Chapter Eighteen-Faith, Hope and Love
"Spike. You awake?" Buffy's voice echoed into the lower chamber of the crypt from the top of the ladder where the Slayer was kneeling.
"It's too bloody early. Go away." The reply of the vampire was muffled.
"Need your help. I have been authorized to negotiate for your services, so get up here." Buffy yelled back down the narrow opening.
Two minutes later the blond head of the vampire appeared at the top of the ladder into the upper chamber. "This better be good." Spike grumbled.
"I need you to drive someone to LA tonight and help with something going on down there tomorrow night, then drive back." The Slayer stated.
"I hate LA. And I can't imagine you want me to go there without that tosser Angel being involved somehow, right love?"
"Yes, Angel is helping. He'll put you up for the day tomorrow at the hotel and help out with the thing going on tomorrow night, but that is all." Buffy replied.
"No way. Not enough blood in Sunnydale to get me involved with you do-gooders, and Angel, he's even worse, if that's possible." Spike sneered.
"This is about Willow and her daughter, Isobel. They and Tara were attacked at the park, this time by soldiers. The guy behind it all is here, in Sunnydale. So you could say your 'action' has arrived." Buffy explained, seeing if she could play on his sympathies.
"Like I said before, don't care for the big bad going after a little one, not right. Still not going to LA though. The red witch will have to take care of it herself." Spike started to head back towards the ladder.
"No blood Spike. This is a cash deal. Per day payment, a generous offer if you ask me." Buffy stated, pulling out her last card.
"Hmm. Cash, huh? How much and for how many days are we talking." Spike asked, now intrigued.
"Depends. If you are successful in getting what we need from LA and making the delivery back here, there could be a bonus. We will need continuing services keeping an eye on someone. Could last a week. One hundred a day." Buffy offered.
"Three hundred a day, and a five hundred bonus when I get back from LA." Spike countered.
"Two hundred a day. The bonus is fine. Come to the house at sundown and the person you will be driving to LA will be ready. You should dislike her immediately; she's honest, straightforward and a soldier."
"I know you don't have the money Slayer, so who is funding this little expedition?" Spike smirked.
"Your employer is Willow, and I'm sure you know she can pay. And your passenger is a witch friend of hers from Khul, so watch yourself." Buffy answered as she headed for the door.
"How about an advance, you know, to show good faith?" Spike called out as Buffy was exiting the crypt.
The Slayer answered as she was leaving. "Funny you should mention Faith. You'll get your money when you get back here with Willow's friend and the delivery, safe and sound. You wanted some action? This should be right up your alley, and you're getting paid good money for it so no complaints. See you tonight."
Willow was certain she was sleeping and this was a really good dream. Or she might be dead and mistakenly in heaven. She could be in a coma; that was always possible with as many head injuries as she had sustained over the years.
Any one of those explanations was far more plausible than Tara walking into the yard without saying a word, taking her in those beautiful strong arms and kissing her senseless. But seeing as she had no desire for this magnificent dream to end, the redhead closed her eyes and went with the flow, deciding kissing dream Tara back with gusto was the most enjoyable way to go.
That worked really well until oxygen was required, which didn't really fit with the dream scenario. As she was forced to pull back her lips to gasp in air, she felt Tara's hands move from her face tracing a path down her arms until they reached her hands, which she tenderly lifted until their palms met and their fingers intertwined. The electric charge that surged through her shocked the redheaded witch's eyes open to behold smoky blue eyes over a sultry half-smile she hadn't seen in eight years.
"Tara?" This time the word came out of Willow's throat half in sound and half in squeak.
As she tried to assemble her thoughts into words through the thick haze of her emotions, Tara leaned in until her forehead was touching Willow's and they stood there in the yard, hands clasped between them. She rejected speaking her first thought which would have been an apology for being so forward. Buffy's words echoed in her head reminding her that she needed to be the one to tell Willow how she felt, she needed to be the one to take action now. So she paused and let what she was really feeling form into sentences.
"I love you Willow. You were so amazing the other night, so brave. You saved me. You saved Isobel. I said at the park that day I wanted to spend time with you. Well, it's been two days, so can I ask if you are free tonight? Because there is a lot we need to talk about and I don't want to wait any longer."
Tara finished her statement with another kiss, delaying a response from the redhead until her knees went weak and she slumped a little in Tara's grasp. Willow looked a little unsteady and her eyes were unfocused so Tara led her to the porch to sit down.
