Buffy's hands were clasped in her lap, and her eyes were locked on the floor. She had no idea how long she'd been sitting in that exact position.

"Buffy?"

Buffy immediately perked up to greet Tara. "Hi." She kissed her, and Tara sat down while holding Buffy's hand. Buffy hadn't noticed that Willow was there until she spoke.

"Hey, Buffy. Any news?" Willow sat across from them. Buffy still wasn't too sure about Willow - but she appreciated her being here.

"They said the surgery was a success. I'll be able to go in once she wakes up."

"That's great." Willow smiled and relaxed back into the seat.

Buffy watched Willow for a moment, noticing that the other girl kept glancing around the waiting room.

"Where's Faith?" Tara asked, and that revealed who Willow was looking for.

"She went for a walk," Buffy said and didn't miss Willow's pout. Buffy was very torn about the budding something growing between Willow and Faith. She wanted Faith to find someone and be happy - she just wasn't sure she wanted it to be with Willow.

"Hey." Faith came in a few moments later, her arms laden with chips and other snacks.

"Hi, Faith." Willow jumped up to help Faith distribute the drinks and snacks.

Buffy's unease grew as she watched Willow and Faith interact.

"Ms. Summers?" The doctor called her name, and Buffy was grateful for his arrival for multiple reasons. "You may see your mother now."

"Can I..." Buffy motioned to Tara, hoping that the doctor would understand and allow Tara into the room as well.

"You may bring one friend." The doctor said curtly and turned away.

Buffy and Tara stood outside her mother's room for several seconds. The tension was rolling off Buffy, and Tara wasn't sure what she was supposed to do.

"I can wait out here." Tara offers, but Buffy immediately shakes her head.

"Please, if you don't mind. I...I just..." Buffy couldn't put words to her feelings.

"Of course, I'll go in with you." Tara decides to make the first move, and she opens the door, relieved when Buffy enters first.

"Mom?" Buffy's voice is small and scared.

"Honey?" Joyce replies groggily, still under the effects of the anesthesia.

Buffy moves quickly to the bed and wraps her mom in a hug, very careful to avoid any contact with the bandage on her head.

Tara watches the exchange with tears in her eyes. It feels like an intrusion to be witnessing this moment. Buffy is lying next to her mother as they whisper affirmations to each other.

"Tara?" Tara is startled to hear Joyce say her name, and she moves closer to the bed. She now realizes that she hadn't actually looked at Joyce yet. When she does, she gasps in relief.

"It worked. I can't believe it worked." She hadn't meant to say it, and she couldn't help the tears that fell. She's barely aware of anything as Buffy guides her to the bed to lay next to Joyce.

So many thoughts swirled through Tara's mind as she let herself be held by Buffy and Joyce. She hadn't really let herself believe that it could work. It made her question everything she had ever believed about magic.

They are just sitting down to dinner, and Buffy can tell something isn't quite right with her mother. She had been silent as they set the table and laid out the Thai takeout.

"Mom? Are you okay?" Buffy asks as she tries to get her mother's attention. "You're not getting headaches again, are you?" Joyce had been home from the hospital for over a month, and as far as Buffy knew, she was in perfect health.

The apparent worry in Buffy's voice snaps Joyce back into the moment. "No, it's nothing like that. I am feeling fine." Joyce reaches for her daughter's hand and squeezes it reassuringly.

"What's up, Mrs. S?" Faith asks. She also didn't like the tension in the room and wanted to move the conversation along so they could eat.

"Oh girls, I don't know how to tell you this." Joyce is stressed, and Buffy is starting to panic.

"You're sick again. Why didn't you tell me? Did you follow up with the doctor like you were supposed to?" Buffy started to panic further. She had assumed Tara would tell her if something had changed, but they hadn't actually discussed it.

"B, chill. She said she was fine." Faith was worried too but was doing her best to stay calm.

"But..." Buffy blubbered and forced herself to take calming breaths while waiting for her mother to get to the point.

Joyce bites her lip and smiles devilishly.

"Oh shit, is this about that new guy you've been talking to?" Faith says and begins dumping the Thai food onto her plate.

"Guy? What guy? I didn't hear about any new guy?" Buffy has no idea how to feel about this new development. On the one hand, she wanted her mother to be happy - on the other, she couldn't help but think - ew.

Joyce is more than a little worried about how Buffy will react to her news. "There is no new guy."

"Not new... but..." It takes Buffy just a moment to put things together. "Dad? You've been talking to dad?"

