Author's Note: This is a sequel to my fic Somewhere I Belong. You'll want to read that or you won't know what's going on.

Buffy, Xander and Dawn walked with Willow to the gate for her flight. Xander handed Willow her carry-on bag.

"I stuffed some snacks in the front pocket of your bag there," Xander said. "Those little bags of peanuts just don't cut it."

"Thanks," Willow said with a smile. Buffy looked around and then cautiously spoke.

"Uh, so, Tara's not here," she said. "That's…weird."

"No, we said goodbye last night," Willow explained. "We both agreed that it would be easier for me to get on the plane if she wasn't here."

"Understandable," Buffy said. "Long goodbyes make it hard to say goodbye." She paused and looked confused. "Or something."

"Yeah, it was hard enough just thinking about going," Willow said. "But Giles said I probably would be spending a lot of time with the coven and I wouldn't have a whole lot of time to use the phone or e-mail or anything."

"Wow. That sucks," Dawn said. Buffy elbowed her. "What?"

"Just think how great it will be when you get back," Buffy said, encouraging Willow. "Being apart makes it a thousand times better when you're finally together."

"I know. It's just another part of the whole learning control thing, I guess," she replied. A voice over the intercom announced Willow's flight was now boarding. "Well, that's me."

Buffy stepped forward and gave her friend a tight hug. "Good luck, Will."

"Thanks." She moved over and hugged Dawn and then Xander.

"We'll miss ya," Xander said, giving Willow an extra squeeze for good measure. "Bring us back some souveniers."

"I'll try to remember," Willow said with a smile. She turned and walked toward the gate. She handed her ticket to the attendant and just as she was about to walk through the door, she turned, offered her friends a smile and one last wave. They waved back and Willow boarded the plane.

"This is going to be weird," Xander said. "I mean, Willow and I have known each other for like almost 20 years. She's always been here."

"I know, but it's only gonna be a few months," Buffy said. "Although I think we should try to involve Tara more with stuff we do, try to keep her mind off Willow. From the sound of things they won't be able to talk much while Will's in England."

"I don't think Tara's real big on patrol," Xander said. He led the way toward the parking garage.

"Yeah, she doesn't really thrive on the danger," Buffy said.

"We could rent some movies," Dawn said.

"Or go to the Bronze," Xander said. They all got into the car and Buffy shook her head.

"We don't have to do anything special, just you know, ask her if she wants to come along when we go somewhere or whatever," Buffy said. "She'll notice if we start having movie nights and stuff. We can't try too hard."

"So subtle invitations," Xander commented as he started the car. "Check."

Buffy sighed. "All I know is it's going to be a long few months for both of them."

"Have you ever been convicted of a crime?"

Tara looked at Anya, confused. "Uh, no. But you know that."

"Do you have any references?" Anya asked.

"Anya, you know me," Tara replied. "When I called, you said you would hire me."

"I know that, but there's a process to hiring employees," Anya said. She noticed the look on Tara's face and tried to explain. "I read it in a manual. It was about being a good boss. The first chapter was about hiring the right employees."

"Well?"

Anya stood with a smile and extended her hand. Tara reluctantly took it. "Welcome to the Magic Box team."

"Uh, it's just you and me," Tara said.

"Yes. We're a team," Anya said. She headed over to the cash register. "Why did you call me for a job anyway?"

"Well, I got a partial scholarship to school and have been living off a trust fund my mother had set up," Tara explained. "But the trust fund's running out. I'm low on cash."

"Well, I certainly could use the help," Anya said. "I'm always having to close the shop to go do vegeance for scorned women. It's cutting into my profits. Now, you can stay here if I have to leave."

"Oh, uh…" Tara was so used to being around Anya she had practically forgotten she was a vengeance demon again.

"It's great. I've been thinking about hiring somebody, and with somebody I know, it makes it that much better," Anya said excitedly. She smiled and walked across the store toward the basement door. "This is going to be great!"

Tara sighed and then laughed. She wasn't quite sure how great this would really be.

Willow arrived at Giles' house and he opened the door to greet her. She smiled and gave him a hug when she got to his door.

"Willow, how have you been?" he asked.

"Good," she said as he led her inside. "Well, there was that rough patch I had for a while there, but I'm good now."

"Yes, the rough patch. As you know, Tara's kept me up to date on your situation since you two got back together," he said. Willow nodded her head. "She truly loves you. It's been a while since I've met someone so determined to make a relationship work." He chuckled. "Well, not since Buffy and Angel. But I suppose that's not the best example."

Willow chuckled with him. "Not really." Then her expression changed. "But Tara and I…I can't imagine my life without her. I don't want to imagine my life without her."

"Well, I suppose that's why you're here then, right?" Giles asked. Willow nodded her head. He looked at his watch. "Sarah and the others should be here shortly. I'm confident they'll be of help to you. They're very knowledgeable, and I think they'll truly be able to help you attain the control you seek."

"I hope so," Willow said. "I hate being afraid of my power. I hate being afraid that I might hurt somebody I care about. Or even somebody I don't care about."

"You've certainly learned from your mistakes," Giles said. "You being here proves that."

"It's just this whole thing with Amy that just happened rattled me. I got a little peek at what I could have been, and it was scary," Willow said. "I mean, literally. Pale and veiny. I'm not the most superficial person, but I was not winning any beauty contests with that look."

Giles smiled and attempted to reassure her. "Well, that's not who you're going to be. You and Tara both have a second chance here."

"Oh, we're definitely not taking it for granted," Willow said. "No granted being taken."

A knock at the door interrupted their conversation. Giles opened it and five women stepped in. He turned and introduced them.

"Willow, this is Sarah, Marguerite, Natasha, Anastasia and Melinda," he said, pointing toward each woman as he said their name. "Ladies, this is Willow Rosenberg."

"Hi," Willow said shyly. Just being in their presence she could feel their power. She could tell Sarah was the most powerful and most likely the head of their coven. She was the first to speak.

"Welcome, Willow," she said. She took Willow's hand and squeezed it gently. "Rupert has told us a lot about you. You have quite a journey ahead of you."

"About that," she said nervously. "I'm a little fuzzy on the details. What exactly does this journey involve?"

"There will be rituals and training to help you gain focus and balance," Natasha explained. "There will be a lot of meditation exercises."

"Giles said something about a spiritual journey, like a vision quest or something," Willow said, waiting for an explanation.

"Yes, that will be the final step in becoming attuned with the world around you," Anastasia replied. "Magic is in everything. Once you are attuned with the world, you will have the control you are looking for."

"Cool," Willow said, hesitation in her tone. "So, when do we start?"

"Tomorrow morning," Marguerite said. "We just wanted to meet you tonight. You've had a long flight and should get some rest before we begin."

The coven turned back toward the door, having finished their brief introductory visit. Sarah turned back before they all left.

"Good evening, Rupert," she said. Then she looked to Willow. "Sleep well, Willow. Blessed be."

Willow smiled and offered a little wave. "Blessed be."