Survivor: Ash Island by JustSkipIt

Rating: NC-17
Uber Setting: Survivor
Disclaimer: I own none of these characters nor do I own Survivor. And believe it or not, I also don't own any small islands. On the other hand, this island is fictional so let's say I own it. I'm making no money from this fiction and intend no copyright infringement.
Distribution: The Mystic Muse /mysticmuse.net
Author's Notes: And you're saying to yourself, "Did I read that right? Survivor?" The answer: "Yes!" Ok, I freely admit that we are huge Survivor and Amazing Race fans (and yes, we wanted Kris and Jon to win). I can't stand the Bachelor, Joe Millionaire, and certainly think that the reality show about the woman looking for her real father is probably one of the low points in human development. But I love Survivor and Amazing Race. Sure they're cheesy and "made-for- television" as the grandmother in A Prayer for Owen Meaney would say. But they also show a lot about competition, cooperation, and relationship dynamics.
I can't imagine that I'll be writing this very quickly because I am very busy these days but hopefully the updates will be regular. I'm going to try and limit most updates to the format of the show – action shots, "confessional" interviews, brief conversations, and of course the tribal council. Occasionally I'll throw in the "Morning after" interview for flavor.
One more thing. With a few exceptions for plot-development, I'm going to use random selection methodology to determine which team wins or loses (when appropriate) and which character will be voted off. Hopefully this will be fun.
Special thanks goes to Chris Cook of Through the Looking Glass and Artemis for the title graphic at the top of the page. Thanks, Chris!
Pairing: Willow/Tara

Summary: Sixteen castaways. Two teams. One million dollars.

Note 2 – Rachel felt that I should use the word "defenestrated" in my next update…

"… and perhaps the most unlikely alliance seems to be that between Faith Lehane, a bold, outspoken personal trainer from Boston, MA and Tara Maclay, a 25 year-old quiet single-mother from a suburb of Columbus, OH. Of course, it still stands to be seen how long this alliance will last," Tara snorted silently through her nose at the ridiculous article and wondered again why she had picked it up. She'd even brought a novel to read, Bellwether which a friend had recommended as being very funny, but at the airport had changed her mind. She didn't know that she wanted to become involved in a new book on her way to Atlanta. So she'd stopped into the airport newsstand and picked up a copy of People. What could she expect from People? It wasn't exactly gripping journalism. It was more… well as Jeff Goldblum said in that movie.., their editorial policy was no articles longer than the average person takes to have the average shit. Or something to that effect.

"Bets around our water cooler center on how long it will take the dark-haired Survivor to double-cross her alliance members." Tara snorted again and tucked the magazine into the seat-back pocket in front of her.

She looked over at him in what she hoped, but doubted, was an intimidating and non-friendly way.

"You're Tara," he declared, as if she didn't already know this tidbit of information.

"I'm a huge fan of Survivor," he declared, "I'm Troy." He stuck out his hand and vigorously shook hers. "Probably my favorite season was All-Stars but the Australian Outback was really good. It didn't seem like you had it that hard actually." She looked at him and wondered if not answering would seem sufficiently discouraging.

"So can you tell me if you won? Or who the final two are? I mean we know that you don't even know if you won yet," he said, "but you know who are in the final two."

"Because of the non-disclosure agreements?" he suggested. "Come on," he encouraged, "I mean a random guy on a plane. How will they even know? I mean CBS doesn't really monitor all your travel do they?"

Troy nodded thoughtfully. "I guess I hadn't thought about that." He nodded a few more times. "Are you going to Atlanta or just making a connecting flight? I'm from Atlanta if you want someone to show you around."

"That's um really nice, Troy," Tara attempted to keep from laughing, "but I have plans for the weekend."

"Sure," she agreed, "um… C-CBS has us all booked the entire weekend. I don't know if I-I'll have any free time at all."

Troy pulled a card from his bag. "Well if you do," he offered, "just give me a call." Tara looked at the card. Troy, not surprisingly, sold life insurance. "Hey," he said, "look we're landing in a minute." He pointed at the seatbelt light.

Again not surprisingly, Troy spent the remainder of their landing time regaling Tara with his prowess at Survivor trivia – a true fan, it seemed. She spent her time chewing gum and attempting to not laugh at his assumptions regarding the outcome of Survivor's current incarnation. Once the plane taxied to the gate, she attempted to allow Troy to exit first but he insisted on helping her get her carry-on bag from the overhead compartment. "Did they send a limo to pick you up?" he asked, "because I could give you a ride to your hotel."

"A f-friend is picking me up but t-thanks, Troy," Tara attempted to brush him off.

She sighed and realized there was just no way out of this short of telling a security guard that Troy was bothering her and he did seem star struck but harmless. "Sure," she said, "that would be r-really nice."

Troy beamed and followed her from the plane. Since she had no checked luggage, he declared that he would come with her to make sure her friend showed up and then go back to baggage claim to get his. They walked out past the security checkpoint and her face lit up as she spied Willow leaning forward on a chair. The redhead wore a pair of faded but very tight fitting jeans, a green summer sweater, and Tara was pretty sure no bra. Her mind clouded for a moment as she walked toward the girl, Troy keeping up stride for stride.

Willow looked at Tara with a look of utter confusion. Although her mind was very firmly fixed on Willow's appearance, Tara attempted to get them out of the current situation. "Hey, Willow," she said pointedly, "are we l-late for that thing?"

"Ohhh," Willow answered, "that thing." She looked at her watch: "I think we have just enough time."

Tara turned to the nice, if persistent young man. "Thanks so much, Troy," she said. She turned back to Willow and addressed her hoping that Troy would take the brush-off. "So we need to go now?" she suggested.

"Yep," Willow shook her head, "right now." The two girls turned and walked away from the star struck young man who turned and went back to the baggage claim.

"Big fan," Tara answered, "did you know sitting on a plane you are trapped next to someone for hours?"

They exited the airport and quickly found Willow's car. After the redhead let Tara in she got in her own side and turned to her guest. "Hi, baby," she smiled, "welcome to Atlanta."

After a few minutes Willow pulled away and drove from the parking lot. "Are you hungry, baby?" she asked.

Willow nodded and turned right at the next intersection. "I can't believe you came to visit, Tara," she commented almost to herself.

Tara picked up the hand she had been holding and kissed it lightly. "Why is that, Will?"

"I guess, it's not so much I can't believe," Willow amended her statement, "It's I'm really happy you did."

"Me too, sweetie," Tara agreed. She looked around at the scenery as Willow drove. "I gave my mom and Kent your numbers, ok?"

"Definitely," Willow said. She teased, "That's probably why I suggested it last night."

Willow smiled and blushed at Tara's leer. As she drove she reached behind her and pulled out a small box and handed it to Tara. Before the blonde could question it, she handed her another package. "This one is for Ariel and this one is for you," she explained.

"Don't be a humbug," Willow joked, "the one for you is just as much for me and the one for Ariel was irresistible."

Tara quirked an eyebrow at Willow's statement then carefully opened the bag containing Ariel's present: a copy of How to Eat Fried Worms. "I loved that book as a little girl," Willow said excitedly. "And I thought, 'Island food. Bugs, worms, icky things.' I guess it's a theme present."

Tara laughed at Willow's explanation. "I'm sure she'd l-like it if you read it to her," Tara said.

"So I guess she liked me? I mean she hasn't decided we should never see each other again or anything?" Willow said.

"Oh no," Tara deadpanned. "She says I should marry you." Willow smiled, happy that Ariel approved of her. "Should I open the other one?" Tara asked.

"Yes," Willow answered, "We'll be at the restaurant in a few minutes. Caribbean food ok?"

Tara looked at the light summer dress she was wearing and shrugged. "Can't really be hotter or more uncomfortable than on the island can it?"

"I wouldn't ask that in Atlanta in the summer," Willow joked. "Seriously," she continued, "you know what was worst about the Island? The bugs. I can't believe you gave your team bug paste and not us."

"Hey," Tara appealed, "it was team versus team." Before Willow could argue again, the blonde unwrapped the box to find a cell phone inside. "Willow," she said, "you shouldn't be getting me a phone."

"No," Willow disagreed, "I really should. I went way way way over my minutes for the last month and a half. We're on a 'couples plan' so our minutes are free." She pointed at the phone and said, "I programmed my number in already but I didn't know your mom's or Kent's." She pulled out her phone and hit a speed-dial button smiling when Tara's phone began playing the Survivor theme song.

Tara laughed and looked at the phone, guessing correctly that the green phone icon would answer the phone and pressing it before raising it to her ear. "Hello," she said.

"Mmm," Tara said back in a tone that was definitely true to her pet name, "I already have plans for the weekend but perhaps you could call me later." She hit the red button to end the call as Willow parked the car. She put the phone in her pocket and climbed out of the car to meet Willow.

They went inside the restaurant which, as billed had great food but no air conditioning. "This is really f-fantastic, Willow," Tara said as she took another bite of the grilled tofu.

"I know," the redhead agreed. "Right after I moved here, I decided that I would find my way around Atlanta." Tara listened to Willow's story. "I had this sort of Baedeker with me and it had the Martin Luther King center and Jimmy Carter presidential library in it," she continued. "And I walked all over that day until I was really hot and really tired. So I stopped in here thinking I'd cool off and eat something. Well of course the food was great even without AC and I had finished eating before I even noticed that I was the only White person in the place."

"Two years," Willow answered. "I went to RPI in New Jersey and moved here when I graduated. Joan had a job offer and I thought, 'why not? I can work anywhere.'"

"Two actually," Willow again corrected. By now she had paid for lunch and the two girls were driving toward Willow's apartment. "Both turn a profit and hopefully next year I can hire someone else to do the sales work and I can concentrate on development."

Willow smiled as she let the blonde out of her side of the car and led her to her apartment. "Believe me when I say that the feeling is quite mutual," she said.

As soon as Willow had opened the door, Tara looked around the apartment. The redhead had described it well and Tara slowly walked around taking in the sparse but tasteful decorations. Willow had a few pieces of art hung on white walls in the large downstairs living room. The entertainment center on one side of the room looked large enough to hold a television and stereo but the doors on it were pulled closed to keep it from overwhelming the space. The decoration was very clean and modern so that it looked like each item in the room was carefully placed. Tara stopped in front of a Kandinsky print and studied it. After a few moments she felt Willow's arms wrap around her waist. "Mmm," Tara murmured.

"I haven't even said 'thank you,'" Tara joked. She turned in Willow's embrace and looked into her green eyes. Softly she raised her hands to stroke the redhead's face. "You're so beautiful, Willow," she whispered before gently pressing her lips to Willow's.

Willow allowed Tara to take control of the kiss, to lead her. She felt the softness of Tara's lips pressed against hers. Then the blonde parted her lips slightly and Willow mirrored her action. As Tara's tongue slowly began to trace her lips, the blonde moved her hands to wind them in Willow's short hair. One of them made a low moan. With excruciating slowness, Tara allowed the tip of her tongue to delve just inside Willow's mouth. Feeling how the redhead was yielding to her desires, she ventured deeper, tracing each of her teeth. She felt Willow's hands stroking her back and began stroking her tongue along the other girl's tongue in a matching rhythm. Her hands moved from Willow's hair down her back and to cup her ass. Smiling she broke the kiss just enough to whisper in Willow's ear: "Your ass," she squeezed slightly with her hands, "looks just amazing in these jeans."

"Oh God," Willow groaned as she began kissing the blonde's neck. "I um really hate to say this but believe me I would love to stay here and keep doing this," she punctuated every word with a kiss and most with a breathy moan, "but I um got us uh tickets to see Cirque Du Solei this um afternoon."

"Right," Tara agreed without stopping her hand's motion nor stopping Willow from this exploration of her soft neck, "a um m-matinee?"

"It was," Willow continued kissing a path down Tara's chest, unbuttoning her blouse as she went and stroking the edge of her bra, "the the evening show was sold out."

"Sold out," Tara echoed, "and it's s-supposed to be really good so we should g-go." Her hands had by this time pulled the edge of Willow's shirt from the waistband of her jeans and were pushing it up her back, revealing that her guess was correct and the redhead was definitely sans bra.

"Right," Willow agreed, "should go. Definitely." Her fingers deftly releasing the front clasp on Tara's bra seemed to disagree with her words.

Tara brushed her fingertips along the sides of Willow's slight breasts. "We could continue this l-later," she whispered.

Willow gulped in response before forcing herself to pull her hands and mouth away from Tara's skin. "Very mature thinking," she agreed, her heart beating in her chest. As both girls attempted to calm their breathing they looked into each other's eyes. After a few seconds they both began to smile and then blush.

Note: While I took a turn on a computer game, Rachel helped me write. This is what she inserted:

"Why don't I show you the rest of the apartment," Willow suggested, taking Tara's hand and leading her up the stairs.

Willow ignored the teasing and pointed out the bathroom and then her bedroom. As she had described it, the room was large but not too large. A queen-sized sleigh bed was placed in the exact center of the room. An elliptical machine and a rack holding various dumbbells were on one side of the room while the other contained an oak dresser. She set Tara's overnight bag on the dresser and pointed to the door connecting to the bathroom. "I'm going to take a shower before we go," she explained, "We have time if you'd like to also."

Willow softly kissed the blonde. "I would but we definitely wouldn't make it to the show," she said. She winked and walked over to pull some clothes from her closet and dresser. "Do you need anything?" she asked.

Tara shook her head and lay down on the bed as Willow went into the bathroom. Fifteen minutes or so later, Willow came out, toweling off her hair. "Hey, baby," she said, "I set some towels and stuff on the sink for you."

Tara looked up and smiled. "Thanks." She held up the phone. "I think I programmed some numbers into my phone but I don't know my number."

Willow walked over and took the phone and hit a few buttons. "I programmed it in as 'my phone' so you couldn't forget it," she explained and kissed the blonde on the forehead.

"Thanks," Tara said as she kissed Willow back. She walked over to her bag, pulled out some clothes, and went into the bathroom.

By the time both girls had showered and dressed, made out a bit more, and got into the car, they were nearly late for the show. Both were incredibly glad that they had made it, however, as they watched the amazing acrobatic feats. "It's like a dream, isn't it," Willow whispered at one point as she held Tara's hand.

After the show they had dinner at one of Willow's favorite Thai restaurants. They were about half-way through their meal when they were interrupted. "Excuse me, aren't you two on Survivor?'

Willow recognized the voice immediately and gritted her teeth as she answered her best friend: "Joan, what are you doing here?"

Joan inexplicably pulled up a chair and reached over to help herself to a dumpling. "You're all mystery woman these days," she explained, "but you don't have to have a 190 IQ to conclude that you must be staying in town for the weekend or you'd ask me to feed Gato." She turned to Tara and stuck out her hand, "I'm Joan. You're 'Tara Maclay – a 25 year-old single-mother from Columbus, Ohio.'"

Tara laughed at the familiar patter and returned Joan's handshake. "I've heard a lot a-about you," she told Willow's friend.

"Not me," Joan said, "Willow tells me nothing. She's all mystery woman ever since she got home from the Island."

Joan told Tara conspiratorially. "Let me tell you, sweetie," she said taking another bite of their dumplings.

"Here," Willow said pushing the plate across the table, "why don't you help yourself?"

"I think I will," Joan agreed as she pointed at their wine glasses. "You didn't get me any wine?"

"I was saying," Joan said to an amused Tara. "This girl moved to Atlanta a few years ago and began cutting a wide swath through the community. Then she goes on Survivor."

"Fascinating," Willow said through clenched teeth. "We can call the manager over if you want," she offered Tara.

Tara pushed the dumpling sauce at the other girl. "Oh this is very interesting," she said teasingly. "Please go on," she told Joan.

"So she comes home a few months ago and she's downright introverted. I mean I can understand the wish to eat and bathe and all that because 'ick' but she didn't have the same 'interests' as before if you know what I mean," Joan confided. "She hung up this calendar and numbered it in red the days until the show started. One time I saw her computer screensaver and she had it programmed down to the second to show the time until the premiere."

"Hard to believe she's never been defenestrated isn't it?" Willow whispered to her date.

Tara smiled at the description of Willow counting down the time and the obviously playful banter between the two friends. Before she could say anything else Joan stood up and waved at the two of them. "Nice to meet you, Tara Maclay from Columbus, OH," she said. She turned and left the restaurant as quickly as she had arrived.

Tara smiled at the redhead before using a very sexy voice: "Take me home, Willow Rosenberg."

Willow took a second to react but quickly waived the waiter over for the check. "Oh, your friend took care of it," he said.

The drive home was quick, proximity to her house being one of the reasons that it was Willow's favorite restaurant. Once inside, the two women went silently up the stairs until they reached Willow's bedroom. "You can get ready for bed first," Willow offered, "if you want."

Her words trailed off as Tara placed her hands on the redhead's hips. "Yes," Tara whispered before placing a gentle kiss on Willow's neck. Her fingertips immediately brushed the hem of Willow's shirt up to find skin underneath as her mouth left a trail of kisses along the redhead's jugular.

"Something I've wanted to do since at least day eight," the blonde teased as she began unbuttoning Willow's shirt from the bottom.

Willow smiled as she decided to tease Tara a little bit, her own hands cupping the blonde's ass: "What's that?"

Tara's lips moved to the soft spot at the base of Willow's throat so that the vibrations of her whisper tickled the pale skin and freckles she found there. "You've slept with half the women below the Mason Dixon line and you can't recognize a pass?"

Quickly the redhead unzipped Tara's skirt as she teased back: "Only half the lesbians. Not half the female pop… Oh God…" The final words were spoken as Tara eased her lover's shirt off her shoulders and began stroking the skin along the edge of Willow's silky bra. Feeling somewhat overwhelmed with the pace, Willow raised her hands to clasp Tara's cheeks and bring their lips together. As they kissed, she began backing them toward her bed. She slid Tara's skirt off completely; barely missing a step as the blonde smoothly stepped from the garment. By the time her legs contacted the tall piece of furniture, Tara's blouse as well as her own shirt, belt, and bra had joined it.

Tara unzipped Willow's slacks and slid her hands inside. "These… must… go," she gasped between kisses.

"Yes," Willow agreed as she lifted her hips from the bed. As soon as Tara had pulled the smaller girl's pants off, Willow scooted backwards to pull the blonde up with her.

Tara looked down at her lover with a predatory smile before bending her mouth to the girl's small chest. Gently, so lightly Willow could hardly feel it, she began placing kisses on the white skin surrounding the girl's nipples. Willow's hands caressed the back of Tara's head and trailed down her smooth back. When Tara kissed the tip of one nipple she allowed a low moan to escape her lips and when the blonde's mouth closed around the same protrusion her hips arched from the bed.

Even as she sucked Willow's hard nub deep into her mouth, Tara took the opportunity to pull the redhead's panties down her legs and drop them on the floor. She inhaled deeply through her nose, nearly salivating at Willow's scent surrounding her. Trying to resist the temptation to slide down the bed and begin licking Willow's essence direct from her source with so little foreplay, she forced herself to move her lips to the girl's other nipple. Once there she slowed her pace, lightly kissing the tip of the nipple and licking broad strokes.

"You're overdressed," Willow gasped, her fingertips tracing the waistband of Tara's panties.

Willow smiled before rolling over on top of her lover. "I … think … we … should … " Each word punctuated her tongue circling one of Tara's nipple. As she said the final word, she pulled off the only remaining clothing either of them wore and tossed them to the side. She couldn't resist commenting, "Oh God, Tara, you smell so wonderful."

The smaller woman brought their lips together again as she began rocking her hips against Tara's. Their bodies set a rhythm and each woman could feel the other rubbing against her center, their wetness mingling together with the scent of shared pleasure.

Tara could feel herself losing control. "I wanted to g-go slow," she gasped even as she felt body reacting with anything but restraint. Her fingers mirrored Willow's actions as each woman began stroking the other's center.

"Oh yes," Tara whimpered as she slid one finger gently inside Willow as the redhead kneeled above her.

Willow moaned as she felt her lover inside her. Tara quickly added a second finger and Willow knew she must be wondering what was keeping the redhead from matching her actions. Willow leaned forward so that her mouth was just next to Tara's ear. Her fingers waiting at the blonde's very wet entrance.

"Before I go…" Tara's finger's movement inside her made coherent speech somewhat difficult. "… inside you… I – I – I love you," she gasped as she slid two fingers inside Tara. She felt Tara's body tense and heard her sudden intake of breath and didn't know if it was surprise or pleasure. She knew that Tara's softness and wetness was a mirror of her own and began moving her hand in rhythm with the blonde's.

Tara heard Willow's proclamation of love as she felt the girl's fingers slide inside her. She was overwhelmed with the perfection of the feeling. Knowing she wouldn't be able to speak to express her feelings, she raised her lips to again capture the redhead's. The pace quickly increased until each woman was thrusting forward to the other's rocking hips and pulling back to meet again. Tara could feel her orgasm building inside her. She clutched at Willow's hip with her free hand to pull the smaller woman closer. When she felt the first flutter of Willow's inner muscles, she let go herself.

"We should try laying the right direction on the bed," Willow joked a few minutes later as she languidly stroked Tara's stomach, enjoying the fluttering aftershocks that passed through the blonde's body as she did.

"Hey," Tara responded, "we're on a b-b-bed. That's a big step in our relationship."

Willow laughed as she considered it. "I think it's a step for the better," she concluded.

"You know what would be another good step?" Tara whispered. When Willow shook her head Tara told her: "My telling you I love you too, sweetie."

Willow's face split into a huge smile as she heard Tara's words and she immediately kissed the blonde again and thoroughly. As they broke the kiss she looked at the blonde with a flirtatious look. "You know one good thing about lying sidewise on the bed?"

"With the foot board," Willow declared as she slid down Tara's body to kneel on the floor, "I couldn't do this." With Tara's legs over her shoulders and her thighs against her ears, she couldn't hear the blonde's answer but her response was definitely what the redhead was expecting.

"… and it would seem that Atlanta's own Survivor contestant, Willow Rosenberg was spotted having an early breakfast Sunday morning at In with… That's right: none other than her competitor on the show: Tara Maclay. Though the contest is fierce for the prize of one million dollars, it would seem these two women have resolved that competition after the show. The waiter could barely get their attention as they hid in the corner, feeding each other crepes. Elsewhere around town…"

Akathla Camp – Day 18
Everyone at Akathla camp seems slow to rise with the exception of Mac who of course continues with his daily push-ups. Xander, Buffy, and Joyce can be seen sleeping in their shelter.

Confessional Caption – Xander – Carpenter
"Well to tell you the truth, I'm pretty shocked that I'm still here. I figured after I screwed up trying to vote off Buffy, they'd get rid of me next. But I've gotten lucky. Oz sucked at swimming and this Richard guy was just a jerk. Still, if Mac and I can get Joyce on our side, maybe we can get rid of Buffy before the merge."

Joyce and Buffy bathe in the ocean using the won shampoo and soap. "We could use this all up before merge," Buffy smiles.

"On the other hand, it might be a good thing to take to merge," Joyce counters, "a peace offering."

"We'll be down one when we merge," Buffy says, "but if the four of us stay strong we can get Willow back with us. Then we vote them off one by one."