"When I got sick, he was so supportive. We've been talking almost daily." Joyce can't help her wistful smile.

"But..." Buffy frowns and tries to process this news. She had never known the exact details of why her parents' marriage fell apart. She was aware of no inciting incident, and even though she didn't speak to him often, her occasional visits to LA were always pleasant enough.

"I never stopped loving him. We never even finalized the divorce." Some part of Joyce hoped that her daughter would be happy about this news.

"So what does this mean? Is he moving here?" Buffy started to worry about what this would mean. She didn't think he knew about the slaying. Would he approve of Tara? Would he continue to let Faith live in the house? Would Faith even want to stay?

"That's what I wanted to talk to you about." Joyce closes her eyes for a moment, bracing for the backlash. "You are old enough to take care of yourself. You have wonderful friends, and Ms. Calendar is available if you ever need anything."

Buffy's mouth drops open, but no words come out.

"So what? You're selling the house and moving to LA?" Faith tries not to sound annoyed and bitter at losing the only real home she'd ever known.

Joyce is startled by the tone of Faith's voice. She had never heard the young slayer sound so defeated. "We won't be selling the house. It turns out the housing market in Sunnydale is quite down at the moment."

"Probably can't afford the rent." Faith grumbles to herself and pushes her plate away. Faith did work a part-time job to pay for food and clothes, but it was definitely not enough to cover any kind of rent.

"We wouldn't expect you to pay rent." Joyce quickly interjects. "If you two are willing to maintain the house, you can stay here rent-free."

Faith crosses her arms and narrows her eyes. "Don't need your charity."

"It's not charity, Faith. I assure you." Joyce argues. "You will be doing us a favor by taking care of the house." Joyce considers pointing out that Faith is family, but she's not sure Faith will take that the way she means it.

Faith starts to relax. She still hates this offer, but she also really doesn't want to leave. "B? What do you think?"

"I um..." Buffy stutters and wishes Tara were here.

"You are welcome to invite Tara to move in," Joyce adds to the deal, and now Buffy is completely sold on the idea. Staying in Tara's dorm room was nice enough but not nearly as nice as living in an actual house.

"I call the big bedroom," Buffy says quickly, and Faith huffs in annoyance.

"I'll take your room, but I'm getting rid of all the pink." Buffy rolled her eyes at Faith's response but wasn't about to argue. Faith could paint the walls black for all she cared.

"So I guess we have a deal?" Joyce asks with amusement, and the slayers nod their agreement.

"When are you leaving?" Buffy asks. Now that the idea of living in the house with Tara is planted, she is very excited to get started.

Buffy knocked and waited for Ms. Calendar to open the door. She was more than a little anxious about why this meeting was called.

Her mother was leaving for LA tomorrow, and she was uneasy about pretty much everything lately. She had been a bundle of nerves and hadn't even asked Tara to move in yet. She couldn't help but worry that she would say no - or that it might scare Tara away.

"Buffy, come in." Ms. Calendar smiled and motioned Buffy in.

Buffy noticed that Wesley was here, which did not lessen her anxiety. He had helped with the spell for her mother, so she was willing to wait before pointing out that he promised not to bother them. Faith had mentioned that she thought something romantic might be going on between Wesley and Ms. Calendar, but Buffy refused to accept it might be true.

"So, what's going on? Is there something with the spell?" Buffy wanted this meeting over with as quickly as possible.

"No, not exactly." Ms. Calendar responded, and Buffy really didn't like that answer. She also didn't like the nervous glance Wesley and Jenny shared.

"Okay… so?" Her patience was wearing very thin.

"Faith explained to me what happened between you and Miss. Maclay." Jenny started - the disappointment was evident in her voice. Buffy didn't know if she was disappointed in Buffy or Tara, but she really didn't care.

Only because Buffy thought there was a chance that Tara was in some kind of danger did she force herself to stay and listen.

"We are concerned…." Wesley started but snapped his mouth shut when Buffy took an aggressive step towards him.

"What happens when she sees your death? Or Faith's?" Ms. Calendar jumped between them, and Buffy's heart imploded as the words sunk in.

All of the tension left her body, and she sank onto the couch. "Oh, right."

Ms. Calendar and Wesley continued to chatter, but Buffy tuned them out. She was sure they were telling her the only logical thing - she had to break up with Tara. She couldn't believe how stupid she had been not to have seen this sooner. She started to get irrationally mad at Faith for forcing them back together and then ruining everything by pointing out the obvious.

