PREVIOUSLY

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…"

***

Her breathing stopped. She watched as the other girl got up slowly, walked over towards Willow and hugged her tightly for a few seconds before silently leaving the room. She couldn't move, she was so sure that Willow was going to chose Tara that she never really considered herself in the running.

As soon as Tara had left the room, Willow threw herself on her bed and cried. Buffy got up and went to her, and rubbed her back. She wanted to tell Willow that everything would work out in the end, but she couldn't. Willow looked up through her tears and embraced her. Buffy said the only thing she could think of.

"I'm sorry Will, I'm sorry."

They stayed that way until Willow fell into an exhausted sleep, there would be no classes today for either one of them.

'If I've won, why do I feel so bad?' Buffy mused as she gently untangled herself from Willow's arms. She knew she had to do something first, before they moved on from here. Making sure that Willow was covered, she kissed her on the cheek and whispered, "I'll be right back," moving a strand of hair away from Willow's face.

She'd headed out of the room and down the hall. The early morning light shone in her eyes as she stepped out of Stevenson's Hall. Tara had been gone for nearly an hour; she should have done this earlier but could not leave Willow alone, in the state she was in. She decided she needed to talk to the other girl, but she had no idea where Tara's dorm room was located.

How was she going to find her?

She was about to turn around and head back inside when she thought she saw her. Running across the grass, her legs pumping, she called out:

"Tara! Tara… wait!"

The girl kept walking away, and with a burst of speed Buffy reached out.

"Hey!!"

"Oh… I'm… I'm sorry. I… I thought you were someone else," Buffy told the stranger. 'Idiot,' she told herself. Buffy returned to her dorm room somewhat dejectedly. Walking back towards Willow, she sat down next to her, keeping an eye on her. Maybe she'd ask her later on where Tara lived. She wondered if Willow would tell her.

***

Two months later…

Life had returned to normal, as normal as one could get in Sunnydale. Buffy had finally managed to speak with Tara and had formed a fragile alliance with the other girl. It wasn't hard as they both recognized that Willow's safety and happiness would always come first.

Of course there were some rough spots at the beginning, especially when Tara refused to take the locket back. Willow had told her that she didn't feel right keeping it, Tara had told her to think of it as a symbol of their friendship. And Willow being Willow, kept it, although she didn't wear it as often as she did at first.

There were awkward moments as well, whenever they'd run into each other around school, they weren't sure how to talk to one another. Willow finally took the bulls by the horns and had a heart to heart talk with Tara. Now, things were going a bit more smoothly.

***

5 PM

"Do you think she'll remember?" Tara asked Willow after they had finished casting a few spells.

"Remember what?" Willow answered, gathering her things together.

"Your, um… your anniversary." she stated simply.

"Oh… I... I'm not sure. She's been really busy that last couple of days…"

"Well… happy anniversary Willow."

"Tha… thanks. I'd better go."

"Okay, see you later," Tara said walking Willow to the door. "Bye."

"Bye Tara."

Willow walked back towards Stevenson's Hall, in silent contemplation, she had completely forgotten what today was. Now, she only hoped that she could do something for Buffy to show her how much she cared.

Although they were a couple, at least they thought of themselves as a couple; Xander and Giles weren't very surprised, which surprised them. They hadn't moved their relationship past the heavy petting and kisses that left them both breathless stage. They were both exhausted and it didn't seem to really matter to either one of them at the moment. They both knew it would happen, only the *when* was in question.

When she entered the room, she could tell that Buffy hadn't been by as of yet. Putting her supplies away, she quickly changed her clothes, sat down and waited.

***

Ten PM

"Okay, thanks Giles. I'll… I'll be over tomorrow… good night," Willow said as she hung up the phone. She picked at the pizza she had ordered two hours previously. She'd listened to three CD's, watched television, and completed her assignments and still no word from Buffy. Of course she could take care of herself, but that didn't make it any easier on Willow. 'Please be alright,' Willow thought.

***

"Look, I don't have time for this," Buffy said as she fought off another vampire. She had managed to dust three of them, when she was taken off guard. Punches were exchanged as Buffy tried to find an opening. She groaned as the vampire took her legs out from under her. She had a feeling she was in trouble when Mr. Pointy fell from her grasp. 'Oh shit,' she said to herself as the stronger than normal fledgling vampire picked her up by her coat and head butted her three times in a row.

Blinking the stars from her eyes, she punched him in the face, hearing the distinct sound of his nose breaking, only to have him shake it off.

'Will.'

He grabbed her head, as she desperately kicked out against him.

He smiled.

Buffy felt her neck twisting.

***

Willow heard a faint knocking on her door, grabbing a crucifix, just in case; she went to the door.

"Who is it?"

"It's me… Tara."

Opening the door, she saw Tara holding on to Buffy.

"Oh my God!"

"Can… can I come in?"

"Oh… yeah… bring her in."

Tara brought Buffy's battered and bruised body inside, Willow quickly closed the door and helped Tara get Buffy to her bed.

"What happened?"

"She was fighting off a couple of vampires, and… and one of them. He… he was pretty strong, and… he almost killed her."

"How… how did you find her?" she asked as she took off Buffy's jacket.

"Well… aft… after you left. I… I sorta did a location spell."

Willow quickly looked over at Tara.

"I… I… wanted to make sure she… she didn't forget."

"You saved her?"

Tara simply nodded her head.

"Why?"

"You love each other… if… if something ever happened to her… you'd be crushed."

"Thank you Tara," Willow said embracing the other girl.

"I'd… I'd better go…"

"Do you have to?"

"Yeah… um… I'll… I'll see you later."

Soon, Willow was alone in the room with Buffy.

"Buffy… Buffy, can you hear me?" she whispered as she carefully removed Buffy's torn clothes.

"Will?"

"Buffy?"

"I'm not dead?" she asked, her voice cracking.

"No…" Willow replied as tears fell from her face.

"Hey… no crying. I'm… I'm fine. I don't know why, but I am."

"I'll tell you later."

"Will?"

"Yeah."

"Happy anniversary."

"I love you Buffy."

"I love you to Will."

End. End series.