If you had told Tally she'd be going on a date with Sarah Alder a year ago she'd downright think you had been a witness to her fantasies. Alas here she was on a date with the Sarah Alder, former General of the United States Witch Army. They'd grown closer since reuniting and even closer after the defeat of the Camarilla.

Since their return to Fort Salem and the question up in the air on who would continue to serve as a witch or who would like to give up their conscription. Tally didn't really have a home to go back to and like she had told her mother; Fort Salem was her home. But nowadays, it felt like home was wherever Sarah was.

There were feelings, feelings they hadn't really talked about, even after they had defeated the Camarilla and Sarah had kissed her so fiercely it took both their breaths away. They had been doing this dance around each other. Letting their wounds physically and emotionally mend. They were content with merely being in each other's presence.

Of course, Nicte and the others knew differently and kept pushing them towards each other. To admit their feelings for one another because they could all see what was going on between them. Sarah wouldn't deny they were right and Tally would simply blush, which made Sarah smile at her.

It wasn't until winter break that Sarah had come to her, bundled up in civilian winter clothes that she had asked Tally if she'd like to go on a date with her. Luckily everyone else had gone home for break and Tally stayed so it was really just her and Sarah.

Tally blushed so hard she almost had a nose bleed, she took Sarah by the hand and dragged her out the door so she could have some fresh air to cool down with.

Sarah looked confused for a minute until she realized why Tally was so flustered, "Did I say something wrong? Was I wrong in thinking you felt the same?"

Tally blushed some more, "No, Sarah, you're not wrong. I do feel things for you. I guess even after all that we've been through you still make my heart skip a beat," Tally ducked her head at her omission pushing her hair behind her ear, "I would love to go on a date with you."

Sarah suddenly looked a little nervous and cleared her throat, "I, uh, I've never been on a date before. So, forgive me if I do something wrong. But I'll make it the best first date for both of us."

Tally smiled at how nervous Sarah was and how childlike she seemed, "Sarah, I could sit and talk to you for hours and it'd be the perfect date. Don't stress about it. Bring down the Camarilla, no problem. But take a pretty woman on a date and now you're nervous, even when you're the one that asked me on the date. You're too cute."

Sarah blanched at being called cute which only made Tally giggle some more which in turn wiped the look from Sarah's face and only made her smile happily at the younger woman. "How about this Friday then?" Sarah looked at her with hopeful eyes.

Tally nodded and reached up to fix Sarah's scarf that began to come undone from Tally mercilessly dragging her out the door, "I would love that, Sarah. Of course, I'm sure I'll see you before then though."

Sarah smiled and pulled Tally's cold hands into her own, pressing a kiss to the back of each one which made Tally blush yet again.

"Well, then, I'll leave you to continue whatever it was you were doing. I have some research to do."

Tally laughed as she playfully pushed the ex-general away and shook her head and watched the older woman walk away, "You really don't need to go through such trouble for a date, Sarah."

Sarah simply waved back at her without turning around and went off to plan herself a date. And by planning a date she went straight to Anacostia and asked her what she should do which made her daughter burst out laughing.

"I'm being serious, Ana. I've never done this before."

Anacostia gave her a pat on the back, "I've never seen this side of you before, it's adorable."

Sarah let out a groan, "Not you too. Tally said I was cute earlier."

"Well, you kind of are. Seriously, Sarah, you've been around for 300+ years and you honestly have no idea what to do for a date?"

Sarah grumbled, "You know what, fine, I'll do this myself."

"Sarah, I was only messing with you, I'll help."

But Sarah was already out the door and on her way to ask Izadora for some advice which is what she should've done in the first place.

By the time it was Friday Sarah had a whole list of things to do for their date and despite being a little nervous she was like a giddy teenager ready for her first date.

When Sarah picked Tally up it was around 3pm, the older woman was dressed in a pair of black slacks, a white button up shirt, a black vest, and a navy blue peacoat that went down to her thighs. Her black hair was down around her shoulders, yet she still looked like she could command the room. Tally of course was dressed in a pair of red corduroy pants, a green long sleeve shirt, and a white knitted jacket. Her hair was down as well except for one tiny braid that ran down the side of her hair.

"I know you said I didn't have to worry about making this a big thing and that's exactly what Izadora said, so I hope going into Salem Town will do?"

Tally smiled and wrapped her arm around Sarah's, "It's already perfect."

Sarah clutched at the piece of paper in her pocket of things she had written down to do for their little date. When they made it to Salem Town Sarah had suggested dinner and Tally enthusiastically agreed. They had both grown used to Sarah now needing to eat and Tally was more than happy enough to introduce her to all kinds of new food she'd never had before.