"Fine." Buffy finally breathed out. "I'll take care of it."

"What are you talking about? Take care of what?" Ms. Calendar was in front of her now, trying to prevent her from leaving.

Buffy rolled her eyes and gently moved her surrogate watcher out of the way. "I won't put her through that."

"Don't you want to at least give Tara the option first?"

Buffy paused, not quite making sense of what she was being asked. "The option to what? Know when I'm going to die?"

"Buffy," Ms. Calendar started again. "Were you even listening?"

"Not exactly," Buffy confessed and let herself be led back to the couch. "But what choice is there?"

Wesley started chattering, and Buffy immediately stopped listening again. There was something about his voice that she just couldn't pay attention to, no matter how hard she tried.

"Maybe you should let me explain?" Ms. Calendar cut him off and forced Buffy to look at her. "We believe we have found a spell that can block her ability to see death."

Buffy wasn't sure how she felt about this idea. "What will it do to her? If there's any risk, I won't let her…."

"You won't let her?" Ms. Calendar replied with a raised eyebrow. "She doesn't get to make her own decisions? What if she wants to do this for her own reasons?"

Buffy snapped her mouth shut and nodded.

Buffy leaned against the wall and watched in silence as Wesley and Ms. Calendar explained their plan to Tara. She wished she was better at reading facial expressions. To her, it seemed like Tara was overwhelmed.

"Guys." Buffy broke in when it seemed like they were just asking her the same question over and over in different ways. "Give us a minute?"

"But..." Wesley started, but Ms. Calendar yanked him into the kitchen.

"Are you okay?" Buffy sat next to Tara, not quite as close as she wanted. It was evident that this problem hadn't occurred to Tara either, and Buffy wanted to give her time to process.

"Please don't break up with me," Tara says in a quiet voice, and Buffy's heart breaks.

"Does that mean you don't want to try the spell?" Buffy couldn't address Tara's request, not yet.

Tara frowned and clasped her hands tightly in her lap. "It's not that I don't want to. I just… I don't know why I have this power. Your mom is alive and healthy because of it. What if I can do the same thing for… someone else?" Tara doesn't want to specify that it might be Buffy or Faith that she keeps alive.

Buffy considers this and frowns. "So, the next time it happens - you'll immediately tell someone?"

Tara winces as the obvious doubt in Buffy's question. "I made a mistake." Tara meets Buffy's eyes. "I will not make the same mistake again."

Buffy is a little surprised at the sternness of Tara's response.

"Move in with me." Buffy blurted out of nowhere.

"What?" Tara wasn't sure she heard Buffy right.

"I mean... nevermind." Buffy shook her head and stood from the couch.

Tara reached for her hand and pulled her back. "Are you sure?"

Buffy almost changed her mind. "Yeah, I mean... Is there a reason not to?" Buffy mentally chastised herself for being completely unromantic.

"I wouldn't feel right not paying rent." Tara frowns.

"There is no rent." Buffy frowned and then felt guilty that she wasn't paying rent either.

"Is Faith going to be okay with this?"

Buffy chuckled, "if you make breakfast once in a while - she'll definitely be okay with it."

"Then okay, I'll move in with you." The words were barely out of her mouth before Buffy shifted into her lap and kissed her. They had both forgotten where they were until Wesley walked into the room.

"Damn." Buffy hissed lowly at the disruption and stood, helping Tara to stand as well. "She doesn't want to do the spell."

Welsey was obviously disappointed and started to say something. Tara tried to be polite and listen, but Buffy practically pulled her out of the apartment.

Three months later

Buffy and Tara were curled up on the couch watching a movie when Faith came in and plopped down, practically laying on top of Buffy. She grabbed the bowl of popcorn and sighed heavily.

"No luck?" Buffy asked, even though the answer was obvious.

Faith frowned and looked down at the popcorn with disgust. "Did you even put butter on this?"

Tara and Buffy rolled their eyes as Faith hopped back up and went into the kitchen.

"Who's turn is it?" Tara mouthed, and Buffy paused the movie.

"I'll talk to her."

Faith was in the kitchen, waiting for the small bowl of butter to heat up.

"I think I'm done with this."

Buffy resisted sighing - they had the same conversation after every one of Faith's failed dates. Not that it was really a conversation. Faith would first complain about how awful dating was, then after fifteen minutes of whining, she'd ask to be set up with someone new.