"I was just saying how the four of us with Willow can pick off the others one by one," Buffy explains. Xander looks at her like he suspects she was talking about something else but doesn't argue.

MFashnek Camp – Day 18
"Peanut butter," Kendra is saying. We see all five MFashnek members sitting around the fire. They are drinking coffee to begin the day. It's unclear how long this game has been going on.

"My daughter," Tara adds. "And a Snickers bar." Everyone laughs. "What about you Robin? What do you miss?"

"What? You don't miss it?" Faith answers. "I mean they gave us condoms for coming on the island. Seriously. No first aid, no water or fire, but here. Enjoy your filth."

"Maybe when people win the rewar…," Willow suddenly trails off. "Am I speaking out loud?" She blushes brightly and suggests, "Can we just write that off to bug-bite induced insanity?" She holds up her arms which are covered with red welts. The others look at each other and then at Tara before walking off.

Willow is still blushing and has now started scratching her bites too. "Look, Tara," she starts, "I'm really sorry I said that." She continues attempting to talk her way out of her embarrassment as Tara looks shyly away: "I mean I wasn't trying to imply… well anything."

"I-i-it's ok," Tara stutters, obviously still quite embarrassed by Willow's train of thought. "It's just that um…" she holds out the cup of paste. "This will h-h-help your b-b-b…" she gives up and points at Willow's arms.

Willow looks at the cup, then at Tara still looking embarrassed but this time as if she feels guilty about Willow's arms. She looks at the cup again before flirtatiously suggesting: "Maybe you could help me put it on?"

Akathla Camp
Mac and Buffy stand waist-deep in water using the fishing line and hook and attempting to catch fish. They have fashioned a bag which Buffy wears over her shoulder and which holds a few small fish.

Confessional Caption – Buffy – College Student
Buffy is sitting on the rocks speaking: "So it was a pretty good day. Mac and I had caught five fish already. And this pool of bigger fish swam by. So he casts it out there pretty far. Damn if that fish didn't take the bait, hook, line and all. The line broke and we were left watching the guy swim for the hills."

"Hey," Joyce gets into it. "You don't need to yell at them they were doing the best they could."

"Ok," Xander backs down, "you're right. I guess I'm just really hungry and frustrated. We need that protein to make a showing in the reward and immunity challenges."

"That's ok, son," Mac pats the carpenter on the shoulder. "What say we eat these guys and then we can all gather some coconuts and firewood?" Everyone nods their heads and walk toward the fire.

Confessional Caption – Mac – Retired Army
Mac is gathering firewood in his arms, talking as he walks. "Don't get me wrong," he says conspiratorially, "I didn't lose that hook on purpose but since I did… I'm in better shape in terms of losing weight than any of the three of them. They'll need me even more with less fish."

Joyce and Buffy are gathering coconuts and plantains. "And these are edible too," Joyce is telling the younger girl. "Do you think Mac lost the hook on purpose?"

"He's the strongest person here," Joyce suggests, "maybe he wants to keep it that way."

Confessional Caption – Joyce – Art Gallery Owner
"Believe me. I don't want to deceive my daughter but that doesn't mean that I'm above pushing suspicion in her mind."

MFashnek Camp
Willow and Robin are fishing using one of the hooks the MFashnek team won earlier in the game. "This is like the Ritz here," she is saying to him as he hands her a small fish.

Elsewhere Tara and Faith gather berries and put them in Faith's buff which the brunette is holding. "She seems n-nice," Tara says. It is apparent that we are only seeing part of a conversation.

"I agree that she's nice," Faith says. "But if we don't win immunity, he goes then her. Right?"

Kendra walks up behind the other two girls. "This alliance is solid, yes?" she also asks.

Tara looks both girls in the eye and tells them that, yes their alliance is still intact.

We see MFashnek working on their shelter, gathering food and firewood, and fishing as the day goes on. Later, near sunset we see Willow sitting on a rock watching the ocean. Tara quietly approaches and sits near her. "Lonely?" the blonde asks.

Willow nods. "I know it sounds weird," Willow explains, "but I miss the others from Akathla. I mean I know that we're all playing a game but I made good friends over there."

"I c-can understand that," Tara says as she places a hand gently on Willow's lower back and rubs lightly.

"And I feel kind of alone," Willow continues without looking at the blonde, "I mean I know if we don't win immunity I'm out."

Tara considers for a moment before telling the redhead: "When we merge, you are number five to their four. If you come with us, you can be in the final four."

"What about him?" Willow asks suspiciously as she nods at Robin who is farther down the beach.

Willow tilts her head at the blonde and looks down at the hand the girl extends toward her. Finally she tells shakes her hand.

Confessional Caption – Willow – Software Startup Owner
The redhead is still sitting on the rock as the sun sets. "My mind tells me that Tara is taking me for a ride with this whole alliance thing. I mean why would the three of them want to take me with them to the final four? But my heart tells me that I can trust her. Besides," she smiles, "I don't really have any other options at this point."

We see the five MFashnek members sitting around the fire having a snack of berries that they picked earlier in the day. "Reward challenge tomorrow?" Faith asks.

"I hope it's for peanut butter," Kendra jokes picking up on the earlier conversation.

Everyone looks at Faith and begins laughing. We see shots of the five MFashnek team members in their shelter. Willow has apparently taken a spot near the side between Tara and the sides of the shelter.

Akatha Camp – Day 19
"We've got mail," Buffy and Joyce shout as the return with the small package.

"If you can be accurate,
You can be like David and slay a great reward." The note reads. It is tied loosely to a small slingshot.

"Well, the poem isn't great," Xander assesses, "but I'd say we're shooting this thing."

MFashnek Camp – Day 19
We see the MFashnek team taking turns practicing shooting the slingshot at a rock and cheering each other on. Robin repeatedly hits the target.

Tara walks up behind Kendra as she is bathing. "Willow is with us," she tells the interpreter.

Meanwhile Faith and Robin walk along the water's edge. "I don't want to do all the work for this tribe and then see you take the kid to the final four."

Faith turns to Robin and extends her hand. "I swear to you," she says, "you're in this with us. Not her."

Confessional Caption – Faith – Personal Trainer
"Oh here's the thing. We need both Robin and Willow so we can vote off the other team after the merge. If both of them think they're going to the final four, then that just works for me. By the time we vote Robin off, he won't know it's coming and we've got a final four of all women."

Reward Challenge
The two teams file in to stand on their mats. MFashnek looks over at the Akathla mat and we see Kendra, Faith, and Tara all share a look as they see that Richard is out of the game. "Some different looking teams," Jeff greets everyone with a smile. "Willow and Joyce," he says, "you both look like you're doing well with your new teams."

"Jeff," Joyce says, "I'm on a new team and I'm here so that's doing pretty well."

"I miss my friends," Willow replies, "but I hope I'm making new friends over here." She glances sideways at Tara who is looking intently at her feet.

"Well," Jeff says with a smile, "let's see who gets to bond over this." He pulls a sheet of cloth off a barrel on which sits a Hershey Bar. The competitors all scream when they see the bounty of chocolate. "That's a two pound chocolate bar," Jeff tells them, "and because nothing goes with chocolate like milk," he pulls off another sheet to reveal clean glasses and a container of milk. The survivors all predictably scream over the bounty of chocolate and milk.

He moves over to show the competitors two tables holding 16 stoneware jugs each. Jeff explains that each jug is filled partially with milk. They are arrayed on a bamboo table. He shows them that the table is surrounded by bamboo "gutters" which will direct any spilled milk into a clear jug sitting on the ground. The jug has a line painted on its neck. When the spilled milk for one team passes the line, that team will win the reward.

Both teams line up and Jeff instructs them that two people will shoot at the same time, one from each team. Faith and Mac step to the line and take their shots, both connecting with the top corner of a jug. Only a little milk spills from either. Next up, Kendra and Xander shoot. Kendra misses the table completely while Xander surprises everyone by hitting a jug dead center, shattering it and spilling 5-6 ounces of milk. Akathla is pumped up as Buffy and Tara shoot. Tara's shot hits a jug, breaking it near the top and spilling a little milk while Buffy's shot again hits dead center, spilling quite a bit of milk. Joyce's first shot chips a jug spilling only a little milk while Robin makes a good shot, breaking his jug and spilling about half the milk. A look at the jugs shows that Akathla is still a few ounces ahead of MFashnek. Willow steps up for her first shot next to Mac's second. The MFashnek team is pumped as her shot fails to shatter the jug but miraculously knocks it over, spilling the entire contents. Before their celebrating is complete, however they watch the milk from Mac's perfect shot run down the gutters into the Akathla jug.

Aiming for a full jug on the side of the table, rather than one of the partial ones in the center, Faith's second shot misses the milk entirely. Xander's second shot is as good as his first, pouring another five or six ounces into their jug. Jeff announces that another few shots could end it for Akathla. This time Kendra's shot is true and she breaks the jug at the edge of the table, spilling more milk into the MFashnek jug. It, however, can't bring them to pass Akathla when Buffy makes an equally good shot. Tara's last shot misses the table as Joyce's hits the jug, spilling enough milk to cause the Akathla team to celebrate a rare win. They run over and pick up the reward of milk, chocolate, and glasses.

We see the MFashnek team walking back toward their camp. They are surprisingly cheery, joking and saying that they have had most of the rewards and it should be Akathla's turn. "Yeah," Faith says, "Immunity is the more important challenge."

Everyone makes noises of agreement. Suddenly they hear a loud boom and look together. The camera pans to show the nearest volcano which is spewing ash skyward. The entire group stops to watch for a few seconds before Faith exclaims "Holy ***" The others laugh and continue back toward their camp.

Akathla Camp
The four Akathla members have reached their camp and sit down with the chocolate bar. Xander pulls out the machete and is about to strike the bar when Buffy shouts to wait. "What?" Xander asks.

"Oh," Xander responds, "good thought." He whacks the bar a few times while Joyce pours the milk into four glasses. Once Xander hands out the chocolate pieces we see everyone eating their portion either slowly to savor it or gulping it down.

Confessional Caption – Mac – Retired Army
"I'm not generally one of these sugar, sweet tooth people but I'll tell you what. That was some damn good chocolate. Nineteen days out here makes a man miss a lot of things and chocolate is just one of them."

We see various members of Akathla enjoying their chocolate and eventually laying down on the beach. "This is nice," Joyce comments.

"Yeah," Buffy agrees, "a break feels really good." She groans a little though as she says, "I just hope I'm not sick."

MFashnek Camp
Like Akathla, MFashnek appears to have given themselves the day off after their reward challenge. Willow, Kendra, and Faith are sunbathing on the beach while Tara and Robin swim. "That chocolate would have been r-really good," Tara tells the tall man when they take a break to tread water.

"That's very very true," Robin agrees. He appears to consider saying something for a minute but then doesn't.

Tara smiles a little as if remembering her friend. "Very," she answers with a smile.

Akathla Camp – Day 20
"We've got tree mail," Mac and Joyce call as they carry the board with pieces on it back to the group. Once they have assembled the apparent puzzle it carries the message:

MFashnek Camp – Day 20
Tara opens the tree mail box finding the small bag. She jiggles it and obviously hears the movement of the puzzle pieces inside. She hands it to Willow to do the same before they return to camp.

Willow takes the bag in one hand and looks at it intently. "I know you said that I'm in the final four but no one ever knows when they are leaving and just in case we lose today I don't want to leave without doing this," she says in a rush. As her words finish she leans forward and softly presses her lips to Tara's.

Tara returns Willow's kiss gently before the redhead pulls away. "But you're not leaving today, Willow," she assures her.

Confessional Caption – Kendra – Interpreter
"When Willow and Tara got back from getting mail, they were both blushing like crazy, man. I mean everyone with eyes has noticed the way they look at each other. And one walks in the woods, the other gets up to follow. I say, good for you girls. But don't mess up my game. Tara's been with Faith and I all along."

Confessional Caption – Robin – High School Principal
"Faith assures me that I'm in the final four with the three girls. But I'm just not so sure that Tara's going to want to vote off her… going to want to vote off Willow."

Immunity Challenge
"Welcome," Jeff calls to the teams as they take their places on their mats. "Akathla," he says, "you enjoyed the chocolate."

"You have no idea," Buffy responds enthusiastically. Everyone laughs and Jeff walks over to take the immunity idol back from Kendra.

"Today's challenge," Jeff explains, "as you might have guessed, is a puzzle." He points out two large squares next to each other on the ground. Inside each square are 25 more marked squares of 2x2 mats in 5 rows of 5 mats. The mats are blue, green, red, white, and black. "The other side of each mat has an icon printed on it: Volcano, water bottle, coconut tree, pig's skull, and insect." Everyone nods. Each team will work as quickly as possible to complete the puzzle. The puzzle is complete when no row or column has more than one mat of the same color or same icon in it."

"MFashnek, who is sitting out?" Robin raises his hand. "Ok," Jeff continues, "one person will sit up here and direct." He indicates a raised seat, much like the one in the earlier puzzle game. "The other three will move the pieces." After a short strategy session, everyone is somewhat surprised to see Tara rather than Willow take the seat for MFashnek while Joyce takes the seat for Akathla.

A moment later we see and hear Jeff shout, "Survivors Ready. Go!" He watches for a second before commenting: "A little surprise strategy for MFashnek with Willow taking part in moving the mats." While Joyce begins shouting instructions to Mac, Buffy, and Xander who take all the pieces off the board and turn them over to see the icons, Willow huddles with Faith and Kendra.

"It's a staggered pattern," she explains in a fast whisper. Put the red pieces along the main diagonal. The three girls quickly follow these instructions as Akathla begins attempting to put their pieces down according to Joyce's shouts. The three girls from MFashnek run to place their pieces on the diagonal as Willow directed. As soon as they are finished with that they huddle again.

"Willow directing the puzzle from the ground," Jeff comments, "while Joyce directs her team from the chair."

Willow continues her whispered directions. "Faith, you take green. Put them in a diagonal above the red. For each one, put the icon one block to the left of where the red one is-like a Knight's move in chess. Kendra, take blue put them below and to the right." She waits a second to see that both girls understood the instruction and runs to put the two remaining green and blue pieces in the opposite corners.

In the meanwhile Joyce is attempting to direct the three Akathla members. "Ok, move the blue piece over," she shouts to Buffy while telling Mac to put the green pig's skull on the left. "No, left the other way," Joyce screams. "Xander, drop the bug."

Again Kendra and Faith meet Willow at the edge of the board and she tells Faith to do the same pattern with the white pieces in relation to the green and Kendra to repeat with the black pieces in relation to the blue pieces. She takes the remaining white pieces and quickly places them at the bottom of the board. Tara sees the pattern and shouts directions to Kendra and Faith to finish by placing the last two black pieces on the remaining two places.

Joyce continues yelling instructions to the Akathla members who by now have all their pieces on the board but are having to keep trading the positions of two pieces to meet the required pattern. "We're done," Tara shouts to Jeff.

The host quickly looks at their puzzle and declares MFashnek the winner, handing the immunity icon to Willow for the first time. She smiles excitedly as she turns and looks at her new teammates.

Confessional Caption – Kendra – Interpreter
"Well I'm definitely a fan of Willow's now. Who knew there would be so many puzzles in this game? That girl is brilliant and I'm glad I picked her."

Confessional Caption – Robin – High School Principal
Robin is seen walking along the water line. "I can hardly believe how smart Willow is. I just hope there aren't many puzzle challenges once we move to individual immunity. It's hard to trust someone that smart."

The MFashnek team is walking back to their camp smiling and laughing. Tara and Willow bring up the rear of the group. "I told you that you weren't going h- home today," Tara teases.

Akathla Camp
We see Joyce and Buffy talking as they walk down the beach. Mac and Xander are also talking. "We should be able to vote off Joyce," Mac suggests, "she's new and when we merge we don't know where her loyalties will be."

Next we see Buffy breaking up firewood. Xander approaches her to discuss the vote. "Who is going to home tonight?" he asks the girl.

"Merge is coming soon," Buffy disagrees, "after merge he will be too strong in the individual immunity challenges."

Confessional Caption – Xander- Construction
Xander is walking through the woods obviously angry. He picks up a stick and hits several trees as he walks. "I probably did something really stupid by challenging Buffy like that. But I would like to know what her plan is. I mean she says we need to get rid of Mac but she's dangerous too."

"Look," Buffy argues, "if you want to make it 2 to 2 again and everyone pull stones you can do that. On the other hand, I'm pretty sure Mac would sell you out so Joyce and I can team with him. What do you think?"

Confessional Caption – Buffy – College Student
"I pushed Xander pretty hard." She stops and thinks for a few seconds. "He's just looking for someone to tell him what to do so he'll know. This makes it easy for him."

Buffy shakes her head as if she wants Xander to know he's stupid. "Joyce is no threat," she argues, "she won't win any immunity challenges when we merge." She walks off as if letting him know that she's frustrated with him and he stands there watching her with a vacant look on his face.

Later we see Buffy and Joyce talking as they stand and eat their rice. They are whispering together about tonight's vote. Xander approaches them from behind and the camera shows him listening intently. Finally he approaches the two women and surprises them: "What are we talking about?"

"What?" Joyce startles. She recovers relatively smoothly and tells him, "Vote tonight."

"What would you be hiding from me?" Xander repeats disbelievingly. "How ridiculous a question is that? I mean we're on Survivor! You know outwit, outlast, outplay for a million dollars. Why would the two of you have secrets?"

"Xander," Buffy says, "we are being straight up with you. We're voting off Mac tonight."

Xander raises both his eyebrows as he speaks. "Something is up with the two of you," he repeats, "Joyce was on the other team for, what 16 days? And she gets here and the two of you are thick as thieves. Girl power and all that? Sure. We'll vote off Mac tonight." He stomps away as Joyce and Buffy watch him go.

Confessional Caption – Mac – Retired Army
"We had a saying in the bush. 'When it gets too quiet, that's when you know you're in trouble.' Ok. That's not much of a saying but it's true. " He looks around. "No one wanted to scheme with me today. Not even a courtesy lie. I'm gone tonight. I just hope this Xander can hold his own among these two women. They're sneaky and they're hiding something."

Tribal Council
The four Akathla members file in and take their places on the logs. "Welcome," Jeff says, "this is really quite a habit." He's trying to make a joke but it doesn't appear to seem funny to Akathla.

"Joyce," Jeff says to begin his questioning. "You moved to a new team a few days ago. Now you've been to tribal council twice. How does that feel?"

"It's a game," Joyce answers, "I didn't want to leave my team but I did and now I'm on a new team."

"Richard was voted off at the last tribal council," Jeff says, "does that mean that you are an outsider and have a big target on your back?"

"It probably does," Joyce answers, "but I think that people in this game have seen it before. They know what to look for after the merge." Mac grimaces at Joyce's statement.

"I don't like it but it is true," Mac says gruffly. "This game changes after merge. You have to know who is strong but you also have to know who to trust. A little loyalty can go a long way."

"Jeff," Buffy says with a seeming tightly controlled anger, "it's hard to hear a lecture about loyalty from someone who has been trying to vote you off the island for days."

Mac makes a visible sneer at Buffy's comment. "What about you, Xander? What do you think? Should there be loyalty in a game like this?"

Xander thinks about it for a minute before answering: "I think that loyalty is important but you have to be loyal to yourself and the game you're playing first and foremost."

"With that," Jeff says, "it's time to vote. Joyce, you're up."
Joyce votes, followed by Buffy, Xander, and Mac. Jeff returns with the votes and says, "let's tally the votes." He pulls the first vote: "First vote: Buffy." No one looks surprised at the first vote. "Second vote: Mac. Third vote: Mac." He recaps the short vote: "That's two votes Mac. One vote Buffy." He pulls the last vote and announces, "And the 8th person voted off Survivor – Ash Island and first Jury member is Mac."

Mac brings his torch and has it put out. Before leaving he turns and tells his teammates: "Xander and Buffy: you kids give MFashnek hell." The Akathla team turns and leaves the tribal council.

Parting Words – Mac
"Well, I tell you. I've had a lot of fun here for these past three weeks. It's going to be interesting being on the jury and seeing how this turns out."

Next week on Survivor – Ash Island
"Old friendships are renewed." Shots of Buffy, Xander, and Willow hugging. Shot of Joyce and Tara hugging. "And new ones grow closer." Shot of Tara and Willow snuggling in the night-vision shot of the campground.

"A new tribe may reveal new alliances." Shot of Robin talking with Joyce and Buffy.
All next week on Survivor – Ash Island

"Amen," the congregation intoned. Slowly everyone stood to begin leaving the temple. Willow turned to her sister, kissing her on the cheek and wishing her a "Gut Yontiff" before repeating the blessing for her parents.

The family waited for the aisles to clear out before helping Ira to his feet and allowing him to start moving slowly toward the back of the sanctuary. While his convalescence was going well, he tired easily and needed to do significant work to regain his former level of health.

It seemed that in addition to enjoying the opportunity for celebration the Jewish New Year always afforded, they had quite a bit additional to be thankful for. Unlike recent years, Kelli and Willow had both found the opportunity to come home for the High Holidays. Willow, in fact, was staying through Yom Kippur. She needed to meet with some clients in Raleigh and Joan was feeding Gato so she would be there then entire ten days. Kelli's fiancé would be joining them when she returned for Yom Kippur although he hadn't been able to make it for Rosh Hashanah.

They were greeted by quite bright sunshine as they left the building. Willow and Kelli instantly reached for their sunglasses. "Why don't I go get the car," Kelli suggested. Willow volunteered to go with her sister.

Just as Kelli clicked the button to unlock the doors on Ira's sedan, they heard a familiar voice: "Willow, Kelli, darlings."

"Gut Yontiff, Ms. Stein," Willow and Kelli both said warmly as they hugged their former Sunday School teacher.

"And what about you, Willow-ski? Anyone special for you or are you still working so hard to move through school at lightning speed?"

Willow blushed a little at the use of her childhood nickname. "Yes, Ms. Stein," Willow explained not sure how much detail she should go into, "I have been seeing someone for a few months."

"Oh," Ms. Stein said as if suddenly remembering a piece of juicy gossip, "aren't you on that television show with the stranded people? Did you meet your young man there?"

Willow smiled as of course Ms. Stein wasn't watching the show or she'd know that Willow wasn't doing anything to meet any young men. "Yes and no, Ma'am," Willow explained, "I did meet someone on the show but it's not a young man. Her name is Tara and she's another participant on the show."

"Oh," Ms. Stein said with realization, "I see. Well how wonderful for both of you." She pointed across the lot to where Ira and Sheila were standing on the steps waiting for the car. "I see that your parents are waiting for you but please if you will be here for long, come visit me. I'd love to catch up with you." She kissed both girls on the cheeks again wishing them a Happy New Year and asking them to pass her wishes for a healthy happy year on to their parents.

After helping Ira into the front seat Shelia and Willow took their places and Kelli pulled away from the temple. "I saw you visiting with Ms. Stein," Shelia commented.

Once inside, the girls joined their mother in the kitchen to serve dinner as Ira relaxed for a few minutes in his study. A few minutes later they all sat down together over their holiday meal. Ira led the table in the recitation of the Barukh over the wine and bread and then they began enjoying their meal, starting with apples dipped in honey to invite a sweet coming year.

