I also visited in the other world."

"Right," Willow agreed. "So this visit, I mean the farm, will be the first time that I've visited someplace where I've been in both worlds …with each of you."

Tara nodded as she tried her best to understand. "So you're nervous that y-you'll get upset and miss h-her?"

Willow grasped her lover's cheeks as she pulled her close. "I do miss her but I would never trade our love," she vowed passionately before kissing Tara.

The blonde was touched as always by Willow's declaration. "I know you love me, sweetie," she whispered before returning the kiss.

"Good," Willow whispered, "I know you know I love you. I mean…that makes sense even the way I said it right?" Tara giggled quietly and nodded. "I'm still nervous though. I mean that something will go wrong or I'll say something stupid or that your aunt will know that something's strange about me."

Tara leaned over again to gently kiss the redhead. "Baby," she gently told her, "everything will be fine. I promise."

Willow smiled finally. "Tara promises," she sighed. "Then everything will be fine." She went back to reading her magazine, feeling much more relaxed after talking to the blonde. As nervous as she had been, she definitely felt better after expressing her feelings.

Tara watched the redhead for a minute. It was obvious that Willow was much more relaxed than she had been. The blonde was grateful that she had been able to calm down her girlfriend. Of course she was nervous about the trip but Tara was sure that everything would be wonderful. She had told her father, brother, and aunt all about Willow—conveniently leaving out how she had gotten here of course—and everyone couldn't wait to meet her. She reached over and lifted Willow's wrist to look at the watch, noting that the plane would be landing in about 15 minutes, before returning her attention to her genetics textbook. Luckily, she was caught up on her studies and could relax for most of the long weekend.

Flying the day before Thanksgiving was always a nightmare and they were saved only a small portion of the trouble by carrying on their luggage. At Willow's insistence Tara wore her own backpack while carrying Willow's and Willow carried both their larger bags. Standing outside the terminal, both girls pulled their coats from the luggage and put them on to guard against the cold wind as they looked around through the mayhem of cars, people, and taxis. Finally, Tara smiled as she saw a blue Chevy truck honking and moving toward them.

Donnie double-parked as he jumped from the driver's side to grab their bags and unceremoniously toss them in the bed of the truck. "Anything breakable in these?" he asked as he lifted the backpacks, obviously intending to do the same with them. Both girls shook their heads and he slung their packs into the bed of the truck before quickly opening the door. "You must be Willow," he stated matter-of-factly. "Climb in," he instructed.

Willow looked for a second to Tara, who confirmed that it would be easier for her to sit by the door, before climbing across the bench seat to the center position. Moments later Donnie offered his hand to help his sister into the passenger seat and took her cane, gently laying it in the bed of the truck and closing the door, before rushing around to the driver's side. "Always a zoo," he muttered as he put the vehicle in drive and pulled into the flow of traffic.

Tara laughed at her brother's business-like manner but appreciated his talent for getting done what needed to be done. "Donnie, this is Willow Rosenberg. Willow, this is my brother, Donnie," she introduced the two somewhat unnecessarily.

Willow laughed as the young man affected an English accent as he extended his hand: "Charmed, I'm sure."

Donnie and Tara visited about their family, who was coming for the holiday, and how the farm was doing. "How are Michelle and Eliza?" Donnie asked after a few minutes.

"Oh, they're doing great," Tara answered, "Michelle was sorry you missed her party this year." Both Maclays burst into giggles at her reference to his misunderstanding and the inception of the traditional costume party theme.

"A, um, vampire," Willow answered. Her embarrassment at the choice of costume was heightened by Tara whispering "dominatrix" just loud enough for her to hear at the same time.

"Something like that," Willow agreed. She felt Tara tickling her and moments later heard the blonde in her head: "sexiest costume. Oh, baby, did I ever tell you how extraordinary your ass looked in those pants?" Willow blushed, glad that Donnie was concentrating on his driving too hard to be able to see her color. "Tara says you have a little girl. How is she?" Willow attempted to make polite conversation. Of course she knew Cleo well but perhaps something was different about the girl in this world.

Like most proud fathers would, Donnie took the opportunity to tell stories about his little girl. By the time they had reached the farm Willow felt like she knew this Cleo almost as well as she had the one she had met so many times. Throwing the truck into park he commented, "Y'all are both real cowboys I guess," as he jumped down to open the gate. Moments later he pulled through and then closed the gate before proceeding up the drive to the farmhouse.

Willow looked around, taking in the land she knew so well. She could feel Tara's hand in hers and knew that the blonde was trying to lend her support and calm her nervousness. The gate and drive looked exactly as they did in the farm she remembered from her world. The same oak and pecan trees filled the long yard in front of the house and the same tire swing swayed in the breeze. As Donnie stopped the truck, she looked up to take in the appearance of the house. Structurally, it was exactly like the one she was used to. But it wore a fresh coat of paint and the front porch seemed to have been reinforced or rebuilt recently. She was surprised to see what appeared to be a new tractor just to the side of the house.

After Donnie helped Tara and Willow from the truck and handed his sister her cane, he wordlessly hefted their bags and started into the house. Willow took a deep breath as she took in the sight of the Maclay family farm. "It's a nice tractor and the porch looks really good," she complimented.

Tara nodded, "Daddy wouldn't let me do much. I c-convinced him that I would use the porch and paint job as well as anyone and the tractor was the one indulgence he allowed. Plus which I gave it to him for Christmas and ensured that the d-dealer wouldn't take it back."

Willow lifted her lover's hand to her mouth. "You are the most wonderful, beautiful, generous woman in the world, Tara Maclay," she whispered before kissing her palm. "And if I weren't sure that you entire family was watching, I would kiss the senses out of you right here on the steps of your house."

"Phooey on my family watching then," Tara joked. She waited as Willow continued looking around. "Do you want to go in?" she asked patiently.

Willow took a deep breath and nodded before opening the door and ushering Tara through in front of her. Their linked hands allowed Tara to monitor Willow's emotion as well as just allowing the two girls to enjoy the connection.