Their pool of friends and acquaintances (along with everyone Faith had already slept with) had dried up, and Buffy was hoping Faith really would give up in her quest to find something more than a one-night stand.

"Why don't we do a double date the next time?" Tara entered the kitchen, and Buffy was panicked at this suggestion.

"What good would that do?" Faith asked as she poured an excessive amount of butter over the popcorn. "I know what I'm doing."

"You know how to get people to sleep with you. Starting a relationship is an entirely different thing." Tara said, and Buffy was desperately hoping Faith would say no. "You helped us - let us help you."

Faith looked up - her instinct was to refuse. If there was one thing Faith didn't need - it was help. But she was starting to get desperate. Clearly, Tara and Buffy knew something about relationships. Even if they had been hopeless morons in the beginning. "Fine."

Faith stalked back into the living room, and Buffy was left standing there completely stunned. She wanted to ask Tara what she could be thinking, but there was no way to do that without Faith hearing them.

"Are you guys finishing this stupid movie or what?" Faith called from the living room.

Tara held out her hand and gave Buffy a sympathetic smile. "This will be good, I promise."

Buffy was very skeptical, but she was willing to try anything if it might help Faith find love.

"See!" Faith shouted as soon as they were outside of the restaurant. "Everyone is fucking nuts."

"Faith." Buffy was trying really hard not to laugh. Laughing would definitely not be good right now. "You spent the entire time talking about all the women you saw that you'd had sex with. Including me!" Faith and Tara both tried to get her to subtly change the subject, but Faith just wouldn't stop.

"So? Guys love that shit." Faith said dismissively. "I shoulda waited until I found another chick to try - what do either of you know about what guys want?"

Buffy was losing her mind with how ridiculous Faith was being. She really hoped Tara had an answer here.

"Sweetie." Tara started, obviously struggling with laughing herself. "No one wants to hear about who the person they are dating was with before. Men or women."

Faith looked mystified by this concept. "But…"

"Is that what all your dates have been like?" Tara cut off whatever argument Faith was going to try.

"I mean, I guess. What else do I have to talk about?" Faith frowned and looked even more defeated than she usually did after a failed date. "Not like I can talk about slayer shit."

"What about movies or books? Or even exercise? You have all kinds of hobbies that someone else might like to talk about." Tara says, and Buffy is amazed at her patience.

"That shit is boring." Faith argues weakly.

"Well, that's what normal people talk about on dates. That's what most people's lives are all about." Faith scowled as she digested this clearly horrifying information.

"Wait - did you talk to Willow about us?" Buffy is suddenly alarmed. She didn't know the details of why things didn't work out with Willow, but every time she had seen Willow after the breakup - it had been very awkward. She was relieved when Willow had decided to go to Oxford instead of UC Sunnydale.

"What can I say, B?" Faith grins at her, and Buffy shudders. "I'm proud of my accomplishments."

Buffy groans in disgust. How many people knew not only that she and Faith had hooked up but also intimate details of these hookups?

"I have a truly terrible idea," Tara says, and Buffy wonders what idea could be worse than the one that led to the most horrifying double date imaginable.

"Research," Tara says, and both slayers groan when they realize what she must mean

Four hours later

"That's it!" Faith jumped off of the couch. "I cannot take another one of these fucking bullshit movies."

"Me neither." Buffy huffs.

Tara laughs at Buffy. "These were all your movies!"

Buffy folded her arms over her chest and pouted. It wasn't watching the movies that Buffy was sick of - it was the analyzing. Along with the pointing out all the terrible misogynistic flaws in the movies she's always loved watching. She had always known the movies were gross, but they were comforting. She really hoped this helped Faith figure out how to date.

"I'll make it up to you," Tara whispers, and Buffy bites her lip in anticipation. The last four hours completely forgotten.

"I'm outta here - you guys have fun." Faith was obviously annoyed, but neither Tara nor Buffy cared at the moment.

"When are you going to let us meet this new girl?" Buffy asked. Faith had somehow been dating someone for a month, but she wouldn't tell them anything about her.

Faith hesitated - her girlfriend kept asking her the same question. Faith was pretty sure that Buffy was not going to understand. Hell, she wasn't sure she understood.

"How about now?"

"I need to head to the magic shop," Tara said with a frown. She really wanted to meet this woman that was making Faith so happy.

"Yeah, uh. That will work out then." Faith looked away nervously.

"Anya? You're dating the new Magic Box owner?" Tara hadn't meant to sound so shocked. It was obvious that she hurt Faith's feelings, and that was not her intention.