"I thought this was a dream. I keep waiting to wake up. Did you really just walk up and kiss me?" Willow asked as she reached out and took Tara's hand again in her own as if she needed the physical touch to ground her to reality.
"Not a dream. Yes, I kissed you. So I ask again, Willow, are you free tonight?" Tara asked again before any nervousness could start to creep in.
"Yes. Free as can be, free is me, no place to be, just you and me." Willow giggled. "See, you have reduced me to the lowest form of babble, adult rhyming babble. But the answer is yes, of course yes. What did you have in mind?"
Tara hadn't really thought that far ahead, she just knew she wanted privacy. "I could make dinner, maybe Buffy or Dawn could watch Isobel, but then we will probably still be interrupted."
"Well how about I cook for you, at my house. You haven't seen where I live, and you should. We could head over after Spike and Elena leave for LA." Willow offered.
"It doesn't seem fair to make you cook since I asked you." Tara said.
"Really, it would be my pleasure, I'll make it simple. We can talk as long as you want." Willow responded, the dreamy look returning to her face.
They sat on the porch together, joined by Isobel, chatting comfortably and just enjoying the afternoon until Buffy returned from her discussion with Spike.
"Well, don't you three look happy." Buffy could see something had happened, the dynamic between the two women was different somehow and Willow had a dopey smile stuck to her face.
"How did it go with Spike?" Willow asked.
"He'll take your money Will. I told him to be here right after sundown ready to head to LA." Buffy answered.
"That's my cue." Willow stated as she stood up. "I need to go tell Elena she's headed to LA and help her get prepped on the magick front for the great Faith escape."
The redhead hugged her daughter and told Buffy she would be back with Elena for final preparations before sunset.
"I'll walk out with you Will. Buffy, I'll be back in a minute." Tara stated and took Willow's hand as they strode out to the sidewalk.
"I really just walked out here so I could kiss you again." Tara confessed when they were at the point of parting.
"Well, don't let your efforts go to waste." This time Willow turned and pressed her lips against Tara's. This kiss was more chaste than the earlier ones, but full of promise. "Really not a dream? You're going to tell me how all this just happened later, right?"
Tara nodded, "I promise, tonight."
When Tara came back into the house she found Buffy waiting for her with a quirked eyebrow.
"Don't give me that look Slayer. I was only taking your advice." Tara couldn't help but smile.
"It's about time somebody does." Buffy just smiled back.
When Willow and Elena arrived back at the house, Buffy couldn't help but notice a new tension between the two women that had not been there previously. Willow appeared nervous and Elena slightly withdrawn. However, there was business to be done and The Slayer needed to make sure everyone was on board. Elena was ready to go and had assembled everything magickal that she and Willow felt might be helpful.
"Ok. Spike will be here soon and Elena is ready to go. They will meet up with Angel and make the final preparations for the breakout which will be tomorrow night." The Slayer started. "I didn't find any clues about our new residents on patrol last night. I'll look again tonight, but seeing as they are human, the usual demon haunts aren't likely. The semester is over and Dawn is home over the holidays now, so we should all stay close in case of another attack. We should also think about how we are going to, uh, 'relocate' the dark magick guy at the portal to our accommodations."
All the Scoobies nodded their agreement. Willow, Elena and Buffy walked outside to wait for Spike who showed up a few minutes later.
"Part of me still thinks I should be going." Buffy said to the soldier. "Please be careful. Willow would kick my butt if anything happened to you."
"I'll be fine. The vampire and I will bring your friend back." Elena looked from Buffy to Willow.
"Let me fill Spike in on the details." Buffy saw that she needed to give the two women a moment alone and stepped over to the car.
"I'm glad Tara talked to you." Elena's voice was calm, but full of underlying emotion.
"We don't need to talk about that right now. I don't know what is going to happen between us. I'm worried about you. Are you sure you won't need me there?" Willow asked yet again.
"I'm sure you should stay here and protect your family. I'm also sure you should do what makes you happy Willow. And that means having a relationship with Tara." Elena finished by hugging the redhead tightly and walking over to the car.
As she got in the passenger side, Willow and Buffy heard Spike start in on her. "So you're a witch? And a soldier? How does that work, love? Witches I know are the most undisciplined bunch around, take Red there as an example."