As they entered the room, Willow's composure nearly went out the window. She could feel an almost overwhelming sense of déjà vu, as if she had been here before. And in a sense, she had. Each member of the family was approaching to welcome her, shaking her hand or gathering her in a warm hug. The redhead squeezed Tara's hand harder and harder as each greeting overloaded her senses. With each, "so nice to meet you, Willow…" she became increasingly confused. It felt to her as if she were entering a tunnel with their voices becoming more and more distant. She felt Tara's hand on her lower back urging her toward the staircase.

"Why don't we go lie down, baby," the blonde whispered as Willow moved mechanically toward the base of the stairs. She could see that Willow was having difficulty with the introductions. Her breathing was labored and her eyes looked dazed. In truth, Tara was somewhat worried whether her lover could make it up the stairs but felt that it was important to get her out of the crowd of family and into private. She felt only slightly better as Willow slowly turned her head to make eye contact and nodded her agreement. The beautiful and dancing green eyes Tara was so used to looked confused and glazed over.

As they ascended the stairs, Willow attempted to control her breathing. She knew that she was quickly losing control. She tried to tell herself that all she needed was to make it to Tara's room. She would lie down and perhaps her lover could bring her a cold washcloth for her forehead. If the Maclays found her appearance and behavior strange or off putting, it was too late now. All the two witches could hope for was a minimum of panic.

Hoping for a focus point, Willow counted each step she took. But each seemed to bring to mind a memory of a prior visit. She remembered the overwhelming love she had felt for her other Tara the first time she had seen her holding her niece. The feeling hit her like a blow to her solar plexus and she grasped the banister even more tightly. The next step overwhelmed her senses with memory of a similar journey up the steps after Teresa's "test" of the redheaded witch. Finally, after 14 steps the two girls reached the landing. Willow took a deep breath, happy to have made it that far. At least I won't fall down the stairs, she concluded as they continued walking toward Tara's bedroom.

A few steps from the door Willow turned sharply to look at her lover. "Did you hear that, baby?" she asked.

Tara shook her head and brushed her hand over the redhead's arm. "There's nothing there sweetie. L-let's lie down."

"How are you doing, baby?" Tara asked, continuing to be concerned about Willow's fading color. The girl was usually pale but even her freckles seemed blanched. The blonde assumed that if they could reach her room, Willow could take a rest and would be fine.

Willow exhaled as she answered, "exhausted. I never knew that doing magic could make you so tired. I feel like I've been run over with a Steamroller or at least a Petri-demon."

Again the redhead looked puzzled at her lover's words. They had reached the doorway to Tara's room and the blonde reached out to open the door. Willow swayed slightly and clutched at the doorframe as her senses were flooded with memories:

Pulling one hand free of the doorframe, Willow attempted to reach for Tara. Before she could reach the blonde's hand, though, the floor seemed to rush up to meet her.

"Willow. Sweetie. Willow," Tara whispered as she gently stroked her lover's hand. The blonde's other hand rested on the wet washcloth on Willow's forehead and she could tell that the girl was starting to stir. "That's it, baby. Open your eyes slowly," she whispered.

Willow recognized her lover's voice but it sounded very far away to her. She could detect the cool effect of something on her forehead and could feel Tara's calming presence. Slowly she opened her eyes to see Tara gazing lovingly at her with concern written in her blue eyes. Her eyes darted around as she tried to take in all her surroundings. Suddenly, she closed her eyes and inhaled a little too deeply. After taking one deep breath she pulled her lover closer, nestling her nose into the blonde's neck and hair and continuing to take deep breaths. With her eyes still closed she asked, "Tara?"

"Right here, baby," Tara answered as she stroked her lover's forehead and wondered about the sudden National Geographic-like sniff-fest.

"My Tara, right?" Willow confirmed. Realizing that her question wasn't one that could be answered effectively she opened her eyes and glanced around until her eyes came to rest on Tara's cane. As they did she blew out a breath of relief.

"I'm right here, Willow," Tara whispered again as she leaned in to kiss her lover. When Willow didn't respond verbally to Tara's statement she began explaining: "You passed out, my love. We got to the doorway of my room and you looked like something was wrong and started saying strange things and then your eyes rolled back in your head."

Willow nodded her understanding of Tara's explanation. It didn't surprise her that she had woken up here, wherever here was. "I passed out," she repeated, unable to think of anything else to say.

Willow blushed as she explained, "I wanted to know which…which Tara…" She trailed off embarrassed.

Tara knitted her eyebrows together as she tried to understand the redhead's answer. "Smelling us would t-tell that?"

Tara waited for further explanation. As none was forthcoming she checked in on her lover: "How are you feeling, sweetie?"

"Better," Willow assured her as she began to sit up in the bed. Looking around the room for the first time, she was shocked to recognize it. "I know this room!" she shouted. "This is the room…the room from the dream!"

The blonde glanced quickly around the room she knew well. "Of course, love, this is the m- master bedroom in my h-house."

"But I've never seen it," Willow argued, "how is it that I've seen it in that dream?"

"We've b-both seen it," Tara answered, "r-remember? I didn't know that you didn't know it was a real room in m-my house."

Willow giggled as she mimicked, "And I didn't know that you didn't know that I didn't know…" As the blonde finally joked and Willow felt that maybe everything would be ok, she asked, "But I'm confused about something." Tara nodded as if to say, "What are you confused about?" "Why do you keep saying it's your house? I mean ok, of course it's your house. Your father lives here and you grew up here but you keep saying, of course it's your house."

Convinced that her lover was feeling better, Tara moved onto the bed and gathered Willow in her arms. "This is my house," she explained, "it was my mother's and my grandmother's before her. I inherited it on my 21st birthday."

"This is your house," Willow repeated, "and this will be your room when you finish school."

Willow shook her head lightly as it fell into place for her: the dream. The dream she had been having since high school: she and Tara in a farmhouse waking in a bed, this bed, to the giggling of their children. This was always her future, their future. Finally accepting the finality of their shared dream, the redhead agreed: "Our room, my love." The two witches kissed and hugged briefly before Willow asked, "Did we miss dinner?"

"It's close to eight but Donnie brought up a t-tray a little while ago," Tara explained. "We are going to stay in here over the vacation and dad is going to s-stay in my room."

"What did you tell them?" Willow asked, her face showing obvious embarrassment as Tara handed her a sandwich.

