When Willow didn't come back up, Tara felt disappointed and headed downstairs to find her, only to see that Willow wasn't downstairs. "Where's Willow?" Tara asked, looking at her friends as she sat on the couch.
"She went out. She needed time to think," Dawn said, looking at Tara with a guilty look on her face. "Kennedy found out that you two kissed because I told Xander and he got a little loud from surprise. Willow was upset when Kennedy left. So she left to have time to think. I'm really sorry."
"It's alright," Tara said, looking towards the door. "Do you have any idea when she'll be back?" Tara asked, missing the redhead already.
"No. She didn't say," Dawn said, wishing she had asked.
Tara nodded, feeling a little sad about that. "Okay." She sat quietly for a few moments before looking at Dawn. "How's school been?" she asked, not sure what else to ask.
Dawn knew the conversation was forced, but she decided to play along, to make things easier on Tara. "It's been okay. Better than Sunnydale High, that's for sure."
Tara gave the younger girl a small smile before thinking of another question to ask. "Are you making friends?"
Dawn waited a few seconds before answering Tara. "Yes. You know you don't have to do this?" Dawn said, watching Tara.
"Do what?"
"Force a conversation between us," Dawn told her.
Tara frowned sheepishly at Dawn. "You noticed?" At Dawn's nod, Tara brushed her own blond hair behind her hair. "I'm sorry. I...I don't know what we usually talk about so it's really strange. I'm really sorry, Dawnie."
Dawn nodded. "It's fine. I know it's hard on you, Tara. I'm not going to make it any harder. I just can't wait until you remember everything."
Tara smiled and turned her head at the sound of the front door opening, only to be disappointed when Buffy walked through the door instead.
Buffy looked at Tara and saw the disappointment in her eyes. "Expecting Willow?" Buffy guessed, knowing her friend had left before her.
Tara nodded. "Yeah. Do you know where she went?"
Buffy shook her head and walked over to Tara. She'll be back soon. Promise," Buffy said before walking upstairs to shower.
After Buffy was gone, Tara turned to look at Dawn. "Is it okay if I go for a walk? I want to get some fresh air."
Dawn frowned a little. "I don't know, Tara. I mean it's nearly dark, and you don't remember anything."
"I'll be back before dark. I just want to get out of the house," Tara promised, wanting to leave.
After a few seconds, Dawn nodded, watching Tara walk out.
Alone in her thoughts, Willow rested her head in her hands as she leaned forward in her chair. She was sitting in a small restaurant, drinking coffee as she tried to figure out how her life had become so screwed up.
Tara was back, which meant everything to Willow, but it was honestly so hard for her to understand. Willow had killed a man because she thought he had taken her true love from her. Only now, she knows Tara didn't die. Killing Warren had been wrong, Willow knew that.
Closing her eyes, Willow tried to control the thoughts that ran through her mind. She was so far lost in her thoughts that she didn't hear someone approaching her, jumping when a hand touched her shoulder.
"Are you okay?" said an unfamiliar voice.
Willow lifted her head to look at a teenage boy watching her. "I'm fine. Just trying to figure out some problems." Willow gave the guy a small smile before grabbing her coffee off the table and taking a sip.
"Do you want to talk about it?" the boy said, sounding hopeful.
Willow frowned as she recognized what was going on with the teenager. He thought he had a chance? Willow closed her eyes again to compose herself. "No. I need to be heading home anyway. My girlfriend is waiting on me." Willow said, putting force on the word 'girlfriend', and watching as the boys face dropped when he realized she wasn't interested in guys, much less him.
Without saying anything else, Willow stood and started to walk out, stopping when she saw Tara walk into the coffee shop. The two girls stared at each other before Tara walked over to her. "Hey," Willow said, watching her.
"D-Dawn t-told me wh-what happened b-between you and K-Kennedy. I'm s-sorry. I kn-know its my f-fault. For k-kissing you," Tara said, ducking her head so that she was hidden behind her hair.
Willow motioned to the table and both girls sat down. "I kissed you first, remember?"
Tara smiled her shy, crooked smile at Willow. "H-how could I for-forget?"
Willow reached out and took Tara's hand in hers. "I love you, Tara. I will always love you. I want you to know that."
Tara looked down at their joined hands. "Are-are you about to-to tell m-me that i-its n-not working?"
Willow shook her head. "No, I'm just telling you I love you." Willow gave Tara's hand a quick squeeze and released her hand only to take Tara's chin in her hand to lift her face so her green eyes met Tara's blue ones. "I'm sorry if you thought I was upset about the kiss Tara. I could never be upset about kissing you again. I missed kissing you for so long that I felt like everything fell into place when our lips touched. When you told me that kissing me helped you remember something it was the most amazing feeling in the world."
"Then why did you leave?" Tara asked, confused.
"I felt bad about hurting Kennedy and needed time to clear my head. It was hard seeing the hurt in her eyes when she had helped me with a lot of my own problems. She knew that I wasn't in love with her, that I loved you. I will always love you."
Tara smiled at Willow. "I love you, too, Willow."
Willow smiled at Tara, taking her hand in hers again. She was so happy to have the love of her life back.
