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Rated R

Willow walked into the bedroom and stared at the figure looking down into the baby crib. She had seen this every night since the birth of their baby, and she smiled. They had thought long and hard about bringing a baby into the world they lived in. And after much soul-searching, and spending time with their friends, they decided to have one.

"I thought I'd find you in here," she told the other person, who glanced back at her with a smile.

"I can't help it, she's so... beautiful," came the reply.

"I do the same thing when your not here," Willow said, moving closer to the crib, and wrapping her arms around her love. Next to their daughter, Ashley, there wasn't anyone she loved more.

"I love you so much... I can't ever thank you enough for Ashley."

"I love you too... you had a lot to do with her being her as well as I did. Don't forget that."

"I know, but, you went through the labor. I was just the coach."

"And I doubt there has ever been a better coach in the world," Willow said firmly.

They both looked down at the baby once more, then hand-in-hand they left the room, leaving the door slightly ajar. Walking down the hall to their bedroom, they passed by photographs of their lives together. Many were of the 'Scooby Gang', which Willow placed all around the house. There were pictures of Xander and Anya, Giles, and even a few of Oz. They had talked about putting his pictures up, the pros and cons. But it was decided that he had to be up there, not only because of his past relationship with Willow, but also because he was a very important person in her life when she needed it the most.

They stopped at the last few pictures, Willow's hand reached out and touched the photograph and sighed. She still mourned the loss of her friend... her love. She shook her head slowly as the memories of their brief time together rushed past her eyes.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," she replied, turning from the picture and into eyes of the person who held her heart.

"You still miss her don't you?"

Willow nodded silently, "She showed me how to love."

"And Oz?"

She smiled fondly, "Oz... Oz taught me what it was to be loved."

"And... me?"

"You... you showed me life."

"Life?"

"If you hadn't been there for me... when... when she died," Willow choked with emotion, before feeling two arms surround her in a blanket of comfort.

"You don't have to tell me... really, it's okay," Willow heard murmured in her ear.

"Look at me... I'm a mess," she said wiping the tears from her eyes.

"No... you're not," was said as Willow's tears were brushed away with a gentleness that clutched at Willow's heart. "You *are* the most beautiful woman I have ever encountered. I am thankful for every day that you are in my life. I know that I wasn't you're first choice..." Willow tried to interrupt. "Come on... we both know *she*," gesturing to the photograph, "She was the person you thought you were going to spend the rest of your life with. Hell, I even thought that. I could *see* the love you two had for each other and it broke my heart when she died. I... I... couldn't stand seeing you in *so* much pain, and to think that here I am, standing in the hallway of *our* house, Ashley just a few feet away... I keep thinking I'm dreaming. Dreaming... *all* this," one arm gesturing to their surroundings. "I don't want to wake up... not if it's a dream... not ever," was whispered.

"Oh... Goddess... thank you," Willow said hugging this special person.

"I think it's time we went to sleep, don't you?"

"I guess so," Willow replied somewhat reluctantly.

"What's wrong?"

"I love you... you *know* that don't you?"

"I know, believe me. I know," Willow heard, before lips descended on hers.

The kiss was meant to be comforting, which it was, until it took on a deeper tone of barely restrained desire. Willow's hands roamed the body of her love, bringing it closer, feeling herself moving back, until she was stopped by the wall. Hands were everywhere, touching, caressing, arousing, bringing Willow to a frenzied state.

"Bedroom..." Willow urged, kissing every piece of exposed skin she could find.

"Bedroom..."

They both struggled to get to the bedroom, each attempting to disrobe the other. Clothes disregarded where they fell. They hissed at the contact of bare skin on bare skin. Their thoughts, their actions... hurried. Nothing else existed in the world for them but this moment in time.

The bed dipped slightly as they fell upon it, then on each other. Cries of passion filled their bedroom. Willow opened her eyes when she realized that her partner had stopped.

"What's... what's wrong?" she said, trying to catch her breath.

"Nn... nothing."

"Then... why did you stop?"

Carefully moving strands of Willow's hair out of the way, a hand reached out and took Willow's hand and kissed it gently.

"I love you."

"C'mere you," Willow said, pulling her partner's body down on hers. "I love you too."

"Can... can I love you?"

"Always," came Willow's heartfelt reply.

Once more the night was filled with passionate cries, coming from the deepest parts of their souls.

The End.