As they ate, Tara explained that she had simply told her father that she couldn't explain but that Willow and she would prefer to stay in the master bedroom for the trip. Knowing that his daughter would never ask such a favor if she didn't have a very good reason, he agreed eagerly.

The next day the family had Thanksgiving dinner together early in the afternoon. Tara had helped her aunt and sister-in-law with the cooking while the men enjoyed the sporting events. Willow played with the children and looked at the impressive selection of books, magical and otherwise, in the house. At times she found herself simply leaning against the doorframe of the kitchen or sitting at the Formica table staring at her lover.

Dinner was a loud and friendly affair with seemingly everyone talking at once. At times multiple conversations went on simultaneously. The scene reminded the redhead of the Christmas she had spent at Tara's family farm four years earlier. Goddess, could it be four years ago? she marveled. It seemed at once just moments and her entire life that she had spent loving Tara Maclay, at least one incarnation or another of her. She almost expected Tara's father to ask the girl to come ride fence as his counterpart had done years ago, but obviously he would not do so.

Instead he asked her to come see the horses: "You goin' to look at the horses tomorrow morning, Tara?"

"Yes, sir," she answered immediately. She gave a big grin to her niece and told the girl, "I'd like to see Acorn too."

The younger girl was obviously smitten with her aunt. "I can ride her without daddy," she announced proudly.

Willow looked back and forth between Tara, Cleo, and Donny, wondering vaguely who Acorn was. "We'll ride her over in the morning, sis," Donny offered.

Before Willow could respond, Tara's aunt Amber spoke. "Could I visit with you while Tara is seeing the horses, Willow?" she asked.

The redhead recognized the question as she hadn't recognized the directive from Teresa years earlier. "Yes ma'am," Willow obediently agreed, "I'd like that." She didn't voice any of the panicked thoughts that were running through her head.

Once again, Willow stood alone as she knocked on the parlor door. She wondered if Aunt Amber would open the door by magic as Teresa had done. The night before she and Tara had discussed the test and Willow's trepidation about it:

Not what I expect? Let's see, the redhead thought just as the door swung open. Amber stood holding the door handle. "Come in, Willow," she offered warmly. As they sat down Amber offered the girl a bottle of water. "You know why I asked to see you?" she confirmed.

"Yes, ma'am," Willow responded in her best transplanted-Texan fashion, "you want to test my magical ability."

Amber smiled. "I think I missed the boat on that one," she responded, "but I'd like you to do a meditation with me."

Willow smiled in response. So that's it, she thought as she assumed that Tara's mother from this world wanted to talk to her "again." The two witches arranged themselves and Amber guided her guest into the trance.

"Teresa sends her love," Willow said even before opening her eyes. In fact, her voice woke her up and as she opened her eyes she saw Tara's watching her.

The blonde handed her a glass of water as Amber left the room. "Riddles?" Tara guessed.

Willow cocked her head slightly. "No riddles," she smiled, "or at least I don't think so." She considered the feeling she had, "I don't know what she said but I know I'm going to spend the rest of my life with you, Tara Maclay"

Tara didn't respond in words, choosing instead to lean forward and kiss her lover.

The rest of the Thanksgiving visit passed quickly for the girls. Willow was amazed to see the similarities between Chestnut and Acorn. When Tara stroked the horse, she could almost feel the want to ride again coming from the blonde witch. Mostly though, she just felt the love and sadness the girl held for her lost friend.

The night before they left the farm, Amber attempted to use her healing powers on Tara's leg with Willow amplyifying for her. Although Willow was very strong and Tara instructed Amber on the best way to use Willow's powers, she was not able to make much improvement on the injury. While everyone knew that if Tara had been able to heal herself, she would be much better off, they knew that Amber did not have near the healing ability that Tara possessed. While she was not able to make any significant improvements to her niece's leg's strength, all three women agreed that the visible scarring was improved by their efforts.

After the attempt, the two girls went upstairs to bed early. They were tired from their day but Tara wanted to make the evening special nonetheless. Willow hadn't wanted to make a big deal out of her birthday so the family had shared a cake and sung happy birthday and nothing more. Tara had just closed the door and was about to open her mouth to speak when she was surprised by Willow jumping up and down like a child, clapping her hands. "It's my birthday. It's my birthday. It's my birthday!" she started singing while wiggling her hips.

Tara laughed loudly as she watched the redhead who quickly returned to begin kissing her lover. After a few seconds of passionate kissing, Willow pulled her lips back and began pecking at the blonde with smacking playful kisses all over her face. "Stop, stop, stop," Tara gasped as she pulled away with a smirk on her face.

Willow's pout was almost enough to get Tara to pull her close again but instead the blonde told her lover, "You're being silly, my love."

"It's my birthday. It's my birthday. It's my birthday," Willow again sang as if to account for her silliness.

"I know it is," Tara purred as she stepped somewhat closer. "And I have a special present for you if you will calm down for a second."

"Pressies? Pressies?" Willow cheered. She leaned the remaining few inches to gently kiss Tara before turning toward the door of the bathroom. "I'll not only calm down for a present; I'll go brush my teeth."

Two minutes later the redheaded witch sat on the bed, eyes closed and hands outstretched, her face the exact countenance of a five-year old waiting for a new puppy. Tara looked again at the present in her hands. She knew that Willow was playfully excited but she had to explain the present a little. "Th-this is something that I got for you…um…a l-long time ago. I can't explain it but it was v-very important to me and I knew that I had to get it f-for you." She exhaled all her breath as she continued holding the box.

"Thank you," Willow whispered even before she took the present. She opened her eyes and looked straight into her lover's blue ones, trying to show her that she was done playing and that she understood how important this present was.

Unable to come up with anything else to say, Tara simply placed the small box in her love's hands.

The second she felt the velvet box, Willow knew without asking what was in it. She broke into a wide grin as she recognized the energy of her familiar ring. She opened the box and held the silver ring with the brilliant green stone out to her lover, asking her to place it on her finger. Tara stepped forward and did just that before kissing Willow. "Thank you," the redhead whispered as she kissed the girl back.

Willow smiled and shook her head: "Definitely not too much." She paused a moment before voicing her curiosity: "Did you get its match?" She knew that these versions wouldn't carry the magical power of their counterparts since they hadn't been "exchanged simultaneously…" but she loved the way that they emphasized how much she and Tara belonged together.