But nevertheless, they enjoyed their dinner, talking about anything and everything. It really wasn't that difficult for them to find something to talk about because Tally was always eager to hear about her life, the good and the bad. Tally's favorite part about dinner was of course the dessert, fruit basket cake, one of Tally's favorite desserts.

There was a smudge of icing left on Tally's cheek which Sarah gladly wiped off with her thumb and then put it into her own mouth, completely oblivious to the young woman blushing. As they were leaving, she helped Tally into her jacket and then opened the door for her.

"Sarah, has anyone opened the door for you? I mean not as the general but as yourself?"

Sarah thought about it for a moment, "I'm actually not sure, but it's not a big deal."

Tally puffed out her cheeks and let out a sigh and swore the next door they went through she was going to hold it open for Sarah. Which worked out perfectly for their window shopping, when Tally had marveled at a necklace in one of the store windows that had a gem as blue as Sarah's eyes on it.

She didn't need to say anything for Sarah to know she wanted it. Tally didn't get to open the door when they went in but as they were leaving, the necklace hanging from Tally's neck, she got the chance to open the door for Sarah for once.

Tally took her place on her arm again, smiling the brightest smile, "You didn't need to buy me this, I don't know what to get for you."

"Just spending the day with you is enough for me, Tally."

Tally bit her slip trying to hold back another smile as she pulled on Sarah's arm and placed a kiss on her cheek surprising the older woman to the point of blushing just as hard as Tally.

The redhead said nothing of it and just dragged her along window shopping for a little longer until Sarah cleared her throat to ask, "Would you like to try ice skating?"

Tally perked up and then deflated, "I don't know how to ice skate."

"That's quite alright, I can teach you. If anything, it'll give me an excuse to hold onto you," Sarah winked back at her as Tally gulped, quivering.

When they made it to the ice-skating rink there thankfully wasn't a lot of people out in it so Sarah steered them over to an empty part of it and sat Tally down as she helped her put on her skates.

"Sarah, I can do it."

Sarah paused to look up from where she was kneeling, "Tally, I need to properly tie these, I don't want you with a broken ankle."

Blushing Tally nodded and let Sarah continue on, tying them snug around her ankles. Moving to sit next to her to put her own skates on Tally noticed the biggest grin on her face.

"You're beautiful when you smile."

Sarah faltered as she tied her last lace, "I should be the one telling you that Tally, let's not forget...adorable."

There Tally went biting her lip and looking away, if anyone saw their interaction of course they'd assume they were idiots in love.

Once Sarah had her skates tied, she carefully stood and held her hands out to pull Tally to her wobbly feet.

"That's it, take it easy, I've got you."

Sarah wondered if this might count as holding her hand but then shook her head, no it wasn't properly holding her hand, she needed to try holding her hand when they walked back home. If she wasn't going to be a chicken shit about it.

The moment Tally got onto the ice she slipped head first into Sarah's chest, "Not on the first date, Craven."

Tally blushed as she tried to regain some semblance of balance and they took it slow, luckily Tally was a fast learner although still quite clumsy like a baby deer. But Sarah wasn't complaining when she got to hold Tally the entire time, until she got mischievous and let go of her at one point.

Wide eyed Tally almost cried out, "Sarah, I'm not ready for you to let go of me. Please, I'm going to fall."

Sarah skated around her with her hands behind her back, "Have a little faith in yourself, you're doing fine," she skidded to a halt a few feet away from Tally and held her arms out, "If you can get to me I promise I won't let you go for the rest of the night."

Perking up at the welcome invitation of the older woman's arms which Tally very much wanted to be wrapped up in she looked down at her wobbly feet and made her best attempt at skating to Sarah. Although stiff and tense and falling at the end into Sarah's waiting arms she had made it.

"Had enough?"

Tally hugged her tight, afraid of falling but also enjoying the warmth of the other woman, "Maybe just a couple more minutes?"

Sarah hummed into her hair and held her tighter as she enjoyed the embrace and watched the other people in the distance laugh and have fun.

When they finally made their way off the ice, their own shoes back on their feet, while Tally was distracted Sarah pulled out her list to see what else she had on it.

"How about we warm up with some hot chocolate?"

Tally looked at her with big doe eyes and started to tear up and her lip began to tremble.

Holding her hands up in defense, "Okay, we don't need to get any if it's going to make you cry."

Tally latched onto her hands in excitement, "No, it's not that, I just haven't had any hot chocolate this season and it just reminds me of back in the matrifocal compound. The other kids and I all gathered around a bonfire, drinking hot chocolate and making smores. I guess hot chocolate just reminds me of home, even though this is my home now. I'm sorry, I'm rambling."

Sarah pulled Tally's chin back so she would meet her gaze, "Don't apologize Tally, those are sweet memories. I hope I can do right by helping you make some new memories. So hot chocolate it is."

