PREVIOUSLY:

Taking a deep breath, Tara closed her eyes and let her mind bring up the words she meant deep in her heart.

"I wait with all my heart and soul for the one I long to know. The one who looks behind the mask to uncover the person underneath. The one who will strip away the negativity and allow me to see the beauty I have hidden. I wait with all my heart and soul."

"Oh… Tara, that's beautiful," Willow said, moving to look into her eyes. "Thank you."

"Thank you Willow," Tara replied, taking Willow's hand and kissing it.

***

Across Campus

'She's with Tara again,' Buffy told herself. The empty room was the only evidence she needed to realize something else. 'I'm going to lose her.'

***

'I wonder if she knows what she does to me? How empty I was, without realizing it… not until she came along,' Buffy thought to herself as she waited for Willow to come back to the dorm room they shared. She had fallen asleep last night waiting for her to return from Tara's and even though she had never seen any other 'love bites'; not that she had been keeping tabs about that sort of thing. It wasn't concrete proof that Tara and Willow *hadn't* been physical with each other. And as before, she hoped it wasn't the case.

It was then that she had decided it was time to show Willow *how* much she cared.

The notes… they were *only* notes. She hadn't said anything to the budding witch since the morning she had finally allowed herself to say the things she had kept hidden. Even from herself.

The last thing she wanted was to make Willow feel trapped. But tonight, tonight would be different.

She quickly glanced at the door as it opened.

"Hiya Will," she said, her whole demeanor changing when the other girl entered the room.

"Oh… hi. I… I didn't know you were here," she replied as she closed the door and walked over to her side of the room.

"Yeah, Giles said I could stay in tonight."

"Really?" Willow asked as she put her books and bag down on her bed.

"Yeah, he said," Buffy cleared her throat and pushed imaginary glasses up her nose. "Ah… Buffy, you've done quite enough the last few days Stay in… or… or go out. Have fun. Of course you'll want to double your patrol tomorrow night," Buffy ended before laughing.

"That sounds like him," Willow agreed.

"So… I was wondering… do you want to go to the movies… or something?"

Willow looked at Buffy curiously.

"Are you asking me out?"

"I… I guess you could say that," Buffy replied as all of her previous determination decided to fly out the window.

Willow crossed her arms together.

"So, are you or aren't you?"

Buffy walked over towards Willow and took her hand in hers.

"Will… Willow, would you like to go out with me… on a date?"

"Do you mean it? The whole nine yards? By the way, what does that mean anyway? I mean… I've heard it before… but I never…"

"Will?"

"Hmm?"

"Does that mean yes?"

Willow chewed on her bottom lip for a few seconds which seemed to last an eternity for Buffy.

"Yes."

"Really?"

"Yup."

"OH… that's great. I'll… I'll pick you up around seven-thirty. I'll… thanks," Buffy gushed as she quickly hugged Willow and before she could say another word, she rushed out of the room.

Willow stood by and waited, slowly the door cracked open.

"Um… hi."

"Is it seven-thirty already?"

"I guess I got carried away?" Buffy said as she re-entered the room, her face crimson with embarrassment.

"I guess," Willow replied smiling.

***

Buffy had no idea what the movie was about, nor did she care. Her thoughts were elsewhere, everything focused on her hand, and the fact she was holding Willow's.

But that wasn't really true, she realized there was a thought that had kept her company.

'We've done this before. Why is it different?'

"Buffy?"

"Hmm?"

"It's time to go… the movies' over."

"Oh… yeah, all right," she answered, she didn't want to let go, but knew she had to.

They walked back to their room in relative silence. Buffy opened the door and let Willow go inside first. There was something… tangible in the air. She could feel it.

Taking a deep breath and closing the door behind her, Buffy turned around slowly. She saw Willow standing in the middle of the room.

"Good movie huh?" Willow asked nervously.

"Great," she replied, making her way towards her.

"Umm… so. So… what do you want to do next? Scrabble?"

"No… I'd… I'd really like to kiss you now Will," Buffy said standing in front of the other girl.

"You… you would?" she squeaked.

"Yes," Buffy whispered, as she brought her hand up to caress Willow's face. She leaned in and softly brushed her lips against Willow's. Then did it once more, letting her lips linger, she heard a slight moan and brought her right hand up and placed it behind Willow's neck, increasing not only the contact, but her breathing as well.

Soon lips parted, granting permission for tentative, gentle exploration of each other's mouth. Buffy left Willow's lips and began trailing kisses down the side of her neck. She felt Willow's hands her in hair, clutching, grasping, as the excitement began to build.

Willow's thoughts were jumbled; she couldn't believe what was happening…

What she was allowing to happen.

She felt Buffy's hands moving down her chest…

Brushing against…

The locket…

END