Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, despite wishing I did. :-) I borrowed them solely for the purpose of writing this fan fic for your entertainment and mine. :-)

About me: This is my first published work of fan fic, but I've been writing for a few years now. Any comments/critisism are more than welcom so please email me at: Willow realises she can't be with any other women when she has feelings for Buffy. A mysterious character, Andariel, gives Buffy a "heart-to-heart" about Buffy's inner feelings and desires for her red-haired Wiccan friend.

AN: I've revamped my fics a bit because I decided to change the setting. I had to change Sunnydale to California because of changing these stories to being set after season 7. So really the only change was from the name Sunnydale to California, sorry nothing major!

Willow was moping again.

She stared solemly and distantly out Buffy's loungeroom window, sighing every so often. It was a cold winter's day. Raining with the occasional thunder or lightning.

"She's been sitting there half the day." Dawn commented as she read a book and chewed gum.

"Well it is a rainy day." Xander replied. Just at that moment Buffy arrived home and took off her rain covered coat, hanging it on the coat rack to dry off.

"Hey guys." Buffy said as she entered the loungeroom.

"Hey Buffy." Xander replied. Dawn quietly went back to reading her book. Buffy saw Willow pining at the window again.

"Willow?" Buffy called out. Willow slowly turned to Buffy.

"What's up?" Buffy asked. Willow turned back to the window.

"Who cares." Willow said unemotionally.

"I see. Moping again." Buffy said.

"Not moping. Grieving." Willow corrected her, still staring.

"There's not much difference between the two. Look Willow, there's someone new I'd like you to meet." Buffy announced.

"Go way." Willow replied unenthusiastically. Buffy rolled her eyes.

"Come on in." Buffy called, and from the hallway, a beautiful girl stepped into the loungeroom. Willow looked up. Buffy never once saw Willow's eyes part from this girl.

"Hi, I'm Lynk, pleased to meet you Willow." Lynk said. She was about 5ft 6", medium length dark brown hair, blue eyes, great body.

"Hi." Willow said quietly, standing up and shaking Lynk's hand.

"I was thinking of renting some videos and getting some pizza. You in?" Lynk asked her.

"Oh I'm in alright." Willow said excitedly and started to leave with Lynk. Just as she was heading out the door, Buffy grabbed her by the arm.

"I think she's right up your alley Willow." Buffy told her.

"Don't worry, I've had heaps of experience with girl's up my alley." Willow replied excitedly before leaving. Buffy pulled a face, knowing that Willow had completely misinterpreted what she had said. Buffy closed the door.

"Yep. I thik this one's a winner." Buffy said as she entered the loungeroom.

Willow and Lynk got to Lynk place with the videos.
They entered the house, together, Lynk clsoed the door behind them.
"So this is your place huh? Nice." Willow commented.
"Thanks." Lynk replied as they entered the loungeroom.
Lynk put the video's down on the coffee table and took Willow by the arm. She pulled her to her.
They engaged in kissing for several seconds before Willow broke free.
"I haven't done this in a while." Willow said, breathing hard.
"That's ok. I know what to do." Lynk said and kissed Willow again. Willow broke free again.
"I don't think I'm ready." Willow continued.
"You're more than ready. You just need a push in the right direction." Lynk said and covered Willow's mouth with her's. This time Willow had had enough.