Tara looked puzzled for a second at how Willow knew about the other ring. "I wanted both but I c-couldn't afford them."

"Of course," Willow agreed, somewhat regretful that she had asked such a question. She was surprised to see a smile on Tara's face as the blonde pulled the missing ring from her bag and held it out for Willow to place on her finger.

As they settled into bed, Tara explained that she had made so many trips into the antique store in town and showed Michelle and Eliza the ring so many times that the two girls eventually conspired to buy it. They had planned to give her the ring as a surprise when an occasion arose. However, once she had received her settlement, one of her first trips was to the store to look for the long gone ring. Eliza had then produced the ring and explained their plan. Tara insisted on paying the girl for her generosity but had always appreciated that her friend had gotten the ring for her.

When Tara's story was finished, Willow explained her own story of the rings, including the mischief the two witches had unintentionally caused on their visit to Sunnydale. Touching the rings together as they fell asleep, neither woman felt that spark of magic but they still knew that they would wear the rings for the rest of their lives.

"Oh God," Tara moaned, "r-right there.." She leaned her head back, exposing her neck to Willow's avid attention.

The redhead grinned as she slowed her progress up her lover's neck. She'd spent nearly the entire drive to the hotel teasing and flirting with Tara and knew the blonde was ready to make love. It wasn't that Willow wasn't ready herself but she so enjoyed teasing the blonde, that it was worth it to drag out their pleasure. The girl, so recently innocent, was even more outspoken when she was extremely aroused. "Is that all, baby?" Willow whispered with a smirk on her face.

Tara feigned innocence once again: "That feels so good, Willow." She knew what Willow wanted to hear. A few times during their lovemaking Willow had teased and aroused her to the point that she had used "spicy talk," surprising even herself. The first time she had slapped her hand quickly over her own mouth and blushed red in embarrassment; however, Willow had not reacted with disgust. Quite the opposite: she appeared to take the words as a challenge-one for which she was completely ready.

"What feels good?" Willow hinted as she ran her hands up and down Tara's sides, scooting her shirt up with the backs of her hands.

"You want to k-know what feels good?" Tara whispered as she gently rolled to press her body on top of the redhead's.

Willow smirked as she brought their lips together. Pulling back to run the tip of her tongue along Tara's lips she answered, "Yes love. What feels good?" She ran her hand along Tara's hip. "Am I close?"

The redhead's words didn't seem to agree with her movements as she shrugged non- committally: "Only if you want to tell me." In the meantime, she slipped her hand under Tara's blouse, palming her breast as the girl groaned in response.

"Oh god, Willow," Tara almost shouted as her nipple instantly hardened, straining against the silk of her bra. She was just about to share her wishes with the redheaded witch when both girls lifted their heads to stare at the cell phone suddenly playing "The Eyes of Texas" and vibrating on the nightstand. "You've got to b-be kidding me," Tara groaned as she reached for the offending article.

Before the blonde could put her hand around her cell phone, Willow picked it up. "Nope," she declared, hitting the silence and then decline button, "we don't need to talk to Eliza right now." She dropped Tara's phone back on the table and used her now free hand to begin working her lover's other breast.

Tara arched her back as she reveled in the attention Willow was paying to her body. "G-g- good choice," she whimpered. Again she opened her mouth to tell her lover what she wanted, only to hear "Jingle Bells" playing on Willow's phone.

"In the spirit of the h-holidays," she teased as the redhead again reached out for the phone.

"Take a hint," Willow muttered at the phone as she repeated her earlier actions by declining the call. "Now where was I?" she whispered as she lifted Tara's shirt over her head and began to unhook her bra.

"Right there!" Tara's voice rose at the end of her confirmation in response to the feel of Willow's lips wrapping themselves around her nipple. "Definitely right there," she whimpered as she lifted her hips, attempting to rub against the redhead's thigh.

"What do you want?" Willow asked as she began to transfer her lips to Tara's other breast.

Tara lifted her mouth to the redhead's ear, letting her know that she would indeed be telling her exactly what she wanted. "I w-w-want you to…" she dragged out her answer to tease Willow back.

The knocking on the door caused both witches to stop mid kiss and look toward the door as if it were causing the offense. Actually pounding would be a better description of the sound echoing from the thick wood. "Open the door!" Eliza's voice shouted.

"Arggghhh!" Willow moaned as she dropped her forehead onto Tara's shoulder. She rolled off her lover and started toward the door before leaning back to kiss her lovingly. "We'll definitely come back to this later," she whispered.

"Count on it," Tara agreed as she refastened her bra and pulled down her shirt. Deciding that smoothing her hair would be virtually impossible, she put it in a ponytail just as Willow reached the door and opened it.

"Ever hear of calling first?" the redhead asked as Eliza and Michelle entered the room.

"Sorry about that," Michelle mumbled as she nodded toward the bathroom and went through the door.

"Ever hear of calling and waiting for someone to answer first?" Willow amended her earlier question. "And where did you call from? The elevator?"

"The phone wouldn't work in the elevator," Michelle answered as she emerged from the bathroom, "we stood in the hallway." She looked around the room and nodded her head: "This is pretty nice."

"Yeah, isn't it?" Tara agreed as she rubbed Willow's lower back. Both witches had agreed that even through most of their friends, including Eliza and Michelle, were staying at the Royal Arms for homecoming, they would stay at another hotel.

"Y'all ready to go?" Eliza asked as she picked up Willow's jacket and appeared to look around for Tara's.

"Go where?" Willow answered, completely confused about the schedule. "I thought the career/college fair was tomorrow morning and the dance tomorrow night?"

Michelle picked up Tara's jacket and helped the blonde into it while Willow was pulling on her own with a confused look on her face. She looked at the clock on her phone and asked, "I thought Aunt Maria wasn't expecting us until 7:00?"

"She said come earlier and we're hungry," Eliza answered as she ushered the two witches out the door and waited while they ensured that the lock latched behind them.

Willow shrugged as they stepped into the elevator. She'd gotten very good at going along with whatever activity the others had planned. She rubbed her stomach as she realized, "You know I actually am really hungry."