Having already agreed that the family would not return to temple for the second afternoon of services, but would instead take the opportunity to relax, they were also settling into a much more relaxed atmosphere. "So Willow," Ira said, "I was surprised near the end of last Thursday's episode to see you kiss Tara."

"Why were you surprised, Dad?" Willow asked. "You know that Tara and I are dating."

"Oh," Ira explained, "that didn't surprise me. What surprised me was that the kiss was on screen. That they showed it."

"Me too," Kelli said, "I kind of expected them to just skip over the entire story."

"Well they can't do that," Sheila added, "it would figure into everyone's strategy if they think that Willow and Tara are united. It kind of interferes with Tara's strategy – her Faith and Kendra alliance."

Willow smiled at her family and started giggling. "What are you laughing about?" Kelli asked.

"I just never thought I'd be sitting at the High Holiday dinner listening to my family discussing Survivor," Willow explained, "I mean this is a family that took family trips to the Smithsonian. When our friends were reading Seventeen and Tiger Beat, we were reading National Geographic and Scientific American."

"No Seventeen or Tiger Beat," Kelli teased, "now we know what happened with you. Didn't you know that boy from Dawsons creek guy is just a babe."

"Back to Faith and Kendra and Tara," Shelia said, "I'm really not trusting that Faith. I think she's using everyone to win the money."

"Mom," Willow said with amusement in her voice, "everyone wants to win the money."

"I think what your mother is saying," Ira said, "is that Faith, Kendra, and Tara have an alliance for the entire game. Won't the other two girls start to doubt Tara when they see the way you two girls are fooling around?"

"I don't mean that type of fooling around," Ira clarified, "I mean they all see how the two of you are acting. An alliance of two can be a very strong alliance you know."

"Did you all go to Survivor show viewer training while I was gone or something?" Willow said with complete puzzlement.

"We watched the first four seasons when I was laid up," Ira announced with something akin to pride.

"And I've been catching up on the highlights since you left for the Island," Kelli added.

"How is Tara?" Ira said, hoping to change the subject to something slightly lighter.

"She's well," Willow answered, "she came to visit me last weekend and we saw Cirque du Solei."

"A six-year old daughter," Willow explained. "Ariel was with her father last weekend."

"Oh, Kent's a real mench and he and Tara get along very well," Willow said. "But um… he's not her ex-husband exactly."

"Oh," Sheila said scrunching her eyebrows up slightly. "Well that's ok. I mean you say that he's a good man. Have you met Ariel?"

"Oh yes," Willow said excitedly, "she's a really awesome kid. I mean 6-years old and reads and writes. Incredibly honest and articulate too." Willow smiled at the memory. "Every week she gets on the phone to tell me what she thought about the episode and if she liked what I did that week."

"Oh yeah," Willow answered, "she was thrilled about it. She says, 'I like you because you make my mommy smile and you act like a kid too.'"

"No, bubbeleh," Ira said, "but I like seeing you this happy. I've never seen you as happy as you've been since you got home."

"Well," Willow said, "I was thinking that maybe she and Ariel could come to Kelli's wedding if you don't all meet them before that."

"Anyway," Kelli said, "I'm sure she'd like to see you in your turquoise bridesmaid dress."

"Now about the wedding," Sheila started. After the meal was finished the family retired to the living room, study, or porch to relax and enjoy their holiday. After sundown, Willow pulled out her laptop to do some work.

"Close enough," Willow laughed, "thank you. 'L'shanah tovah' would be correct also."

"Quite good," Willow explained. "I think the year has really given us an appreciation for everything we have. Plus which this is the first year in quite a while that we've all been together for both days."

"Quite," Willow explained, "he's taking it a little easier than I've ever seen but he's getting around."

"Oh," Tara explained, "everything's fine. I just wish you were here with me. I've been thinking about you and how fortunate I am. I guess I'm r-reviewing the year too."

"It's been the most incredible year of my life," Willow told her, "but it's just the first of many years I wish to spend with you."

"She's wonderful," Tara said, "she said to tell you happy New Year and she thinks it's cool that your New Year starts when the s-school one does. She says that sounds easy to remember."

"Hey, baby," Willow said, "do you think you'd like to be my date for Kelli's wedding? Everyone is pretty eager to meet you and Ariel."

"I'd love to," Tara told her laughingly, "but didn't you say that they may meet me earlier than that?"

"Well," Willow said, "I need to make some calls over the next few days; remember, I was telling you about the redemption thing? Also, Kelli and I ran into Ms. Stein after services today so I thought I'd go visit her."

"Your Sunday School teacher?" Tara asked. "The woman who sat with you when your parents and Kelli were at your Grandmother's funeral and who gave you the book about the internal combustion engine?"

Willow smiled at the memory. "Yes. Apparently she didn't know that the book would affect me so," she teased, "she asked about my young man." "Oh yeah, baby," Tara teased back, "you're so large with the butch."

"If I were there," Willow repeated, "what would you be doing?" When she was greeted with silence she started on her own. "I'll tell you what I'd be doing. I know how you love it when I kiss your neck."

"You always make that incredible moaning sound when I start softly kissing your pulse point," Willow described in a whisper, "and when I suck it... Mmm. And your skin with that vanilla-Tara scent."

"I like your scent better," Tara whispered, "the way you get so wet... I love to feel your juices on my fingertips ... or my lips..." Hearing the redhead moan she asked, "Are you wet for me now, baby?"

"Oh yeah," Willow moaned as she ran her fingertips along her lips. "I'm running my fingertips along my lips and imagining how you feel right now."

"Mmm," Tara whimpered, "Wet, baby. .So wet for you. Oh God. And my clit is so swollen."

"Mmm, Oh ... baby... your touch... I need you inside," Tara gave a strangled groan.

"Oh yes," Willow breathed, "I'm inside you now... Two fingers... So soft. So wet. That's it, baby. Oh God...," she thrust inside of her own warm channel, her thumb flicking over her clit, imagining Tara's hand on her.

"That's it," Tara moaned, "a little... Oh God!" As she heard Tara's scream, Willow felt her own climax over taking her. She turned her face to the pillow quickly to muffle her own noises.

"Happy New Year," Willow muttered weakly as she caught her breath after a few minutes.

"Oh, God," Tara answered quietly, "that's for sure." She chuckled before whispering, "I can't believe what you do to me, Willow."

"Thanks," Willow told her before hanging up the phone and setting her computer aside to sleep while thoughts of Tara were still fresh in her mind.

MFashnek Camp – Day 21
The camera pans over the sights of the island on a gray looking morning. We see trees, downed coconuts, waves reaching the beach, and a shot of the outside of the shelter. Next we see the shelter as the camera pans over the sleeping members of MFashnek. Faith, Kendra, and Robin are starting to stir as are Willow and Tara. It is easy to see that the later two women are snuggled together in their sleep – Tara's arms wrapped around the redhead.

Confessional Caption – Tara – Medical Receptionist
"This morning when I woke up, my arms were wrapped around Willow's body. Ok, a-actually we went to sleep like that. I think she's pretty s-special but that doesn't change this game. My a-alliance is still with Faith and Kendra. If we can take Willow to the final four, then we will but the three of us are the key. "

Next we see the group sitting around the fire drinking their dwindling coffee and eating plantains. "I wonder when merge will happen," Kendra starts.

"Probably soon," Robin guesses. "Either that or they have a big surprise planned for us."

"Right now," Faith reminds everyone, "we're five to their three. Even if merge isn't in the next few days and we have to go to tribal council, we'll be four to three." Everyone nods their heads although they all look uneasy with the possibility that they will have to go to tribal council again. Faith looks around the group before vowing, "I'll never vote against someone in this circle if there's anyone else to vote against."

They look at her apparently processing her strongly worded vow before Tara agrees. "M-m-m…," she trails off and sticks her right hand into the center of the circle. Faith smiles and puts hers on top of the blonde's. She's followed by Kendra, Robin, and Willow. "MFashnek to the end," Kendra adds on.

Confessional Caption – Faith – Personal Trainer
"Hey, whatever these girls – I mean Tara and Willow – want to do is fine with me. We've been on this island 21 days and it will be 18 more for whoever makes it to the end. If you want to find someone to cuddle up with, share some affection, get you some, whatever, I say why not." She thinks for a second before explaining in a low voice, "On the other hand, one hint that Tara's switching alliances, breaking her damn word, and I'll cut her loose even before the kid."

Akathla Camp – Day 21
"Three weeks," Xander says to no one in particular as he eats a few plantains and drinks some water. When no one responds he repeats: "Three weeks."

Buffy holds out her arms and considers it. "I don't know," she finally says, "maybe 12 pounds?"

"Wow," Xander says, "you must be really observant to have noticed how much Buffy weighed at the first challenge."

MFashnek Camp
"We've got mail," Robin calls as he returns from the mail box. The girls are all sunbathing on the beach, looking relaxed. They all look surprised that they have tree mail.

Confessional Caption – Kendra- Interpreter
"We were enjoying our day. Three weeks we've been on the island and in the game. I thought we had the day off and then here comes Robin with tree mail."

"You'll need to choose carefully and quickly,
To secure a good life on the Island," we hear Faith read.

Akathla Camp
"Does anyone else think that they hired a new tree mail writer this season?" Xander suggests.

Jeff walks in smiling at the teams. "Well," he starts, "look around. You have made it half-way through this game. It's day 21 and there are eight Survivors left of an original 16." The Survivors give a cautious cheer.

Everyone does so smiling and cheering as Jeff hands out new buffs – green ones. "You will choose your new tribe name later. But first," he smiles, "we will have a little reward challenge."

Everyone looks surprised and Jeff turns to show that opposite him are eight tree stumps about waist high. He directs each player to the stumps which they see hold a marker and piece of paper, much like they use at tribal council. The stumps form a gentle arc and are placed 3 or so feet from each other.

"Ok," Jeff says, "this challenge is simple… or maybe not so simple. Your new tribe will have a new camp." He holds up a scroll of paper and explains that this is a map to the new location. "You will automatically get the belongings you brought with you to the game and these will be at your camp when you get there."

"However," Jeff continues, "the rest of your team belongings are still at your old camps. That's where that piece of paper comes in." He points at the paper. "Each person can write down one thing that they want to move from either old camp to the new camp. Once we reveal the responses and give you the map, you will have fifteen minutes to move the items from your old camps to the new one." Everyone gasps at the rules of the game. "If two people write down the same item, you do not get another try." Jeff smiles slyly: "This means that you want to select the most necessary item but not one that someone else will select."

Everyone nods their heads although Xander and Buffy seem to have confused looks on their faces. "Survivors Ready," Jeff yells, "Go!"

Confessional Caption – Joyce – Art Gallery Owner
"Today's challenge was harder than you would think. On one hand you want to select the really necessary things but on the other if 5 people select the rice, we're out a lot of other selections."

Everyone finishes writing quickly or slowly and waits for the last person, Willow, to finish writing. "Ok," Jeff says, "let's go around the circle." He points at Robin who has chosen the cooking pot from MFashnek. "Good choice," Jeff announces before pointing to Tara. Apparently not wanting to take any chances, Tara chose MFashnek's rice. Kendra chooses the fish hooks and line but Faith duplicates that choice. Everyone groans as they realize that they have lost a choice. Willow chooses the machete from the Akathla camp. Buffy reveals that she chose the rice from Akathla. Joyce duplicated the fishing hooks and line choice (again), wasting her choice. Xander surprises the group by selecting MFashnek's beans.

"Ok," Jeff announces, "that means that you can take the cooking pot, fishing hooks and line, beans, and rice from the MFashnek camp and the rice and machete from Akathla." He holds the map out and waits to see who will take it. When no one else steps up, Faith takes the map. "You have fifteen minutes to take these items from the camps and bring them to that location," Jeff yells, "starting… Now!"

Faith continues looking at the map for a moment before handing it to Willow. "Who goes where?" she asks the redhead. Willow looks at the map for a minute before directing the others: "Faith, Kendra, and Robin go to MFashnek. You are getting the cooking pot, fishing hooks and line, beans, and rice." That group takes another look at the map and runs through the jungle toward their camp. Willow turns to Buffy and Xander and tells them: "You are getting the machete and rice."

Confessional Caption – Buffy – College Student
"The most interesting thing about today's challenge? Willow's directions. I would have thought that she'd go back with Xander and I. Maybe she wants to show them that she's with them. But I know she still has an alliance with me. Maybe she can come back and bring Tara with her. Then we outnumber them 5-3."

We see various shots of Kendra, Faith, and Robin running through the jungle as well as Buffy and Xander running along their path.

Confessional Caption – Tara – Medical Receptionist
Tara's eyes look slightly wet as she says, "I know it's really stupid but I was kind of s-sad not to get to go back to camp. I know that Willow did the planning well for everyone but I lived there three weeks and suddenly we have a new c- camp."

We see Willow, Tara, and Joyce arrive at the new camp. They look around to see that the new camp is on an unsullied stretch of beach. Sitting at the base of a cluster of trees is a crate. "Presents?" Joyce suggests.

The three women agree to not open the crate until the others get to the new location. After a quick discussion they decide that they can be most useful by heading down the paths toward the old camps and directing their campmates as they see them. Tara and Willow head down the path toward MFashnek while Joyce heads toward the Akathla campsite.

Confessional Caption – Willow – Software Startup Owner
"Well I'll tell you. I had to think quickly about greeting the people who went back. Going with Tara I think really shows that I'm in that group now. It's not something I want Joyce or Buffy thinking about but I do want Tara to be clear about it. I mean the numbers are in that group." She looks distraught as she explains, "Of course it's totally possible that everyone will see me as a threat and caught in the gears: the next one gone."

Tara spots Faith, Kendra, and Robin running down the path and runs to meet them. As she does, Faith hands her the bag of rice and she turns with them to return to the new campsite. Willow guides the group. By the time they reach the campsite, they find Buffy, Xander, and Joyce there. Buffy and Xander are bent over with their hands on their knees gulping for air. Once the five people who ran have recovered, Joyce tells them, "They left us a surprise."

The group quickly opens the crate and cheers when they find three blankets, a bottle of Champaign, and a bag of oranges inside. Popping the cork on the Champaign they pass the bottle around, taking sips and enjoying fruit.

After the commercial, we see shots of the group working to erect a new shelter. Xander gives directions and does the lion's share of the work with help from Robin, Faith, and Kendra. The others continue their normal tasks of gathering firewood and berries, and attempting to catch fish. By the time dark falls we can see that they have made fire and cooked some rice which Tara dispenses to everyone. The shelter is very makeshift but palm leaves at least offer some protection from the weather. Using the limited number of blankets, we see Tara and Willow; Robin, Faith, and Kendra; and Buffy, Joyce, and Xander sharing them as they sleep.

Next shots show a storm over the island. Rain pours down and lightening is frequent. Although they huddle together under the new blankets, it is obvious that everyone is soaked and cold.

Day 22
Confessional Caption – Robin – High School Principal
"Well we got these nice new blankets," he says, "and had the worst storm since we arrived here. I don't know if anyone got any sleep at all."

The shell-shocked looking group huddles around the fire pit as Faith and Tara work to restart the fire using the damp wood. Finally Willow stands up and declares that she's going to see if she can find a good place to dry the blankets. Buffy goes with.

Once they are away from the other Survivors, the two girls have an obviously joyous reunion. "So what's up, Will?" Buffy teases, "I notice you were sharing your sopping blanket with Tara last night?"

Willow blushes but doesn't answer the question. "I'm trying to find a good place for this," she instead says.

By midday we see that they have gotten their fire started and are working in earnest to shore up their shelter.

Confessional Caption – Faith – Personal Trainer
"Man. I do not want to spend another damn night like that. I just about froze my parts right off."

We see a shot of Buffy fishing and she seems to be doing well. She pulls a large fish from the water.

Confessional Caption – Buffy – College Student
"I'll tell you one thing about this beach." She holds out the fish she was shown catching earlier. "I never had a shot at a fish this size on the Akathla beach. We're going to feast tonight." She holds up her shirt to show her ribs. "And I can really use it."

A shot of a few good sized fish in the cooking pot is followed by Joyce distributing the cooked meat to the Survivors. As they eat, they begin discussing a new tribe name.

Day 23
"We've got mail," Kendra and Buffy announce as they arrive back at the much more secure looking shelter.

The mail consists of a small wooden model of a triangular ladder with five rungs and a colored flag at the top. The words, "Out wit, Outlast, Outplay" are written on the middle three rungs.

We see the survivors file in to take their places on the single mat on challenge beach. Jeff approaches smiling and welcomes them. "How have you found your new camp?" he asks first.

"Soaked would be a better word," Faith offers, "I thought Buffy here was going to shiver a hole in the beach." Everyone laughs, particularly to note that Faith was easily as cold as Buffy.

"In all that freezing," Jeff asks, "did you have a chance to come up with a new tribe name?"

"Yes," Joyce answers, "we're the White Hats." Jeff looks puzzled so Faith explains: "Like we're the good guys because each of us thinks we are a good guy."

Jeff smiles a little cautiously before saying, "Great!" He holds up the immunity idol and says, "This is useless from this point forward. Now you're playing for this." He holds up the immunity necklace that only Tara and Willow have worn to this point.

Everyone cheers at the appearance of the immunity necklace. "You're playing today for this immunity necklace," Jeff explains unnecessarily, "everyone wants immunity."

Confessional Caption – Faith – Personal Trainer
"Today I'm laying back and checking out the competition. I don't think I'm going home today no matter what so I can afford to lose the challenge. Going full out is stupid unless you think you're going to be voted off because winning a challenge is just hanging a target on your back." She holds up her hands and mock yells: "Hey everyone! I'm a threat, how about voting my ass off?"

Jeff points past the survivors to explain the challenge: "Today's challenge will be mostly physical. Each of you has a ladder structure in front of you." He points to the ladder outlines. Each ladder leans against a platform about five feet off the ground and has a colored flag on a string which extends upward along a flag pole. The ladders have no rungs but have five slots where the rungs apparently will go. He points to the water on which are floating ten platforms. "Each rung for your ladders is on one of those platforms. We divided them into two colors to make it easer. You will swim out and retrieve your rungs, bring them back, and construct your ladder. The rungs are different sizes and can only be positioned in only one way to build the entire ladder." Everyone looks over at Willow as if making the point about her ability to solve puzzles like this one. Jeff continues: "Once you have built your ladder, you can climb it and raise your flag. The first flag up wins immunity."

Everyone cheers when he asks if immunity is worth playing. Next we see the players lined up in front of their towers which Jeff tells us were randomly assigned. Apparently Faith, Robin, Willow, and Xander will be racing to one set of rafts while the others – Joyce, Buffy, Kendra, and Tara – will be racing to the other set. At his call of "Survivors, Ready. Go!" everyone begins running to the water.

As they swim we can see some individuals beginning to pull away, namely Kendra, Robin, and Buffy. However, as they utilize different strategies, it is hard to tell who is leading. Kendra and Robin retrieve their first rungs and return to the beach while Buffy apparently decides to swim to the farthest rung first. She reaches the divider which adds an additional obstacle for the last raft and climbs over it to retrieve her first rung and begin the return swim. By the time she reaches the beach, most other competitors have decided to take her approach and are swimming for the farthest rung next.

Jeff shouts out commentary noting that Faith has returned with two rungs but has not gotten the farthest ones yet while Buffy is returning with her second rung having gone for the farthest ones first. Robin and Kendra both have two rungs on the beach and are swimming for their third while the others are returning with their second rungs. He next comments that Buffy is taking an interesting strategy as she runs to her ladder with the first two rungs and places them while taking gulping breaths: "Buffy places her first two rungs, taking a bit of a rest."

"Buffy returning to the water as Xander and Kendra follow her example," Jeff calls out. "Buffy, Xander, and Kendra have placed two rungs on their ladders. Robin has three on the beach and Faith and Willow are returning with their second rungs. Joyce and Tara falling behind in the swimming!"

Jeff continues his commentary as Buffy returns to toss her third rung on the beach. By the time she does, Robin has placed all but the last of his rungs on the beach. "Buffy returning with her third run and going back out for her fourth as Robin swims for the farthest rung. He has four on the beach ahead of the other Survivors." The Survivors are obviously tiring: "Buffy places her fourth rung on the ladder and turns to get the last rung from the water. Xander has two on his ladder and two on the beach and is in the water heading for his last rung. Kendra also has two on the ladder and two on the beach. Tara gets into the contest putting her third rung on her ladder and running back for the water as Faith places her fourth rung on the beach."

Willow places her third rung on the ladder and returns to the water but stands in the waist-deep water attempting to catch her breath. Joyce, Xander, and Tara are likewise catching their breath as the commentary continues: "Faith still swimming strong toward her fifth piece, the farthest piece. Buffy swims back with her last piece as is Kendra. Buffy is closer than Kendra who has farther to go." Buffy reaches the beach first and runs for her ladder. "Buffy working to place her final rung as Robin reaches his ladder with all five of his rungs! Kendra and Faith are both on the beach with their final rungs but Faith has none in her ladder." Kendra reaches her ladder as Robin has three rungs in place and Buffy is putting the final rung in place. "Buffy climbs her ladder and raises her flag to take the first individual immunity challenge!"

The other competitors collapse on the beach or swim close enough to collapse in the shallow water as Buffy moves forward to take the immunity necklace.

Confessional Caption – Buffy – College Student
"I really needed this immunity. I figure with our numbers down my best chance is to have the time to make some alliances. I have mom and Willow with me so I just need to get one other person to flip and we have the numbers."

We see the Survivors returning to camp and eating a small meal of rice and berries. Tara, Kendra, and Faith go to bathe in the ocean. They each rub the wet sand on their skin. "We know who goes tonight?" Kendra asks.

Next we see Joyce, Buffy, and Willow breaking up fire wood. They are talking quietly. "So it's Xander tonight?" Buffy asks Willow.

Willow and Joyce agree and then the older woman walks away from the younger girls. Next we see Xander approaching the two women. He gives them both warm hugs before asking straight out if he is going home tonight. Both hem and haw around a little bit before telling him that they can't control his fate. He argues that the three of them with Joyce can tie the vote but they say that they aren't willing to take the chance that they will get unlucky with the stone. Finally they walk away from the conversation.

As they walk off, Buffy tells Willow, "You and I and Joyce. If we get Robin to switch, we can be the final four." Willow nods her head but doesn't verbally commit to anything.

Tribal Council
The eight remaining tribe members enter the tribal council area and sit after putting their torches in place. Jeff welcomes them and then says, "And for the first time tonight: our first jury member." Mac walks in and takes a seat across from the Survivors. He looks very good in a pair of cargo shorts, belt, safari shirt, and hiking boots. It is obvious that he has had a haircut, shave, and a few days of good sleep and food.

"Pretty sharp," Robin answers, "we got our shelter built and the fishing is much better."

"Better," Buffy answers. "That doesn't mean a feast. We shared three good sized fish today."

"Some p-people fish," she explains nervously, "others gather berries or plantains or c-c-c…" She gives up and Faith finishes seamlessly: "cook rice."

