I hope you've all enjoyed the story! This is a much shorter chapter this time, just an epilogue to wrap things up.
Thank you for all the reviews and favorites! This will probably be the final chapter. For real this time.

Willow hadn't wanted to talk about it. As soon as they got back to San Francisco, she asked to be alone: Paige lent her room to the redhead, asking that Willow only call her name.

While she was in there, Paige explained what had happened at the Mictlan Passing. One of the Elders had come down to listen, though they barely intervened. It was a woman Paige only dimly recognized; she'd been around when they were discussing Willow's fate as her charge.

Paige did notice Buffy give the Elder a double-take though.

When the tale was told, Paige sat down, closing her eyes. She didn't listen to Willow's thoughts, respecting her privacy at that time, but rather tuned them out until they were no more than an indistinct hum. It was that hum she listened to: relaxed to.

It was a few minutes before the hum became a summons. Immediately, Paige stood, quickly explained herself, and ascended the stairs to her room.

Willow was sitting on her bed. Her eyes were dry, but red. Paige entered, and closed the door.

"Do you want me to go?" Willow said, as soon as the door touched its frame.

"Go?" Paige said: "Go where?"

Willow shrugged. "Away. Anywhere, I guess. After that, you won't want to…"

"No," Paige said immediately. At Willow's expression, she quickly continued: "No, I don't want you to go. Not anywhere: if you want to stay, you're welcome to. And I'd love you to."

"Even after I…"

"I'm not going to blame you for what Abraxas did," Paige said. "We've all been victims of a demon. You can't be held responsible."

"It wasn't like that," Willow shook her head: "It was still me. All of that. Like it was before, it's what I could do. What I've come too close to doing. Don't act like it's someone else, I don't- I hate it, but that's me."

She looked down, trusting her disjointed speech was clear. She didn't meet Paige's eyes.

Paige moved closer, until she stood by the redhead: she placed a finger under Willow's chin, and lifted it: met her eyes.

"I know," Paige said. "The fact you could be that, and the fact you choose to be this, that means even more. I meant it when I said I loved you."

Willow's eyes widened, in what was either disbelief or hope. A kiss later, and Paige sat beside her on the bed.

"Sorry you had to see that," Willow said, eventually.

Paige smiled.

"Um," Willow said. "One thing, when you said- Did you really think I was doing it for Tara?"

"Kinda," Paige admitted. "It just… fit, after all I'd heard."

A few seconds of silence, of hesitation.

"I love Tara," Willow said eventually. "That won't change. I do, and I will. I just- I know it's over, now. Took me the better part of a year, but I accept that. I can love her, and I can move on."

Their eyes met again. Willow's were still red: they still hurt Paige to see.

"Thank you," Paige said.

That time, Willow leant forward, to initiate. When their lips met, Paige closed her eyes, gratefully losing herself in the situation.

Strange how quickly she'd become used to this. It seemed almost natural to be with Willow, to hold her; returning to her embrace, to her lips, after the latest catastrophe was like being home.

.

Some time later, a slightly nervous Willow went out to reintroduce herself to Paige's family. Buffy and Andrew had quickly been dropped off where they'd come from, leaving just the Halliwells, and Leo.

Paige went downstairs first, to engage in another quick catch-up. When she felt ready, Willow moved to the stairs. The sisters turned as she came into view.

"Um," Willow waved shyly, "Hi?"

"Hello again," Piper said, prolonging the words slightly. "Back to your normal?"

"Um, yeah," Willow said. "Um, sorry about the-"

"Oh, don't apologize," Piper said, "Paige explained. Besides, we kinda ended the world too once. Well, ended free will," Piper shrugged, "Everyone makes mistakes."

"One of the family," Phoebe said: chuckled.

It still amazed Willow how blasé the Charmed Ones could be. Then again, a lot must have happened to them. Still, somehow, it was comforting.

"In more ways than one, it looks like," Phoebe said. She nodded at Willow's and Paige's interlinked hands. Willow hadn't even realized she'd done that.

Instinctively, Willow jumped: glanced at Paige, who smiled.

"I told them," Paige said, "It's fine."

Willow exhaled, relieved; she smiled. Then, her smile turned to a smirk.

"Guess that means I can kiss you any time, huh?" Willow said.

"Guess it does," Paige echoed the smirk.

Off to the side, Piper rolled her eyes. Willow caught sight of her doing so, and when Paige moved closer for the offered kiss, Willow placed a finger on her lips.

"First though," Willow said, softly, "How about a date?"

"A date?" Paige tilted her head.

"Take me somewhere," Willow said.

"Where?" Paige said. Willow shrugged.

"Anywhere," a grin: "Surprise me, angel."

Chuckling, Paige reached forward, to embrace Willow. After a few long, luxuriating moments, each dissolved into orbs of white light.