Buffy was surprised to hear the front door open and a depressed looking Willow enter the door. She didn't say anything as she immediately headed upstairs.
"Willow?" Buffy called out to her. When Willow didn't reply Buffy decided to go upstairs to check on her.
Buffy traipsed up the stair case and knocked gently on Willow's door.
"Come in." Willow replied quietly. Buffy opened the door. She saw Willow lying on her bed looking at a photograph of herself with Tara. Buffy knew that look.
"Hey." Buffy said. Willow looked at her then back at her photo. Buffy closed the door behind her.
Buffy swung her arms at her side slightly, standing by Willow's bed.
"I wonder what it would have been like." Willow suddenly said, surprising Buffy.
"Wonder what what had been like?" Buffy asked. She took a seat beside Willow. Willow was silent for a moment.
"I wonder what it would have been like if the bullet never hit Tara, and that she was still alive today." Willow said. Buffy looked at Willow with dispair in her eyes.
"I couldn't do it Buffy. For the first time a girl genuinely wanted me... but i just couldn't do it." Willow replied, sounding solemn. She sighed.
"You pushed Lynk away?" Buffy asked. Willow nodded.
"I left. I couldn't do it." Willow said.
There was a quiet silence as Willow placed the photograph back onto her dresser and sat beside Buffy.
"And I wonder...what would my life be like if I'd never met you?" Willow looked at Buffy. Buffy looked sincere.
"Willow..." Buffy said and placed her warm hand on the girl's.
"You know that no matter what... we would have found each other." Buffy told her. They both smiled. Willow grasped Buffy's hand with a need radiating from her that Buffy had never felt before.
"I mean...I don't mean to go getting all mushy on you and stuff, but I just kinda like the feeling of having you around me and stuff, you know... being all slayery and stuff." Willow rambled slightly. Buffy smiled. She liked this side of Willow. It made her realise that in such a corrupt world that there was always people like her that made things seem so much better, just with a simple combination of words.
"You know I'll always be there for you Will." Buffy told her. Willow looked at Buffy gratefully. Then her face turned more serious again.
"uhh..umm...Buffy? Can I ask you something?" Willow asked.
"Sure." Buffy replied.
"Well...you know...umm...I was just wondering, you know, if you were gay...would you like someone like me?" Willow asked, unsure of herself. Buffy smiled.
"You know Willow I think even if I wasn't gay I'd still like someone like you." Buffy looked across the room. "Oh wait...that works both ways huh?" Buffy goofed.
They both smiled broadly. Buffy rubbed Willow's arm, and for a split moment savoured the soft feeling of Willow's silky skin, and at the same moment, Willow relished the slayer's hands and fingers gracefully fluttering over her skin.
"You should get some rest Will. Big day tomorrow." Buffy told her. Willow nodded, grateful to have Buffy looking out for her.
As Buffy left the room with a wave, Willow let out a sigh, watching her door as it closed.
Buffy was just heading downstairs when there was a knock at the door. She frowned and wondered who it could be. She got to the bottom of the stairs and opened the door. Before her stood a young woman with shoulder length dark brown hair and shiny blue eyes.
"Uh hi...can I help you?" Buffy asked the woman who looked at her.
"Buffy?" the woman asked, unsure if this was the slayer.
"Yeah. That's me." Buffy replied, unsure of her new visitor. The woman extended her hand to Buffy.
"My name's Lela, I'm here to talk to you about your destiny." the woman replied. Buffy was confused as she shook Lela's hand.
"My destiny?" Buffy asked. The woman showed herself in, walking past Buffy easily. Buffy closed the front door, but didn't let her guard down despite the fact that Lela seemed to be radiating a totally un-evil energy.
Lela showed herself into the living room, Buffy soon following her.
"You might want to start telling me who exactly you are." Buffy commanded.

