PREVIOUSLY:

"Willow, what's wrong?" Buffy asked when the hacker pulled away abruptly. Perhaps she pushed to quickly.

"I… I need some time to think," she replied, moving to her bed.

"Oh, okay, I understand, I guess. You know what, I think I'll head out and do a quick look-see on campus. That'll give you time, I'll see you later," Buffy said as she grabbed her coat and left the room.

***

When Buffy finally returned to the room she shared with Willow, she had expected the other girl to fall asleep and they would have picked up the conversation later in the day. She was surprised to see that Willow had not moved from the position she had left her in, sitting on her bed facing the door.

"You're awake," she stated as she closed the door behind her.

"Yeah… um. I've… I've made up my mind," she replied quietly.

"Oh… okay. Should… should I sit down for this?" she asked.

"If you want. I called Tara, I thought I'd just tell you both at the same time."

"Good idea," Buffy answered as she stomach tossed and turned. She walked over to the closet and hung up her coat. Needing something to do, she went to the small refrigerator and taking out the milk carton, she took a healthy swig, before putting it away.

"Um… Buffy?"

"Yeah Will?"

"You… um… you've got a milk mustache," she said gesturing by her mouth.

"Oh…" she replied licking it off. "Better?"

Willow only nodded.

'Okay, whatever happens, try to act like an adult,' Buffy thought to herself.

***

Tara rushed out of her dorm room and headed towards Stevenson's Hall. The early morning light made it easier for her, she felt somewhat safe out this late, or early, depending on how you looked at it.

She could recall the telephone conversation she had had with Willow less than ten minutes ago.

"Hello?"

"Tara, it's me. Can you come over?"

"Right now?" she asked looking at the time.

"Yeah… it's important. I… I've made my decision."

"I'll be right over."

She had dressed in record time and was now rapidly nearing Stevenson's Hall. Her steps faltered as she reached the outer door. This was it; there was no turning back. Taking a deep breath, she entered the building and walked towards her future.

***

'Come on… come on,' Buffy thought as her leg nervously tapped on the floor.

Willow had not said a word since she had announced that she had made up her mind. And now, thinking it over, Buffy realized how difficult the decision was going to be for Willow. Whoever she picked, that person would be the only ecstatic one in the room. Willow would more than likely be crushed at having hurt someone's feelings.

'God, if she chooses Tara, will she leave me?' she thought, glancing at Willow as she sat on her bed, her gaze fixed on the door.

KNOCK… KNOCK… KNOCK

Buffy jerked her head quickly towards the door.

'This is it,' she thought, getting up and standing in the middle of the room, ready to ward off whatever came her way. Willow opened the door.

"Hi… um… I got here as soon as I could," Tara said apologetically.

"Come in," Willow replied stepping out of the way.

"Hi…" Buffy told the other girl.

"Hi," Tara replied raising her hand in a slight wave, before crossing her arms.

"Tara… Buffy, why don't you two sit down."

Buffy could feel the tension building in the air as she sat back down.

"Is this okay?" Tara asked pointing to Willow's bed.

"Yeah."

Willow closed her eyes and thought about what she was about to do.

'I can do this,' she told herself. "I… I never thought I'd… I'd ever be in this position… again," she started off saying, quickly thinking back to Xander and Oz. "I… I… don't know why me? Why now?" she shrugged as she began to pace. "I find myself having to make a decision that… that will not only affect me, but you two as well," she said gesturing to the other girls' who hung on every word. "I don't want to hurt either one of you, but that's *exactly* what I'm going to do… and I'm not sure I'm worth the pain I'm going to cause. I've been thinking about this very, very seriously… and please believe me, it wasn't easy." Willow looked at the two women who had captured a part of her and wanted nothing more than to hide. Knowing that she couldn't, she said the words that would most likely haunt her for a long time. "I've chosen…"

END