Tally smiled so big Sarah thought she might explode, taking her hand in hers she dragged her off to get hot chocolate. Sarah made sure she got the biggest cup with marshmallows on top whereas Sarah just had herself a small cup of hot chocolate with no marshmallows. She was still getting used to how sweet foods and drinks were these days compared to the last time she ate centuries ago.

Just seeing Tally so happy was worth it, since all the fighting and suffering both had gone through. That smile was everything to her now. Before she knew it she was bringing Tally's hand that was still grasped in hers up to her mouth and pressing a kiss to the back of it.

"What was that for?"

"For agreeing to come on a date with me. I know that things have just begun to settle down and with everything we've been through. Well, I ...just seeing your smile makes me happy," Sarah turned away blushing lightly as they strolled along drinking their hot chocolate and soaking in all the laughter and happiness around them.

Witches and non-witches alike living in harmony before their very eyes, something they helped to create. But for how long would it last? Neither wanted to think about the what if's and simply enjoyed the now.

As the sun began to set and it got chillier, they made their way back to Fort Salem hand in hand, lights adorning the street leading them back home.

When Sarah went to walk her to her dorm Tally stopped her outside the building, Sarah looking at her questioningly.

"For a while I considered Fort Salem my home, I told my mother that when she asked me to come home after my first days here. And I love it here, the home you created, this witch's place. But for a long time now, I've discovered that home has become wherever you are Sarah."

Gentle blue eyes looked back at her as the older woman pulled her hand from her pocket and brought both hands up to grasp Tally's hands in hers. But before she could speak Tally was letting her hands go and picking up a folded piece of paper off the ground. Suddenly blue eyes were wide and her hand was suddenly reaching out to grab the paper but Tally was for once faster than her.

"Tally, I beg you not to read that piece of paper."

The red head smirked and raised an eyebrow, "What are you hiding, Sarah? I thought we didn't have any secrets between us anymore."

Sarah blushed and relented, "Fine!" she turned away crossing her arms across her chest and her nose up in the air like she was better than this.

Tally giggled and unfolded the paper, reading down the list on it and smiling especially at the scribbled heart, "Aww, Sarah you made a list of things to do for our date?"

"I just wanted to make sure I did things right."

Tally spotted the last thing on the list crossed out, "Why'd you cross off the last thing on this list?"

Sarah blushed as she plucked the list from Tally's hands, "Because I realized I wanted our first kiss to happen on its own, not something that's on a list."

"Well, I very much loved our first date and I'd very much like to kiss you now. Is that okay?"

Perking up Sarah nodded causing Tally giggle in response at making Sarah Alder speechless, "You really are adorable."

"So, you keep sayi-" Tally's lips were on hers before she could even finish her sentence.

Sarah composed herself and clutched at Tally tighter as she deepened the kiss, it was like fireworks.

Pulling apart they rested their foreheads against each other and Sarah hummed with pleasure at how Tally still tasted like hot chocolate.

"You have no idea how long I've been wanting to do that," Tally sighed back at her.

"Oh, I can imagine."

Neither was ready to part for the night and right when Sarah was going to try and let her go Tally spoke the words, "Can I stay with you tonight?"

"Tally Craven, on the first date?"

Tally blushed so hard she buried her face in her hands, "Sarah, you know I only meant to sleep. We're taking it slow, aren't we?"

Sarah laughed as Tally shoved at her shoulder, "I'm only messing with you, darling. I wasn't ready to let you go anyway," pulling Tally's gaze back to her own, "Of course, we can go as slow or as fast as you want. And Tally?"

"Yeah?"

"You're my home too. You're family."

Tears filled Tally's eyes as she pulled Sarah into another kiss and then wrapped her up in a hug, burying her nose in her neck.

Tally snatched the folded-up piece of paper back from Sarah and shoved it in her own pocket, "I'm keeping this for sentimental value."

Sarah groaned, "Just don't show it to your sisters, I cannot handle another Bellweather taunting me."

"I make no promises. And Sarah?"

"Yes?"

Tally cleared her throat looking a little bashful, "Can I plan the next date?"

Sarah smiled at her, bringing the palm of Tally's hand to her lips and placing a kiss there, "Of course, whatever you want."

"Good, I promise to woo you."

Sarah grabbed her hand and dragged her in the direction of her little house, "There's no need to woo, Craven, I'm already yours."

Tally stopped and pulled the other woman to her, "Are you?"

"What?"

"Mine?"

Sarah nodded in confirmation. Tally pecking at her lips, "I'm yours too, you know?"

Sighing, the older woman pressed her forehead once more to the younger woman, "I know."

"Let's go home, Sarah."

Sarah hummed once more and hand in hand they walked to Sarah's simple little house. Their simple little home. Together.