General Rating: T

General Disclaimer: I do not own any of the following shows: All My Children, Buffy: the Vampire Slayer, Charmed, Degrassi, Hannah Montana, Kim Possible, The L Word, The OC, Once and Again, South of Nowhere.

Chapter Television Show: Buffy: the Vampire Slayer

Chapter Title: One Wish

Chapter Pairing: Willow/Tara

Willow Rosenberg sat on the couch, her closest friends surrounding her. It was Christmas Eve and the Scooby Gang was opening a few of their presents tonight, to tide them over until tomorrow.

Buffy handed a small box to Willow, Xander, and Faith. Willow took the white bow off hers and took the top off the sky blue box. Inside was a small, translucent white orb.

"Wow, uh, thank, Buff," Xander said.

"Yeah. Thanks, Buffy," Willow said.

Faith sighed. "What the hell is this, B?"

"How did I know you'd be the one to ask me that?" Buffy asked her girlfriend, turning to look at the brunette.

"Cuz I'm not super polite like your buds," Faith replied. "So, what is it?"

"It's a wish orb from the Powers That Be," Buffy said. "They sent them to Cordelia, since she's an old Scooby too, and she sent me one for you, me, Wills, and Xander. Each is worth one wish. And when it's used, it turns into a Christmas ornament. It'll change to red or green. It'll be inscribed with what your wish was, you name, and the year."

"That's pretty cool," the witch said. She looked down at the orb, a little more enthused by it now. One wish to spend on whatever she wanted.

"Wait, no consequences?" Xander asked.

"Nope. They're from the PTB directly so there's nothing to clean up. You make a wish, it comes true. Simple as that. But they told Cordelia that it can't be used for material items or something trivial," the Slayer told them. "You've really gotta think about it."

Willow nodded and put the orb back in the box. "Thanks, Buffy." Buffy nodded.

"Alright, it's like ten o'clock," Buffy said. "Faith and I have to go out on patrol so…we'll see you all later. Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas!" Willow and Xander reiterated. The two Slayers grabbed their coats and stakes and left the house.

Living in Cleveland had been good for the past three years. They'd started the Slayer Academy, where they would take in young Slayers. They'd train them in fighting and other-worldly knowledge, along with regular high school courses, since most of the Slayers were in that age-range.

Willow and Kennedy had mutually broken up, figuring that they were just not meant to be together. Willow was still hung up on Tara and Kennedy wanted someone closer to her age, who really understood her and could love her.

"Well, goodnight, Xander," Willow said, letting her old friend hug her. "Better be good," she teased him. "Santa's coming tonight."

"Yeah? Well, I'll put out the milk and cookies, then," Xander replied with a grin. "G'night, Willow."

"'Night." She picked up the box with her orb inside and walked toward the stairs. She made her way up to her bedroom and sat down on the queen-sized mattress. She was already in her pajamas, so there was no need to change.

Willow extracted the orb from its box and held it between her thumb and her index and middle fingers. She looked into the center.

"I wish…" she began. She closed her eyes and pictured it, before saying in a soft, determined voice. "I wish Tara was alive."

The orb glowed gold and turned into the Christmas ornament Buffy had described. It was now green with a white inscription reading:

"I wish Tara was alive."

-Willow Danielle Rosenberg.

Christmas 2007

Willow looked around the room, hoping to catch a glance of her lover. She was only disappointed. She set the ornament on her bedside table and turned off her light. She lay back and fell asleep.

Willow woke up smiling. She'd had a wonderful dream about herself and Tara. Tara was alive again and in her arms. She smiled wider just thinking about it. She looked at the clock and realized that it was only six o'clock in the morning. Buffy and Faith had probably gotten back at around two o'clock. She'd have to be quiet. She grabbed her ornament off her bedside table, deciding to hang it and made her way toward the stairs.

Willow expertly tiptoed down the stairs and into the living room. She hung the ornament on one of the Christmas tree's few free branches. It sparkled an eerie blue color. Willow's eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

Out of the corner of her eye, Willow noticed white lights swirling around near the couch. She whipped around just in time to see the lights solidify and form into a human being.

"Tara…" she breathed. The brunette woman looked down at herself, gasping in surprise. She wore a blue sweatshirt and jeans, the exact same clothing she'd been wearing the day she was killed.

"Willow?" she asked. "Did you really do it? You brought me back."

"Baby?" Willow rushed forward and fell on her knees in front of her lover. "God, baby! You're back! The Powers gave you back to me!" Tara's eyes widened briefly at Willow's words but she soon found herself lying on her back on the couch, a very enthusiastic redhead straddling her and kissing all over her body.

"Tara, I'm so sorry," Willow whispered. "Did you hear me? When I was asking for you?"

"Of course I did. I heard everything, sweetie," Tara said. "I'm sorry you suffered so much. I love you."

"I love you, too," Willow whispered. "Merry Christmas, Tara."

Tara smiled and hugged the other woman close. She was back. She couldn't believe it, but she was back. The Powers That Be had given her another shot at life. She intended to use that opportunity to her advantage, to start over.