Elena gave Willow a slightly pleading look as the car pulled away into the night.
Dawn had agreed to watch Isobel while Buffy went to patrol taking Xander along for company. Anya decided to stay with Dawn and Isobel for safety and let Tara know with a wink that she expected full details when she got back from Willow's.
Tara blushed but was saved additional commentary by Willow who took her by the arm and led her out the front door promising to have the blond back in a few hours.
"Where to?" Tara asked. "You never drive when you come here so I assume we are walking."
Willow took her to the sidewalk and turned walking towards the quiet end of the street. "I hope it won't get things off to a bad start by letting you know I found a place to live close by, really close by, like here."
The two women had walked half a block and stopped in front of a nondescript ranch that Tara had never noticed.
"You put a glamour on the house, to make it seem unremarkable." Tara was surprised she hadn't sensed the magick, but she rarely walked this direction.
"Are you angry? That I was here, so close?" Willow was obviously anxious about Tara's reaction.
Tara thought about it for a moment before she answered. "I might have been, early on. But now, I'm relieved you are nearby. I want you close."
"Well, that's certainly good to know." Willow smiled with relief. "Come on in, I left some salmon to defrost."
Tara was surprised by the inside of the house. She had always thought Willow had quirky taste and expected it to show here, but the rooms were unadorned and utilitarian at best. The redhead led her into the kitchen and poured two glasses of wine as she started prepping the food.
"Can I help?" Tara inquired.
"No. I just need to put this in the oven. I made a pasta salad earlier, is that alright?"
"It's great. Thanks again for cooking." Tara sipped at her wine, now feeling nervous for some reason.
Willow joined Tara at the counter bar stools completely baffled what to say. "So, here we are, having dinner, at my house."
"You haven't done much with the place." Tara commented and then cringed when she saw the redhead's downcast expression.
"No, I guess not. It's just been someplace to sleep and do my computer work. I've never been sure I was staying permanently and I didn't really have many personal items. I couldn't bring much back from Khul and I never knew what happened to my things when I left here."
Suddenly the redhead was on her feet. "Dammit! I swore I wasn't going to bring up eight years ago and now you've been here all of five minutes and I'm talking about it!"
Tara jumped up and ran her hands down Willow's arms, stroking the long sleeves she was wearing. "What I said was rude. I'm just nervous I guess. As usual I didn't even think about how things are for you."
Tara leaned so that she could see into Willow's downturned face and lifted up her chin so that she could place a soft kiss on her lips. "It's Ok. I know talking won't always be easy, and it will bring up the past sometime, but I think we need that, don't you?"
"Thank you. I just don't really understand why you are even here, and I'm afraid I'm going to do something wrong that makes you leave." Willow whispered, biting her lower lip.
Just then the oven timer went off signaling the food was ready. Willow blew out her breath in exasperation and Tara chuckled. "Let's eat, then talk, all right?"
Driving into LA was a wonder for Elena who had never imagined a city so big and so new. The great cities of Khul were ancient with constant renovation, leaving a patchwork of old and modern. Her vampire driver was happy to act as tour guide, although his singular focus on the nightlife left much undiscussed. They arrived at the hotel and met the souled vampire with the ironic name, to Elena at least, of Angel.
After settling in, the three met to discuss the specifics of the operation to free the second Slayer. Angel had obtained detailed blueprints of the prison and pinpointed the cell where Faith was currently housed. They agreed Spike would stay at the car as the driver and Angel would accompany Elena into the prison to accomplish the breakout using a combination of magickal techniques. She hoped Faith was worth this effort.
When the three were all satisfied with the plan and each of their roles, Elena retired to the room she had been given for the night. As a soldier, she knew she should get as much sleep as possible since she would get little to none the next night. However, she couldn't stop thinking about Willow, or more specifically Willow and Tara.
The blond woman was an enigma to Elena. She was a natural witch, and had never touched darkness, however her use of magick was unfamiliar. On Khul, Light Magick Witches of her power would never restrict themselves to defensive abilities; they would be expected to become proficient in a combat specialty. Did she not see the depth of her ability?
Then there was the matter of Tara's bond with Willow. She had seen the redhead's side of that unique connection for many years. She had attempted to explore the blond's side of the relationship at coffee, but had received mostly a thoughtful silence. Then Willow had appeared in the afternoon practically giddy with delight and had confessed when pressed that Tara had kissed her and wanted to talk later.
