Chapter Two: Unexpected Reunion

Buffy stared at the figure in front of her in disbelief. She had met Tara once or twice because of Willow, but she didn't know that much about her. She did know that Tara had been the reason Willow and Oz had such a difficult time getting back together. Especially since Willow was in love with both Tara and Oz. Willow's heart had broke once again after Tara left, leaving only a note telling Willow goodbye.

Buffy frowned down at Tara's sleeping form and was jerked from her thoughts as a voice said her name.

"Detective Summers, do you know her?"

Buffy turned to look at her partner and shook her head. "Not well. One of my friend's knew her."

"Would we be able to trust that this girl is Tara Maclay?" The other detective asked, looking at Buffy for confirmation.

"I wouldn't be able to tell you for certain, but I know someone who can," Buffy said, waiting for a nod of approval before pulling her cell phone out and calling her closest friend.


Willow was sitting in the living room with Shay and Xander. Kennedy had walked out of the house, claiming she had errands, and Shay was now curled up in Willow's lap sound asleep. Willow smiled at her sleeping child before looking back at Xander as they continued talking.

"Why are you with her, Will? Other than the fact that she's safe," Xander questioned, wanting to understand his friend's reasons for dating her current girlfriend.

"Exactly that, Xander. Kennedy is and always will be safe. I don't have to fear loving her because she's not the type I would ever fall for. Look at Tara and Oz, they were two of the kindest people you could meet, and neither said much. That's the type I seem to fall for. Someone who puts other's before themselves." Willow paused as a tear ran down her cheek at the thought of her dead husband.

"You miss him," Xander stated, not bothering to leave it as a question. "Do you miss her too?" he asked, knowing his friend was still hurting.

"Yes. I think losing her will always hurt because I'll never know what we could have had, but with Oz, losing what we did have hurts so much worse."

Xander nodded in understanding, pulling his friend in a hug as she let the tears fall down her cheek. "Kennedy is safe. Maybe I will one day love her, but I'll never be in love with her. She'll never be able to break my heart," Willow whispered, holding back the sobs.

They sat together for a while in silence until the sound of Willow's cell phone ringing interrupted the quiet. Xander, seeing that Willow wasn't able to stand without waking Shay, walked over to grab the phone from the counter and answered.

"Willow's phone. Xander speaking," Xander said, smiling when he heard the voice on the other line. "Hey Buff." Pause. "Yeah, she's right here."

Willow held out her hand as Xander placed the phone in it. "Hey Buffy," Willow said, after putting the phone to her ear. "Really? She's awake? That's great," Willow said, listening as Buffy spoke. "Okay. Um, yeah. Let me see if Xander minds watching Shay then I'll head over." Willow looked up to see Xander nod before talking again. "Xander's said he'll watch her. Be there soon," Willow said, before hanging up.

Willow eased out from under her daughter and hugged Xander. "Thanks, Xander. For everything. And for what it's worth. I miss Anya too," she said, kissing his cheek before walking out of the house.


Walking into the hospital, Willow walked up to the nurse's station and smiled. "Hi, Detective Summer's called and asked me to meet her here," Willow informed her.

"Down the hall to your left. Room 120," the nurse said, pointing down the hall.

"Thanks," Willow responded, before taking the directions in search of her friend.

When Willow found the room she knocked on it to get the attention of the others inside. When Buffy nodded at her to enter, Willow opened the door and walked in, looking at her friend curiously.

"What's up?" she asked, closing the door behind her.

"Willow Rosenberg?" asked Buffy's partner, a tall man with short brown hair, and dark green eyes.

"Yes. Why?"

"We need you to see if you recognize this woman. Detective Summers seems to think you might," the man said, pointing over his shoulder.

He was still in Willow's way, and Willow knew he wouldn't move. Stepping around him, Willow froze as her eyes locked on the sleeping form in the hospital bed.

"Tara?" Willow whispered in surprise before turning to Buffy. "How did you find her?" Willow asked, looking directly into her best friend's blue eyes.

"I told you about the Jane Doe, Will. I didn't find her. Someone else did. They just assigned me to the case to question her when she wakes up," Buffy reminded her, frowning at the lost look that had entered Willow's eyes.

"What did she say when you questioned her?"

"She doesn't remember anything. She doesn't know who she is. I needed you to identify her."

Willow nodded.

"So this is Tara Maclay?" the male detective asked, looking between the two girls.

"Yes. That's Tara," Willow responded, still trying to understand.

"Well that solves one case at least," he said, catching Buffy's attention.

"What are you talking about?" she asked, staring at her partner.

"Tara Maclay has been missing for six months. I can finally tell her father that we found her and she's in the hospital."

"Wait, shouldn't you find out what put her in the hospital?" Willow questioned, staring at him in disbelief. "What if it was her family?"

"Why would they call her in missing then?" he asked, obviously thinking Willow was stupid.

"To make it look like he's innocent," Buffy said, catching on to Willow's thought process. "If she would have died, we wouldn't think to look at the 'grieving' father," Buffy said, looking at her best friend. "We should wait until Tara starts to remember some things before sending her home to her family."

"Summers, don't forget you're the junior partner here," he said, reminding her that he was her boss. "I think it'd be easier if she was in a familiar environment with people who know her. Who better than her family?" he asked.

"Willow," Buffy said looking at her friend.

"Me?"

"Her?"

"Yes. Willow and Tara had a relationship in college. They knew each other very well. I think she'd be the best person to help, and at least I know Willow wouldn't hurt a fly," Buffy said, looking at her friend to see if she could handle it.

"I don't know, Buff. There was that incident after Oz's death where I went a little on the psycho side and..."

"You'll be fine," Buffy said, cutting her friend off before she could say something that would get her in trouble. "Will you do it?"

Willow thought about it for a second before frowning. "Yeah. I'll help her."