Tara looks relieved as Joyce explains for her, "Tara seems to know everything about these plants. She found them, tests them, and tells us what's safe."

"I did a lot of work on the shelter today," the young man explains. "And I do a lot to gather firewood and keep the camp running smoothly."

"Kendra," Jeff says, "what about friendships on the island? Are they real? Are some people closer than others?"

"You spend 24 days with people," Kendra answers, "you find some who you have a real connection with. There are people you can feel comfortable around and trust."

"Sure," Willow attempts to be nonchalant. "Three weeks is a long time. You get a chance to see who you really bond with." She looks sideways at Tara who blushes. "Relationships develop. Real feelings."

Faith votes first followed by Kendra and Tara. Joyce follows her and we see her vote for Xander. Xander votes for Tara. Next Robin, Willow, and Buffy vote. Jeff carries back the pot of votes and begins to count them. "First vote: Xander." No one looks surprised. "Second vote: Xander. Third vote: Tara." Faith and Kendra both look at the carpenter with shock and what seems like a hint of anger. "That's two votes Xander, one vote Tara," Jeff recaps. "Fourth vote: Xander. Xander. And the 9th person voted off Survivor – Ash Island and the 2nd member of the jury: Xander." Xander takes his torch to Jeff who gives his trademark: "The tribe has spoken." Jeff then addresses the tribe: "Well it seems that you were unified on this one. Head back to camp."

Parting Words – Xander
"Well, I played this game the best I could and really I was outmanned. Buffy, I'm rooting for you now even though you voted against me. I'm going to enjoy my meal in a few minutes. See you soon."

Next Week on Survivor
Voice-over "Word from home buoys the spirits of the Survivors."
Shots of the Survivors screaming and crying in excitement.

Voice-over "And a secret is revealed."
We see Tara walking in the dark as she walks up to Kendra and Faith telling the other two girls, "We've got a problem."

"Mama," Ariel said excitedly at the commercial break, "You and Willow snuggled when you were sleeping."

Ariel turned excitedly toward her mama as she told her. "I'm very happy that you and she snuggled. I like her because she makes you smile and she says funny things."

"Good," Tara answered, "I like her very much too. Do you remember that she's coming to visit this weekend?"

"Yes," Ariel said excitedly, "you said that we could all go to the swimming pool and have a Bar-B-que too."

"I definitely think that can be arranged," Tara agreed, "now let's watch the end of the show."

"I like Willow," Ariel reiterated, "can you vote for her to win the game with you?"

Tara smiled at her daughter's question. "I could vote for her to win it instead of me but then I wouldn't win the money."

"But you and she could share it," Ariel argued. "No matter which of you wins the game, you can share the money."

"Grown-ups don't always share that well," Tara attempted to explain to her daughter.

"Do you think you'd like it if we got to see Willow more often than we do now?" Tara asked the girl as she was tucking her into bed.

"Definitely," Ariel answered, "because she could help me read my book." She pointed at the copy of How to eat Fried Worms sitting on her nightstand. When Tara had brought it home from Atlanta the girl was very excited about it and put aside her current book to start on it right away.

"Do you want to read it with me or wait for Willow to be here?" Tara offered. Ariel considered the choice for a few seconds before concluding that she could read the book with Tara and then again with Willow when the redhead arrived. Once Ariel had finished her fifteen minutes of reading, Tara kissed her on the forehead and was about to turn off the light when Ariel interrupted her.

Tara smiled and agreed to let Ariel talk to the redhead for a minute. She went and got her phone and dialed the number for the child who wanted to hold it when Willow picked up.

"I'm looking forward to it too," she said next which Tara assumed was in response to Willow saying that she was looking forward to visiting. "We are going to go swimming and bar-b-que and you can help me read my worm book."

"I can write it down," Ariel offered before turning to Tara to tell her, "Mama, Willow wants me to write down her flight information. Can you get me a pen and paper from my desk?"

"Ok," Ariel said seriously. She carefully copied down the information Willow gave her and repeated it back to the other woman. When she had finished Tara pointed at her watch to let Ariel know that it was time to go to bed. "Mama's pointing at her watch so I need to go, Willow," Ariel said with a yawn. "Ok, goodnight," she said before handing the phone to Tara.

"Just a second," Tara said into the phone before kissing Ariel again and turning off her light and leaving the room. Once in the hall she said, "Hi, sweetie."

Tara reached her room and started to get ready for bed as they continued talking. Finally Tara yawned and Willow laughed, "You're so predictable, baby," she teased.

"Actually there's a whole group of us meeting at the club," Willow explained. "Apparently whether I'm in town or not, Joan's been organizing watching parties. You and I are quite a hot topic you know."

"I love you too," Tara replied. She grinned as she asked, "Did you check the popularity results today, sweetie?"

"Yep," Willow said, "as of this afternoon you were still the most popular Survivor at 88, then Faith at 84. I'm way down at 72 but hopefully will move up now."

Tara laughed, "You figure kissing me on TV will help either of our popularity results? I'm not sure it will make a difference."

"Well," Willow argued, "it might. Or not. Wes is still at the bottom at 36 but Buffy and Joyce are dropping steadily."

"I'm not surprised about that," Tara said. "And who do viewers think will be the ultimate survivor?"

"Faith, then you, then Buffy," Willow explained. "Almost no one thinks I'll win it all."

"I hope this doesn't become some obsession for you," Tara teased, "I'd hate for you to arrive tomorrow and have to spend all your time at the local library refreshing the browser to check the CBS website."

"I can't wait to see you tomorrow," Willow told her lover. "I'm not going to spend a second at the library. Now why don't you go to sleep and dream of me."

Saturday afternoon found the two women, Ariel, and Tara's mother in the backyard at Tara's house. Willow and Ariel played hopscotch while Tara and her mother womaned the grill. Both cooks were watching the other two and laughing at their antics.

"This morning we went down to see Kent's race," Tara said, "then we took Ariel swimming and went to see the Incredibles."

"3:27. It was the first time he's broken 3:30 so he was thrilled," Tara answered, "and Ariel was very excited to have lunch with all three of us."

"That makes two of us," Tara smiled. She changed subjects for a moment as she said, "Of course we had trouble getting into the movies. I swear Survivor f- fans are coming out of the woodwork everywhere we go."

"You and Willow are big news in the entertainment world, honey," Sarah said. "Actually I was shocked that they are showing your relationship at all but it seems to be a major story."

"Fishing for what?" Willow asked as she leaned in to grab a piece of celery off the table.

Looking over to see a dab of ranch dressing on the corner of Willow's mouth, Tara handed her a napkin and laughed explaining, "Mom's trying to figure out how we did on the show."

Willow laughs too as Ariel pulls on her arm to play again. "Like I've said before," she teased, "neither of us was voted off in the first three."

"You've got this?" Tara confirmed indicating the grill. When her mother said that she did, Tara joined the other two playing until dinner was ready. A few minutes later Sarah announced that dinner was ready and the four of them sat at the picnic table in the back yard to enjoy their Bar-B-Que.

"So Willow," Sarah started, "tell me about yourself. I know that you are a '21 year-old software startup owner from Atlanta, GA' but I really have no idea what that means."

"Yeah," Willow teased the blonde, "you owe me since I couldn't call you until July."

"We'll celebrate later," Tara whispered even more quietly and was pleased to see Willow blushing.

"We should have a party," Ariel announced. Everyone agreed that it might be a fun idea although Willow said that most of her friends weren't in Ohio so it would be a very small party.

"Anyway," Sarah attempted to steer the conversation back to the getting to know you topics, "you were going to tell me about yourself."

"I probably was," Willow agreed. "I write and market software products for small businesses: different type stuff, billing, scheduling, communication. Kind of a variety."

"Pretty much," Willow nodded. "I'd like to get someone to do my marketing and sales soon but for now, I work out of my apartment and travel to meet clients and perform installations and maintenance." Deciding that she should attempt to impress her ability to provide for Tara and Ariel to the blonde's mother Willow added on, "I started the business when I was a senior in college and started turning a profit a few years ago. It's pretty financially successful plus which I can work anywhere that I have my computers."

"That's very convenient and flexible," Sarah answered, "and where is your family?"

"My parents are in Raleigh, North Carolina which is where I grew up," Willow explained, "and my sister Kelli is an epidemiologist in St. Louis."

"Yes," Willow agreed with a smile, "If I was spending more time here, I could see her more."

Sarah smiled knowingly at the two other women. "Something tells me that's likely."

Before either Willow or Tara could answer Ariel said suddenly, "I know who could come to your party."

"What party, sweetie?" Tara asked completely confused by the sudden conversation change.

"Willow's birthday party," Ariel explained as if she really thought Tara was dense. "Since she doesn't know many people here."

Willow quirked up her eyebrow as she asked, "Ariel, why would we invite Faith to my party?

"Because you and mama are her friends from the island and she's my friend too," Ariel explained.

Sarah and Willow both looked completely puzzled while Tara nodded her head as if she was figuring out what Ariel was saying. "Did she call when you were at Daddy's house and you answered the phone?" Tara asked.

"She called here and then she calls there," Ariel answered. "I think she's very nice even if she does talk funny."

"She called me and asked for his number," Tara reported, "I didn't ask a lot of questions. But um yes. I m-mean Kent talked to me about it. I mean we a-always do."

"You and Kent discuss your love lives with each other?" Willow asked again incredulous at the thought.

"Ariel," Tara said, "can you go throw the plates in the garbage and put away the ketchup and mustard?" She waited for the little girl to go in the house and explained: "Yes. Anyone we're involved with means that Ariel will be involved with them. That means we both need to talk about it."

"That makes sense," Willow said. Sarah watched the conversation with great interest as if she was figuring out a clue from the entire interaction.

Before any of them could continue, Ariel came back outside after finishing up her cleaning. She sat down and announced, "I figured out something yesterday."

"Really," Sarah said, "what?" All three grown-ups looked amused at the serious look on Ariel's face.

"Well," Ariel explained, "all my baby things are at Grandma's house and sometimes I play with them."

"I know that," Ariel said with a roll of her eyes, "but I figured out what they are for."

"What's that?" Tara asked. She sometimes wondered herself why she had kept the boxes, so meticulously labeled.

"So that after you and Willow get married, you can have another baby," Ariel explained confidently.

"A baby," Ariel said confidently, "so I can have a little sister to play with. And I can dress her up in my old clothes and teach her to play games."

"Sweetie," Sarah said softly, "I think your mama and Willow may want to decide those things on their own."

Ariel pouted her lips in a move Willow found quite reminiscent of Tara. "I'm just saying…"

Willow leaned over and whispered in Ariel's ear something that neither of the other women could hear.

"Really?" Ariel asked excitedly. When Willow nodded the little girl unexpectedly wrapped the redhead in a hug. Then she leaned back on the bench and gloated. "I know something you don't know," she teased her mother and grandmother.

Tara attempted not to smile at her daughter's behavior. "Why don't you go get ready for your bath?" she instead said.

Ariel gave hugs all around before going in the house. Sarah and Willow finished cleaning up after the bar-b-que and continued visiting while Tara got Ariel ready for bed. All three women came in to say goodnight although Ariel insisted she wanted Willow to help her read her worm book.

By the time the redhead emerged from Ariel's bedroom Sarah had gone home and Tara had finished cleaning the kitchen and poured the two women another glass of wine. "Well," she smiled, "you seem to be charming all the women in my family."

"Good," Willow said as she took the wine glass and set it on the counter, wrapping her arms around Tara's waist and beginning to place feather-light kisses on the blonde's neck. "Now, what do you say I demonstrate some of my special charms? The ones I save just for you?"

"Ooh, special charms," Tara whispered breathlessly, "they sound very promising." She pulled away only long enough to take Willow's hand and lead her toward the bedroom.

Sometime later the two women lay in bed feeling very relaxed. Tara traced her fingers over Willow's bare stomach, causing the redhead to giggle and squirm. "My turn now," Willow said as she started the same treatment on the other woman's body.

"I'm really starting to appreciate beds," Tara giggled as she pulled a sheet over both of them.

"What did you say to Ariel earlier?" Tara asked as both girls stopped tickling and just snuggled together under the covers.

Tara rose up on one elbow as she fixed the redhead with a suspicious look. "Mysterious, huh?" Willow nodded smugly. Tara considered for a moment before asking, "Well about what Ariel was saying. D-do you want to have kids? I mean have you e-ever thought about it?"

Willow smiled at her lover before kissing her gently. "I've always known I wanted kids. I mean I may not be ready to plan a family right now but I love children. So, yeah, in a while I'd love to have a child or be a co-parent if my partner wanted to have a child or whatever. I mean you know?"

"All the better," Willow smiled, "I get the adorable cuteness of Ariel without having done the startup work." She took a breath before asking, "What about you? Do you want another child?"

Tara nodded. "I'd like a way to get my college education completed or mostly completed before that but I'd definitely like for Ariel to have siblings."

"Sounds suspiciously like the start of a plan," Willow murmured. She glanced at the clock and yawned as she said, "We should get to sleep, baby."

"Mmm," Tara whispered into the redhead's shoulder, already losing consciousness.

White Hat Camp – Day 25
Shots show us the wildlife of Ash Island. We see a few lemurs, parrots, and snakes. Next a shot shows the volcano with smoke easing from its hole. The survivors are slowly beginning to wake and leave the shelter. Tara and Willow snuggled in the corner seem slow to move and are the last two people left in the shelter as the others move outside.

Confessional Caption – Robin – High School Principal
"Day 25," he says, "I don't know what I expected but I didn't think it would be like this." He shakes his head. "Six women and me left." Again he shakes his head.

The group is gathered around the fire drinking water. "I miss the coffee," Kendra comments as she stifles another yawn.

Confessional Caption – Tara – Medical Receptionist
"I really hope we can rest today. Everyone is really run down." We see her handing the cup of paste to Buffy who sports a very intense sunburn on her face and shoulders. "Maybe a nap under the t-trees."

Apparently the wish for a rest day has been granted. We see a shot of all the survivors sunning on the beach or taking naps. One shot shows Willow getting up and walking into the woods. Moments later, Tara appears to follow the redhead.

Confessional Caption – Buffy – College Student
Buffy is sitting in the shallow water, waves lapping over her legs as the sun is setting. "A rest day," she comments, "I'll tell you what though. I learned a lot. I mean Willow and I have an alliance right? Well, we may but … Willow got up and went for a walk in the woods. Tara followed her and they came back an hour later! An hour? Oh yeah, I feel just great about my alliance." She has an obvious look of distrust on her face. "This rest day sponsored by the slogan, 'watch your ass.'"

White Hat Camp – Day 26
Coverage starts right in to show Faith and Joyce announcing that "we've got tree mail." The mail is in the form of a computer printout formatted like the transcript of an IM session.

Confessional Caption – Willow – Software Startup Owner
"I see anything about computers and right off, I'm thinking like, computer challenge? I could rock this. But then I realized that wasn't what it was saying at all."

The Survivors arrive at challenge beach and Jeff greets them with a smile. "You've all made it to day 26. Two-thirds of the way to day 39." They give themselves a light round of applause. "Because one of the hard things about this game is being away from home today you will have the chance to win a little touch of home." Everyone screams. "The winner of today's challenge will get one hour to Instant Message with their loved one." Again we see touching shots of the Survivors. "To give you a taste, you can each have one minute IMing with your family member," he explains with his trademark smirk.

He leads them over to a small hut with a computer set up in it. "Kendra, your friend El is online waiting for you." The dark-skinned woman sits down and begins excitedly typing until Jeff tells her time is up. She stands up and walks over to Tara who gives her a hug. "Willow," he says next, "your sister, Kelli." The redhead takes her turn, showing some real typing speed. "Buffy," he calls next, "your sister, Dawn is online." Next Robin's IM's with his wife, Jane before Joyce IMs with her husband, Rupert. Tara's friend Kent shares a minute of "talking" with her although she is crying so hard it is difficult for her to type. Finally, Faith's sister Joy is on the other end of her connection. All the survivors are moved by the short conversations.

"So," Jeff typically asks, "an hour with your family and friends worth playing today?"

Everyone agrees. "Ok," Jeff says. "We thought you should have some help in your challenge." The survivors begin screaming as their loved ones walk around from the back of the hut to meet them. Pandemonium reigns for a few minutes as they hug, kiss, or some combination of the above their family and friends. Robin and Jane are kissing as are Joyce and Rupert. Kelli and Dawn are obviously alternating hugging Willow and Buffy and assessing their weight. El and Kendra are laughing together as are Faith and her identical twin, Joy. Tara continues crying as she is embraced by a tall man resembling Robin more than anyone else in the group.

Once the joyous and tearful reunion is over, Jeff welcomes the visitors and tells them that they will be participating in the challenge with their Survivors. Rather than winning an hour of IM time with their loved one, the loved one will stay at camp with the Survivors over night and leave the next morning.

Once everyone has reacted with excitement at the prospect of spending the precious time with their loved one, Jeff points out the challenge structure. On the beach are seven towers about ten feet high. Vertically the tower consists of three pipes which extend to the ground. Inside the pipes at the top is a round basket. A fourth pipe leans against the top of the three pipes from the ground (forming a triangle with the ground). On the outside of the basket is an additional metal basket. In front of the towers are two poles about eight feet long with a cross- piece about a foot long at one end.

Jeff explains that working together, the Survivor and their guest will use their poles to guide a large ball (larger than a basketball) up the pole and into the basket at the top. Once they have gotten three balls into the basket, the weight of the balls will lower the basket. They will then use the fire starting materials sitting by their tower to build a fire. Once their fire is burning, they can release the balls, allowing the basket to rise and light a fuse above the tower. The first Survivor to light the fuse wins the challenge.

We see everyone taking their places. Jeff yells to go and the teams begin attempting to guide the balls up the pipe. Everyone has trouble with the task, having to replace the balls frequently. We see all the participants having to chase the balls and return with them. Finally the twins get a good start as their first ball goes in.

"Now Willow gets a basket. Buffy and Tara are right behind her," Jeff shouts, "Joyce and Rupert struggling as are Robin and Jane." Kendra and her friend are having very poor success at the task but seem to be having a lot of fun as they laugh over their difficulty. "Buffy and Dawn on a roll," Jeff puns, "as their second ball nears the top of the runway." We see the other teams in various stages of pushing their balls up the pipe or chasing them as they bounce on the beach. "Robin finally on the board with one ball in the basket as is Kendra!" Jeff calls. "Buffy has two in Joyce with none and everyone else with one."

As we watch we can see that Tara and Kent are obviously communicating well on the task. They make Tara's second ball. At nearly the same time Willow and Kelli get her second ball to the top and have it fall off just at that point. Faith and Joy have the same problem, possibly due to their height disadvantage. Joyce and Rupert finally make a basket as Robin and Willow get their second near the top. When Kendra makes her second basket, she is in the competition as well. A second later, Jeff shouts in excitement as Tara and Kent make their third basket. The close friends drop their sticks and race around to the basket which is sitting on the ground.

"Tara starting with the kindling and flint," Jeff shouts to let the others, including Willow and Faith who have just made their second shots, know the leader's progress. While Kent feeds small sticks and to the fire, Tara has her hands cupped around the flame in much the same way that she did when she and her alliance members lit the fire on day two. She has her eyes closed as she concentrates on the task and seems to be saying a prayer. Buffy makes her third shot and races around to start her fire, followed quickly by Willow and Faith. At Tara's signal, Kent pulls the release to allow the balls to roll out and the basket to rise.

The others seem to redouble their efforts as Jeff yells, "Tara's basket is on the rise. If her fire doesn't go out, this should be it." Buffy, Faith, and Willow with their respective sisters are all feeding kindling to their fires when Tara's fuse lights making her the winner of the task.

Tara and Kent hug and celebrate their win. The others also hug their loved ones although they are all visibly disappointed. Jeff says that the visitors must go and we see them share farewells. Dawn and Rupert both look back as if they have something else to do but follow the line of family members from the beach.

We see the tribe returning to their camp. Tara and Kent walk along talking and gesturing hurriedly. She is obviously asking about her daughter and mother and he tells her that they are fine and miss her. As they walk, she introduces Kent to the other tribe members who are all very friendly.

Confessional Caption – Faith – Personal Trainer
"So sister friend Tara won the reward and it was her friend Kent getting to stay with us over night. I'll tell you what; that man. Mmm. She's got someone who looks like that around and she turns to women? I know that's not how it happens, but that is a very fine looking man. Heck, I don't know. Maybe he's her boyfriend and she's not even interested in Willow. Girl's got games going that I don't know about. She's too smart not to."

Tara shows Kent the camp, pointing out their fire pit, where the food is prepared, the sleeping shelter, etc. After they visit a little bit, all the Survivors sit around the fire to eat.

Confessional Caption – Joyce – Art Gallery Owner
Joyce is tearing up as she addresses the camera. "Seeing Rupert was wonderful. But not getting to say hello to Dawn or hug her was heartbreaking. I could see her looking back as they left and how badly she wanted to come to me."

Confessional Caption – Buffy – College Student
"I'll tell you what," she says, "26 days on this beach makes me miss even Rupert. Ripper. Whatever. I mean really. I even wanted to hug him as he was leaving." She mutters under her breath: "Even if he is a pompous blowhard."

"Thank you for sharing your food with me," Kent says as he eats a small portion of rice. "Maybe this will make it worth it." He reaches into his small pack and pulls an envelope from it. He hands it to Tara who opens the envelope.

Willow leans over to see a picture of a small girl, her skin a light brown, about 6 years old playing in the front yard. She is wearing a pink dress and kicking a soccer ball. The redhead looks at the picture and back at Tara who has tears in her eyes. Taking Tara's hand she again looks at the picture before looking at Kent for a long few seconds. "Oh," she finally says as if figuring out the solution to a puzzle.

Suddenly Tara looks up from the picture to look at Willow. "T-t-this is A-ariel," she stutters before handing the picture to the redhead and motioning that she should pass it on.

After a quick discussion the group agrees that they will just pass the pictures around with Tara starting each one to see if she can identify the owner. As the Survivors wait, she begins looking at photos and either handing them across the fire to the owner or passing them to Willow to make the circuit. After about five pictures the blonde quirks her eyebrow at one. She looks at Buffy and then Joyce for a moment before handing one to Buffy. The process continues and with Tara again looking between Buffy and Joyce as she encounters some strange photographs.

Later we see Tara walking in the dark up to Faith and Kendra. "We've got a problem," she tells the girls. "Did you see any of Buffy or Joyce's pictures?"

"No man," Faith answers, "they were keeping them to their selves because they were so precious or whatever. I wish we'd been able to get rid of Joyce with Richard."

"The reason they didn't want to show you their pictures? They are in the same pictures."

Faith narrows her eyes as she thinks about the implications of what Tara is saying. "They're mother and daughter?"

"Or incredibly close friends," Tara shares. "They are in all of each other's pictures. I mean all of them."

"I d-d-don't know," Tara stutters as she glances over her shoulder at the redhead sitting by the fire.

Confessional Caption – Kendra – Interpreter
"Right now, having Tara with us is like a person and a half in the alliance. We ask her a question and she asks Willow. Willow was with Buffy and now she's all into Tara so maybe we get a freebie on her."