Perhaps her message to the blond witch had gotten through after all. If so, she would need to be pleased for Willow's sake. Willow had never been anything but honest about her feelings, but Elena had always held a hope she could not dispel from her heart that one day her greatest desire could be realized and the redhead would be her's to love. Well, she had given Tara a deadline. Which meant when she returned to Sunnydale she would finally know if hope remained.
Dinner had been a relatively quick and quiet affair. The food was delicious and Tara complimented the chef repeatedly. Otherwise, both women seemed to be lost in their own thoughts. After a quick cleanup, they found themselves on the couch with two cups of tea waiting on the side table.
"Willow, I want to start with an apology, or several really." The redhead started to interrupt, but was silenced by Tara holding a finger to her lips. "Let me."
Tara continued, "I know I had every right to be angry with you and to be worried about why you were here at first. But I had no right to ask you to do that forget spell. You proved yourself that night, and so many others. You've helped Buffy and saved us all several times now. I'm ashamed I didn't let you into the shield earlier. And you've been an amazing parent, Isobel loves you so much."
As Tara paused and took a sip of her tea Willow couldn't hold back, "Tara, you really, really don't need to apologize. I understand what you did, you had every right."
Tara shook her head, "I just needed to say those things so that you know they are in the past. What I want now is to know you, and that includes everything that has happened to you."
"Oh, you don't want to hear about that, I promise you." Willow found she was wringing her hands nervously.
"But I do." This time Tara scooted close enough that their knees were touching and took Willow's hands, running her thumbs over the backs. "I want to know everything that has made you into the amazing woman you are, the woman that I love."
"You love me?" Willow asked with a trembling lip.
"I do." Tara answered looking deep into green eyes, followed by a lingering kiss.
That seemed to calm the redhead who smiled. "I love you too. Really, really love you."
"I know, and that makes me very lucky." The blond tucked her head into the redhead's lap, stroking the arm in front of her. "Tell me how you got these." She said, sliding her fingers up onto Willow's scarred wrist.
"Oh please, not that, I can't start with that." Willow flinched, drawing her hand up into her sleeve.
Tara sat up enough to stroke the redhead's cheek with her palm. "I'm sorry, it's fine, I didn't mean to start with something difficult. Tell me about Khul, what it looks like there."
"Ok, that I can handle." Willow spent the next two hours describing her home of eight years, telling Tara about the landscape, the cities, the Light and the Dark, and the history of their magick and wars. They settled more and more into the couch until Willow found she was lying with Tara tucked into her side, stroking soft blond hair as she spoke. Tara had listened mostly, asking a few questions, but mostly enjoying Willow's storytelling, reminiscing that the redhead had rarely been short of words.
When Tara's cell phone rang, it surprised both women. Tara sat up and saw that Dawn was calling. "Sorry to intrude, but Isobel wanted to say goodnight before I put her to bed."
"No problem Dawn, we were just talking." Tara started to say something and instead asked Dawn to hold on for a minute. "How about we both go back to the house and say goodnight to our daughter? We can talk more there if you are up for it."
Willow was beaming. "Our daughter. You've never said that before. Of course, let's go."
It took a story and three kisses from each Mom before Isobel gave up her excitement at being tucked in by Tara and Willow together and started to drift off to sleep. When they exited her bedroom, Willow turned right to head down the stairs but was stopped by Tara who took her arm and led her to the left and into the master bedroom.
Willow stepped through the doorway and found her feet frozen to the carpet. She had not been inside this room since the day she had left it to find Tara on campus and ask her to coffee. The day she had fled to Rack's. The day she had been pulled through the portal into Khul. The day Isobel had been conceived.
It had been Willow's room on that day. As the redhead looked around, she found the space had been transformed by her former lover. Soft tapestry in earth tones decorated the walls. The bed was across from where it had been and was covered in a rich red duvet over cream sheets. Large square pillows that would provide comfort during meditation were stacked near the window. The overall effect was quintessential Tara. Just standing there, Willow was enveloped by her essence. The aroma was also affecting the redhead. With every breath she took in the scent of Vanilla, of incense, of Tara herself permeating the room.
Tara had stopped when she saw that Willow was standing as if frozen. She was about to say something when she realized Willow probably need a minute to acclimate herself, so she waited. When Willow's eyes focused on her again she grasped the redhead's hand again and led her further into the room and shut the door behind them.