The others laughed as they piled into Eliza's car. The way the young woman drove, they arrived at the restaurant and bar less than an hour and a half later. Quite a few friends from school, both people that Willow had met in this world and those she hadn't met although she had known them in high school were in the restaurant. Elizabeth was there with a date but with the exception of coming over to say hello to the group and give Michelle a quick hug, she stayed clear of them.

Aunt Maria of course welcomed the girls with a few baskets of wings and brought them a pitcher of beer. "Who's driving?" she asked like the parental figure she was and Michelle raised her hand. With the career fair early the next day, the other girls weren't planning to drink heavily either. As Willow understood it, Michelle was going to talk about earning scholarships, Tara and Eliza were manning or "womaning" a UT table, and Elizabeth was hosting a table from the UT school of pharmacy which she had entered at the beginning of the summer. Their other friends were all representing their schools or career choices or simply returning to the school for homecoming.

The gathering was a much less boisterous one than Willow was used to and she really enjoyed the conversation. Not that she would ever stop missing Xander and Buffy, but having these friends filled a hole in her heart. They had finished eating and were still visiting as she heard people singing "Happy Birthday." Not knowing whose birthday it might be but wanting to be festive anyway, she joined in, until she realized that Maria was carrying the cake toward her.

Willow blushed as she blew out the candles but happily accepted her friends' late birthday surprise. "We couldn't believe that you didn't want a big party," Michelle explained, "but we wanted to celebrate with you. Happy Birthday, Willow."

Maria gave the girl a kiss on the cheek as she pulled the candles from the cake and began cutting it. "That looks possibly illegal," Willow pointed.

"White chocolate, milk chocolate, dark chocolate layers, and mocha icing," Maria explained as Willow's mouth watered. "Tara said you like chocolate and coffee?"

Willow took a bite before teasing the older woman: "Marry me?" The table erupted in laughter before Maria took her slice of cake with her to the kitchen.

"We didn't want to let your birthday go by," Eliza explained as she leaned over to give Willow a hug. She popped a bite of cake in her mouth. "Oh God, that's amazing." She started moaning somewhat obscenely, causing Michelle to lean over and whisper something in her ear. Both girls blushed and laughed about it.

As she was finishing her cake Willow looked around the table at her friends. "I wish Buffy and Xander could have met y'all," she commented. They all knew that her friends knew another version of themselves, but they understood what Willow meant: she missed her friends.

"I've been thinking about that," Eliza announced to looks of surprise. "What? I can't be sensitive and caring?" she teased the table. She turned back toward Willow. "When you came here, did you arrive at the same place you left?"

Willow felt completely confused at Eliza's line of questioning: "Huh?" She shook her head and nodded. "Yes," she answered, "I arrived in the same crypt I had left, just in this world."

"First: urgggh a crypt," Eliza answered, "second: send a letter back the same way."

"It's n-not that simple," Tara argued. "It's not like there's an interdimensional m-mailbox or something."

"Wait!" Willow shouted a little too loud. She sheepishly took a drink of her water and thought outloud: "Maybe there is."

Willow was nearly bouncing up and down in her seat: "What if we put together a letter to Buffy and sent it through the way that I got here? Then she would get it."

Willow's mind continued to whirl. "No!" she explained, "we wouldn't have to go to Sunnydale. We just could put postage on the envelope and send it through here. Then it would get mailed."

"What if you send it under a counter or into a crack in the wall or something and it gets lost?" Eliza suggested.

All four girls wrinkled their brows at that. "We'll f-figure it out, baby," Tara reassured her lover as she patted her on the knee. She was worried that the plan might be more complicated than it seemed and didn't want Willow to have more pain over it.

"Yeah," Willow agreed with a smile, "we will." She returned her attention to the cake and the celebration, deciding that together she and Tara would work out the spell to send a letter to her other friends.

By ten o'clock the next morning she wasn't thinking about the interdimensional mailbox anymore although she had more than once thanked multiple deities that she, Tara, and Eliza had only shared one pitcher of beer. Upon arriving at the fair, Willow had met some more of the other girls' friends as well as Ms. Geller and other teachers and administrators she knew from her world. Since she didn't have an official job, Willow had volunteered to help out anywhere she was needed. At first, people were asking her to run and get tacks or tape. Then some of the booths had a problem with their Internet access and Michelle had suggested utilizing Willow's skills to solve the issues.

By the time Willow looked up, it was nearly 2:00. She returned to the UT table to find Tara, Eliza, Michelle, and Elizabeth laughing as they visited with potential students and old friends. The scene reminded her momentarily of her first encounter with Elizabeth years earlier but the similarities were limited. The older girl was surprisingly restrained and polite.

"And here's another new Longhorn," Michelle announced as the redhead approached.

"That's great," Elizabeth commented sincerely. She looked up at the clock. "Oh, we're nearly done."

"Yeah, I'm hungry," Eliza agreed as they gathered their coats and bags. She and Michelle and Tara and Willow had planned to eat lunch on their way back to town.

After lunch Tara and Willow made love in the huge tub in their hotel room and then took a long nap. They had decided to meet up with their friends at the dance so they got ready and then had dinner in the hotel dining room before driving out to the school.

Both witches enjoyed the dance immensely as Tara continued introducing Willow to friends from school. James and even Emma and her husband were there and true to Willow's lie from months ago she was expecting her first baby. As a slow song came on, the redhead turned to her lover: "Will you dance with me, Tara?"

Tara smiled and nodded, taking Willow's hand in her free one and allowing her girlfriend to lead her onto the floor. One dance merged into another and before they knew it half the people at the dance had already left. Seeing Michelle and Eliza on the side of the hall they walked over. "We're going to go," Eliza explained, "I need my share of hot lovin."

Michelle blushed and slapped the girl lightly on the arm. "That didn't make it any more likely," she muttered.

Everyone agreed that they would get chairs together for the fund-raising brunch. Eliza's father had paid for each of their places at the $100 a plate event. His continued support of the school was just one of the reasons he now served on the board and would also be attending the brunch.

After a very filling brunch, some alumni left the school while others stayed to visit and enjoy the grounds. Willow found herself walking with the other girls and Mr. D'Angelo toward the stable and wondered how Tara felt. She knew that the girl wasn't afraid of horses after their Thanksgiving visit but she didn't know if she had bad memories of the school stables.