Lela didn't look at Buffy.
"Ok...I'll tell you who I am. My name is Andariel, you might have heard of me in newspapers." Lela stated her real name. Buffy thought for a minute.
"Wait...you mean the same Andariel praised for rescuing citizens in distress all over the country?" Buffy asked. Andariel sunk back into the couch and spread her arms across the top of it.
"Not just America, I've also made a few rescue trips across the equator you know." Andariel added.
"Ok... so why are you here then? I'm the slayer, It's not like I need your help." Buffy proclaimed. Andariel sighed.
"I know who you are Buffy. And believe me, I'm here for anything and everything except to take over your job as a slayer. I'm a watcha-ma-callit...uh...superhero...in terms of newspaper writers. I'm no vampire slayer by any means." Andariel explained.
"So why is it your in California?" Buffy repeated her question again.
"You're very powerful Buffy. But there's something that's holding back the full extent of your powers. Something that once it is released, it can be used to defeat the evil you seek to destroy." Andariel riddled. Buffy shook her head.
"Ok...now you're really not making sense." Buffy said loudly. Andariel sighed once again and got up off the couch.
"This isn't just about you anymore Buffy." Andariel said firmly. Buffy was somewhat confused by the statement.
"This is about the one you love, the one who loves you." Andariel continued. Buffy was confused. When it was clear she was getting nowhere, Andariel brought Buffy around.
"Willow." Andariel stated. Buffy's eyes widened.
"What about Willow?" Buffy asked fiercely.
"She needs you Buffy, more than you know. She's always needed you. And despite the fact that you don't really always realise it, or even want to...you've always needed her too." Andariel explained. Buffy felt a strange sensation run through her body. Something she hardly ever felt. She remembered all the times where she'd been there for Willow, and Willow had been there for her.
"What's that got to do with my powers?" Buffy asked.
"Love is what brings a persons true powers out. When a person confronts the one they love with their true feelings, they release all restraints that ever held them back and come into their full powers." Andariel answered.
"Are you saying that I love Willow?" Buffy quizzed. Andariel was silent for a moment.
"The heart doesn't need anothers voice to speak for it...each heart has it's own voice...and yours too will voice it's true feelings to you. And then...and only then...will you realise who you love and how much you really love them." Andariel said with a kind smile.
Buffy was is a state of shock, and it was only added to when Andariel suddenly looked away then grimaced.
"Geez...sorry I gotta go...there's a train-jacking in progress in California." Andariel got up, and before Buffy could speak, Andariel was surounded by a pale blue starry light, and when she emerged from it she was fully decked out in a beautiful outfit, complete with large feathered wings and a helmet. She was beautiful, but Buffy was sure those wings weren't real...or were they?
"Catcha' later Buffy...don't forget what I said eh?" Andariel waved her hand, magically opening up a portal in the wall, before taking off in flight and vanishing through the hole into the night air outside. The portal magically closed behind her.
Buffy looked around herself, stunned.
"At least she didn't break down the wall." was all she managed to say.
Buffy didn't know what it was about what Andariel had said, but she felt like going out to slay a few vamps, so she quickly and quietly grabbed her coat and tucked good ol Mr. Pointy into her waistband.
Buffy reached the graveyard in an all too casual manner and strolled across the vast gravestone covered grounds not particulary in search of a vampire, but using the alone time before one emerged to overthink things Andariel had said.
Andariel had told her that Willow needed her and that she needed Willow. Well, ok, there was never a time where she didn't need Willow by her side to help her through things, and there was plenty of times where she had also lent Willow a shoulder to lean on through rocky times. But wha was Andariel suggesting...that she and Willow were in love?
Buffy span around and stabbed the vampire in its chest, turning it to ashes. It had been coming up behind her slowly thinking to catch her off guard. She quickly spun and kicked the other to the ground before leaning over it and delivering Mr Pointy to it's chest.
Buffy stood back up and brushed off her clothes before continuing her casual and thought filled course through the cemetary.
Buffy had tried for so long to hide and press her feelings deep into somewhere she would never have to find them or deal with them. A secret box that was locked with no key. And now it felt like Andariel had given her the key, and it was up to Buffy to unlock that box and face the feelings which had been locked away in it for so long.
Another vampire jumped onto her from behind and grabbed onto her back. Buffy flipped it over herself and onto the ground where she drove the stake into it's heaving ribcage.
Breathing hard, but not from the bout with the vampire, she stood up and walked towards the cemetary exit. She was breathing hard because the thought of what she had to face up to inside of that box was something that would change her life forever.