Willow smiled shyly, "It's beautiful in here."
"Thank you. Buffy wanted me to have the larger room for Isobel. We shared until Dawn talked Xander into remodeling the basement. Then Isobel took Dawn's old room and I did some decorating in here."
"Well you did a great job. It speaks to what an amazing woman you have become." Despite her nervousness, Willow found herself relaxing, surrounded by all things Tara.
The blond smiled and led Willow over to the bed. "Sit. I wanted to give you something." Tara reached into the nightstand drawer and fished around for a minute taking out two items. "When Buffy packed up your things I kept this." She smiled a little sadly, "We were so happy."
Willow looked at the photo in Tara's hands, the one from a day at the beach. She traced one finger over their grinning faces. "Yes, we were." Her instinct was to feel guilty about all that happened subsequently, but she let that wash over her and found she could simply enjoy the memory of a wonderful day together. "I'm glad you kept it."
"Me too." Tara set the photo down and opened the palm of her other hand revealing the Doll's eye crystal. "I didn't really keep anything of yours. Maybe Buffy still has some things tucked away, you should ask. But I kept this. I've never used it, in magick. I want you to have it again. Think of it as a start on having some 'personal items' again."
"I rejected this the first time you tried to give it to me." Willow said quietly as she held out her hand, "I won't do that again."
Tara placed the Doll's eye in her hand and the Light Witch could feel the clarifying strength of the crystal in a way she never could before. "Thank you. I . . ." Willow found she couldn't continue as her eyes filled with tears and she looked down to disguise her emotion.
Tara wasn't fooled. She could see Willow struggling and embraced her tightly. "Things fell apart. They fell apart so hard. We can't put them back the way they were."
"I know." Willow pulled back a little from the embrace afraid that the crystal was her parting gift.
"We're not the same people we were." The blond witch's voice was full of emotion.
Willow waited for the ending. The one where Tara told her she could never be trusted again, that they couldn't fit in each other's lives that way anymore. That they could be friends and raise Isobel together, but nothing more. She found herself on her feet wanting to be as close as possible to the door when the hammer fell. She had only taken two steps when she felt Tara's arm encircle her from behind and hold her firmly in place.
Tara knew now was the moment and she had to get this right. She had her love in her arms. She leaned down speaking softly but with strength into the ear so near her lips. "I love you Willow. I love the woman you are now. Our past will always be a part of us, but we have a chance, an amazing opportunity. We can build a new trust, on both sides. We can create a life together, a family, starting now."
The blond started placing small kisses on the redhead's ear then moved down to her neck, raining soft pecks until she heard Willow whimper and felt her lean back into the embrace. Tara smiled and moved to the other side working her kisses up from neck to ear to whisper. "It's an important process. But we've been apart far too long. I think we can skip to the kissing now, don't you?"
Tara loosened her hold enough to allow the petite redhead to spin until they were facing. Willow raised her arms placing her hands behind the blond's neck and pulling her gently until their lips touched. But the redhead didn't stop, she kept pulling, bringing their mouths together fiercely. In response Tara tightened her grasp around Willow's waist until the two were crushed together, lips, breasts, hips, with no separation. Mouths opened, tongues explored, rediscovering the taste, the texture, the electricity of those magnificent kisses. Only when neither could hold out any longer, the two witches separated to breathe deep.
"Kissing works for me. We can skip to that anytime you want." Willow gasped, still gulping in air.
More kisses followed and Willow realized Tara was subtly moving backwards toward the bed. The blond sat on the edge, pulling the redhead between her legs before she allowed their lips to separate. Willow looked down into deep blue eyes full of longing. Tara was moving her hands under the hem of Willow's shirt and onto the bare skin of her back. The redhead found her head lolling back as she indulged in the feel of the blond witch's hands moving smoothly over her tattoos, which tingled in response.
Suddenly Willow felt her shirt lifted up from behind and over her head. As Tara started to pull it down her arms, Willow panicked, jerking away from the bed. She stood like a patient in a strait-jacket staring down at her still shirt covered arms.
"Tara, I can't. You don't know, the scars, they're hideous."
