Disclaimers: none of them belong to me or things would be sooooo much different.

A/N: I am sorry I haven't updated in ages I hate it when others do that, but life took an unexpected turn. Also I'm in need of a beta. Any takers?

Things had been busy at the Magic Box today. Lots of money filling her register. Anya paused then and looked around. Things were good. Smiling, she headed for the front door flipping the open sign to close when she saw a familiar face at the door.

"Tara is that you?"

"Um, yeah, hi Anya."

The women stood there looking at each other, when it suddenly occurred to Anya that Tara wanted to come inside. It also came to her attention that she was shaking and her face was all red.

"Well come in no need to waste all the expensive air conditioning which entices warm customers to visit and shop."

A small smile played on Tara's lips as she listened to the other woman rant on.

"I..I'm sorry to intrude, but I just couldn't think of any where else to go."

Giving her another long stare, it finally clicked.

"You've seen Willow haven't you?"

Unable to stop her throat from swelling with emotion she simply nodded.

Anya felt sorry for her friend. Willow had messed with some serious magic and Tara had suffered for it because she had loved and trusted her.

"You know I remember this one time. About 500 years ago or so, a young tempra sprite had summoned me for some vengeance. A basic call really, nothing special. Heart broken, trust in love shattered by a measly Fricke woodfin, hardly worth it if you ask me. So I did the standard turn him into a maggot for a few days and moved along. Oh, I don't know about 5 years later I ended up back in the same dimension different demon."

Anya laughed at her own joke, but stopped when she realized she was laughing alone.

"Anyway, I happened across the tempra and she was happier than ever, she had settled down with a very nice direw kemp and was surrounded by a clan of noisy little ones."

Tara looked at the pretty brunette and absorbed her words.

Impatient Anya stood and fiddled with some stones that were on sale.

"I guess what I'm saying is no matter how much it hurts and how bad it seems things may just have turned out as they should have."

Irked by the silence she was about to turn around and give her a piece of her mind, considering she had tried to make her fell better. As she turned she saw Tara standing before her, eyes full of fresh tears. Next thing she knew she was wrapped in soft arms. Hugging was something the others did; no one ever touched her or hugged her.

"Thank you Anya."

Pulling apart they smiled at each other.

"I'm engaged you know so don't be getting any ideas that you are going to be getting any hot lesbian action from me."

The howl of laughter that erupted from the shy witch was so unexpected that Anya simply stared at her, but soon found herself joining in.

Within minutes the two had ended up on the floor in a heap of giggles and eyes wet from tears of mirth.

"I met a boy today."

Now it was Anya's turn to be shocked.

"Is that some secret codename for you know the dominant partner or."

Blushing furiously Tara quickly interrupted.

"NO, no a real boy."

Eyes wide Anya turned and faced her, uncaring at that moment that her cash register was unlocked or that her $160 skirt was getting wrinkled.

"So, was he cute? Will he give you many orgasms? Could you tell how big you know his package was?"

Tara didn't know what to say. She couldn't decide if the questions shocked her more or the fact that her revelation hadn't surprised Anya.

"Well I don't know. It doesn't surprise you that I said I met a boy?"

"Surprised? Why would I?"

Then it dawned on her.

"Oh, you mean because of the whole lesbian thing?"

Tara nodded.

"Well just because you were with a woman before doesn't mean you have to always be. That would kinda take the fun out of it wouldn't it. I mean I am/was a vengeance demon, buffy had not 1 but 2 vampire boyfriends. Willow was with a guy than wasn't. Life is always about choices. When you loose the choice you loose your life.

Tara couldn't respond to that. Had Anya always been so wise? How come no one had noticed it before? And what was that remark about 2 vampire boyfriends.

She felt her eyes on her and continued to study her perfectly manicured nails.

"What!!"

"I just never realized how much you had to offer, I'm sorry."

Taken back Anya felt tears fill up in her own eyes.

"Yes, well, you know."

Taking her hand she squeezed it lightly.

"I know what its like to be on the outside. They are all so special in their own way. They have a certain rhythm that no one else can seem to march too."

They sat there like that each lost in their own thoughts.

"How about we go get some coffee, because I very much want to hear your theory on Buffy's 2 vampire boyfriends."

Rising she smiled, it felt good to help and feel wanted. But a tiny voice crept up in the back of her mind. Wasn't that what Xander supposed to do? Pushing that voice away she headed towards the door. Her money could wait until tomorrow.

"Sounds great."

"And after we can get to work on that hot lesbian sex."

For once someone had shocked the speech out of Anya, and she didn't know what was more shocking the fact that she had no reply or that Tara was the one to put her in her place.

Laughing Tara grabbed her arm and pulled her from the store.