Chapter 2.
Willow and Tara sat at opposite ends of their bed, tears running down their faces from laughing so hard.
"Right one more try!" Willow exclaimed.
Tara sat on top of the suitcase and jumped up and down while Willow tried to get the zip all the way round, finally, after what seemed an age trying it slid around the side of the case. Willow collapsed back on the bed and let her head fall into Tara's lap. The brunette ran her fingers through her hair, and both girls observed their handiwork.
"I'm thinking that neither one of us has quite grasped the travelling light concept huh!" the redhead laughed.
"Will, did you see what we packed, there's like 3 outfits each and the rest is presents!" Tara smiled.
"Yeah I know, it's been a long time though, I can't wait to see the gang again."
It had been a very long time since Willow had managed to get back to Sunnydale, 3 years in fact. The last visit was on the anniversary of Buffy's mothers' death, so at least this visit was under happier circumstances. Willow wondered if much had changed in this time, she certainly had. She had become a strong, confident young woman, with her own distinctive style, and a striking if unusual beauty. A sharp contrast to the nervous young girl she had been at school. She remembered the first time she had met Buffy. She was sitting on a bench in the school grounds when the blonde had just approached her and started chatting. This totally bemused Willow at the time, people didn't talk to her, they talked about her, giggled behind her back and made fun, but they didn't talk to her, not like this girl was. At first Willow had thought it was someone playing a joke on her, but she quickly realised that this new girl was as lonely and scared as she was. It turned out that Willow had many of the same classes as Buffy, and she lived in the next road. Before long the two girls were inseparable. Willow helped Buffy with classes, and Buffy, well Buffy daydreamed about the future.
So much had changed though, she had watched her friends life fall apart, but finally something good was happening to her. It was worth travelling across America to share that. Tara had never been to California either so it was like a double bonus for them.
Tara and Willow met at graduate school in New York, and quickly their friendship had blossomed into something even more special. They had been together nearly 2 years now, and had recently taken the enormous step of moving in together. It made sense, Willow spent all her spare time at Tara's place anyway, and they could share the rent and bills. The extra money saved had helped towards their plane tickets.
"Tickets! Tickets!" Willow screeched, "Tara where did I put the tickets?"
"They are in your bag, still, like you have checked 50 times already." Tara quietly replied.
She thought it was sweet how scatty her lover was being today, she was so excited about the trip Tara thought she might explode at any time.
"Sunnydale here we come!" Willow shouted as she slammed the door behind them, and both girls made their way to the waiting cab, dragging a very heavy case behind them.