The house was silent as Buffy entered the front door. She had thought much that night, and still had much on her mind.
The house was dark, and she figured that most everyone would be in bed.
She took off her coat and hung it on the coat rack, then proceeded upstairs. She trod silenty, trying not to wake the others that slept in the house.
Buffy knocked quietly on Willow's bedroom door, and when ther was no answer, Buffy assumed she was fast asleep and entered the room quietly.
Willow's slim shape lay sleeping peacefully under the blankets, and a Buffy closed the door behind her and stepped up the side of Willow's bed, she could hear the gentle inhalation and exhalation of the beautiful girl. Buffy smiled ans sat down gently on the bed next to Willow.
Buffy reached over and gently brushed a strand of Willow's red hair out of her hace, tucking it behind her ear. It wasn't the first time either. There had been many a time where Buffy had indulged in touching and stroking the red mane that belonged to Willow. Although each time she did was always during Willow's slumber, or occassionally as a friendly touch thing.
This time it was different though. Buffy could almost feel an electrical energy crackling through her fingers as she touched Willow's hair and soft skin. Willow must have felt it too, because a moment after Buffy stroked Willow's cheek softly, Willow opened her eyes and looked up into Buffy's. She must have not seen her at first as she started flailing her limbs at Buffy in defense, though rather girlishly.
"Back off! Leave me alone! If you touch me Buffy will get you..." but she was quietened as the slayer firmly gripped her arms and gave her a quick shake.
"Willow! I AM Buffy!" Buffy told her, unable to help smiling at the situation. She couldn't see her face in the dark, but she was positive that Willow's face was flushed right now.
"Oh...hey...Buffy. I didn't know it was you. I thought it was like...a burglar or something...can't be to careful you know...I mean...vampires are one thing, but atleast they don't try to steal your valuables...well, atleast...none of the vampires I've known of so far...so I think that's kinda' a good thing...although getting bitten in the night wouldn't exactly be pleasant..." Willow babbled, feeling slightly nervous at the prospect of having the Slayer sitting so close to her...on her bed...in the dark. Buffy grinned.
"I'm sorry...I was babbling again." Willow apologised.
"That's ok Wills. That's one thing I always liked about you." Buffy replied. Willow smiled sheepishly.
"Yeah, so...hey..did you want something Buffy? Not that I'm tryna' get you out of my room quicker I just...shutting up now..." Willow said.
"Well...I kinda' came to see you...I don't really have a way of explaining it...I just felt like you needed me to be here right now." Buffy said. Willow was elated at the thought of the Slayer wanting to be with her because she sensed she needed it.
"Oh hey...that's so nice of you Buffy." Willow replied. Buffy smiled. There was a quiet moment.
"I talked to someone tonight." Buffy told Willow. Willow's eyes brightened.
"Really?" Willow asked as she reached over for her bedside lamp and turned it on. Buffy nodded in the pale light. Willow rubbed the traces of sleepiness from her eyes, now wide awake after her unexpected encounter with the slayer.
"Yeah. You might've heard of her...Andariel." Buffy said. Willow's eyes widened at the mention of her name.
"Wow...you met Andariel? She's like...wow...Andariel? I red about her in the papers and stuff but I never thought...Andariel?" Willow seemed excited, confused and nervous all at the same time after the mentioning of Andariel meeting to talk with her Buffy. Buffy couldn't help but feel a slight pang of jealousy at Willow's mulitple mentioning of Andariel's name. Yeah, like Andariel was a match for her, Buffy the vampire slayer.
"It was no biggie...said something about me finding my soul mate...opening my heart up or something...oh...and she mentioned your name." Buffy explained casually, trying to mask her envy of the winged superhero. Willow's eyes widened and went all glazy at Buffy mentioning Andariel saying her name.
"She knows me?" Willow asked hopefully.
"I think it's a future seeing thingy...person...future...mind...reading...who knows..." Buffy trailed off. Willow looked at her bedsheets before looking back up at Buffy trying to figure out how to phrase her words.
"What did she say about me exactly?" Willow asked. Buffy smiled.
"Nothing I didn't already know." Buffy said, her smile widening at the clear confusion on Willow's face.
Buffy looked at Willow's bed also, trailing her fingers accross the smooth silk bedsheets, thinking the touch would be somewhat like what it would be to touch Willow's smooth, silky skin.
"I have to tell you something." Buffy looked up at Willow seriously, their eyes meeting in a gaze that could only be described as loving and tender all at the same time.
"I've been hiding things from you Willow. Things you should know." Buffy continued. Willow listened intently.
"Ever since I first saw you, I've had feelings for you that go much deeper than friendship. I mean... you know how every so often, we tell each other how we love each other, and think nothing more of it than "best-friends" kinda' love? Well, I've always loved you...but as more than a friend. I've always had these feelings lurking deep inside of me, and every time they tried to surface, tried desperately to claw their way to the surface, I'd push them back down inside of me again." Buffy poured her heart out. Willow couldn't believe what she was hearing. Buffy took Willow's hands in her own and squeezed them tightly.
"But tonight Andariel made me realise that despite the fact that I've felt so many things for people like Spike and Angel, maybe even love, that nothing can compare to the love that I solely feel for someone that could only be described as the most human person I've ever known. Someone that's always been there for me, someone who always looked out for me, and helped me, and allowed me to help them in return." Buffy was close to finishing.
"And I can't go on any longer knowing that I could lose the one I want forever, with them never knowing how much I love them." Buffy's eyes were tearing up. "I love you Willow. I don't ever want you to leave me." Buffy finished.
Willow couldn't believe what she had just heard. There were no words to explain what she felt, only tears and pure emotion. Willow was crying now.
She threw herself into Buffy's arms and held her tightly, savouring the steely embrace that Buffy held her in, comforting Willow, easing all her doubts, quelling her fears, and allowing her to share all the love that she felt for her.
"I...I love you too..Buffy..." Willow finally managed to say between tears and Buffy's shirt which muffled her voice slightly. Buffy breathed in deeply, then exhaled. With that single breath she released all the worries that had plagued her for all the years that she'd known Willow and loved her. She knew that this time nothing would tear them apart from their firmly established feelings. But as they lay there, Willow couldn't help but ask a few questions that had been bugging her for a while now.

"Why did you try to hook me up with Lynk? And who is she anyway?" Willow asked suspiciously. Buffy sighed.

"She's a friend of Xander's. He tried to come onto her and when she told him she was gay he though it might be good for you two to get together. Of course I insisted on meeting her first." Buffy told Willow. Willow breathed carefully, taking it in.

"I just wanted to try to make you happy." Buffy finished, and was elated when she got a bright smile and a passionate kiss in return from Willow. They snuggled together once again.

"I couldn't be happier when I'm with you." Willow said, and with that, they fell asleep, together.