Giles was rearranging books on the shelves at the magic store when the door banged open and Willow whirled in.

"Hi Giles! Found that book you were looking for in the last box in my room. Guess what? Daniel invited me out tonight. We're going to O'Malleys, it's the place where they go to unwind after work, sort of like when we went to, remember the Bronze in Sunnydale? I'm not sure where this thing between Daniel and I is going but I really like him." And she paused for a breath dramatically, making Giles chuckle.

"A bit too much caffeine this morning Willow?" he asked, raising an eyebrow, then chuckling again as she stuck out her tongue at him.

As she settled down behind the counter she sighed, "I really miss Kennedy you know? But I really like Daniel. He's…." she paused, cocking her head. "He's so smart, and strong, and funny. He understands our life and I can share his." She sighed again and Giles moved to stand in front of her.

"Are you afraid of not being a lesbian anymore?" He asked quietly.

Willow shook her head, "I don't think it's being lesbian, bi or straight. I think it's the awesomeness of loving the other person totally. I don't know if I can do that after Tara, or after Kennedy."

Giles cupped a gentle hand over her cheek, "There's no rush. Enjoy his company and you can decide later."

The door opening announced a customer and Willow smiled brightly, "Thanks for the advice Giles."

Buffy, team's SG-1, SG-2 and Major Ferretti's teams had shoved four tables together and were joking and laughing when the door opened. Willow came in a bit hesitantly and Buffy stood up, "Will!" Willow's face lit up as both Buffy and Jay went over for hugs.

"Who's the pretty red head?" Ferretti asked.

Teal'c looked at the man, "She is Willow Rosenberg, Buffy Coburn's best friend and a formidable warrior."

Most of the men glanced over and appraised her differently, making Daniel bristle, "She's also my friend so lay off." And he got up and stalked over to where Willow was talking animatedly to his friends.

Jack grinned and took a sip of his beer, "Better listen to Danny or Teal'c will be most unhappy."

Teal'c looked down his nose at the offending men, "Indeed."

The teams had talked about Kinsey's death. SG-1, Jay and Buffy listened quietly, having been told the shocking truth by Jack. There was the general agreement of 'Good riddance to bad rubbish.'

A couple of Ferretti's team were still watching Willow and talking to Ballard, "She's just a civilian!" one of them exclaimed indignantly. Ballard leaned over, eyes narrowed, "A civilian who rescued my boss and XO from a goa'uld and who saved Dr. Jackson's life, thank you very much."

Sighing, Jack stood as the four of them came over, "Hey Will."

Willow smiled and came over and kissed his cheek, "Hi Jack." She kissed Teal'c too, making his face beam with a pleased look. She grinned at Sam, "Hi Sam, how are you?"

"Great Willow. Hey Buffy, let's move the guys down and sit at the end table." Sam said and Buffy nodded agreement. The four women moved to the table, gathering Hailey along the way and they sat and talked animatedly while the men watched indulgently.

Ferretti's team were watching with open mouths, "Why haven't we seen her before?" Lt. Al Mills asked.

Jack looked at Lou, "You were off planet when we rescued Jay right?"

He nodded, "Yeah, we were at the Alpha site."

Their food hadn't arrived yet and one of the guys already had a little too much to drink. He got and began to move toward the women when Daniel stood in his way, "I suggest that you sit before you fall down." He said quietly.

"Fall down? I'm only a little drunk."

Daniel smiled, "But you'll fall down when I punch you out."

Buffy froze and got up to see what was up. "Problems gentlemen?" she inquired, arching her eyebrow at her husband and Jack who were just sitting there nursing their beers.

Daniel shook his head, "Lt. Zuber was just going to sit down."

Blinking Buffy smiled, "Ok, Willow want to talk to you anyway. Go take my seat while I shove Ferretti over."

Zuber looked at the archeologist, "So, that's why you're on my ass. You want to sleep with her yourself."

In one smooth move Buffy pivoted and popped him on the jaw, felling him like a redwood. "Ooops, my fist slipped." She stepped over him and leaned over to Ferretti, "You need to housetrain your boys Major."

The rest of the teams were whooping with laughter while Ferretti sighed and hauled up the slightly unsteady but more sober Lt. "Yeah, I know." He saluted sloppily and led the weaving man out of the restaurant and read him the riot act then poured him into a cab.

Daniel was talking quietly to Willow who then looked at Buffy and shook her head, eyes promising conversation later.

Buffy sat beside her husband and shook her hand, "Sheesh, he has a head like a freakin' rock." Jay took her poor abused hand and pressed kisses over it, his eyes amused in his face.

Jack snorted, "Never a dull moment with you around Xena."

At that moment Lou came back in, a wide grin on his face, "How do you feel about teaching teenage girls how to protect themselves?"

Buffy smiled, "Have done before. You have a daughter that's dating?"

"Oh yeah." Came Lou's heartfelt groan.

Buffy sat for a moment, "Well, between Jay and the SGC and the occasional patrols I don't have much free time but maybe…" she tapped her lip thoughtfully and Jay got out his PDA and handed it to her. She opened it and checked their calendar, "The last two Saturdays each month ok by you?"

Ferretti had already pulled out his pocket calendar, "I'll need to check with Sheila, but it looks good so far. What time?"

"Ask your daughter. It'll give her a say in it."

Lou nodded, "How much?"

"Ok, you don't need to insult me." Their waitress's chose to come out and start serving. Buffy looked down the tables at Willow and Daniel, engrossed in each and sighed.

Jack leaned over, "Daniel won't hurt her Buffy."

Her eyebrows raised, "And how many times has he.." the waitress leaned over and served her and Teal'c, "you know?" she said.

"They're adults Buffy." Jay said patiently.

"The last person that she loved left her. The person before that died in her arms from a gunshot wound. The man before that left because he was confused. As good as I am I'm only human. I can't guarantee his safety, not even for my best friend." Buffy pushed her plate slightly away, suddenly not feeling very hungry. She took her soda and sipped it, her worried eyes on her best friend's happy face.

Jack leaned over and clasped her had, "Buffy, there are no guarantees in life. If they can be happy then you should let them."

She looked at their clasped hands, then into his dark eyes and blew out an unsteady breath, "I hate it when you're right Jack."

Jay snorted, "You get used to it."

****

Later Willow was standing on Daniel's balcony, watching the sunset. He came out a moment later and leaned against her, resting his shoulder against hers.

"Are you ok Will?"

She smiled up at the handsome man, his hair gilded in the light of the setting sun, his blue eyes on hers, "A little nervousness."

He nodded, "Me too." He fingered her hair, curling it around his fingertips, watching the sun turn it into fire,

She laughed, "Good, we should be nervous. We should be careful and everything else that Buffy said to me before we left."

"Buffy warned you off?" Daniel's eyes were wounded and made her giggle.

"Silly. She warned me to be careful. She loves us Daniel and doesn't want us to be hurt." She ran a gentle hand over his tense arm and he settled down. Then he took her and pulled her close for a gentle kiss, "Let her worry about Dawnie, I've got you now."

Ever since they had met when she had healed him he'd thought about her. Her eyes had met his like she had known all of his secrets and understood his soul. He knew that she was a witch and it didn't bother him. He'd enjoyed working with her on the Ireland thing, and they'd gotten closer, now he wanted to get a lot more than close. He kissed her again and she smiled, "Let's go inside."