It had been 5 years since Tara died and Willow still had nightmares of that wretched afternoon. It was an early Saturday morning during the summer of 2007 and Willow had woken up shaking and crying, images of Tara's last moments still fresh in her mind. Willow had to look down at her shirt just to make sure it was truly a dream and there was no blood. She turned and saw that was Kennedy wide awake sitting up, a worried look on her face, frustration in her eyes. She knew about her girlfriends nightmares, and hated that her love wasn't enough to stop them.

"Sorry" Willow apologized as she looked away, she knew these nightmares broke Kennedy's heart, but there was nothing she could do about them. She would always love Tara, and in the end blamed herself, and sometimes even Buffy, for her death.

"Don't be. I know there's nothing you can do about those things. I'm here for you though" Kennedy said as she put her arms around her witch.

Willow gave Kennedy a small smile,, "Thanks." She leaned into her slayer's embrace. "I really am sorry though, you deserve so much better than this.."

"Shh, no baby, I know what she meant to you...I don't expect to take her place..." said Kennedy, a trace of bitterness and sadness in her voice. It was true, she knew she could never replace Tara, but she wished she could at least make it better, easier for Willow to sleep and live.

Willow looked up at Kennedy and leaned up to give her a light kiss. "I do love you Kennedy, it's just different, you know? I mean Tara was…well my first, we were gunna be.." she stopped, she didn't want to upset Kennedy.

"I know Willow, I know..." Kennedy sighed and placed a kiss on Willow's forehead. "I'm going downstairs to get some breakfast. Get some rest ok?" She got out of bed and grabbed her robe from their bathroom, wrapped it around her then walked out. I don't need this...this living in the shadow of Tara. Sometimes I wish she had never died so I wouldn't have to suffer through this shit...but then again I'm the one that's still here with Willow. God this is so frustrating! We've been together almost 4 years already, why can't she just love me?! She grabbed a box of Apple Jacks and poured some out into her bowl, then grabbed the milk from the refrigerator, drenched her cereal in it then attacked it. The sun had yet to rise, and Kennedy sat there, alone, and frustrated as the rest of the house slept.

Willow couldn't go back to sleep. She didn't want to, she was afraid. She reached into the concealed drawer she had magically built and hidden at the head of her and Kennedy's bed, and pulled out a picture of Tara she had hidden there. Tears streamed down her face. "It's not fair...and it's all my fault. If I hadn't brought Buffy back...if I had just let her be. But no, I had to bring her back didn't I? She was in a heavenly dimension and I brought her back to hell...then they took you...why? I should have listened to you when you tried to talk me out of it…Why did you let me baby? Why..?" She held the picture close to her, unaware that her best friend had heard the entire thing.

Buffy and Faith had just returned from their nightly patrol when they found Kennedy asleep on the couch.

"Hey B, what's with Red's slayer sleeping down here lately?" Faith asked as she found a blanket to cover Kennedy up with.

Buffy sighed and shook her head, "I don't know. It might have something to do with Willow's nightmares about Tara...I feel bad for Kennedy though, kind of reminds me of me and Riley. I think he felt like he was living in Angel's shadow. If Will isn't careful she's going to lose this one. I'm surprised she's still around."

"Poor kid.." Faith walked over to Buffy and wrapped her arms around her, "Hey, I'm not living in no vamp's shadow am I?" She looked at Buffy, her eyes showed she was worried.

Buffy smiled and gave Faith a loving, but short kiss. "No, you're not. Angel was my first love, but you're my now, and my last. My always. Besides, you and me. We're two of a kind. We were the original Slayers before we turned thousands of girls. Our connection, no one can beat."

Faith smiled, nothing but love in her eyes. She leaned down and kissed her girlfriend. "I love you Buffy"

"I love you too." Buffy had never felt happier since her and Faith started going out a year ago. They had both admitted that they had always felt something there, but Buffy had always been to afraid to say so, and far too scared to take a chance. Faith had made her feelings clear the year she had arrived in Sunnydale, but she knew she had no chance then. Thankfully the last near death experience finally opened Buffy's eyes and she saw that she couldn't continue to live without Faith being hers. When they told the scoobies no one except Xander seemed surprised, they had all just shouted 'Finally!' and laughed, happy for the both of them.

"Maybe you should go check on Red, I'm going to take a shower then crash. You'll join me in dreamland later right?"

"Yea, guess I should talk to Willow." She gave Faith on last passionate kiss, "Have fun in the shower." She winked then continued to walk upstairs, she could feel Faiths eyes on her. She was about to knock on Willows door when she heard her talking and crying. She blames herself?…and me. Not me directly but she's right, if she hadn't brought me back Warren would not have tried to kill me...and killed Tara in the process. Tears fell down her face, I miss her too. Tara was kind of like the mom in our group. God I wish she could just be brought back to us. She decided to just go to her and Faith's room. She slipped into the shower with Faith. As soon as Faith saw her she knew something was wrong, but also knew not to ask. They stood there, holding each other as the water ran behind them.