"Yeah, well. I am." Faith really regretted saying anything.

"Hey, I'm sorry. That's great, really. I was just surprised." Tara felt terrible for not controlling her reaction. She wasn't even sure why the news was so surprising. Anya was certainly an attractive woman, and she knew about the supernatural world. Tara had always found her to be slightly off-putting and aggressive. The more she thinks about it, it starts to make more sense that Faith would like her.

Buffy was very confused by the interaction. Even though she had gone to the Magic Box several times with Tara - she didn't remember ever seeing a woman working there.

"She used to be a demon." Faith finally says, assuming that Tara must have known that with her reaction.

"What do you mean - she used to be?" Buffy had never heard of demons becoming non-demon.

"I guess she was a vengeance demon, but she started feeling bad about it. So she gave up her powers." Faith shrugged as if this information wasn't at all interesting.

Buffy didn't know what a vengeance demon was and looked to Tara for information. It started to concern her that someone involved with Faith was into vengeance. If their relationship didn't work out - would Anya return to her demon ways?

"She's always seemed nice." Tara offers. It's not quite the reassurance that Buffy was hoping for. Still, she does her best to reserve judgment until they actually meet this woman. Knowing Faith, asking too many questions or showing her dissaproval - was the last thing she should do.

Faith entered the Magic Box, followed by Tara and then Buffy. Anya was working with a customer, so the three women loitered out of the way while they waited.

"Faith!" Anya shouted with glee as soon as she saw Faith. Buffy had never seen Faith smile so wide as the two women greeted each other.

The greeting quickly turned into a very aggressive make-out session. Buffy and Tara averted their eyes, pretending to look at some crystals on display.

"Mmm. I'm so glad you could stop by." Anya says to Faith, and Buffy wants to hurl at how cute they are. She hoped she and Tara never behaved like that.

"I thought it was time you met my friends." Faith motioned to Tara and Buffy, who was partially hidden behind a display case.

"Tara!" Anya ran back to the counter. "I have your latest order right here. Tara is one of my best customers. Why didn't you tell me you were friends?" Anya asked Faith, and she just shrugged.

Anya doesn't seem to care that Faith doesn't answer her question and just goes about the process of checking Tara out.

"Is she the one you had sex with?" Anya says casually as she hands Tara her items.

Buffy can't help but gasp at this question. She guessed that Faith hadn't learned anything from their double-date or their movie-fest.

"Uh, no. That was B." Faith motions over to Buffy, who even more wanted to hide.

Buffy realized she was being ridiculous and finally moved into view to stand closer to Tara.

"Slayer," Anya whispered and looked around nervously as if she wanted an exit. "Look, I'm just a normal human shopkeep. I'll even give your girlfriend a discount." Anya plastered a fake smile on her face and began reaching into the drawer to pull out some cash.

Buffy was very confused. "You don't have to do that." Buffy tried to calm Anya, but it wasn't working.

"I insist, really." She shoved a handful of cash into Tara's bag and pushed it towards them.

"Our transaction is over. Please leave. I am closing early today."

"Yo, Anya - what is going on? I told you I was a slayer. Why are you freaking out about B?" Faith is beginning to panic. Anya was the first person she'd met that she really clicked with.

Anya's eyes darted nervously between the three women. "I promise I am a solid human citizen."

"We're going to go," Buffy says, and she and Tara move towards the exit after Tara pulls the cash out of her bag and places it on the counter.

"What do you think that was about?" Buffy asks Tara once they are outside. Faith stayed behind, and she knew she could listen in, but she didn't want to intrude.

"I'm really not sure," Tara says with a frown. "She's always been a little weird."

Faith came out a few minutes later, looking seriously pissed off.

"Faith? What was that about?"

"Fuck if I know." Faith said while walking past them.

Buffy had a terrible feeling that Anya had just broken up with Faith, and it was her fault.

"Take her home. I'm going to see if I can fix it." Buffy says to Tara and heads back into the shop.

At first, she can't tell where Anya went but hears something from the small office in the back.

"Anya?" Buffy asks gently and knocks on the open door.

Anya jumps to standing and is clearly panicking at being trapped in this small space by Buffy.

Buffy holds up her hands to the side, trying to look non-threatening. "I'm not going to hurt you. I promise."

"Wait," Anya says as she looks closer at Buffy. "You're not the slayer."

"What do you mean?" Buffy asks. She's confused but relieved to see Anya no longer sees her as a threat. "Yes, I am. Just like Faith."

