"It was rough, wasn't it?" Buffy asked Willow in the dorm room.

"Yeah, it was."

"But it comes with the job. You know that."

"You shouldn't have had to."

"I hate it as much as you do. Well, probably. I've been thinking a lot lately. About how lucky I've been."

"You have some weird definitions for things."

"Hey! I am. Everything I've had to go through, and I could always come back to you. I got you."

"It took us too long. It's really my fault."

"Don't dwell, Will. I know it took us awhile. Looking back, hindsight really is a beautiful thing, when I sat next to you on that bench the first day, and you asked me to move, I didn't want to."

"I didn't want to either." Willow smiled.

"I wanted to hug you and never let you go. You just seemed so vulnerable, you know? And I wanted to show you that you didn't need to be."

"You have."

"By sticking you in the middle of."

"It was my choice. "

"Like clockwork. Or at least I hope I know you as well as I think I do."

"Nobody else knows."

"Remember when we finally got our act together? Wow, it's been a year, hasn't it? Best year of my life."

"Mine too."

"I was coming back from patrol."

"And I was in the dorm."

***

Buffy listened outside the door, as Willow and Tara talked inside.

"Tara, I like you.really."

"What is it then? I rally like you Willow. You're nice and you're really good at magick."

"I'm not. I'm small potatoes. Or even small potato chips."

Tara chuckled. "And you make me laugh. So if you don't think you're that good, and I don't think I'm that good, why can't we learn together?"

"But we are already. Why do we have to -"

"Oh." Tara looked down at the ground. "I thought you were.I'm stupid."

"You're not stupid."

"Then what? You are or you aren't?"

"I am.kinda."

"Kinda. Gay or not?"

Outside, Buffy gasped. And leaned in closer.

"There's somebody else."

"You should really let him go. He left you."

"I know. It's not him."

"Then.oh. Does she know?"

"No."

"You should tell her. If you really love her that much."

"More than my life."

"Wow. Guess I can't compete with that."

"Friends?"

"Wicca partners too?"

"You bet."

They hugged, and Tara whispered to her. "Tell her. Let her love you."

"What if she -"

Buffy leaned so hard against the door, that the hinges broke, and she and the door fell into the room. "Whoops." She smiled sheepishly.

Tara carefully stepped over her, and out of the room. Willow walked over to her friend, and helped her up.

"Are you okay?"

"They really don't make doors like they used to."

"Well.maybe if you didn't break them.while.while.eavesdropping."

"Sorry.I just came back and I heard you.and."

"You want me to go away."

"No. Get ready for a cheesy romantic line. I want you to let me love you."

"Are you serious?"

"As a heart attack."

***

"That's when you said."

"Your heart won't be attacked anymore. I'll protect it." They said together, laughing.

"So corny."

"I loved it. And everything was better for both of us after that."

"Until now."

"Until now."

"I shoulda been there, Buffy."

"Whatever happened."

"You wouldn't have let me. But you should have told me."

"At least you're alive. I hope."

Willow started to cry. "But I don't wanna be."

"Don't go all suicidal on me. Please. I couldn't stand it if you did that to yourself."

"What am I supposed to do?"

"Go find happiness. Never lose that. It's why I love you."

Willow cried harder. "It's not right."

"Listen to this, please.

Buffy went over to the CD player and started a song.

(Isn't it strange How we move our lives for another day Like skipping a beat What if a great wave should wash us all away)

(Just thinking out loud Don't mean to dwell on this dying thing But looking at blood It's alive right now)

(Deep and sweet within Pouring through our veins Intoxicate moving wine to tears Drinking it deep)

(Then an evening spent dancing It's you and me This love will open our world From the dark side we can see a glow of something bright)

(There's much more than we see here Don't burn the day away)

(Is this not enough This blessed sip of life Is it not enough Staring down at the ground)

(Oh then complain and pray more from above Greedy little pig Stop just watch your world trickle away)

(Oh it's your problem now It'll all be dead and gone in a few short years Just love will open our eyes Just love will put the hope in our minds)

(Much more than we could ever know Don't burn the day away)

(Come sister my brother Shake up your bones shake up your feet I'm saying open up And let the rain come pouring in)

(Wash out this tired notion That the best is yet to come But while you're dancing on the ground Don't think of when you're gone)

(Love! love!? what more is there? We need the light of love in here Don't beat your head Dry your eyes)

(Let the love in there There are bad times But that's ok Just look for love in it Don't burn the day away)

(Look Here are we On this starry night staring into space And I must say I feel as small as dust)

(Lying down here What point could there be troubling Head down wondering what will become of me Why concern we cannot see)

(But no reason to abandon it Time is short but that's all right Maybe I'll go in the middle of the night)

(Take your hands from your eyes, my love Everything must end some time Don't burn the day away)

(Come sister My brother Shake up your bones shake up your feet I'm saying open up)

(And let the rain come flooding in Wash out this tired notion That the best is yet to come But while you're dancing on the ground)

(Don't think of when you're gone Love! love!? what more is there? We need the light of love in here)

(Don't beat your head Dry your eyes Let the love in there There are bad times)

(But that's ok Just look for love in it)

"Will you do that for me?"

"If that's what you want, then I'll do it."

"I'll always watch your back, and I'll always, always love you."

"I.I'll never stop."

"See you around?"

The tape ended, and Willow got off the bed and took it out of the VCR. She put it in its jacket, and stuck it under her pillow. She laid back down, and started to laugh.

"Oh Buffy.whatever heaven you're going to, you're going to give them all a run for their money. You better save me a space."

END