Faith and Willow were walking for a while. They talked about high school and all the changes they'd both been though since then. Now it was dark outside. "Faith, shouldn't we go somewhere safe?"

"We're safe."

"We're outside, alone, in the dark. I know you're a slayer and all but what if we get attacked by vampires or demons?" Willow grabbed Faith's arm for safety.

"It's ok. They can't see us."

"What? Whaddyou mean?" Willow stepped back just enough so that she could look at Faith while she spoke.

"I had an old friend of your put a protection spell on us."

"Amy?" Faith nodded. "Is that what you were doing earlier?"

"Well, that was part of it."

"Faith, what the hell is going on here?" Willow is starting to get mad.

"Can you do me a favor? Willow, can you just trust me?"

"How long will the spell last?"

"Until we're both safe at home."

"Ok—"Willow hesitated and finally said, "Lead the way."

"We're already here."

"Bu—but this is a cemetery.

"I told you to trust me."

Willow rolled her eyes and obliged. Faith grabbed Willow's hand and led her to a gravestone. Willow was too scared of being in a cemetery at night to notice exactly where they were. "There's something I think you need to do and we're not leaving until you do it."

"Wha—what?"

"It took me a while to find it, but this is what I did earlier. I knew you wouldn't do it yourself, so I had to make you." Faith gave Willow's hand a little squeeze and released it from her own.

"Tara." Faith said as she pointed to the headstone.

Faith looked at the woman in front of her and took a few steps back. She watched the red-head start to cry as she realized it was her deceased lover's grave. Willow fell to her knees.

"Faith why did you bring me here?"

Faith stood with her arms folded. "Don't talk to me. Talk to her." She pointed to Tara's grave again. Faith bent down and kissed Willow's forehead. She then stood up and took her place a few feet away, silently watching and praying.

"I'm here. I'm watching. You're safe, but if you want me to leave I will."

Willow didn't say anything for a really long time. Faith watched on.

"It's been a long day—"

"I know," Faith said. "I'm sorry, we can go if you—"

"It's been a long day, baby... It's been like one long day living life without you. You were my morning. Every time I saw you, placed my eyes on you- it was like I was waking up to the morning sun. You were my everything. I'm sorry for all the magick. I'm sorry I hurt you so bad. It's all my fault. It's all my fault that you're gone." Tears streamed down the red-head's cheeks faster than they had ever fallen from those worn-out eyes.

"Willow—it's n- not. It's not your fault. She was murdered." Faith bent down and put her hand on the girl's shoulder.

"I just- I feel so empty without her. I feel like she brought me to life."

"Maybe she did once, but there's something you need to know. The only person who can bring you back to life now is you."

Willow put her head in her hands and wept into them. While she was weeping for Tara and just getting out her own emotions, she didn't notice what Faith was doing.

Faith stood, making sure not to disturb the girl. She walked over to a bench. Earlier that day she had gone to the store and bought the prettiest variety of flowers she's ever seen. In it there were lilies (the big pink and white ones), some tulips, some daisies and lots and lots of babies breath. Faith walked back over to her Willow and laid the flowers right next to her, right in front of the headstone. She then wrapped her arms around her and began to speak:

"These flowers are for Tara, from me. Because she had to be a really special girl. The way you talk about her, I think she's an angel. She's your angel now. She'll watch over you. She'll cry with you, laugh with you. You can talk to me Red. You can trust me. I wanna know how you feel. I wanna know when you hurt. I wanna see you cry, I wanna hold you and comfort you. I wanna make you laugh. I wanna look at you and see the beautiful woman you are. But, I don't want you to forget her. I want you to keep that place in your heart for her."

Willow looked at the flowers. "Thank you."

"Let's go home."

"There's so much more I have to say."

"Then say it. I'll go. You'll be safe because of Amy's protection spell."

"Don't go too far. I want you to walk me home...if you don't mind."

"I don't mind. I'll just walk around a while." Faith started to walk away. She was out of Willow's sight but could still hear her words clearly.

"Goddess, Tara, I don't know where to begin. Last time I was here I couldn't stay. I couldn't deal with the fact that you were in the ground. But this time, tonight, Faith made me realized that you're not in the ground. Your in my heart. You'll always be in my heart baby."

Faith's ears twitched at the sound of her own name.

"I felt so guilty for that kiss with Kennedy and for everything she tried to push me into. I felt like for just a second, in that kiss, that I forgot you. But I know now that I can't forget you because you're in my heart."
Willow paused for a moment. She looked around and did not see Faith. Unbeknownst to her, Faith was still listening. She then proceeded to say, "I also have a confession to make. I think I'm falling for someone. She's got beautiful dark hair and big brown eyes. She's strong and sweet at the same time. She's becoming a great friend, more than I'd ever thought she could be. She's shown me parts of her that I don't think many people have seen. Today we talked and for the first time in a really long time, I felt cared about."

Willow became silent. This was Faith's cue.

"Red, you ready to go, it's really cold out here."

"Yeah. Just a minute." Willow kissed her fingers and placed her hand over Tara's name.

Faith held out her hand. Willow smiled and placed her fingers in the outstretched palm before her. The two walked slowly back the Summers' house in silence.

Willow's POV ^I wish Faith could have heard me now. I'd never have the courage to tell her how I feel about her. But I also don't want to risk losing this friendship that's developing. Although, she did kiss me on the forehead which sent shivers down my whole body. I don't feel guilty like I did with Kennedy. Of course I didn't kiss Faith (not to say that I haven't thought about it...a lot).^

Faith's POV ^I wish I knew who she was talking about. Kennedy doesn't deserve her. After all I did for her today, she better be talking about me. I feel bad for listening in, but curiosity got the best of me. And I can't say anything because then she'll know I was listening. She had to be talking about me (a girl can hope), Kennedy was so angry why would she turn around and be nice. Sometimes I just wanna smack her.^

Faith looked over at Willow, show seemed to be lost in her own thoughts.

^Look at her... so much going on inside that busy brain of hers. It's so cute. Geez, Faith, you're turning into a school girl, just kiss her already. But, that wouldn't be right. She's had a tough past two days not to mention the past week or year.^

They arrived at the Summers' doorstep.

"Well....it, uh, looks like we're here." Faith said nervously.

"Thanks Captain Obvious." Both girls smiled. "Thank you for tonight, Faith. I really needed to do that."

"I know."

"How?"

"I could see it in your eyes."

"Oh," Willow blushed.

"We should go to bed; it's getting cold and very late. I—I mean our own respective beds of course, not like the same bed..."

"Faith you're starting to sound like me." Willow giggled.

"It's good to see you smile, Red."

So, um.. I guess goodnight?"

"Yes, goodnight, Red."

"Um, Faith? ...Can I have my hand back?"

"Oh...yeah- sorry."

"You apologize too much."

"Sorry. .. I mean—I'll work on that," Faith said with a smile, "Goodnight." Faith pulled Willow in for a hug and kissed her softly on the cheek. She turned to head for the basement.

"Faith—"

"What?" Faith said as she turned back around to face a blushing Willow.

"You missed."

"I missed what?"

"My lips." Willow smiled, and walked off to her bedroom. She slept more peacefully than she had in a very long time.

------------ The End? ...or shall I continue?