Anya chuckles in relief and sits down at the desk. "You're a slayer for sure. You're the one that got the sweet deal!" Anya is practically bouncing with excitement. "I can't believe this is the dimension they dropped me off in!"

"Um… so we're good? You'll fix whatever happened with Faith?" Buffy asks and backs further away from the excited ex-demon.

"D'hoffryn must have really forgiven me to bring me to your reward dimension." Anya seems to be ignoring Buffy's question."

"Anya?" Buffy tries to break through Anya's excited chatter. "Remember Faith?" She has no idea what Anya might be talking about, and she's not sure she cares.

It takes Anya a moment, and then she realizes what Buffy said. "Oh no! I broke up with her, and I really liked her too." Anya frowns.

"You can probably un-break-up with her if that's what you want."

"Do you think?" Anya asks and tilts her head. "I still haven't figured out you humans. You're all so temperamental."

"Uh yeah… sure we are." Buffy isn't sure what Faith sees in this woman, but it's not for her to judge. "You could come to the house. I'm sure Faith will be happy to see you."

Buffy stayed out of the way as Anya closed up shop. It occurred to her that it was a terrible idea to try and repair the relationship. This woman might be insane. Though she did seem like a perfect match for Faith. She couldn't deny that Faith had been happier lately, and it was a relief not to have to hear about her failed dates.

"So, what did you do?" Anya asks as the two women walk to Revello Drive.

"Do?"

"To get this sweet life. You must have done something amazing."

"I don't think I did anything special." Buffy frowns and tries to make sense of what Anya is talking about.

"Do you remember anything about your old life?"

"My old life?" Buffy frowns and rubs her temple.

"You must get flashes once in a while. There's always some bleed over." Anya says casually as if what she's saying is completely normal.

"I don't think that's happened." Buffy frowns and starts to wonder if it has happened.

"No? You've never met someone new and then seen that person in your memories?" Anya eyes her skeptically like she might be lying.

"Maybe…" Buffy trails off as her mind goes to Willow.

"Make sure you keep away from whoever that is or whatever you see. These wish dimensions can be tricky, and I don't want you to mess this one up for me." Anya continues to ramble about how much better this dimension is than any she'd seen before.

Buffy is pretty sure she has no idea what Anya is talking about. It never even occurred to her that there could be other dimensions. It'd be possible to write Anya off as being completely delusional - but something about the mention of flashes as her wondering.

"See this is what I'm talking about with you humans. You could be rich and famous or something. Instead..." Anya waves her hand disssapprovingly at Buffy's house.

Buffy looks at the house herself and tries to find the problem. It's a perfectly fine house and she has everything she needs. Buffy doesn't have a chance to ask Anya more about this comment before the other woman is barging up the porch stairs and opening the door. Buffy follows her in a haze, her mind not at all able to process everything she's learned.

"Faith!" Anya shouts as she runs frantically from room to room. "Faith!"

Buffy stands in the doorway, watching the spectacle. Anya had run through the entire house before she finally found Faith sitting in the living room.

Anya jumped into a very confused Faith's arms. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean any of it."

When it becomes clear that Faith has forgiven Anya, Buffy decides to give them some privacy and search for Tara. She finds Tara in their bedroom, apparently in the midst of meditating. Buffy doesn't want to interupt her, so she stays silent as she watches from the doorway.

"Buffy?"

It takes Buffy a moment to realize Tara is talking to her and focus her attention on the other woman.

"You were able to get Anya to come back?"

Buffy nods.

"Did you find out why she was so afraid of you?"

"She said I wasn't the slayer. Then she said something about wishes and dimensions." Buffy tried to make it sound like she found the whole thing ridiculous - hoping that Tara would laugh and tell her that there was no such thing.

"Wishes?" Tara frowns. "She said you made a wish?"

"No. I mean, not really. She said this dimension was some kind of reward for something I had done."

"Do you think she is right?" Tara asks cautiously.

"I don't know... some of the things she said sort of made sense. But is that even possible?" Something about this idea is upsetting her, and she's entirely sure what it is.

Tara considers her words carefully. "As I understand it - yes, it is possible for certain demons to create entirely new dimensions."

Buffy sits down on the bed as she ponders the information.

"Does it matter?" Tara asks, starting to get worried about Buffy's reaction. "Aren't you... happy?"

Buffy smiles reassuringly at Tara. "You're right. It doesn't matter, and I am happy. Very happy."