Tara was on her feet instantly and in reach of the trembling redhead. "We can stop if you want." The blond spoke calmly as she stroked her palms up and down the shirt sleeves. "But you are beautiful. Every part of you, everything that has made you the woman I love. And I want to see all of that woman, I want all of you Willow."
Tara held Willow's face and kissed her gently and then allowed her hands to drop again to the shirt covered arms hanging in front of the redhead. "May I?"
Willow bit her lip nervously, but when she looked at Tara, she saw nothing but love reflected back, and gave a quick nod.
Tara led Willow back to the bed and this time she sat the redhead down and dropped to her knees. She slowly peeled the shirt down while never taking her eyes away from Willow's gaze. Only after she tossed the garment away did she allow her hands to again trace down the redhead's arms, her eyes following their path. What she saw brought her to tears for the anguish her lover must have suffered, but she knew Willow didn't need to see that right now. So she moved her lips, brushing feather light kisses up and down over the scars, first on one arm and then the other. Only then did she look back up at Willow's worried face.
"Beautiful, just like the rest of you." Tara spoke with all the sincerity she felt in her heart.
Willow lifted her up from the floor, kissing and falling back until Tara was straddling her on the bed. "Thank you for that." She pushed the blond's shirt up enough to touch the skin at her waist. "But I know where true beauty can be found."
Tara's shirt found the floor and soon thereafter two bras were tossed. Willow was transfixed, her eyes moving slowly from Tara's face down to her breasts and back again until she smiled and the blond lowered her body onto the redhead. Nipples crushed together as lips found each other again in a passionate kiss. The lovers kissed and touched and rolled until Willow found herself on top of the blond.
Willow's lower body was between Tara's legs and as she started rocking slowly the blond moaned and lifted her hips seeking more pressure. Willow responded by frustrating her in an even more delicious way as she slid down until she could kiss her left breast, her warm breath flowing over the hard nipple. When she engulfed it into her mouth both women groaned and Tara's hand moved to the back of Willow's head and held her there, luxuriating in the feel of her lover's tongue circling and stroking; her lips and teeth nipping and tugging. By the time the redhead had worshiped both breasts Tara's breath was shallow and her hips were shifting aimlessly.
"Willow. Willow please."
Sitting up the redhead shifted so that she was straddling Tara's hips and moved her hands to cover Tara's breasts, never leaving them without attention. "Yes my love?"
"Willow, I need you."
As she slid down the redhead slipped the button and lowered the zipper on the jeans the blond was wearing. "Oh Tara, you have me, all of me." Before she started to remove the garment Willow looked up to blue eyes once more, her eyes anxious. "Forever?"
"Forever." Tara didn't need to say anything else, she knew Willow needed reassurance and would see the truth of her love etched in the emotions on her face.
Willow's face softened and her green eyes sparkled as she kissed every inch of Tara's skin as it was exposed during her disrobing. Hips, thighs, knees, legs, feet, before she stood up and discarded her own remaining clothes. When she started kissing her way back up the blond's legs, Tara reached down and pulled Willow up by the arms to lie fully on top of her, skin touching everywhere. Tara slid one leg between the redhead's and kissed her hungrily.
The two women were locked together now and each could feel the mutual heat and wetness of arousal on strong thighs. For several minutes they clung to each other, kissing and rocking steadily, needing to feel every point of contact reestablished.
It was the redhead who broke first lifting up from the kiss and leaning her forehead against the blond's. "Baby, it's been so long, I don't think I can hold on much longer. I need to feel you, touching me."
"Goddess Willow, I'm there too."
Both women caressed a hand down between their sweat-slicked bodies and reached damp curls, then swollen lips dripping with arousal, until they stroked in and upward filling each other. Stilling for a moment they both reveled in the blissful feeling of completion. Then need spurred them on, and they found themselves thrusting deeper and faster, finally crying out as one.
Slayer hearing had saved Buffy Summers more than once. When she heard shouting she was on her feet in less than a second and heading for her bedroom door. Thankfully she paused to grab a weapon so that by the time she was in the hallway the sounds had become clearer and she realized more than one voice was involved. Two women as a matter of fact, specifically two witches who were her best friends.
As the cries of passion settled into mummers of love and adoration, Buffy found she was standing in the hallway, sword hanging loose in her hand, a goofy smile on her face, and tears of joy streaming down her face. She turned back to her room with renewed faith in the enduring nature of true love and determination to protect the two women who had been through hell to find it once again.