It was soon apparent that Tara harbored no such fears and Willow was again impressed with the work the girl had done to overcome the accident. She knew that the blonde had been plagued by nightmares about the accident and recovery, yet she was venturing toward the stables with little trepidation.

When they reached the stables, the entire group went inside. A few students were working but seeing the group's fine clothing, they didn't ask if any of them wanted to ride. Willow and the others, including Tara, looked at the horses, petting and stroking some of them. As they reached the end stall, all heads snapped around as Eliza began singing. Eliza and Michelle stood by the stall gate and the runner was blushing while her lover held her hand as she sung:

By the time she finished singing, most of the people in the stable had tears in their eyes. Those who didn't certainly developed them quickly as the singer bent down on one knee and pulled a velvet box from her pocket. A performer at heart, Eliza opened the box and displayed it to the assembly.

Still holding Michelle's hand she told the shocked girl: "Since I kissed you on this spot nearly four years ago, I've known you were the only woman for me. Grace Michelle Stewart, will you marry me?"

For a second Michelle could do nothing but nod but as Eliza stood and began placing the ring she finally found her voice. "Yes," she simply answered as she accepted both the ring and a passionate kiss. The applause in the stable reminded the girls of their audience and a few horses were disturbed enough by the clapping to snort, causing everyone to laugh.

Due to her cane, Tara was not the first person to reach her friends. She was beaten by Eliza's father who kissed and hugged both girls as well as Elizabeth who appeared very happy about the events. Noting the grin on her girlfriend's face, Tara asked Willow, "Did you know anything about this?"

"I helped her pick the ring," the redhead explained, "but I didn't know when she was going to ask."

Tara lightly pinched her lover, teasing, "I'll get you for keeping secrets later, missy." By the time she had made her teasing threat, they joined their friends and exchanged hugs and congratulations. After a short celebration the party broke up. Tara, Michelle, and Eliza all had finals the next day and needed to get home to study. Willow drove so that Tara could rest. As she drove she appreciated even more the friends she had made in this world.

Willow found herself awake long before the sun rose. It was an important day and one from which she knew she could never go back. In fact, that was the point. She could never go back. Once this day was over, once these spells were cast, she was absolutely committed. She rubbed the ring on her finger and thought about the unspoken commitment she and Tara shared even long before the blonde had given her this ring. Even with the ring, even with the promise of their life in front of them, she knew that today would be the day marking her commitment, not just to Tara but to her entire world.

I'm awake first! she smirked to herself as she tried to decide how to for once awaken the beautiful woman sleeping next to her. Deciding that tickles were the only way she held her fingers up and began wiggling them as if to allow them to warm up before they met their target. While she was still wiggling her fingers, she was startled by Tara's voice: "Your best chance would have been if I fainted when I r-realized how early you woke up, Willow."

"Grrr," Willow playfully growled as she rolled on top of her lover. "Did I ever tell you how hard it is to surprise you?"

"I can think of a few times you've surprised me, love," Tara whispered back and both women knew she was referring to the day that Willow had arrived at her work. Their lips met before the redhead could think of a snappy answer.

Willow took a deep breath as she noted the passage of time. "Well," she announced, "I guess we stayed in bed as long as we can. It is the shortest day of the year after all." Tara nodded and both women rose to bathe and prepare for their day. As they dressed and finished putting a few items in their backpacks Willow looked around the room once again. It was hard to believe that this was the room from their dream. She knew as certainly as she knew anything that they would wake in this room for years once Tara had finished Veterinary school.

By the time they reached the door to Mr. Maclay's office, everyone else had left the house for the day. Tara's father had told both women that he had some stops to make in town and they knew that he would be gone for hours. Holding her lover's hand gently in her own, Tara led them toward the large oak desk built into the wall of the room. She passed her hand over the wood, marveling at the workmanship and remembering hours spent with her mother and Donnie as they watched him building the behemoth structure. The ornate designs carved into the legs were the only luxury he had allowed himself in creating the utilitarian desk. "He would n-never destroy this," she attempted to reassure Willow, "and he couldn't move it even if he wanted to."

"I'm betting that's a lot," Tara smiled. Her father was very proud of the desk and showed it to anyone who was willing to see it every time they visited the house.

The redhead carefully pulled a 10 x 13 envelope from her pack. She had written Buffy's name and address across the front and applied the appropriate postage. Paper clipped to the envelope was a note saying, "Please mail this." The girls knew Mr. Maclay well enough to know that his counterpart in Willow's world would do so without questioning the source or opening the envelope.

Inside were a variety of items, foremost among them Willow's now 100 plus page journal. What had started as a simple letter to Buffy had become a running commentary on her new life. She described her journey, the people she had found here, and her relationship with Tara. Letters to Dawn, Xander, Anya, and Giles also found a place in the envelope. Easily 25 or 30 pictures of Willow with Tara or with Tara, Michelle, and Eliza were included. She knew that Buffy would send the separate stamped envelope to Eliza and Michelle. She had considered sending a note to her mother and father but couldn't imagine how she could explain anything to them, nor that they would miss her particularly.

The final addition to the envelope were a series of newspaper clippings that both witches felt would amuse Buffy: "Cubs sweep Yankees to Four-peat in World Series!" and "Jodie Foster shows Pride as Grand Marshal of the Los Angeles Gay Pride Parade." The headline, "Supreme Court strikes down Defense of Marriage Act: Majority Opinion states: 'what a Stupid Law!'" mirrored something from the Onion.

Carefully she placed the envelope in the center of the desk and surrounded it with five candles. She still had the notes from her spell to reach this world and followed them precisely. Attempting to be prepared for anything that could go wrong, each of her pockets held a Ziploc bag with dirt from just outside the front door of the house and clippings of Tara's hair. There was no way the witches would allow Willow to accidentally accompany her letter. Finally the preparations for the spell were complete. Tara took a step back but held her lover's hand securely.

Pulling the Ziploc she had brought with her from the other world out of her backpack, Willow grasped it around the middle. She knew that she wouldn't need the entire contents but she didn't want to get it on her hands nonetheless. Not breaking her grasp on Tara's hand, she began to chant:

The sea to the river.
The mother to the child.
Nu-Eyrishon. Doh-tehenlo. Diprecht.
Meh-uhn. K'shala. Eyrishon.