We see Buffy and Joyce talking quietly by the fire. It is obvious from their expression that they are worried. They are whispering together so that Willow and Kent, sitting opposite them can't hear. Willow bites her lip and wrings her hands as she looks sideways at Kent. Finally she asks, "So. Um… have you and Tara been um friends long?"

"About ten years," the dark-skinned man explains with a broad smile, "she's pretty awesome."

"I think so too," Willow says curtly before standing and walking away from the fire.

Confessional Caption – Willow – Software Startup Owner
The redhead's red rimmed eyes give away how upset she is. "I know I shouldn't feel like this but I do. I really care, or cared, about Tara. But suddenly I feel like she's playing me. I mean I saw the picture of her daughter and she's definitely Kent's too. Why wouldn't she tell me? Is he her husband? Boyfriend? Is she just playing me to get through this game?" She snorts her disgust as she says, "Swing vote. I was the swing vote but now… I just don't know."

We see Faith approach the fire where Kent is sitting. She assesses him again obviously enjoying his appearance before he looks up.

Faith lifts the hem of her shirt slightly to show her ribs and offers, "I'm kind of out of shape but maybe we can do a few miles in the morning before you have to go."

We see Willow walking along the beach, kicking her feet at the sand. Tara approaches her carefully. "Will?" When Willow keeps walking the blonde falls in step beside her. "Are you ok?" she asks without touching the redhead.

Willow stops walking and turns angrily toward the blonde. "Why didn't you tell me that Kent was her father? I mean he is her father right? Or is this just a game you're playing?"

Tara reaches out to take Willow's hand although it is obvious that the redhead is feeling angry and closed off to her. "Willow," she attempts to get the girl to look at her by lightly touching her chin with her fingertips, "please look at me." Willow looks up with an angry look on her face. "I understand that you are mad but I'm not sure why. Did I lie to y-you about something? You knew that I had a daughter. Would you rather that her father was a s-stranger or did you think she was an immaculate conception?"

Tara smiles at the redhead. "Being on this island is a game, sweetie, but th-this, this," she waves two fingers between the two girls "is not a game."

Confessional Caption – Kendra – Interpreter
"What an interesting day. First we find out that Buffy and Joyce are big liars. Then we ask Tara to find out if Willow knew about it and she ends up sitting on a rock crying while her friend comforts her. I honestly don't know where that girl's head is today."

White Hat Camp – Day 27
Dawn breaks over the camp and we see Tara and Kent walking on the beach. It's obvious that he has been helping gather berries and break up firewood. He puts his arm lightly around her shoulder and says, "You're feeling better, Tare."

"Much," she nods, "especially since you're here. You know, your visit will help me make it through this thing." The look up and see the boat approaching.

"That will be my ride," he says as the others approach the beach. We see Kent giving everyone hugs and saying thanks for letting him visit. A shot of him getting on the boat shows his buff chest and abs as he is suddenly dressed in only a pair of shorts. Panning back over the camp we see that Tara is wearing the denim shirt he had brought while Willow wears his very oversized T-shirt. Everyone stands on the beach for a few seconds while Kent continues waving until the boat has gone from their sight.

Next we see Robin and Kendra returning to announce: "Tree mail." They read the message and conclude that it's an eating challenge.

Jeff waits on the beach for the remaining seven survivors to enter the beach and take their places on the mat. "Tara," he greets the blonde, "how was it having your friend at camp yesterday?"

"It was really great," she says, "and getting the pictures was r-really appreciated." She looks sideways at Buffy and Joyce and says, "I think we all learned a lot more about each other yesterday."

Jeff laughs nervously at Tara's statement before announcing, "We thought we'd give you a little while more to see your loved ones. They will be helping you with this challenge." Everyone screams as he waves his arm and the visitors from yesterday emerge from behind a stand of trees again. Again they hug their loved ones before standing next to them.

"Well," he announces, "since yesterday's challenge didn't let you win any food, we decided to give you something to eat today." This time everyone groans as he pulls a tablecloth from the table to expose worms, bugs, and something else on the table. After giving everyone a chance to act revolted, Jeff explains that today's challenge will consist of three rounds. The first round will have all seven survivors. The two slowest will be out of the challenge. The next round will again eliminate two survivors and the final round will determine the winner.

Using some quick editing, we see the survivors standing on one side of the table with their hands behind their backs and a blindfold over their eyes. Their guests stand opposite them with their hands hovering over plates of worms. "Each survivor must eat three worms and then show me his or her mouth," Jeff calls. "Survivors ready. Go!"

At his shout, the visitors reach into the plates to grab the squirming earthworms and then extend them toward their loved one's mouths. "Dawn's got the idea," Jeff describes, "putting the worms right in Buffy's mouth. Rupert less willing to hold them as is Kelli." The competition is very fast and Jeff begins to call the names of the Survivors who have finished: "Buffy done. Robin. Kendra. Tara. And the last Survivor advancing to the next round is Joyce."

Confessional Caption – Faith – Personal Trainer
"If there was every an immunity challenge to lose, this was it. I mean I'm tough sure. But yuck. I thought I was going to throw up and I didn't even manage to swallow a worm. Course one advantage of a twin sister is that she knows me so well she didn't even try to get the worms in my mouth."

"Ok, Survivors ready," Jeff calls. We can see that the visitors have their hands above trays of squirming large black bugs. "Go!" The commentary is much like the earlier commentary as he notes that "Dawn again quickly dropping the bugs in her sister's mouth. Robin right there too. Buffy and Robin done. Tara having some trouble getting hers down." The camera is quickly averted as she leans over the side of the table. "And Kendra moves into the finals with Robin and Buffy!"

He directs the other two teams to take their seats near Faith and Willow and their guests. Finally we see the three remaining survivors lean over their "food." At Jeff's command the three guests pick up a fish head and attempt to shove it into their loved one's mouths. While Kendra struggles with it, Robin and Buffy both chew to the shouts of their loved ones and various survivors. Within seconds Jeff shouts the news that "For the second time in a row, Buffy has won individual immunity." She and Dawn dance around as the other competitors drink from their glasses of water, attempting to clear their mouths.

Jeff gives the survivors a few minutes to say good bye to their friends and family and the guests board the boat and leave the island. "Ok," Jeff says, "your loved ones are gone but I'll be seeing you all at Tribal Council."

We see the survivors walking back to the camp. Next we see Buffy and Joyce talking to Robin quietly. Buffy approaches Willow as the redhead breaks up fire wood. "Willow," she greets the girl, "I need to know where you are tonight."

"I'd imagine the triumvirate is voting for Joyce, but if you vote off one of them, Robin will vote with us. Then we can pick them off one by one."

Buffy looks as if she pities her friend, telling her, "Will, I don't want to tell you your personal business but I really think your girl is playing you. I mean did you see the picture of Ariel? Kent's not just her friend and she's got you following her around this island like a puppy."

Confessional Caption – Willow – Software Startup Owner
"Yeah, Buffy came to me today with her F4 offer. I can get one from everyone here if I want. Hell, Robin and I could incorporate: Swing Vote, Inc. The question is 'who is the liar that I trust the most'?"

We see Robin talking to Joyce and later Robin talking to Faith. "Rumblings around the fire, huh, big man?" she says.

Robin looks at Faith with a raised eyebrow. "Make me an offer. I can be fourth either way."

"Think about it," she tells him glancing down the beach toward the other competitors, "would you want to be sitting next to Kendra or worse yet, Tara?"

Confessional Caption – Faith – Personal Trainer
"I was lying my ass off. I'm not taking him to the final two but think about it. He believes it because he wants to believe it. Everyone says to themselves, 'that Faith. She'd screw her friends for a million dollars so she'll want me next to her.' It's easy for everyone to believe they're golden because they believe I'm scum."

Tribal Council
The seven remaining survivors enter and take their seats. Next Jeff calls in the first two members of the jury. Mac and Xander enter both looking clean and fed. Like Mac, Xander has had a haircut and shave and is wearing new clothes.

Jeff smiles at the survivors. "Welcome," he says, "this week we had visitors. How did that feel, Tara?"

"It was really g-great, Jeff, having that little touch of home really buoyed me up."

"I feel like some people are more trustworthy than others," Tara answers. "Some people are playing a game here and some are just outright lying."

"Faith," Jeff asks, "Is that true? Are some people here lying to everyone else?"

"Jeff," Faith says, "I think there's a difference between playing a game and not telling everyone some very important information about yourself."

"If you can't trust someone," Willow pitches in, "then you can't align yourself with them."

Both Buffy and Tara look a little surprised at the statement as if they don't know who she's referring to.

Confessional Caption – Willow – Software Startup Owner
"So it's a hard few days for trust. Yesterday the thing with Tara and Kent and then today I went to go to the little girl's room and on the way back I heard Tara talking to Joyce. She was confronting her over Joyce being Buffy's mother. First off, why didn't Buffy tell me that but second why didn't Tara? I never thought I was stupid but it seems like everyone here knows things I don't know."

"Buffy," Jeff directs, "are there people here you trust and who you know can trust you?"

"Sure," the blonde lies, "Joyce and I became very close while she was in Akathla and I trust her totally. And I have other relationships that are very important to me even though they were separated from me for a while."

Kendra and Faith cast their eyes at Buffy and Willow but neither says anything. "Let's go vote," Jeff announces somewhat suddenly.

Faith votes first and we see her vote for Joyce. "Joyce, you're a liar and if I could I'd vote off Buffy with you."

Next Kendra, Tara, and Willow vote. Buffy votes for Faith saying: "Faith. You're just too strong and too smart to stay in this thing." Robin and Joyce then vote.

"Let's count the votes," Jeff declares. "First vote, Joyce." Everyone nods that they expected that. "Second vote, Faith. Third vote, Faith." He recaps: "That's two votes Faith, one vote Joyce." He continues counting: "Joyce. Next vote: Joyce." Jeff takes a breath before repeating the count: "That's two votes Faith, three votes Joyce. " He opens the next vote and looks at if for a few seconds. "And the 10th person voted off Survivor – Ash Island and 3rd Jury member is Joyce."

Joyce brings her torch and has it extinguished. As she leaves she tells Buffy to kick butt for her. Jeff reminds the Survivors that they are down to six and sends them back to camp.

Parting Words – Joyce
"Buffy, I hope you win it all but if you don't, I hope you take Faith out. I love you and I'm proud of you and how you've played this game."

Next week on Survivor
Voice-over – Old alliances are threatened
"You've been lying to me all along," Willow shouts at Buffy.

Voice-over – And a new one may change the entire game
A shot of Robin, Faith, and Buffy talking and shaking hands.

Joyce and Julie sit on the Early Show Survivor show set. "Welcome, Joyce," Julie says with a big smile, "the latest castaway voted off Survivor – Ash Island and the 3rd member of the Jury."

Show Clip – We see a shot of Joyce talking with Richard as the two break up firewood. It is clear that this clip is from one of the early episodes and they are discussing Faith's being a dangerous factor in the game. Next we see Joyce hugging her husband, Rupert, as he leaves and looking longingly at Dawn.

"Let's talk about last night's show," Julie suggests, "Last night your family members visited the island."

"Julie," Joyce says, "if you spend this long, 26 days, in a situation like this, you can't even imagine how important that visit can be."

"Being on the island is exhausting physically, emotionally, and mentally. You're dirty, tired, hungry and involved in a dynamic mind game with 15 other people who are just as exhausted and desperate as you." She takes a breath. "A visit from a family member is a huge break from the cruelty of the game."

"Wow," Julie says, "You sound almost like you found the emotional aspect worse than the physical."

Show Clip – We see a shot of Joyce suggesting to Buffy that Mac lost the hooks on purpose followed by her confessional saying she doesn't mind misleading her daughter.

"Yet," Julie continues, "one of the biggest secrets on the island, the fact that Buffy and you are mother and daughter, was revealed last night."

Show Clip – Tara looks at pictures of the survivors before passing them around. She looks strangely at Buffy and Joyce. Then she confronts Faith and Kendra to tell them about the situation.

"Yes," Joyce agrees, "we knew this was just a matter of time. I honestly believe that The Faith Alliance was voting one of us off regardless. Our only shot was getting Robin and Willow to flip with us and take out that group."

Show Clip – Buffy talking to Willow and then Robin to propose her plan to take them to the final four

"The Faith Alliance, as you call it, has been around since day two. Is that longer than you though it would last?"

"Each member of any alliance is in it because she believes that she is better off in that group than outside it," Joyce says. "That group has lasted 26 days because it's working for them."

Tara sat in her car attempting to calm herself. A little self-talk couldn't possibly hurt. Right? You'll be fine, Tara. They're just little kids and Ariel is one of them.. She took a deep breath, checked the clock, and went inside the school building.

She arrived at the administration office and went inside. She smiled at the administrative secretary who stood up to greet her. "Hello, Ms. Sloan."

"Oh yes. Sorry about that, Ms. Maclay. Mr. Edmonds will be out in a few minutes."

Once the other parent had arrived, Ms. Sloan called the principal who came out immediately.

"Hello Ms. Maclay and Mr. Edmonds," he greeted both parents. Both greeted the principal in turn and he showed them where to sign in as visitors and gave them visitor's badges. "I'll walk both our visitors down to Ms. Apple's class," Mr. Watts told Ms. Sloan. After making small talk for a moment with the other parent, he told her, "I've been following your show. I had never watched the show before but since we had a local and a parent at that on the show, I decided to watch. It's been quite an education."

Tara smiled at the principal's characterization of the show. "I think people either l-love reality TV or really hate it," she commented.

"Can you tell me when you were voted off?" Mr. Edmonds, the other parent, now entered the conversation.

"I really can't," Tara said as she shook her head side to side. They reached the door to the class, ending the conversation.

The teacher spied the two parents through the window in the door and quickly waved them inside. Tara was surprised as the principal took a seat at the back of the room. "Class," Ms. Apple announced, "we have two parents here with us today for career talk." She invited Josh to the front to introduce his father who he reported worked as a salesman. Mr. Edmonds got up and gave a short explanation of his work selling furniture to offices. It sounded to Tara like dull work but the kids were interested in the fact that he ate lunch on the road every day. They seemed to think that the option of a happy meal every day was heaven.

Next it was Ariel's turn. She came to the front of the classroom and took Tara's hand to lead her to the center before introducing her mother: "This is my mother. She works in a doctor's office where she helps people get ready to see the doctor. She's also an artist and uses a blown-torch and is on television." Her pride showed through her single-breath introduction.

Tara looked from side to side before beginning her explanation. "Ariel told you three different things that I d-do. I'll tell you a little about them and then you can ask questions, ok?" The kids nodded their heads and a few said yes. "I work at a doctor's office and I check people in when they get there so they can see the doctor and nurse faster. If people call with questions, I help them get appointments to see him."

"That's the job I have that pays money," she said with a laugh. "I also like to do art. I have a workshop in the garage where I make my art. Someday I'd like to have art be my job."

She called on a girl near the window who was waving her hand. "Do you really use a blow- torch?"

"Yes," Tara smiled. "I frequently use a blow torch but I'm very very careful and no one is allowed to be in my workshop with me when I'm using it."

Tara looked down at the ground before forcing herself to look at the child. "I'm not a star but I am on a TV show that will be on for twelve weeks. It's showing right now on Thursday nights." She hated sounding like a commercial but she didn't know if the kids would believe her if she wasn't specific.

Tara took a breath before attempting to explain the cultural phenomenon that was Survivor. "Well, sixteen people volunteered to camp on an island for a long time. The person who can camp there for the longest wins the game."

"And you're camping?" A little boy asked. "Do you hunt and fish and take baths in a creek?"

"Is that what you do when you camp?" Tara asked. The boy proudly reported that he and his father had been camping a few weeks earlier and that they had a very good time. "Well," Tara explained, "when you camp you probably take a lot of camping supplies right?" He nodded. "We went camping without any supplies to see how we would do in the wild. We didn't even take matches!"

"No way," a few kids remarked. Having discussed it with Miss Apple ahead of time Tara turned to the teacher and handed her the video tape of her, Faith, and Kendra starting the fire for MFashnek. The kids were suitably impressed.

Seeing her chance, Miss Apple stood up and thanked Tara and the other parent for coming. The kids all clapped and said goodbye to both visitors and the principal walked them back to the office.

On her way back to the office Tara called Willow. "Hi, baby. How did the talk with the kids go? Were you a huge hit? I can't see how you could not be. I mean you're so awesome and beautiful and cool and you make beautiful art with a blowtorch and are a big TV star."

Tara laughed at Willow's greeting. "If you pass out from lack of oxygen and crash your car, I will be very very upset with you, Missy," she teased.

Willow laughed back. "No way that's happening. I'm on my way to you and nothing is going to get in the way of that."

Tara smiled at her lover's reassurance. "I thought you were going to be such a challenge. But instead you're the easiest woman I've ever caught."

"Says the professional charmer," Tara teased back. "Seriously sweetie, are you driving carefully? Maybe you should spend the night somewhere on the w-way."

"I think I can drive 500 miles successfully. Besides, I want to watch the show with you for once. I mean I've never seen a single episode with you and Ariel yet. And I'd like to before it's all over and we can't watch it together anymore or anything because it's important to me."

Tara laughed at her lover's trademark babble. "Gee. I w-wonder who will be voted off tonight."

"Duh duh duh. Well you know new alliances may be formed and others are renewed."

"I've heard that," Tara giggled. She looked at her watch before saying, "Hey baby. My lunch hour is over and I need to go back to work."

"Ok," Willow pouted playfully, "I'm near the Kentucky border so I should make it before the show starts."

Willow took out her earpiece and turned the radio back up as soon as she got off the phone. As she drove she remembered the conversation that led to her trip:

Once they had agreed, Willow wasted no time. She had returned to Atlanta and made arrangements to move a few days later. The tentative plan was for her to stay in Ohio for at least a few weeks before returning to Atlanta and then splitting time between the two locations with more time spent with Tara and Ariel. She planned to look at office space over the weekend and hopefully be set up with utilities by the middle of the next week.

Not surprisingly her car held: four laptop computers, two server boxes, her cat (heavily drugged in a carrier), two suitcases of clothes, some sports equipment, and a box of books. The drive was going more quickly than she had anticipated and she was pretty sure she would arrive well before the start of the show. Just in case, she was downloading the broadcast and Tara was taping it as well. Looking at the clock and doing a quick calculation she stopped for some food and coffee, knowing that she would soon be with Tara and Ariel to watch the show together for the first time.

Confessional Caption – Kendra – Interpreter
Kendra sits in ankle-deep water, her arms wrapped around her knees. "This is the day, Mon. The day when no one can get going. Everyone thinks to that to get this far, you have to be really strong. Well you have to be really strong to get this far, but it really weakens you. I would love a good night's sleep and a good meal."

Buffy and Faith are breaking up firewood somewhat lackadaisically. Robin and Willow fish much the same way.

Confessional Caption – Willow – Software Startup Owner
Willow holds up three small fish for the camera. "Everyone is exhausted. It's like we've all silently agreed to leave each other alone for the day. Of course on this island, alone time may not be good. While one person is taking alone time, the others may be planning your exit." She takes a deep breath and leans over putting her hands on her knees. "Today I just can't care about it."

Tara walks along picking berries but moves slowly. She returns to the camp with her container half-full and sets them by the fire before joining Faith, Kendra, and Buffy who are sunbathing. Robin comes up and sees the four girls lying on the beach and apparently decides to join them. In the next shot we see that Willow is also taking a do-nothing day as she lies by the others. Various shots throughout the day show a very tired and hungry team. We see them doing the bare minimum to keep the camp running before having their dinner: fish and rice and plantains.

The next of shots show the group sitting around the fire as dusk and then darkness fall. It is apparent that the lethargy that has plagued the group continues. Finally we see them rising one by one to enter the hut and sleep while daylight is just leaving the sky.

Confessional Caption – Robin – High-School Principal
Robin sits against a tree away from the hut. "This was a throwaway day. I'm sure that everyone will be more upbeat and energetic tomorrow. Especially if we have a challenge." He stands up, brushes off his hands, and walks toward the shelter.

Day 29
"We've got mail," Kendra and Faith announce. They show everyone the tree mail which is written on a small slide puzzle.

"Everything you've done
And everything you know
Will serve you well
If you have places to go."

Faith holds up the small puzzle. "Unless he's competing in this challenge, I don't care if he's the inventor of rice and plantains."

Reward Challenge
The six remaining Survivors all file in, walking past a sliver SUV that is parked to the side of the mat. Jeff has a big grin on his face. "Welcome."

Everyone greets him with loud hellos and cheers as they have obviously figured out that this is the car challenge.

"Today's challenge is the car challenge." Jeff waits a few beats. "The winner of today's challenge will get these." He holds up a set of keys. "That person will get in the car and drive down that path. The GPS in the truck will direct you to a cabin where you will spend the night. The cabin has dinner and breakfast for you as well as a shower." Everyone cheers and looks suitably overwhelmed at the thought.

Next Jeff explains the game: "Today's challenge is a combination of some of the challenges you have already completed." He points to the water. "In the water are six identical navigation courses. Each survivor will start on his or her raft. Tethered to the bottom of the ocean is a beam. You must swim down and release three catches which hold your beam in place: one carabineer clip, one lock, and one knot. Once you have released your beam you will push or pull it to the beginning of your course." The competitors are all shading their eyes as they look at the sun glinting brightly on the waves and the zigzag pattern of four beams already in place for each of them. "You will fit the beam into the starting position in your course," he continues. "Then you can lift yourself up and run across the beams. If you fall off, you have to return to the beginning."

The Survivors all give a gasp at the prospect of falling off and having to return to the beginning. "Once you reach the end of your balance beams, you will jump off and race to the beach." On the beach the competitors can see six pedestals set up with a flag attached to each. "The pedestal contains a puzzle. You will have to solve the puzzle. When you are done, use the machete to cut the rope and raise your flag." All the other competitors glance at Willow as he explains that the final step in the challenge is the puzzle.

Next we see the six Survivors each standing on his or her raft standing in position ready for the shout. Jeff yells, "Survivors, ready, Go!" and they all dive in. As the distance to the first dive is not far, all the competitors reach their dive location at similar times and dive under. An underwater camera shows quick cuts of Robin untying a knot, Faith unhooking her carabineer clip, Buffy working the lock, and all the competitors resurfacing to catch their breath. As this task continues, we see that all the Survivors are becoming tired and disoriented from their repeated dives. Jeff yells, "Robin dives again and his beam is the first to float. Kendra's beam is up after Robin's and the two leaders begin pushing their beams toward their courses." An underwater camera shows Buffy still struggling with the lock and key although it is apparent that she has already released the other two clips. Tara unclips the carabineer clip and her log floats to the surface just as Faith begins pushing hers toward the course. Willow unlocks the lock and sees her beam float to the surface. By the time Willow is locking her beam into place, Faith is struggling fitting hers into the slot and Robin and Kendra are pulling themselves onto their beams. Tara locks hers into place just as Buffy's wood finally floats to the surface.

