Willow stood in front of a display and tilted her head to one side, bumping into Tara's shoulder. Willow chuckled a little nervously, "I don't want to know what this experiment was testing."

Tara nodded and Willow took a small breath before she continued talking. "When were we supposed to meet Dawn?"

Tara gripped Willow's left arm and gently turned it so she could see Willow's watch. "We have time." Tara dropped Willow's hand, "I-I have to say I w-was surprised that you wanted to...with Dawn instead of..."

Willow frowned, "Why? Oh right, trying to destroy the world is coming back to bite me in the butt huh? Yeah, I guess I deserve that. It's just..." Willow shook her head and stopped speaking.

Tara looked around the hall they were in and spotted a window seat. She maneuvered Willow over towards it and they both sat down. "I j-just meant..." Tara took a deep breath. "We haven't really talked in a long time. And...things...us...we..."

Willow leaned against Tara, "Yeah, but Dawn seemed to be really into the fair." Willow looked down, "And I know what it is like for par...for people to not care."

Tara wrapped her arms around Willow, "I know what you mean Will. Is that what sent you over the edge...when I...when..." Tara took a deep breath, "When I died?"

Willow swallowed, "Yeah, mostly, I mean, there was your death in there too, and so soon after I had found you again. I think that I have finally realized that this Evil thing is never going to go away."

Tara smiled and kissed Willow, "But n-now we'll both be here on earth to make sure that you're all s-stable and not crazy DMW."

"DMW? Is that like DMV?"

Tara laughed, "Dark Magick Willow. But right now you're SlaAW."

Willow squinted at Tara, "I'm Coleslaw?"

"Strong Like an Amazon Willow."

Willow encircled Tara's neck with her arms and pulled Tara in for a long kiss. An ewww came from in front of them. Then a grunt. Kim spoke, "You have really sharp elbows Ker."

Tara and Willow looked up at Kerry, Kim, and Dawn looking at them.

Kerry spoke, "Dawn didn't think you'd make it Tara."

Willow smiled, "Small change of plans. What nerd can resist a science fair?"

Kerry smirked, "My thoughts exactly, hey, why don't we go see Dawn's project one more time and then take it down."

Willow pecked Tara on the cheek and got up, "I'm game, lead the way."

They walked off and Kim looked out the window. "Nice night to be under the stars...why aren't you and Willow eating under the stars?"

Tara raised an eyebrow, "Because we're not."

"Was this your idea?"

"A-are you my psychiatrist? Just for the r-record, no, it was Willow's idea. Look Kim just... I-I know you m-mean well. But we've gotten through worse. I know we still have to talk about things...just..."

Kim held her hands up, "Message received and understood."

Buffy frowned as she looked at the newly made grave. She had seen many of them in her short lifetime. But this time, instead of a Vampire coming out of it, there was a pile of dust next to it. She closed her eyes for a moment and picked some of it up. "So, the question is, who dusted the Vamp before I got here."

Buffy stood back up and brushed her hands off. It had been awhile since there was a mystery that didn't involve the end of the world in Sunnydale. She continued to stroll through the cemetery, keeping an ear out for both the person who killed the Vamp, more Vamps, and Spike.

It was the mystery person who was the one who stepped out into the sparse light. "Ma'am, you really shouldn't be walking around these parts at this hour. If you would like I could escort you home."

Buffy restrained herself, "I think I can take care of myself...Captain Seymour is it?" The obviously military man nodded. "Captain, I thank you for the offer, but I haven't seen anything of ill repute yet tonight."

Captain Seymour inclined his head, "Still, I would feel better if I were to escort you home ma'am."

He started to speak more, but over his radio came a voice, "Seymour, they need back-up in Sector Four, Marlette will meet you there."

Seymour frowned, but responded, "I'm on my way." He spoke to Buffy, "If you stay right here, I will personally escort you home in mere moments."

Buffy reached deep within her to summon an innocent look, "Of course Sergeant. I won't move an inch." Seymour nodded and moved off at a brisk walk. "Yeah, that's likely. So...the military is back in Sunnydale..." Buffy took a deep breath, "Well, at least my work load gets smaller for a couple of months." Buffy shook her head. "Well, off to slay some Vampires, the wretched Vampires of Sunnydale."

Giles looked around the Sunnydale airport. He finally spotted a shock of red hair. He took a deep breath and took Olivia's arm. He walked over to Willow. She smiled, "Giles, Long time no see."

"Indeed. How has Sunnydale been?" Willow started to answer but Giles continued speaking, "I'm here to get married to Olivia... we're engaged."

Willow's jaw hung open, "Oh..."

Olivia smiled and patted Giles on the arm, "Very subtle Rupert. Let the woman adjust a little."

Willow blinked, and slowly smirked, "Can I be there when you tell Buffy and Xander?"

Olivia laughed, "He might need assistance resuscitating them."

Willow laughed shortly, "You're nice when I have my voice and am not being confused by my rampaging sexuality."

"I'll take that as a compliment Willow."

Willow nodded and started walking towards the door to the sweltering heat of California in the summer.

Riley looked over a map and shook his head, "Why the hell did they put me on this job?"

"Because she's an unknown sir." Riley shook his head. "Because they know you won't actually succeed in catching her because of her friends. And when you fail they'll have reason to pretend you don't exist anymore?"

Riley grunted as he picked up a picture, "You're getting closer Doc. You should be a psychiatrist. Talking about psychiatrists. There is a woman one hanging out on occasion with the... Scoobies... she and a red head seem to be romantically linked. They're supposedly from Chicago. You recognize them?"

Riley handed the pictures to the First Lieutenant who frowned, "I have no idea who the blonde is, but the red head is Dr. Kerry Weaver."

Riley took back the pictures. "Well, the blonde is some sort of Adjunct Psychology Professor at the University, and Chief... if you could call it that... of Psych at Sunnydale Memorial. The red head is Chief of the Emergency Department. Why would they hang out with a bunch of kids?"

When Riley didn't get an answer he shook his head, "Thanks anyway Lieutenant. When you've finished with the Kluge Demon let me know."

"Aye sir."

Riley kept mumbling to himself, "How do you two fit in here..."