Thank you

San Francisco, California 2004 The next day

Tara'd spent the night curled up in Willow's bed, they'd talked for a while before falling asleep in each other's arms, all safe. Over the course of the next couple of weeks the gang would gradually explain to Tara what had happened whilst she'd been away, each bit piecing together to make one very long story. But then again Tara had always liked a story.

After dinner Buffy was sitting on the balcony in the same spot she'd been with Xander a couple days ago, back then it was just a dream, wishful thinking. Now it was all different, Tara was back, Willow was the happiest she'd been in a very long time and Dawn had someone else to rely on and talk to. Buffy was almost beaming, the smile playing on her lips was a grin, a kind warmth had spread into delicate happiness and it was infecting. As she stared out at the city beneath her, she felt a gentle hand on her shoulder.

Tara sat down beside her, her longer legs dangling too, as Willow's two favourite girls they needed to talk. Also, since Tara had died Buffy's life had kinda spread out of her control, things with Spike had been, well questionable. She'd really needed a gentle soul to go to for advice or just to get a hug sometimes that was all it took. And now Tara was here she really wanted to tell her.

"So I hear, you were the one who chose to bring me back." Tara said quietly, not wanting to startle Buffy, just start a gentle conversation and thank her for bringing her back to Willow. Buffy shrugged, smiling softly but still looking over the edge. She'd noticed the stutter that had haunted the blonde in life was gone, ironed out in heaven she supposed. They had that in common and maybe Buffy wouldn't feel so alone if she could talk about it, with someone who would understand.

"Willow needs you, more than I need Angel, Slayers aren't really designed to live long enough for longtime relationships. But Willow she hasn't been the same since... and Dawn needs you too, I can't be a mother and a sister to her and a slayer all at the same time. And Xander adores you. You're very important to all of us Tara." Buffy said sincerely, placing her digits round Tara's arm, giving it a gentle pat and squeeze before looking down and picking at her nails nervously.

Tara smiled warmly, a blush reaching around her cheeks as she accepted the compliments, she would normally argue against it but there was something else she wanted to know. "And you? You mentioned everyone but yourself." Tara pointed out, turning to look at Buffy, who held her hands in her lap, a little ashamed.

"I never got to thank you for how much you helped me with Spike and everything you know back when-" Buffy hesitated, her voice was blurry, suddenly all the memories and feelings from that year came flooding back in flashes, what Spike had done, Tara never knew. How rough it'd been after that, how she'd had to deal with him having a soul. "You forgave me without a second thought, I don't know if anyone would have done that, but you did. You and Willow, you know I love you both right?" Buffy finished finally looking up at her friend.

Tara let out a shaky breath, she had no idea Buffy thought of her like that, that anything she'd done had been more than good friendship. "I suppose I do." She remarked, pulling Buffy into a hug, one of her best qualities, Tara was the hugging person if ever there was one.

"May I interrupt this little moment please?" Willow said, walking out onto the balcony and putting her hand out for Tara's. Her head turned to face the redhead and she smiled, letting herself be pulled up onto her feet. Buffy smiled at the two of them as their hands linked together, you could see the love flowing around them, it was almost visible, like a golden string twining around them. At least Buffy thought she could see something, she could just be going crazy.

Willow brushed some of the blonde hair behind Tara's ear and leaned into her cheek as they turned towards Buffy. "We love you too Buff." Willow spoke for Tara, but the nod she gave confirmed it as they looked down at their best friend and beamed broadly. Willow not even pretending she wasn't earwigging their previous conversation.

"If you ever need anything you know you can-" Tara said before the pair of lovebirds turned to go, Buffy cutting her off with a careful and a 'I know' before she turned back towards the skyline, orange hue sunset sweeping across the horizon, content for now that she'd made the right decision and that they had all felt instantly better when Tara was back in the room, she lit up the place. Willow and Tara walked through the apartment to the newly reinstated 'their' room. Willow sat on the bed first, holding both of Tara's hands bracing herself for what she's about to say.

"Tara..." Willow began, finally spilling out all of the things she did as her dark alter ego, explaining the grief she'd felt at Tara's death and the strain it had put on her afterwards. Including the little stunt Amy had pulled to penance her. She talked about Kennedy and how she'd been there during the fight against the first, and about the coven Giles had taken her to in England.

"Honestly, you should've seen it, it was amazing, you'd have loved it, all natural magic and Gaia and root systems. I could see little bits of you everywhere, you were with me, I could see your colours in the flowers and every time I did a spell for the earth, it made me think of you and how proud you'd be that I was doing good." Tara smiled and blushed a little, gripping Willow's hands a little tighter as that was when the tears started to fall. Big gasping gulps of air fluttered out between red lips as the emotion of Tara's loss came back to Willow, it was all too much, she hadn't thought about it until now, but here it was.

Sobbing tears wet her rosy cheeks as Tara cradled her head, stroking her hair, kissing her forehead and reminder her that everything was well and she could never leave again. "Sweetheart, it's ok. I'm here, it's all ok." Tara's words were soothing but it was her tender caresses and touches that meant everything to Willow. That was the thing she'd missed the most, having physical Tara to hold, to have her be so consuming that she thought the world would never end. To get lost in her whirlpool eyes and get drunk on her vanilla smell.

She had so many memories, the image of Tara in her mind, she could hear the words said playing over and over in her mind when she thought about it. But the magic was lost. There were no tingles and hopeful glances, she remembered how nervous they'd both been that the other wouldn't like them back. She remembered her own thoughts about the new blonde in her life, she was captured, instantly intrigued, like she knew Tara was her one and only.

As Willow gently lifted her head from Tara's lap, bringing their hands together in a clutch. Like they had the first time they'd met, they couldn't talk so touch was the first way they'd connected. Feeling it brought it all screaming back, the magic they'd both felt flowing through them was returned to them now. Willow's tears dried quickly on her cheeks as she pressed their lips together, almost pushing Tara over, her head softly hitting the pillow as she gave a little squeal of delight. As Willow's lips descended her jaw to her neck, pressing insistently, almost sucking a hole in the skin as she moved lower...