Robin and Kendra start along their beams, both moving quickly as Willow and Tara struggle to pull themselves onto their structures. Faith finally locks hers into place and easily gets to her feet. Buffy struggles to lock her beam into place. "Robin and Kendra in the lead, racing along their second beams," Jeff shouts, "while Willow appears to take a more cautious approach." We can see that Robin and Kendra are moving quickly while Willow walks steadily and carefully. "Tara following Willow's lead, slower but steady," Jeff yells. "Faith and Buffy also taking the fast track," he comments, "as both faster girls pass Tara." As if to prove Willow and Tara's point about going too fast, we see a blur and then hear Jeff yelling: "And Buffy is in the water!" "Kendra nearing the end of her fourth beam alongside Robin; Tara and Willow on their second beams; and Faith passing them and nearing the leaders. OH! Kendra takes a fall! Now Robin is well in the lead!" We see Kendra swimming back to the beginning of her course just behind Buffy who is pulling herself back onto the wood. "Robin slips but saves himself!" Apparently taking their cues from the others, both Robin and Faith slow to walking pace. "And Robin has reached the water first followed by Faith," Jeff shouts, "Willow nears the end of the course and Tara a beam behind her!" "Kendra and Buffy making steady progress and no one is out of it."

Robin and Faith swim tiredly toward shore, standing to run as soon as they can do so. By the time they are running, Willow is in the water swimming after them and Tara is a few strokes behind. Robin reaches his pedestal first and looks at the puzzle as he leans on the structure to catch his breath. Faith reaches hers next and likewise stands attempting to get her breath. Having passed Willow in the water, Tara reaches hers puzzle next. "Robin, Faith, and Tara working their puzzles as Willow reaches hers and Buffy and Kendra on the beams!"

Robin, Faith, and Tara move their puzzle pieces around quickly. Robin and Faith are shaking their heads while Tara bites her lip as she works. The puzzle has 15 multi-colored squares in a 16-square space so they have to move a piece to the blank spot to move the pieces around. Willow continues staring at her pieces. "Robin, Faith, and Tara continuing to attempt to solve the puzzle. Willow planning her moves and Kendra is into the water with Buffy right behind her!" Jeff shouts.

Jeff now walks behind the competitors commenting on their progress. "Tara's puzzle moving toward something as is Faith's! Willow starting to move her pieces. Buffy and Kendra swim toward shore! And it's going to come down to who can complete his or her puzzle first!" Shots cut between the competitors showing their progress. Tara has completed her top row as has Faith. Robin struggles to put pieces in place as does Kendra. Willow moves her pieces very quickly, sliding the pieces on the top row into place and then the second.

"Willow in the lead with more than two rows in place! Tara and Faith close behind but struggling with their last few pieces." Looking at their puzzles in frustration, Kendra and Robin both appear to give up and take their hands from their puzzles all together. "And Willow slides her last piece into place! She grabs the machete off her pedestal and cuts her rope. Willow's flag is up and she's won the challenge!"

Realizing that she has won, Willow uncharacteristically screams and thrusts her fists in the air, pumping them in excitement as the camera shows the completed Survivor logo puzzle. The other competitors stand looking at the puzzles or resting their hands on their hips.

Jeff walks over to Willow and shakes her hand. He appears shocked as she is too excited to stop at a handshake and wraps him in a hug, getting his trademark safari shirt wet. He is laughing when she lets go. "I think these are yours," he tells her extending the keys which she takes with a huge smile on her face. "And since you've seen this show before, you probably know you can pick someone to go with you on your reward."

We see shots of the other competitors's faces as they all look at Tara. "Tara," Willow says with no hesitation at all. When the blonde steps forward smiling, Willow walks over to open the passenger door of the truck and let her in.

"The rest of you can head back to camp," Jeff announces as the truck drives away.

Confessional Caption – Faith – Personal Trainer
"Ok, no one's surprised that Willow is the best at puzzles. Really all we could hope for was that one of us would be far enough ahead of her to not give her the chance. That didn't happen and she wins a freaking truck!" She winks. "I'm pretty sure she and Tara will enjoy their reward tonight."

Willow and Tara drive down the road looking very happy. Willow is driving fast and veering around yelling "Yippee" and "Whoa!" as if testing the truck's handling. Tara laughs along with her and begins yelling too.

"I won a truck and we're getting food and we get a shower," Willow sings in an incredibly off-key voice. Tara picks it up and sings along with her.

Confessional Caption – Tara – Medical Receptionist
"Well Willow won the truck and the overnight reward and she picked me. I'm not sure it was her smartest move, game-wise but it definitely impressed me. I mean what a date. First date or was that the fish dinner? Maybe second date? Quite a d-date."

We see the truck skid to a stop outside a bamboo structure with billowing sheer curtains hanging down on all sides. Parked to the side of the house is another truck. "Oh God!" Tara screams as she realizes that she has also won a truck.

Continuation of above Confessional
"Then we pulled up and not only is there this beautiful cabin and a table set with silverware and mounds of food," Tara says with tears gleaming in her eyes, "but there is another truck parked there."

We see the two girls climb down from the truck and run over to the identical one parked by the structure. Both are screaming and Tara grabs Willow and hugs and then kisses her. We cut to commercial.

When we return from commercial the two girls are blushing furiously as they make their way over to the table. It is piled high with fruits, cheese, crackers, drinks, wine, and many other snacks. They sit and begin eating with gusto. "Do you think we have hot water?" Willow asks as she brushes her hand along Tara's arm.

White Hat Camp
The four remaining team members eat rice, fish, and plantains quietly. "I wonder what they're eating," Buffy muses.

"Don't we all," Faith mumbles into her bowl. Kendra laughs but doesn't expand on the dark-haired girl's comment.

Confessional Caption – Buffy – College Student
"I'm definitely not stupid but I'll tell you what. If a player who you had an alliance with picks someone else to go on an overnight reward, you might want to take notice. It didn't even seem like Willow thought about it. Just, 'Tara's going.'"

"What's wrong, B?" Faith says as the four remaining players finish their meal and hand the plates to Robin who carries them to the pot .

Reward Cabin
We see Willow and Tara sitting at the dining table eating. Both are wearing identical plush white robes. They appear to be eating a variety of fish and pasta and vegetables. Both are drinking glasses of red wine also.

Confessional Caption – Willow – Software Startup Owner
"Without a doubt," Willow is saying with a huge smile on her face, "the best best best day ever. I mean I won a truck. Tara won a truck—which I gave her! And we got this awesome reward. Probably the best date of all time." She puts her hands up likes she's dancing and sings, "Go me. Go me. Go me."

"Hey," Tara calls from the cabin, "there's music." She presses a series of buttons and music comes wafting out to where the redhead is sitting on the porch drinking her wine. She slowly comes out and watches the girl for a few seconds before Willow turns around.

Day 30
Next we see a shot of the sun rising over the cabin. Tara's arms are wrapped around Willow as if they have been that way all night long. Both women start to stir. "I smell coffee," Willow murmurs. The two girls eat their breakfast on the porch, stealing shy glances at each other.

Confessional Caption – Tara – Medical Receptionist
"Oh God. That was so a-amazing. I mean we both got to take showers last night and this morning. With soap! And shampoo! And I shaved. I feel almost human again. I swear I could do another nine days of this."

White Hat Camp – Day 30
Robin, Faith, Kendra, and Buffy are eating plantains and coconuts as Tara and Willow walk up the path. Everyone shouts and they begin hugging the two girls as if they haven't seen them in months. "Look at you!" Faith screams, "you're clean. Oh God. Tell me you didn't shave."

"Hell yeah we shaved," the redhead gloats. Then she and Tara look around and reach into their pockets and the stomachs of their clothing to pull out the bagels, fruit, and cheese that they managed to swipe that morning after breakfast. All four remaining members dig in with gusto as Tara tells them that she won a truck as well.

Tara is humming to herself and picking berries as Kendra approaches. "Did you have a good night?"

Kendra narrows her eyebrows slightly. She seems to be about to say something but instead starts gathering berries.

Immunity Challenge
Jeff welcomes the six remaining survivors back to challenge beach and says that Willow and Tara are looking quite refreshed. Then he asks Buffy for the immunity necklace back and comments that she must be quite used to it after two straight wins. "But once again, the necklace and immunity is up for grabs and the person who wins immunity is guaranteed a one in five chance of winning a million dollars."

"Today's challenge is very simple," Jeff explains. He points to six water towers behind them. Each one has a chain hanging down from it. "You will each stand under the barrel of water with your wrist fastened to the chain. If you move it will pull the barrel and you will get wet. If your barrel dumps on you, you are out. The last person not soaked is the winner."

Next we see all six competitors standing under their barrels with their arms in the air. Jeff shouts, "Survivors Ready! Go!" and nothing happens. They all continue standing under the barrels of water.

It is difficult to tell how long the Survivors have been standing there when Willow sneezes. The movement is enough to pull the water down on top of her. Before she can get detached and move to the side, Robin appears to move very barely and he is soaked. Next to go is Tara who gets her third shower in less than 24 hours.

"Ten minutes have gone by," Jeff announces, "and Faith, Kendra, and Buffy are all still standing strong. For immunity!" Moments later Kendra drops her arm: "Kendra is out! Will it be Buffy for the third straight time or Faith winning her first immunity?"

Caption – 20 minutes elapsed
"You could let go you know," Faith tells Buffy.

"Right," the blonde says through clenched teeth, "and become the fourth member of the jury?"

"You could join your mother," Faith says with a sneer. She apparently hopes to shock Buffy into moving and is in luck.

"What?" Buffy asks with a start and feels the cold water pouring down on her head.

"And Buffy is out!" Jeff shouts, "Giving Faith immunity for tonight's tribal council." Faith screams a war-cry and pulls the water down over her head intentionally.

Confessional Caption – Faith – Personal Trainer
Faith is rinsing in the ocean as she talks, the immunity necklace around her neck. "Well I wanted this one or at least I didn't want little Miss College to get it."

Willow is fishing when Buffy approaches her. "Hey Willster. How are things with you and Tara?"

"Uh huh," Willow says as she hooks a fish and pulls it from the water, putting it in the mesh bag on her hip.

"Are you serious?" Willow says as she casts another line, "you'd sell me in a second to stay in this game or to align with Joyce."

"Look, I've never lied to you. I've never betrayed you. I made promises to you and I've kept every one."

Willow finally turns and faces the blonde. "You've been lying to me all along. Why would I believe you now?" She quickly pulls the line from the water and stomps off.

Faith, Kendra, and Tara are breaking up firewood together. "It's taken three challenges but we finally have our chance tonight," Kendra says.

Confessional Caption – Faith – Personal Trainer
"I love my girls. Both of them are going to take me to the million dollars. But they're too trusting. You have to cut off attacks before they can happen and Buffy is really smart at this. I'm here to play a game."

"Look," Robin says, "none of us can come close to the kid when it comes to the puzzles and there are always more and more puzzles near the end."

"But Kendra will," Faith smiles, "and that's another reason we need to take care of it. We don't want another Rob and Amber around here." The three shake hands to seal the bargain.

Tribal Council
The six Survivors file in and take their seats. Jeff smiles at them and calls in the jury members: Mac, Xander, and Joyce. "Let's talk about this week," he says. "Willow, how was it winning a reward?"

"Jeff," Willow smiles broadly, "the truck is fantastic and the reward was great."

"When you won the reward, you picked Tara. Buffy, that seemed to really upset you?"

Buffy breathes out a long breath before telling the host. "I probably shouldn't have been that surprised that Will picked Tara. The thing is that everyone out here is playing a game. I guess I just didn't expect a game to include an overnight payment." Willow turns and looks angrily at her former tribe member.

Even Jeff looks shocked by Buffy's harsh words. "Tara," he says, "you look pretty upset about what Buffy just said."

"I d-d-didn't d-d-do anything… on the r-reward challenge that I'm ashamed of," she says as her cheeks quickly turn dark red.

"Willow. Are you starting to worry that your skill at puzzles makes you a target?"

"At this point, there are six people left playing for a million dollars. Sure I'm heck on puzzles but Kendra, Faith, and Robin can kick my butt running any physical challenge. Everyone is a target."

"I th-think that everyone is in danger but if you have strong alliances and t-t- trust people, you don't have to b-b-be one," she answers.

"Buffy," Jeff says, "you've won the first two individual immunity challenges and now you lost one. Are you the obvious target?"

"Sure. I've been a real Slayer of the challenges. Now I'm in danger. But I'm not ready to give up on this game yet."

"These women are strong," Robin says, "every one of them. There's no reason for me to be more of a threat than them."

Tara votes first followed by Willow and Kendra. Buffy votes holding up a ballot with Willow's name. "Sorry, Willow. I wanted to go to the end with you but it just isn't going to happen."

Robin votes and then Faith. Faith holds up her vote with Buffy's name. "Hey B," she says, "when you get back to the resort, why don't you look up naïve in the dictionary." She pauses for a second. "Seriously, I just couldn't have you coming around me from the side."

"I'll tally the votes," Jeff announces before retrieving the votes. "First vote: Buffy. Second vote: Willow." Tara, Willow, and Kendra all look shocked at the vote. "Third vote: Buffy," he says. "That's two votes Buffy, one vote Willow." He pulls another vote: "Fourth vote: Buffy." Buffy has a look on her face like she's trying to do the math while Faith has a smug smile on hers. "And the eleventh person voted off Survivor – Ash Island and fourth jury member is Buffy."

Parting Words
"I got taken right at the end but I wouldn't change a damn thing about this game. This was the best four weeks of my life!"

Next Week on Survivor Ash Island
"A storm wreaks havoc on the camp." Shots of the shelter in shambles and belongings strewn along the beach.

"Alliances may be threatened in a reward challenge." Willow shoots a slingshot while Tara looks at her in disbelief.

"And by the time the episode is over, the final four are decided." Tara crying. "I can't believe I have to do this."
All next week on Survivor Ash Island

We see the Early Show Survivor set with Harry standing by Buffy. Buffy wears a pair of black jeans, tight white summer sweater, and stylish yet affordable boots.

"I'm here with Buffy Summers," Harry says, "the latest person voted off Survivor – Ash Island. Welcome, Buffy."

Show Clip – Buffy building the ladder and climbing to the platform to raise her flag and win the first individual immunity challenge.

"Buffy, you lasted longer than any other member of Akathla but last night it all seemed to catch up to you."

"Well, right," Harry smiles, "but Willow moved to MFashnek and joined that team and its alliances."

"Do you feel that Willow double-crossed you? She was aligned with you but she voted against you last night."

Show Clips – The conversation between Willow and Buffy about Willow's intentions for her vote. A shot of Buffy's shocked face when Willow picked Tara to share her reward.

"I thought Will and I were solid out there," Buffy admits with a shrug, "but she's playing her own game. She found a way into a very strong alliance and she's riding that."

"Are you saying that she's faking her relationship with Tara for the game?" Harry asks with disbelief.

"No," Buffy quickly explains, "that's not what I'm saying. I'm saying that being attracted to someone and not wanting to win a million dollars would be very different things. I don't doubt that the two women like each other but they are both playing a game."

Show Clip – Joyce and Buffy standing on the deck of the yacht catching up and assessing each other

Buffy smiles. "You know we each applied separately. Only once we had both independently made it a few rounds did we find out about the other."

"Then the producer suggested that we go on the island but not let on that we knew each other. Being on Survivor was simply a great experience for me and doing it with my mom was priceless. Neither of us won but no one can ever take this adventure away from either of us."

He turns to the camera. "That's Buffy Summers. The fourth jury member on Survivor – Ash Island."

"Am I going to have to get Ariel in here?" Willow threatened, "or do you deserve the finger treatment?" Her fingers delving into Tara's most sensitive tickle spots made it clear that the redhead didn't mean that finger treatment.

"You want your girlfriend and a 6-year old to pick up your new truck?" Willow sat back down on the side of the truck and playfully brushed a swath of hair from Tara's forehead.

"Ok," Willow laughed. She crossed the room to the door and pulled it open before walking down to Ariel's room. She knocked on the girl's door even though Ariel was sitting at her desk coloring.

"Willow," Ariel turned around quickly and bounced up and down on her chair. "Are we going now?"

"Well, you and I are ready to go but your mama doesn't think she's going," Willow explained.

Ariel's eyebrows knit together as the thought about it. "She has to go," she said standing up and putting her fists on her hips.

"I'll talk to her," Ariel said as she walked in front of Willow down the hall to her mother's bedroom. "Mama, Willow says you don't want to go get our new truck." She stood near the bed staring down her mother.

Tara looked embarrassed at being confronted by her child. "I'm just nervous about it, baby."

"Nervous?" Ariel questioned, again bouncing up and down, this time on the balls of her feet. "Why are you nervous? Willow gave us a truck and we're going to go and get it today. Why are you scared?"

Tara waved for Ariel to come sit with her on the bed as she shot Willow a look that said, you play dirty. Ariel sat down on the bed and Tara hugged her. "We're going to go get the truck. I'm just nervous because there will be a lot of people there and I don't know if they'll want me to say something."

"That's different," Tara reasoned still not getting up from the bed. "On the show, I'm just out camping and talking with people but this will be different."

Ariel scrunched up her face in a totally adorable way. "But lots of people see you every week and that is more people than will be at the car place" She thought about it for a few seconds. "Are you worried because people saw you and Willow staying together at the cabin and you danced wearing robes?"

Tara's eyes popped open wide. "You were supposed to be out of the room for that."

"Oh!" Ariel's eyes looked just as wide as her mother's. "I was I mean … what robes?"

Tara answered playfully: "Great. Now I'm nervous to be on TV every week." When Ariel looked dismayed Tara laughed out loud and swatted the girl lightly on the bottom. "Come on, kid. Let's go get our new truck."

Ariel jumped up and clapped her hands. "Yay! Our new truck," she yelled as she ran down the hall toward Willow.

"Don't run in the house," Tara called after her before joining her lover and daughter by the back door.

The Chevrolet dealership was busier than usual and the lot had extra decorations: balloons, clowns, jugglers, a few moonwalks that Ariel wanted to go on over and over. The regional manager welcomed the two women and Ariel to the dealership and told them how thrilled he was to have them at the lot. He repeated many times that no Chevrolet dealership in Ohio had ever been able to deliver the Survivor vehicle, let alone both of them. He hoped that he had managed to get the correct colors but if not, if the women would agree to take their pictures and do the publicity, he would get the correct vehicles as soon as possible.

"Now, Ms. Rosenberg, I believe you wanted the Salsa Red Metallic and Ms. Maclay you wanted the Meander Green Metallic?" both women nodded and began signing papers. Eventually they took turns and the one not signing took Ariel to play on the moonwalk and watch the jugglers.

Tara tapped Willow on the shoulder as the blonde reentered the manager's office. "I think they want us to s-say something, baby," she whispered.

The manager ushered the two women out the door as Tara held tightly to Ariel's hand. He stepped up to a podium which was surrounded over a hundred spectators and cameras from all the local television stations. "Thanks to everyone for coming out today," he said authoritatively into the microphone. "At Reynoldsville Chevrolet, we're excited to be the first dealership in Ohio to ever hand out the keys to the vehicles won on the television show Survivor." He waited a few seconds for the clapping to die down before turning to Willow. "Willow, you definitely outwitted, outlasted, and outplayed your competitors last week to win this new Chevrolet Equinox." He handed her the keys to the truck as flash bulbs went off and spectators cheered.

Willow shook the manager's hand as she took the keys and turned to wave to the crowd. Next was Tara's turn. "Tara, we're so proud to have a local girl making good on this show. Kick their butts and bring home the million dollars to go with this new Chevy Equinox." He handed a blushing Tara her keys and shook her hand. "Now girls, are you ready to answer a few questions for the crowd here?"

Both girls nodded although Tara looked quite nervous about the entire thing, looking at her feet and picking some imaginary lint off the sleeve of her shirt. "Willow," the first press member said after introducing herself and her paper, "you live in Atlanta but you are picking up your truck here. Do you want to explain the reason for that?"

Willow smiled warmly at the reporter who had asked the question. "I don't think it's any great secret that I enjoyed spending time with Tara while we were on the island and I'm still enjoying her company greatly."

"Does that mean the two of you are in a romantic relationship?" the same reported followed up Willow's answer.

The redhead reached over to take her lover's hand and stroke it gently as she allowed Tara to finish her sentence. "Tara and I would both love to thank CBS and Chevrolet for this generous prize. We're looking forward to driving the vehicles and enjoying their quality." A big cheer went up for this bit of PR and Tara breathed a sigh of relief as Willow deflected the attention from their relationship and from her own inability to answer a simple question.

"Again," Willow said, "we can't disclose that. You can continue to watch Survivor at 8:00 on Thursday nights to see how we did."

Seeing that the two women as well as Ariel were getting antsy the manager called a halt to the conference. "Willow and Tara," he said in a booming yet friendly voice, "thank you so much for taking a few minutes for your fans." He again shook their hands and told them, "Enjoy your new Chevrolet Equinox trucks!" A cheer went up from the crowd which Ariel clapped along with. After a few minutes the crowd dissipated to enjoy the hot dogs, entertainment, and moonwalks or to shop for vehicles.

The manager turned to the two women. "I really appreciate your making a few comments and I'm sorry that the questions turned too personal."

"That's quite fine," he said, "good luck to both of you on the remaining episodes."

"We appreciate it," Willow assured him before leading Tara and Ariel from the dais.

Once they had descended, they walked over to where their trucks were waiting. Tara let Ariel into the back and buckled her into her booster seat before walking around to her side of the truck. Both women started up the vehicles and then Tara drove from the lot, waving from her window as cameras clicked away. Willow followed her from the lot and continued down Main Street.

Tara's phone rang before she had driven a block. "Well that was harrowing wasn't it? Are you ok, baby? Do you want to stop and I'll drive? Is Ariel ok? I'm really sorry that happened."

Tara's gentle laughter sounded in her ear. "The babbling is just adorable, sweetie. Have I said that before?"

"Cappellis. Do you want to follow me?" Tara looked into the back seat to see Ariel giggling and winked at the child.

The two trucks pulled into the parking lot one after the other and both women emerged from their vehicles and helped Ariel down. Willow took the child's hand as they walked toward the door. "What are you grinning about?" she said as she tousled Ariel's kinky hair with her hand.

"Nothing," the child grinned. Willow looked at her for a second and then to Tara who was attempting to suppress a smile.

"Nope," Ariel said with a big smile on her face, "I'm very hungry." She let go of Willow's hand, opened the door, and dashed through it.

Willow looked at Tara as she caught the closing door. "Your child is a goof," she teased with a smile.

Once inside Willow had to wait a few minutes for her eyes to adjust to the semi-darkness in the restaurant and then attempt to locate where Ariel had gone. As she did she smiled seeing a corner table was hung with a banner reading, "Happy Birthday." Sitting at the table under the banner were Kent, Ariel, and Faith who held up a mug of beer as Tara and Willow walked over to the table.

Willow smiled at the group as Ariel giggled openly. "We surprised you," the child said triumphantly.

"You did," Willow agreed with a smile as she walked around the table. Faith stood up and greeted her. "Hey, Red," she said as she hugged her fellow Survivor. After a long hug the two women took a step back and assessed each other. "You're looking good, Red."

"You too, much better than the last time I saw you." She gave a wink to the brunette as she moved back around the table to sit by Tara.