Slowly she poured the dirt she had gathered from Buffy's yard so many months ago onto the envelope. The light became brighter and brighter until reaching the end of the chant, a flash of light filled the room. Both witches looked to the desk to find the envelope and dirt gone. Smiling with satisfaction, they uncast the circle and cleaned up from the spell.

When they had returned the candles to their room, both girls picked up their packs and left the house, walking toward the barn. "Are you sure, love?" Willow asked gently.

Tara stuttered but she was determined: "Y-yes, baby. It's been long e-enough." They reached the barn, finding Donnie inside.

"Hey sis," he called as he walked over to the couple. He gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek and mirrored Willow's question: "Are you sure you want to do this?"

Again Tara showed her determination as she nodded silently. He took her hand and led her to the saddled horse. "Acorn's ready to go," he said as he indicated the horse with his hand. Tara walked slowly around the animal as Donnie fastened her pack on. She petted and stroked her before deciding that it was now or never.

"W-will?" she called and was happy that the redhead immediately moved to stand next to her and hold out her hand. Tara had no doubt that she could mount the horse using her strong leg but she wasn't sure if she could stand on the injured one long enough to get her foot into the stirrup. Willow apparently understood perfectly as she held out her arm to allow Tara to set her left hand on. Balancing on her injured leg, her cane, and Willow's arm, she lifted her right foot into the stirrup and effortlessly lifted herself off the ground to bring her other leg over the saddle.

Hearing her lover's groan Willow was immediately worried that sitting on the horse was hurting the woman. "Baby," Willow asked tenderly, "does it hurt?"

"N-no," Tara explained, "it doesn't hurt but my leg isn't used to this. We may have to stop a lot."

"Willow," Donnie interrupted the interaction, "I've got your horse saddled." He continued, "This is Blacky."

Donnie led both horses to the doorway and opened the corral gate. "Y'all sure about this?" he asked. "I mean it is Winter."

"That's why we're doing it t-today, bro," Tara explained. She leaned slightly over to brush her hand over his blonde hair, whispering, "I love you."

"I love you too!" he called behind them as he watched the two women walk their horses away from the corral. He was sure they would be fine on their overnight campout. He stood by the corral gate until he could no longer see the pair and then went back inside the stable.

The two witches rode in silence until they came to the first stream. "Which way, baby?" Willow asked.

Tara smiled as she took the lead. She had been to this spot hundreds of times with her mother or grandmother and now she would be taking Willow. She knew that Willow had visited the tree not only in her visions but a few times with the other Tara but obviously she didn't remember the way.

As she had predicted, Tara's leg was sore within 30 minutes of riding. After another 15 minutes she announced, "I need to take a break."

Willow dismounted first and then helped Tara down from her horse. Wrapping her arms around the blonde she whispered, "I am so proud of you, my love."

Tara didn't answer but pulled the blanket from her pack and sat down on it, rubbing her leg. Willow mirrored her action and likewise began massaging the blonde's leg. "I wanted to do this the first night we met but I didn't want to be too forward," she reminisced.

"It was like a dream," Willow stated. "I felt like I'd been dead for three months and then suddenly I was alive again and had to have been dreaming you. How else could I explain something as perfect as being with you again?"

"At first I thought it was a dream too," Tara agreed. She pulled the redhead closer, "But it's no dream. It's real and it's us and it's perfect." She pressed her lips to Willow's before hugging her.

After a short break, Willow again helped the blonde onto her horse and they started again. They reached the tree without having to stop again, although Tara was obviously sore when she dismounted. They set up their tent a few yards from their magical oak tree and had a small snack before moving around the tree.

Willow smiled broadly at her lover. "Without a doubt and absolutely," she answered confidently. Again she pulled the Ziploc bag from her backpack. She knew, as did Tara, that she could have done anything with the dirt. She could have flushed it down the toilet or dumped it in a parking lot. But it was important that she make a statement. This was her commitment to her life with Tara and she wanted to make it right.

"Nope," Willow answered as she tipped the bag upside-down allowing the entire contents to pour from it onto the ground. The wind was blowing and they had carefully chosen their positions so that none of the dirt blew onto either witch or their belongings. Much of it had dissipated before it even hit the ground. The rest poured into a small mound on the ground.

Neither girl moved as they watched the mound of dirt. Piece by piece, bit by bit, it shrank as the wind blew the grains away. While she watched the minute spectacle, Tara used her empathetic powers to gauge Willow's feelings and was surprised to feel nothing but joy and relief. To any observer, the sight was nothing grand: just two women holding hands and watching the ground. But to them, it was important enough to stand and watch until every discernable grain of sand had blown away.

Finally Willow turned to her lover, a grand smile on her face. Slowly entwining her fingers between the blonde's neck, she gently kissed her. As she pulled back she leaned their foreheads together. "I love you, Tara Maclay," she whispered.

"I love you," Tara agreed, "always." For a long time the two women stood just like that, enjoying the beauty of the moment and their love.

Notes – Thank you to all the readers who make writing such a fun experience. While writing this story, my life has changed in ways I could never have imagined. I wish you all magic and joy throughout your days, starting with today.

Willow nuzzled her nose into the soft skin of Tara's neck, as if she were trying to stay asleep a little longer. Much as they would have liked to stay in bed and snuggle or more, the giggling and whispering from the doorway was too much. Tara's eyes lit up as she glanced toward the foot of the bed to see the same blue looking back at her.

The witch laughed at her daughter's predictable question: "Can we make pancakes, mama?" No "good morning," just "can we make pancakes?"

Leaning over the side of the bed, the blonde gathered five-year-old Becky and her two-year-old brother in her arms and pulled them onto the bed. William looked as if Becky had woken him before coming to their mothers's room. He dragged his blanket behind him and had his thumb in his mouth. It had only been a few weeks since the toddler had started sleeping in his own room and Tara was half-way surprised that he hadn't been in bed with them when she and Willow awoke. He immediately resumed his familiar position, snuggling into Willow's side and mumbling his good morning without removing his thumb from his mouth.