"I had heard that you got the girl," Faith said teasingly. "Nice to see it's really true."

Both Tara and Willow smiled and Tara of course blushed. "You too," Willow said just as teasingly, "Not the girl but I heard you picked this one out of a lineup." She nodded her head toward Kent as she spoke.

"Couldn't pass him up," Faith agreed as she snuggled into the large man and took another drink of her beer.

Karri arrived and gave Tara and Willow drinks and asked Ariel, "Ariel, my father is tossing the pizza. Do you want to come watch?"

As usual, Kent allowed Tara to answer their daughter. "Yes, but Karri's working so if she needs to wait on anyone you come back here ok?"

Just as Willow was about to take a drink of her Tea, her phone rang. Seeing that it was Joan she excused herself from the table and walked toward the back of the restaurant. She pressed the talk button and immediately heard her best friend singing "Happy Birthday" loudly and off-key.

Willow laughed and listened until Joan finished singing. "Hi sweetie," Joan immediately said, "I'm sorry I couldn't make it up for your party. You know I'm swamped at work."

"Right," Joan said with what Willow could imagine was a roll of the eyebrows, "but apparently without all the hot steamy sex that you're having now."

"I'm pretty sure whoever called to invite you didn't mention sex, hot and steamy or otherwise."

"Since Tara dialed the phone for Ariel, I would hope not," Joan laughed. "Who is there anyway?"

"Is that weird? Actually I guess not since they're close enough friends for him to come on the show. Of course some people have their sisters on rather than their best friends." Before Willow could respond to Joan's taunt, the brunette asked, "What's his girlfriend like?"

Willow saw that Tara was waving a menu at her to let her know that the others wanted to order and decided to get off the phone quickly. "It's not weird because he and Tara are really good friends," she explained. "And his girlfriend is … hmm… kind of bold and hot?"

"Not my kind," Willow corrected, "his kind." She saw Sarah walk in and made it short. "Hey sweets, everyone wants to order and they're waiting on me."

Willow arrived back at the table and Sarah quickly said Happy Birthday. Just then Ariel came back and told the others that Joey had actually let her toss one of the pizzas. The group ordered their pizza and visited as Ariel told everyone all about the moonwalks and jugglers and getting the cars. "And the man – ager wanted Willow and Mommy to talk to the people but Mommy didn't want to."

Sarah patted the blonde's hand. "You're going to have to get used to it," Faith predicted.

"Hey," a strange voice said, "aren't you on Survivor? Yeah, you're Faith," the guy said as he focused only on the brunette.

"Yeah," Faith said attempting to be as friendly as she could and still get rid of him, "do you want an autograph?"

"Sure." He handed her his address book and pen and suggested that she put her phone number down too.

Faith jerked her thumb over her shoulder at Kent. "I'm staying with him. How about I just put his number down?"

"Maybe just the autogra…," he trailed off as he finally looked around the table. "Hey, is this some kind of reunion? Is anyone else here? Buffy or Kendra or that Robin guy? Are you having a party to get ready for the big weekend next week?"

"Oh," the intruder said, "I didn't really want to interrupt you all. Maybe if you two can sign my book too, I'll just get my pizza to go?" Tara and Willow nodded and took the book quickly to sign for him. Willow even asked his name and wrote a note advising him never to give up his optimism. "Well, thanks so much," he said, "good luck." He stopped and looked at Kent with trepidation before telling Faith, "I'm rooting for you to win it all." Then he quickly walked toward the cash register.

Karri came up to tell everyone that their pizzas would be ready in a few minutes. "Was Henry bothering you guys?" she asked. "He's really a sweet guy, and he comes in every Thursday to watch the show."

"All the time," Willow said, "I mean not so much strange guys because 'hello gay and out' but women everywhere. I mean at the airport, at the gym, at the office supply store… and I'm getting stupider and stupider," she trailed off as she looked at Tara. "But I just tell them all, 'nope girls. Off the market I am. Yep, off the market.'"

Seeing Willow's consternation Tara decided to have some fun with her girlfriend. "Well apparently I'm not out enough because both m-men and women come up and ask for my number."

"What?" Willow sputtered, "women are asking for your number? Which women? Where? When?"

Tara patted her lover's knee and whispered something in her ear which brought both a smile and a blush to her face.

"So," Sarah said with a conspiratorial look at the other women, "it seems to me that we've got three of the last five Survivors at this table. So odds are good that the final two are sitting right here."

"But the odds of one of you being in the final two are three in five," Kent said.

"Here's the thing," Kent said to his non-mother-in-law, "Tara said that either she'll be going to New York next Thursday after the show if she's voted off or for the weekend and the reunion show on Sunday. She asked me to pick up Ariel early if she gets voted off and to come with her as a family member if she doesn't."

"Me too," Sarah said, "she actually said that if she doesn't get voted off next Thursday I should plan to bring Ariel on Saturday."

"Interestingly enough," Kent continued with a smile, "Faith told me a similar story and while I don't need to do anything if she's voted off Thursday, she wants me to come for the weekend if she's in the final four."

"Now," Sarah said, "It seems to me that we could all plan better for our week and weekend if we knew who would be voted off next Thursday."

"Because," Ariel explained, "if you don't vote against each other, no one can vote you off because three is bigger than two."

"And did the math," Willow said, "I should know since I'm really good at puzzles."

Everyone laughed and continued eating. When they finished, Ariel announced that it was time for presents. "Mine first," she said and pulled a wrapped package from under the table.

Willow opened Ariel's present to find a picture frame the child had decorated with dried macaroni and glitter. Inside the frame was a picture of she and Willow playing in the backyard. The shot was completely candid and seemed to really capture Willow's childlike enthusiasm. "Hey," the redhead said excitedly, "I didn't even know you guys were taking pictures." She turned to Ariel and told her, "This is so great! Thank you." She gave the girl a big hug and Ariel smiled at everyone at the table.

"You didn't need to…" Willow tore off a corner of the package and quickly pushed it under the table, out of Ariel's sight.

"Ok," Tara said as she took the package of silk thongs from her lover and shoved them into her purse. "We'll just o-open that one later I think."

"Gift certificates for five car washes," Willow said admiringly. "Cool. Very cool."

Sarah's present was a nice map of Reynoldsville and a booklet showing all the interesting sights and stores she might want to visit. "Thanks, Ms. Maclay," Willow said.

"Sorry," Willow said, "I'm from the South. We can't call someone by a first name there. It's either Ma'am or Ms. Maclay. I'm pretty sure my first-grade teacher would pop out of the woodwork to ask for my autograph and then hit my hand with a ruler if I called you by your first name."

"Speaking of which," Kent said, "Faith and I were going to go to the pool. How about we take Ariel and bring her back before bedtime?"

"Yeah, Mommy," Ariel said as she turned quickly in her chair, getting up on her knees, "can I go swimming with Daddy and Faith?"

"Yeah," Faith agreed, "it will be fun and you two can spend the afternoon all alone. Gosh how will you ever spend the time?"

"You guys will need to stop and pick up her swim stuff. Sure baby girl you can go but come snuggle with me a little first,"

"Ok," Ariel agreed as she climbed in her mommy's lap. After a few more minutes spent relaxing, the group decided to leave the restaurant.

Everyone came outside to admire the new trucks. "Very butch, Red," Faith said as she looked at the vehicles.

"Jealous?" Willow winked at the brunette. Knowing that Faith was leaving in few days, the group shared hugs all around with some vague references to seeing each other soon.

Arriving at the house fifteen minutes later, Tara and Willow parked their matching trucks in the driveway and went inside. Once Ariel had retrieved her swim stuff and Tara had again confirmed that Kent and Faith didn't mind taking Ariel for the day Willow asked, "Do you want to go get your car since we left it at the dealership?"

Tara stepped closer and whispered sexily in her lover's ear. "Actually I had some other ideas about a rather pleasant way to spend a few hours. Maybe we could get the car after dinner?"

"Something like that," Tara agreed as she began kissing a line down Willow's neck, unbuttoning her shirt as she went. "First, I'd like to demonstrate what a true birthday should be like."

"But it's not my real… Oh God!" Willow screamed as Tara cupped her mound through her jeans and engulfed her nipple with her lips.

That scream was far from the last scream the redhead gave in the next few hours…

Day 31
The camera sweeps over the beach showing the remains of what has apparently been a vicious storm overnight. Part of the shelter appears to have blown down and the remains of the fire circle lay scattered about. We see the cooking pot laying a good ways down the beach and it is obvious that the fire is completely out.

Faith is shown emerging from what is left of the shelter. She kicks restlessly at the branches strewn at her feet and mutters what are obviously curse words.

Confessional Caption – Faith – Personal Trainer
"Last night was the worst storm since we've been here. It wasn't just the girls huddled together: we all were. The shelter looks like **beep** and we have to fix it before the next challenge." She plucks at her clothing with a finger to show her disgust. "I've never been so cold and wet and miserable in my life."

Willow emerges from the shelter next stretching and looking just as miserable as Faith did. She is quickly joined by Kendra. "Fire?" the young black woman asks.

"I'll l-l-light it, if someone can go get some w-wood." With the consensus that Tara is the best at starting fires, they all agree.

"I didn't know you were up," Willow says as she walks toward the blonde with a smile.

Robin joins the others as he also looks around the area. "I hope there's not a challenge today," he says as he shakes his head at the destruction.

Next we see shots of the group working to gather firewood and something to eat. True to her word, Tara is starting the fire and seems to do so quite effortlessly. Once the fire is burning well, the group all stand around warming themselves and attempting to dry their clothing slightly. They drink their water and eat bites of rice with coconut. "What if we don't rebuild the whole shelter?" Faith suggests.

"Good idea," Willow agrees. "There are only five of us and we can snuggle in." We see the group working throughout the day to rebuild the shelter. After nightfall we see the girls snuggled close in the rebuilt shelter.

Confessional Caption – Robin – High School Principal
Robin is shown clearly in the night-vision camera. "Again I say, I worked my black butt off today. I better not be going home because of some girl power thing. They want me working, I want to make final four."

Day 32
After commercial we see the same sweeping shot of the beach and shelter. This time, however, the scene is much more peaceful. Birds are singing, the sun has risen, and images of iguana and other island flora and fauna greet us.

Reward Challenge
"Welcome." Jeff greets the Survivors as they enter and take their places on the mat. "You probably figured out that today's challenge is again a slingshot game. He points to a structure built behind him. The bamboo structure has five columns. At the top of each column is a Tiki with a passable likeness of each participant.

Faith teases the only man left in the game. "Man, Robin, the glare off that head is getting me." They all laugh at their idols for a few minutes.

"You will take turns shooting out the tiles, when your idol falls you are out of the game. Last idol left wins." Everyone cheers. "Want to know what you are playing for?"

He points to a table to the side. The table holds a catalog and a telephone. "The winner will have 15 minutes to spend $250 on clothing from Lands End. The clothing will arrive either tonight or tomorrow morning." They all scream at the thought of wearing actual clean clothes.

We see the survivors standing in front of the structure. "We've drawn for shooting order," Jeff announces.

Robin steps to the line first and immediately knocks off Kendra's top tile. Willow shoots next and manages to miss all the tiles. Kendra takes deliberate aim and returns the favor by shattering one of Robin's tiles. Faith steps up next. She takes aims at Robin's tile but apparently misfires as she knocks off one of Tara's. Tara shoots and hits Robin's tile. "Robin with only one tile left," Jeff recaps, "Kendra and Tara with two each and Willow and Faith have all their tiles."

Robin takes careful aim and manages to even things up a bit as Faith's line is quickly one tile less. Willow makes good on her next shot as she hits Robin's final square. The girls cheer as his icon falls. "And Robin is out of the competition!"

Kendra shoots next and her shot glances off Willow's tile but miraculously does not break it. Faith misses completely although it appears that she is aiming for Willow's tile. On Tara's turn, she breaks Kendra's second tile. "Everyone has shot twice and we have Willow with all three tiles left, Kendra with one, and Faith and Tara with two each," Jeff recaps.

With Robin out of the competition, Willow gets the next shot and breaks one of Tara's tiles. The other girls all look shocked even after the redhead mouths a "sorry."

Confessional Caption – Willow – Software Startup Owner
"I was aiming for Faith's tile since she had two left but being a big spaz, I hit one of Tara's. I felt rotten."

Kendra shoots next and is obviously aiming for Tara's tile but since the blonde's row is on the end, a miss results in her scoring nothing. Faith's true shot takes Kendra out of the game. "And Kendra is out," Jeff calls.

"Returning the favor," Jeff announces after Tara's shot, "Willow loses her first tile." Tara winks at the redhead as she hands her the slingshot. Apparently deciding to not retaliate, Willow's shot knocks out one of Faith's tiles leaving her only one. "Faith and Tara down to one tile each while Willow has two."

"And Tara knocks off another of Willow's tiles." Apparently the blonde has decided to cut down the biggest threat rather than knocking Faith out of the competition. Willow barely glances at Faith's remaining tiles, knocking Tara out of the game. The blonde takes a seat on the log as a look of realization crosses Willow's face. "Willow looks like she just started doubting that move," Jeff says.

"Let's see if she regrets it," Faith says as she lines up her shot and neatly hits Willow's last tile, seeing her icon fall.

We see shots of Faith sitting at the table to look through the catalog and writing down a series of pages. Fortunately the Survivor challenge people have left a tape measure which she is using to assess her new sizes. Sitting next to her on the table is her icon. When the camera shifts to show the other four players returning to camp, we see that they have each brought their icons and are placing them around the camp.

Later that evening we see the Survivors eating their dinner of rice and fish. As they finish Kendra gets up and walks over to carve a line on a nearby tree trunk. "32 days down."

"Between zero and seven to go," Willow says. Everyone glances away at the statement as if afraid to wonder whether they have zero or seven days left. All five heads swivel up as they hear the sound of a small plane flying overhead.

"It's your clothes," Tara says grabbing Faith and shaking her lightly. The team runs down to the beach to watch as the plane circles and drops a plastic wrapped package into the shallow water. Faith doesn't hesitate to run into the surf to retrieve it.

Confessional Caption – Robin – High School Principal
"32 days on a desert island? If someone won a canvas sack and pink flip-flops we'd have a fashion show. Anything for a little entertainment. I mean how many times can you hear about how we all lost our virginity and our first cars?" He pauses and smiles. "Or maybe that's only one story."

"Woo hoo," everyone calls and whistles as Faith emerges from the shelter wearing a new pair of workout shorts and a white sports bra.

"Fashion show, not fashion explanation," Willow insists and moments later we see Faith showing off the purple sports bra also. She also parades out in another new pair of shorts, two new sleeveless T-shirts, and a sweatshirt.

"These," Faith retorts quickly and pulls down the final pair of shorts to show new underwear. The girls all tease about how badly they wish they had new underwear too. "That's good," Faith says as she pulls three two-packs of undies from the shelter and tosses them to Kendra, Tara, and Willow.

"Lands End doesn't sell thongs," Faith tells the redhead as she tosses a package to Robin.

Confessional Caption – Faith – Personal Trainer
"I would certainly want new underwear. I mean I did. That's why I bought some. And I got some for everyone partially to be nice. But also it can't hurt. I mean they're the jury or a big part of it and if I make it to the final two, I need the votes." She winks at the camera. "I'm always thinking this game see."

"Final four gets decided today," Kendra comments as the group eats a plantains and coconut.

Confessional Caption – Kendra – Interpreter
"We got tree mail and it had a maze and puzzle thing on it which is fine with me. I don't suck at puzzles and Willow is great. Our main alliance is the same: Tara, Faith, and me but we're going to take the kid to the final four. As long as Robin doesn't win immunity the plan is on. Of course Willow and Tara could completely screw us both but honestly, I just don't believe Tara has it in her and Willow… That girl isn't really thinking game thoughts right now."

Confessional Caption – Robin – High School Principal
"I'm thinking this is not good. Faith says she wants me in the final two but the other girls are not scrambling. Either she has them fooled or she's playing me. I think I either win immunity tonight or I go home."

Immunity Challenge
"Welcome, Survivors," Jeff says as the five enter and take their places on the mat. "I'll take the immunity necklace back, Faith."

She hands it to him and he tells them, "The person who wins this challenge wins immunity and a guaranteed one in four chance at a million dollars." He points behind him at a large multi-level structure. It is like a life-sized dollhouse with rooms and hallways but open on the front.

"Today's challenge is a vertical maze," he explains. "Each of you has been assigned a color for the challenge. In the maze are eight bags of puzzle pieces. You must navigate the maze and bring back the bags one by one. Once you have returned with all eight bags, you will build your puzzle and show me the completed picture. The first person to complete the puzzle wins immunity."

Everyone lines up and at the starting line and Jeff shouts the traditional: "Survivors, Ready. Go!" They take off at a sprint with Robin and Kendra in the lead followed by Faith then Tara and Willow. The two fastest competitors enter the maze and begin climbing toward the third or highest level. The others break in different directions for their puzzle pieces. The action is somewhat confusing with five people running different ways through the maze but Jeff updates each time someone returns with a bag.

"Robin back with his first bag as is Faith." Robin and Faith run back toward the maze as Willow and Kendra return with their first bags. "And finally Tara drops her bag as the others all work on getting their next." It is apparent quickly that Robin has an advantage, particularly over Kendra and Willow who are having trouble climbing up each level due to their height. "Robin back again. And now Faith and Kendra back with their second bags."

Willow retrieves a bag and climbs down through the maze, running into Tara on the way. Both girls briefly drop their pieces and pick up the other's but hand them back and return with them. "Robin now back with his third bag as is Faith while Willow and Tara return with number two." Jeff shouts to let the Survivors as well as the viewers know the status. "And now Kendra has another set of pieces."

"Robin running on adrenaline or perhaps desperation, and he's returning with his fourth bag. Half done." Faith climbs carefully showing the toll the challenge is taking and Willow and Tara are also moving slowly as they jog back with their third bags. "Willow's third bag is back followed by Tara's." Kendra gets her fourth bag and makes it back to her table with them but is obviously winded. "Kendra back with number four but Robin is leaving the maze with his fifth bag," Jeff calls. "Retrieving a close bag," Jeff shouts, "Willow making progress on Faith's lead as she's back with number four."

Robin continues to show his conditioning and the advantage he has because of his height. "Robin back with his sixth bag. We'll see if his lead will hold." Kendra and Faith have both put down their fifth bags but Willow is struggling getting to the top of the maze. "And Tara finally returns with number four.".

By the time Willow leaves the maze with her fifth bag, Robin has placed his seventh bag. "And Robin scanning the maze trying to spot his last bag of puzzle pieces," Jeff shouts. "Faith back with number six but Kendra is tiring." He has stopped even describing Tara's exhausted progress. "Willow entering the maze again, her effort making me think she's worried about leaving tonight."

"And Robin running back with his final bag. He has all eight bags and is dumping the pieces on the ground." We see Robin beginning to work on his puzzle as Faith runs back to the maze to get her last bag. "Faith working to get her final bag and Willow still running strong to get her seventh." Willow leaves the maze with her seventh bag as Faith dumps out all her pieces. "Willow running back to the maze as Faith starts her puzzle. Robin making short work of the puzzle!" We see a grimace on Willow's face as she tries to run faster.

"Robin's puzzle is almost complete," Jeff shouts, "and he's done! Immunity tonight for Robin!" The others collapse where they are and gulp mouthfuls of air.

Confessional Caption – Willow – Software Startup Owner
"When I first saw the tree mail I was feeling pretty good. I mean a maze and a puzzle? Tailor made for Willow Rosenberg, right? But all the running and I just couldn't reach the levels very well. I don't think it would have mattered if Faith had gotten immunity but now Robin has it. I don't know if I can pull a rabbit out of my hat."

We see Willow approaching Robin as he breaks up firewood. "Good challenge today."

"We both did," Willow says. Desperation is obvious in her voice as she tells him, "Faith is simply too strong at this point."

Confessional Caption – Robin – High School Principal
"I'm not going to be stupid but if we can seriously get Faith out of this game, we've got to. But I'm not burning that bridge without Tara's word either." He smiles slyly. "Although something tells me Willow might be able to convince Tara."

Faith shrugs over her shoulder at Robin and Willow talking. "She's telling him that the three of you can get rid of me."

"I m-made an alliance our second day," Tara says as she looks Faith in the eye. "I'm going to s-s-stick by it." We can see that there are tears glistening in her eyes.

"Thanks," Faith says shaking Tara's hand. "Can I ask you something, T?" Tara nods and swallows heavily. "Is it just an island thing or do the two of you really have something?"

Tara looks at Faith, then down the beach at Willow, then back to Faith. "You know my vote." She says the final word with emotion breaking her voice before handing the berries to Faith and running into the woods.

A while later we see Kendra, Faith, and Robin eating rice around the fire. "They've been gone a while," Kendra remarks. The camera pans to show Tara and Willow emerging from the wood walking near each other but not touching.

Tribal Council
"Welcome." Jeff greets the Survivors. Everyone takes their seats and then Jeff calls in the jury who all enter looking tan and relaxed. As the newest member of the jury, Buffy wears a mini-skirt and has her hair loose over her shoulders. Jeff starts right in on his questions. "Robin, you won immunity today. Do you think you needed it?"

"I can't say whether I was going home tonight without it but now I don't need to know."

"Do you think it puts you in a position of power?" Jeff asks. "If there was a 2-2 split, you'd be the swing vote."

"Jeff, I'm voting tonight against the most dangerous person here. Someone who has run and manipulated the game and who I believe will win unless they go home tonight." Faith looks admiringly at the redhead's honesty but she also looks at the others to see how they took the redhead's speech.

"Willow has her own agenda, Jeff. She's desperate to stay here and she'll say anything hoping that she can turn someone to her way of thinking."

"Everyone w-wants to s-stay," Tara says quietly, chewing on her fingernail as she speaks before tucking her fingertips under her leg.

"Ok, Robin you have immunity and a guaranteed spot in the final four unless you want to give away your immunity." Robin keeps the necklace and Jeff sends the Survivors to vote.

Robin votes first followed by Faith. "Willow," the dark-haired girl says, "you're a great player but I made an early alliance and I'm sticking with it."

Confessional Caption – Faith – Personal Trainer
"Man. I'll tell you this. If Tara votes me out, that's it. Game over for Faith and I say 'well done.' Because I didn't see it coming at all."

Kendra and Tara vote and finally Willow. She holds up her vote for Faith: "Faith, you're the best player here. I hope someone else sees that."

"I'll tally the votes," Jeff says. He brings back the container of votes. "Once the votes have been read the decision is final." The camera pans over the survivors. Robin looks relaxed as does Kendra. Faith and Willow are sitting on the edge of their seats and Tara is looking at her feet.

"First vote: Willow," Jeff reads. "Second vote: Willow." He recounts: "That's two votes Willow." He pulls another vote: "Third vote: Faith. That's two votes Willow, one vote Faith." He pulls the next vote and looks at it for a few seconds before announcing: "And the 12th person voted off Survivor – Ash Island is Willow."

Willow reaches down to pick up her icon from the game earlier. She leans forward and kisses a crying Tara on the cheek and then walks over to Jeff. "The tribe has spoken," he announces as he snuffs her fire and she leaves down the path. Jeff sends the Survivors back to camp with the announcement that they are the final four.

We see the recount of votes and see that the tally would have been 4-1 if it had gone that far. Tara was crying as she showed her vote and blew a kiss at the camera.

Parting Words
"I made it 33 days on an island and I don't even camp. This was an incredible experience and I don't think it's over." A smile expands across her face. "Tara, I'll be looking forward to the premiere."

This Sunday night on Survivor – Ash Island
"The game started with 16 castaways." Shots of the boats racing toward the island and people hanging from the sides.

"Now it's down to four:" Still shots of Robin, Tara, Kendra, and Faith float up and then snap into place on the screen in a square.

"Find out on the Survivor two hour special this Sunday. And immediately following that, see the Survivor reunion show to discover who is the Ultimate Survivor and catch up with your favorites."

Tara laughed. "You hadn't noticed the abundant cuts in any of the first 10 episodes, sweetie?"

"Well, yeah. But they didn't even show most of the conversations. I mean I spoke to Kendra about Faith. Hell, I tried to get Faith to vote off Kendra."

"Next week on Willow's desperate pleas…," Tara teased. "And they didn't show Faith or Kendra coming to confirm my vote or Robin asking me straight out. By the way, I'm sorry for voting against you."

Willow smiled and kissed her girlfriend. "No you're not. But I'm proud of you anyway because you did what you said you were going to do." She looked thoughtful for a moment. "Although… do you regret not voting off Faith now? I mean if you knew then what you know now, would you have voted Faith off?"

Tara thought about it for a second before smiling. "I still wouldn't have changed a thing." She took a breath and said, "I need to call Kent and Ariel but then we can go have dinner, ok, Sweetie?"

"Sure. I think you owe me a meal." Willow got up and went over to her suitcase to look for her sweater as Tara dialed her cell phone.

Tara thought about Willow's comment. "I thought CBS was paying for our weekend?"

Just then Kent answered the telephone. "Congratulations! You're in the final four. You big trickster. I thought you called me because you needed to be in New York for your vote off. How's Willow?"

"She's fine," Tara said, "she knew what was coming. "So I take it you'll be here for the show on Sunday?"

"My girlfriend and my best friend are both in the final four? You couldn't keep me away." Tara could hear the smile in her friend's voice.

"CBS will call you with the ticket information for you, Ariel, and mom, ok?" Tara wasn't concerned about the logistics and knew they could discuss it Friday or Saturday. Again she thanked the Goddess that Kent was so flexible. When she had called him at 2:30 and asked him to pick up Ariel from her mother's house, he had said he was really sorry and of course he would get his daughter early. Of course he had thought that he was picking up Ariel because Tara was voted off, not that she went to New York with Willow.

Willow quirked her eyebrows at the blonde as she took the phone. "Hello?" she said.

"Me too," Willow told the child enthusiastically. Her mood changed as she heard a sniffle on the other end of the phone.

"No it's not. Mommy should have voted off Robin or that other girl. Not you and not Faith."

"Because you love mommy and Faith loves daddy so you three should get to be on the show some more."

"Well that's true," Willow agreed, "but I love your mama even though she voted against me and she loves me too." She paused a moment. "I'm not mad at her even a little."

"Sure," Willow agreed holding up her palm toward Tara who was reaching for the phone, "but don't you want to talk to her before you go to bed?"

Ariel paused. Finally she answered, "No. I think I'll be mad at her until tomorrow but you hug her really good so she's not sad, ok?"

"Um… ok," Willow agreed as Tara reached out for the phone. The redhead shook her head and Tara looked even more confused. "You sleep well sweetie." Willow made kissing noises into the phone. "Now can I talk to your daddy?"

"Hey, Kent. Let me give the phone to Tara." She handed the phone to the blonde who still seemed confused.

"I think she'll be fine," Kent tried to assure the blonde, "she said she's mad at you for voting against Willow but she'll be done being mad at you tomorrow."

"Great," Tara said sadly, "please give her a hug and kiss for me and I'll call her in the morning, ok?"

"Sure. Now you just go have a good evening and tell Willow we'll watch her in the morning."

"Ok, good night." Tara hung up the phone. She turned to see Willow sitting on the corner of the bed and sat down by her taking the redhead's hand.

"She'll feel ok tomorrow." Willow tried to assure her lover, kissing her on the back of her hand.

"I'm sorry," Willow said hugging her. She pulled her in for a gentle kiss and when they pulled away Tara seemed to feel better. "So do you still want to go out for dinner?"

"Right downstairs," Willow smiled. She had been quite surprised that CBS was putting the couple up at such a swanky hotel but then it was getting near the show finale. When she had pulled up the information on the Internet, it turned out that the hotel had a 5 star. Of course they were both quite hungry since they had not reached the hotel until nearly 8:00, just in time to watch the episode. Willow opened the door and held it as Tara led her into the hallway.

A short elevator ride later they reached the front of the restaurant and after Willow gave her name, were led to a table near the side of the room. As they sat, they looked around the restaurant taking in the beautiful art and fine woodwork all around them. A large plant was near the table so it was possible to feel that they were relatively isolated rather than being in a large room full of people. In fact, the rather aggressively growing plant kept hitting Willow's arm. "It's a little like being on the island again, isn't it?"

Tara laughed, "Yes. Except for the part where they gave us a menu and a bottle of wine and we've both had showers recently."

The waiter approached and took their drink orders. They decided that since they were alone and in New York and enjoying CBS's hospitality that they would share a nice bottle of wine. "You're going with me in the morning, right?"

"Baby," Willow told Tara as she stroked her hand, "they're not even expecting you to be there."

"Well," Willow said, "you um… I mean I know you don't like the public speaking stuff like at the car dealership or anything but you have the Sunday night show and then the Monday morning shows too."

Just then the wine steward approached the table with their bottle of wine. His presentation was of course flawless and once Willow had approved, he poured them both a glass. When he had finished he broke his professional demeanor. "Do you mind if I ask if you are Willow and Tara from Survivor?"

"I have been at work since 5:00," he eagerly said, "is one of you here for the publicity tomorrow? Were you voted off?"

"Did you tape it?" Willow interrupted. At his nod she told him, "Then you can watch the drama and scheming unfold after your shift." She looked away as soon as she finished speaking in a way that made it clear that she was finished with the conversation. After a moment the wine steward recovered returned to his professional air, wishing them a good evening.

"Blowing people off? Wait until you meet my mother. If there was an Olympic event for cold shoulder, she'd win all the medals."

"My parents will love you," Willow said as she picked up the blonde's hand, "just like I do." She kissed Tara's hand. "Well, not just like I do. I mean they'll love you a very different way. In that kind of 'gee, my daughter's partner is really cool' kind of way."

The waiter returned and asked if they had made any decisions yet. They had not and he said he would return shortly. A few minutes later he returned carrying a plate which he set on the table. "The table over there said that they were fans and sent this over." On the tray was an assortment of appetizers.

"R-really," Tara protested, "we're trying to just have dinner. Maybe someone else would like it?"

Willow smiled at her lover's dream. "I don't think that's going to happen for at least a few days."

Before Tara could answer the waiter returned and both women gave their orders. He said that he would return with their appetizers and salads shortly. When she realized that Willow was watching her as if she expected an answer, Tara shook her head. "I really didn't. I mean I know I always loved nature and my grandmother taught me so much about plants that I wasn't worried about survival but I never dreamed I could handle the p-people. You know?"

"Of course you could handle people." Willow smiled. "You're kind and gentle and everyone loved you. Even the Akathla people thought you were cool. Plus which you look hot in a sarong." The redhead winked playfully at her lover.

"Thanks." She thought for a moment. "What made you like me at first? I mean we'd never even spoken when you decided you liked me and started flirting with me. What if I had some 250 pound truck-driving husband a home?"

"Well, they don't let the husbands come on the show so I figured I was pretty safe," Willow teased back. "And I can't answer that except to say that from the first moment I saw you, I just wanted to be near you. I remember that first night lying in the shelter wondering what your hand would feel like."

"Where did you want to feel it?" Tara asked huskily. She smiled when she saw the startled look on Willow's face and reached her hand across the table to take Willow's. "No more wondering, love," she whispered before raising the smaller hand and kissing its back. As the two women were staring into each other's eyes, oblivious to the abundant but gracious attention they were receiving for their fame, their appetizers came. They made themselves busy and realized just how hungry they actually were after their flight to New York, watching the show, and now their late dinner. Although a few people came over throughout the meal to say hello, ask for autographs, or wish an embarrassed Tara luck on Sunday, the rest of their meal was relatively uneventful.

After signing the check they left the restaurant and boarded the elevator to the room. Tara smiled as she heard the music coming from the small speaker in the ceiling. "Do you recognize this song?"

The click of the door shutting behind them startled both women back from their memory. "Hey look," Willow said as she noted the bottle of chilled Champaign and tray of strawberries near the door of the room. The card had the CBS eye logo and both their names on it.

Tara grabbed Willow's hand and pulled the redhead toward her. She stared into her eyes for a few moments. "Do you have any idea how hard that was? How hard it was to not make love with you that night?"

Tara smiled as she began unbuttoning her lover's blouse. "I mean it," she whispered kissing Willow's neck. "I said stop and what I really meant was 'don't stop. Never stop.'" Her words fell on the flesh of Willow's chest, her breasts, her nipples, her taut stomach. "Every night from then to the premiere, I wondered if it was the biggest mistake of my life. I wondered if you'd call or be the one that got away."

"Got away," Willow weakly echoed, her thoughts and voice distracted by the way Tara was stripping her skirt down her legs. The blonde's hands were leaving no part of Willow's body untouched as they did the necessary job of pulling down her already soaked panties.

"I could smell you in that cabin." Tara inhaled her lover's scent. She stood up and brought their lips together again, helping Willow to strip off her own clothes, now no more than bothersome impediments. "I went in the bathroom and ran my hand along my leg."

"Come," Willow whispered as she pulled her lover toward the bed. Reaching the bed, again in a tangle of limbs, she pulled them down onto the covers and rolled them to pull back the covers so they were on the sheets.

"Yes." Tara gasped as soon as she realized what Willow intended. The redhead hovered over Tara for a moment before lowering her wet center onto the girl's leg and allowing hers to divide Tara's.

It took only seconds for both women to find their rhythm, their bodies moving slickly together. They moved as one, hips bucking, legs pressing, passion rising as their hands grasped their bodies together and their lips embraced fluidly. "I love you," Willow moaned as she felt her climax rising faster than she ever knew it could. But then this was just how it was with Tara, how she knew it would always be.

"Oh God," Tara gasped, "I love you too, Willow. I love you so mu…." "Ahhh!" she screamed as her climax overtook her. She could feel Willow joining her even before she felt the warm liquid on her leg.

"Barely," Willow murmured as she continued nuzzling Tara's neck. Now that she had collapsed on her lover, she had no intention of getting up and every intention of sleeping just like this.

"I love you," Willow answered as she dropped into slumber. She could only nod as she heard Tara's return declaration.

The Early Show
Willow stands by Harry on the Early Show Survivor set. She is wearing a pair of slacks and a silk blouse. Tied around her throat is the same choker with the rainbow colored beads that she wore on the first Survivor episode. She glances sidewise and smiles in that direction as Harry announces, "And in a minute, we'll have Willow Rosenberg, the most recent castaway voted off Survivor – Ash Island." The show cuts to commercial.

Show Clip – Willow directs the Akathla team to place the beams on the stands for the first challenge.

"Well, not happy. You were voted off last night and I can't imagine that you were happy about that."

She smiles. "You know it was hard watching that episode but it has been a while and I really accepted it a long time ago."

Show Clip – Willow screams as she startles a frog. When everyone comes running she explains her fear of frogs and they all question her for going on the show.

"You went on this game even though you had never been camping nor done any survival activities didn't you?"

Willow chuckles. "A friend dared me and it was something I'd never done. I really never thought I'd make it onto the show let alone make it 33 days. You know this game is something different than anyone watching at home can imagine. It's fascinating and exhilarating and exhausting."

Show Clip – Willow directing Faith and Kendra to put down the squares in the 5x5 puzzle.

"Your puzzle solving ability really came in handy for you and your teams in this game. On this game you really made a difference."

"As Faith would say, it was five by five. Seriously though, I have always been good at puzzles. That's a big part of why I got a degree in applied mathematics and why I work in computers. It's all about solving puzzles."

Show Clip – Willow solving the puzzle to win the reward challenge and the car. She jumps up and hugs Jeff after winning.

"In fact, your puzzle solving ability is what allowed you to win the car reward challenge."

"Knowing that the final step in that challenge was a puzzle, I just really wanted to stay close. When I got to the puzzle and no one else was very far along yet, I knew I had a chance."

Show Clip – Willow commenting to Amy and Buffy that she likes "the shy ones." Willow and Tara holding hands as they watch the waves come in.

"Now when you won that challenge, you chose Tara to go with you and she won a vehicle also."

Willow smiles widely. "I chose Tara because she was the player I most wanted to spend time with. The fact that she won a truck too was just icing on the cake."

Harry glances over Willow's head off screen for a moment. "While on the island you and Tara seemed to grow quite close. Is that something that has continued since you left the island?"

Willow looks puzzled at the commentator for a moment. "Tara and I had no contact for the first few months after the game ended. Then I called her and it was like we'd never been apart."

"If you let them," Willow says, "people can be pretty cool. We've found fans coming out the woodwork and 9 out of 10 say how impressed they are with us and how happy we seem."

"You just missed being in the final four," Harry says, "but Tara is in it. How does that feel?"

"Tara and I were playing different games. By the time I left the island I knew what I was getting out of the experience and it was all I could ever hope for in life."

"Well, Congratulations," Harry says. He turns to the camera and says, "That's Willow Rosenberg, the latest person voted off Survivor – Ash Island. We'll see her and the other castaways this Sunday night at 10, 9 Central for the Survivor reunion show following the special two-hour Survivor finale."

Regis and Kelly are schmoozing as they drink their coffee. "You know who else is on?" Regis asks. "Willow," he tells Kelly without waiting for her to answer.

Show Clip – Willow and Tara are retrieving the tree mail. Wondering if she will be voted off, the redhead leans forward and kisses Tara.

Willow comes out to applause and shakes Regis and Kelly's hands before taking a seat. "Welcome, Willow," Regis says, "you just were voted off Survivor – Ash Island last night."

Show Clip – Jeff reading the final vote and announcing that Willow is the 12th person voted off and the fifth jury member.

"It's always hard to put so much into anything, but I had 33 pretty incredible days on the island and it was one of the best experiences of my life."

"While on the island," Regis says, "you seemed to have a little of a flirtation going on with Tara."

"I didn't make any secret of my interest in her even when I was on the other team."

"You know, I really didn't. Maybe I was naive or maybe I got lucky but I really thought that everyone would see it as being outside the game. What you don't realize until you do something like this that nothing is outside the game."

"You know," Regis says, "it's hard to tell from watching the show whether you and Tara are really interested in each other or if that's part of the game too. I mean maybe she just wants you in her alliance and maybe you just want to ride her bond with Faith and Kendra to the final four. The viewer couldn't tell."

"Especially since she voted you off last night," Kelly adds. "That makes it seem like she was just using you for the extra vote all along."

"Everyone plays their game on the island," Willow concedes, "but I know how Tara feels about me and I know why she did what she did."

"Although you live in Atlanta and she lives in Ohio," Regis prompts next. "So you're in a long distance relationship?"

"We're coordinating our visits pretty carefully, but our priorities are Tara's daughter and spending as much time together as we can."

"Now you're on this jury," Regis says, "can you tell us if you were able to vote for Tara to win the million dollars."

Willow chuckles. "In order to do that, I'd have to say if she made the final two which I can't do."

"Well, everyone can find out who wins the million dollars this Sunday night. Thanks for coming to visit with us, Willow." Regis shakes her hand followed by Kelly and Willow leaves the set after waving to the audience.

Family Corner: More than a Game by Pepper Watson
Well, those who watch television and count the number of gay characters on both reality and scripted television had a new set of characters to watch this season on Survivor – Ash Island. The eleventh incarnation of this former television phenomenon, reduced to "what else is on?" status in recent seasons, has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity and it's due in no small part to the developing relationship between two of the contestants.

Like Rob and Amber's (from Survivor – All Stars for those of you who didn't watch Survivor – All Stars, The Amazing Race 7, or Rob & Amber get Married and have been living under rocks for the past few months), this relationship has blossomed under the intense scrutiny of a nation of reality TV fans as well as the other competitors on the show.

CBS has been hesitant to focus on this developing relationship. Why you ask? Because the people in the relationship are two women: Willow Rosenberg, a software mogul and self-identified single lesbian from Atlanta, GA and Tara Maclay, a single mother from Columbus, OH. While Rosenberg's online bio and three minute submission tape practically screams: Atlanta's hottest love-em-and- leave-em family member, Tara's makes no mention of her sexual preference. While she repeatedly refers to herself as a "single mother" she makes no other reference to any relationship history (causing some fans to speculate that the adorable "Ariel" is the product of an immaculate conception).

We must give points to CBS for showing the relationship at all. Certainly they have plenty of footage to edit into forty-four minutes each week without even letting us know that Tara and Willow exist. (Look how long silent Jen stayed silent on Survivor 10). Instead they've shown us a few sweet kisses and a "what happened when the light went out?" reward outing.

In the beginning, this relationship seemed to be all Willow. The first episode found her wearing a rainbow colored choker and confiding in her new tribe mates that she "liked the shy ones." Their blasé acceptance of her coming out seemed a good sign for her future in the game (if anything ever was). And besides, she and her tribe mates were clearly in the process of "meat marketing" the opposition rather than discussing lasting relationships. Or perhaps everyone but Willow was doing that.

Later installments saw the quick-witted redhead flirting with the object of her affection, solving puzzle challenges seemingly single-handed for her team, and showing shock at the revelation that Tara had a child. Her shock at the revelation of Tara's status as mother was short-lived as the redhead ascertained that Tara did not have a husband waiting at home.

While some seemed to doubt Tara's interest in a relationship, Willow was not one of them. She continued her pursuit of the blonde, intentionally forgoing a steak dinner for fish to share her company and making no secret of her interests. When a surprise twist in the game brought Willow to Tara's MFashnek tribe, their contact increased.

Given CBS's editorial policies last year concerning the lesbian kisses shared by Ami and her partner and Scout and her partner respectively, we might have expected the network to similarly omit the sweet and impulsive kiss shared by our heroines while retrieving tree mail. Subsequent episodes showed a surprising lack of interest by the other competitors in the emerging relationship and perhaps alliance. While Tara was already in a strong alliance, Willow appeared ready to ride the blonde's coat tails to success. Tara was seen by some as crafty for bringing the super-smart Willow in for an easy vote as a mini-alliance member.

Unlike the Rob & Amber or Gregg & Jen relationships in recent seasons, no one really entertained the possibility that together these competitors formed too strong a pair. Perhaps that was because they were both women, perhaps because everyone assumed (incorrectly) that Willow would return to her alliance with former tribe mate Buffy, or perhaps because everyone assumed (correctly) that Tara would remain true to her original alliance, no one seemed to fear this couple. While suspicions and resentment festered for Buffy when Willow chose Tara to accompany her on an overnight reward challenge, the game's other competitors viewed the relationship as an amusement or a game strategy but not a serious threat.

Given the events of this past Thursday, an episode which saw Willow voted off by a vote of 4-1 including a vote from her "girlfriend?", it would seem that those who doubted Tara's feelings may have been right.

Hi. Thanks for agreeing to talk with us.
No problem. You know I really like Pepper and Family Corner is my favorite feature. I especially loved your coverage of the Lovebirds in The Kitten Amazing Race.

I can't imagine why.
(laughs)Right. I think that right now Ellen, Rosie, and I are the most out women in America.

Well there's always Melissa Etheridge and Portia de Rossi too. Seriously, you were just voted off Survivor this week. That must have been hard.
Well you know, it was about seven months ago that it really happened so I've had quite a bit of time to get used to the thought.

Still you were voted off by a 4-1 vote. Even Tara, who I'm sure you thought you could trust voted you off the show
I knew I could trust Tara. That's one of the reasons I knew I would be voted off. Tara joined an alliance on day two of this game and has never wavered from it. She told me straight out that she would be honoring her alliance. Neither of us was happy about the choice but that's the way this game is played.

You sound pretty blasé for someone who just lost a chance at winning a million dollars.
Like I said earlier, for me it happened a long time ago. In terms of the game, I think I knew my time was limited from the time of the switch.

You're talking about when Kendra reshuffled teams and brought you over to MFashnek?
Yes.

Now that move brought you closer to Tara. How did you feel about it at the time?
You know, my feelings were quite mixed at the time. On one hand, MFashnek was a much stronger team. They had food and a better shelter. On the other hand, I was pretty much going to be "odd man out."

But Tara was on MFashnek
Well, that was definitely the best part of my team switch.

You made no secret of your interest in Tara while in this game.
No. I didn't.

Do you think that hurt you in the game?
I don't think it affected my game in any way. The other competitors just wanted to win the game. I didn't get voted off because I was in a relationship with Tara. I got voted off because I was on the outside of a strong alliance.

You just said something very telling. You said that you were in a relationship with Tara. Is that how you saw it at the time?
Yes.

Say a little more about that. I mean to the extent that you are comfortable talking about your relationship.
When I first saw Tara, I really thought she was very special. As soon as I'd spent a little time with her, I knew this was a person I wanted in my life. I wanted a relationship with her and that's what developed on the island.

You've said that you don't think the relationship with Tara hurt your game. Do you think the same can be said for Tara? Did the others in her alliance doubt her loyalty because of you?
I can't really say what went on in other people's heads.

Based on their actions in the game, do you think that others doubted Tara's integrity in her relationship with you?
I can't answer that question.

Now I don't think that it's the best kept secret in television that you and Tara have been seen publicly together since the show ended. An Atlanta newspaper ran a bit in a gossip column reporting on your having breakfast together and you appeared together to accept your vehicles. Tara even accompanied you on this trip to New York and to the CBS studio to tape your Early Show interview this morning.
Tara and I haven't been trying to hide our relationship.

You and she are living together?
Not exactly living together. I spend about two weeks with her in Ohio and then two weeks in Atlanta.

Now, I've heard that when you returned from the Island, you had no contact with each other for over three months. Was there bad blood from your time on Island? Because Tara voted against you?
Quite the contrary. When I left the Island, we knew that we had a future together but we agreed that it would be best if we took a break so we could get back to our normal lives.

That sounds very hard if you knew you had a future together. Did you get to spend time together while sequestered?
I can't answer that question.

We're almost done. What do you have planned while in New York?
Tara is meeting her family at the airport right now. After they get in we are visiting the normal sights: The Empire State Building, visiting Ground Zero, seeing a baseball game, and then of course the show tomorrow night.

Thanks for taking the time to visit with us. Congratulations on your appearance on Survivor – Ash Island. I know that we have a lot of readers who are happy for you but disappointed that you're off the market.
Thank you.

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Survivor: Ash Island

by JustSkipIt

Copyright © 2005