Becky gave quick hugs to her mamas before tugging on Tara's arm. "Pancakes?" she again asked.

"You better go, sweetie," Willow teased, "or Ms. Persistent here will keep asking and the rest of us will starve." As she called the young girl "Ms. Persistent" she began tickling the girl's ribs.

Tara sighed dramatically before asking her daughter, "Can you take your brother to go potty while I get dressed to make pancakes?"

Becky jumped on the bed clapping her hands before the blonde witch caught her in mid jump and set her on the floor. "Come on," the child said as she stuck out her hand to take her brother's free one.

After watching the kids go out of the bedroom toward their bathroom, Tara turned back toward her wife. Placing a hand on Willow's large stomach she gently asked, "how are you and Buffy-Xander feeling today, my love?"

"Buffy-Xander wants to be a slayer," Willow groaned, "she or he's kicking and punching the heck out of my ribs."

"So I noticed," Tara smiled. She leaned close to tease, "but how else are we going to get a redhead to keep you company?"

Both women laughed at their daughter's characteristic single-mindedness. "Sometimes I swear she's has your g-genetics," Tara teased as she put her hair back in a band and reached for her cane.

"Leave the baby with me," Willow smiled, opening her arms to invite William back into bed with her. Tara quickly replaced the toddler and kissed both Willow and the boy on the head before succumbing to Becky's relentless demands to go downstairs.

As they reached the kitchen Tara watched for a moment as Becky began pulling bowls and spoons from the cabinets for their ritual of making pancakes together. "We're going to make pancakes just like you did with your mama when you were a little girl," the child declared knowingly.

"That's right, baby," Tara confirmed as she pulled the milk and eggs from the refrigerator.

"And we'll put in cimminon and nutmeg but we won't tell anyone and it's a secret," Becky whispered.

After pulling a chair to the counter so that Becky could help mix the batter, Tara asked her. "Do you want to go to the office with me today?"

Tara pretended to think for a moment as she handed the girl an egg to crack. "Hmmm, any puppies? Let me think. Puppies? Like baby doggies? I think there might be a few."

"We should go to your office and we could bring home a really cute puppy and she could sleep on my bed," Becky suggested.

Tara smiled indulgently at the child. She knew that the girl missed Scooby but Tara and Willow had decided that they didn't want to simultaneously potty- train William, bring home a new baby, and house-train a puppy. They had told the children that they would get another puppy in a few months. She ruffled the girl's hair, attempting to gauge how much, or little, of the egg had reached the bowl. "In a few months, sweetie," she told her daughter.

Becky appeared to think seriously about this before declaring, "I'll still go to the office with you, mama."

Tara smiled as she heated the skillet. "Good," she responded, "we'll take your brother and we can have lunch." She knew that Willow needed to finish up a project before beginning her maternity leave and wanted to give the redhead some time. "Hmmm, I wonder what we should do for dinner," she teased playfully.

"Mama!" Becky shouted immediately, "We have to get Aunt Eliza at the airport! She's coming for dinner."

"Oh do we?" the blonde asked playfully. "Well, I guess we should do that then." The lawyer had called earlier in the week to say that she had an unexpected break between her visit to her family in San Antonio and returning to California.

"Do you think that Aunt Eliza is the MOST beautiful woman in the whole entire world?" Becky continued.

Tara giggled as her suspicion that her daughter had a crush on their good friend was confirmed, "well…," she drawled, "I think that your Ima is the most beautiful woman in the world."

The five-year old seemed to take this as evidence for her next declaration: "When I grow up, I'm going to marry Aunt Eliza."

Tara was glad that she had not taken a drink of her coffee yet as she giggled at the seriousness of Becky's commitment. "Don't you think that Aunt Michelle would be sad if you did that?" she suggested.

"Nope," Becky answered confidently as if she had thought through her plan, "Yum-yum will marry her." Again the blonde witch was grateful that she didn't have a mouthful of coffee. In addition to the double image in her mind of her daughter marrying Eliza and her son marrying Michelle, was the reminder of William's nickname. When Tara had been pregnant with the boy and then after he had arrived, Becky couldn't say "William." Instead her pronunciation had been "yum" for the last syllable and eventually it had been turned into "Yum-yum." Even Willow and Tara were as likely to call the boy "Yum-yum" as William.

"That's a thorough plan," Tara told her daughter, not wanting to discourage her dreaming. "Chocolate or White?" she asked as she held up two cartons of soymilk.

"White," Becky chose as she pulled two sippie-cups from the cabinet and handed them to her mama. As Tara poured the drinks she suggested, "Should we have a picnic with Ima and Yum-yum?"

Tara looked up at the sound of William's voice and reached out to take him from Willow. She gave the redhead an admonishing look as she warned, "You shouldn't be carrying him, love."

Willow didn't even respond to Tara's admonition. By now it was a joke between the two witches. Each time Tara had been pregnant, Willow had been very protective. Now Tara was returning the favor. "Decaf?" Willow asked as she poured herself a cup of coffee.

"Close enough," Tara answered as she took a sip of her half-caf/half-decaf combination.

"More kicking," Willow mumbled as she took a drink. After sending the children to carry the silverware and their cups upstairs she leaned over to kiss Tara. "Mmm," she murmured as she breathed in the scent of the cooking pancakes, "cinnamon and nutmeg."

"Speaking of your sources," Tara called out as her daughter came back into the room. A few minutes later the two blondes carried the platter of pancakes and a bowl of fruit into the bedroom.

After William's passable effort at blessing the food, the family enjoyed their breakfast picnic. Along with their mothers, both children were excited about their new sibling. "Come here," Tara coaxed as she pulled each child into her lap to clean the syrup from their hands and faces. William squirmed and attempted to get free of the torturous process but Becky sat resignedly on her mother's lap with an expression that conveyed that she thought this was exactly what a "big girl" would do. After dressing herself and the children, Tara took them on their planned outing while Willow finished her project.

If she had thought about it, either woman might have noticed how this morning was so similar to so many other mornings. If she had thought about it, either woman might have noticed the similarity of this morning to so many dreams. But, if she had thought about it, all either woman was likely to notice was that everything was exactly as it was meant to be.

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Paths Diverged/Divulged

by JustSkipIt

Copyright © 2003