Outside Eliza's hotel room, Paris, France.

Once Willow received the spell for a cleansing ritual from Anya, she asked Tara and Faith to leave the room after whispering a spell to cloak them all from the cameras in the hallway. Once they were hidden, they walked out and closed the door... keeping it slightly ajar. Willow then mumbled the spell whole looking at Faith holding onto a shivering Tara. The former redhead gave Tara as small smile as they looked at each other before asking her if he remembered anything now. Shaking her head, Tara said that she still didn't know what happened to her following her night out with Eliza.

"Not doing that again," mumbled Tara looking away from Willow before smelling the scent of roses. Willow and Faith got that smell too, leading the redhead to open the door and look in at the body and blood traces on the carpet, the closet, and even some that had fell on the blanket was gone.

Everything burned away without a trace… the fire had cleansed the entire room before extinguishing itself. Willow then headed into the room and picked up the clothes that Eliza had been wearing in the closet, as well as her blouse which was at the foot of the bed, all of them now having no trace of blood on them. She then closed the door shut, whispered the same spell again to burn away any evidence she may have left behind, and the three of them headed out.

Upon exiting the hotel unseen, they walked in the same direction that Tara's magical image had gone. Willow left Tara and Faith behind so that she could project her telekinesis around the image to simulate a physical presence and responsiveness. The cameras along the route showed the fake Tara walking past them, but it didn't show Willow, Faith, or the real Tara anywhere. Eventually, the fake Tara was seen walking into the hotel with a smile and nod at some of the patrons, the clerks, and even the manager who had walked past her, before getting into an elevator with Willow. Once they reached the room, the fake Tara opened the door thanks to Willow's telekinesis, and then walked in followed by Willow herself. In the room, a bandaged Althanea turned and looked at Tara who vanished once the door was closed, and then at Willow while Anya asked if the blonde was alright.

"She's a few meters behind me," said Willow while Xander walked out of Faith and Buffy's room with a phone glued to his ear. Anya told Willow that Buffy, Jenny and Giles didn't have their phones so Xander had to call the shop and ask for the three of them, and that it was urgent. Willow then nodded her head before turning to Xander, "So, they're on the way?"

Xander nodded his head before putting the phone down as Willow sat next to Althanea and looked on worried at the bandage, and then at Althanea's eyes.

"I'm fine," said the witch, "it was just a little cut. Tara didn't know what she was doing."

"It's rare for a Succubus' victim to be this much in her thrall," said Anya, "I've never seen anything like it. Is she gone? The Succubus I mean."

"She's gone," said Willow as she held Althanea's hand, "everyone saw the Succubus and Tara leave. Eliza would have vanished after a few minutes, but I had to catch up to the fake Tara to project my telekinesis through, and around, it."

"I guess we should enjoy the rest of our visit here, huh?" said Althanea as she held tight to Willow's hand.

"Depends," said Willow looking at Anya, "any luck in changing our travel plans?"

"They don't have a flight available," said Anya before Xander said he called using the phone in Faith's room. "Xander told them that Althanea wasn't feeling sick because she fell, and she wanted to see her doctor in Sunnydale."

"All the lady could say was that all flights were over-booked," said Xander before waving his hands and sarcastically mocking the woman's voice, "but she did recommend their fantastic health-care system in Paris."

"Then we take Althanea to the hospital," said Willow. She saw that her mentor was about to interfere, but Willow beat her saying that, "look, the fire burned out all traces of DNA and the body itself, and the clerks and managers, and porters in the hotel saw Eliza leave with Tara. She has a rock-solid alibi, especially since the camera's in the city caught her walking through the route back to the hotel. And since we already mentioned that Althanea was injured… we can say that she fell and hit the side of her head… we need to keep up appearances in case investigators ask any questions."

"You think that the police would come after Tara?" asked Xander.

"Do Succubae have families, Anya?" asked Willow before she looked at Xander and said that she wasn't sure.

"I don't think so," Anya replied, "but then again, this Eliza's a special Succubus since she seems to have such a strong thrall on Tara."

"Let's assume she doesn't, but she does work," said Willow, "then someone would report her missing. Then again, with the fake Tara being caught in their sights walking away alone, then they may let it go. Maybe leave it as an unsolved mystery."

The spell would later wear off after Faith and Tara entered the hotel room. The real Tara then rushed to the injured Althanea while Willow put the succubus' clothes away in her own bag. She frowned that it wasn't organic and so burned away, but reminded herself that she needed to burn the clothes in living flame once they returned home.

After putting the clothes into her bag, Willow turned around at the sound of Althanea's voice telling Tara that what happened wasn't her fault. The former redhead stared at Tara and then at the bruises on her shoulders and neck, along with the bruises she glimpsed when her body was nearly desiccated thanks to Eliza stealing her magic and life-force several minutes ago. Willow was brought out of her thoughts when Xander walked up to her and pointed out some of the blood stains on her shirt.

Willow looked down and sighed before telling him that she was going to change into something else. Everyone, including Tara, looked at Willow… the light blonde witch getting off the bed and gently holding her arm, "thanks, Willow."

Tara stared at Willow, and then at Faith. She alternated between the two of them while saying thanks. Letting go of Willow's arm, Tara wanted to place a kiss on her cheek… but was afraid that Willow would take it the wrong way since she now knew the truth about her. Willow then patted Tara on her shoulder and said that she was glad Tara was safe. The former redhead then nodded her head and turned to take out some new clothes before heading into the washroom, closing the door behind her. Tara then went on to hug Faith tightly, whispering a thanks to her as well when they caught the smell of roses.

"It's the spell," said Anya shrugging her shoulders as everyone looked at the washroom door, "using it to burn away organic material."

A few minutes later, Willow walked out of the washroom in a pair of jeans and a turtle-necked long sleeved blouse. She told the others that her shirt and jeans were burned away, leaving just the metallic fasteners behind.

"Okay," said Willow as she put the buttons into her pocket, "Faith, could you check for the nearest hospital?"

Faith looked on confused at Willow hen she heard the request. It was Althanea who then explained Willow's plan, and the Slayer then finally nodded her head before heading to her room to check the computer. In the meantime, Willow said that it would be better it they left immediately…. At least to show the camera's that they were concerned about Althanea's injury.

"And if they ask why it took so long for me to leave?" asked Althanea, "I mean, I'm sure that they'll be performing an extensive investigation on Eliza's disappearance."

"You're really stubborn," said Anya smirking at Althanea just as they heard Buffy's voice in the room next door. Footsteps then were heard through the room next door before a door shut, and then the same footsteps headed into Willow and Tara's room. Buffy walked in first and hugged Tara while Jenny rushed to Althanea and asked if she was alright, and what happened. As for Giles, he patted Faith on her shoulder while smiling at Willow.

"Guys," said Willow, "we really need to go."

"Go where?" asked Buffy as she sat down next to Althanea after asking if she was feeling alright. Anya, Xander, and Willow then explained the plan… and added that it was something they needed to do to throw off suspicion against Tara. While everyone prepared to leave, including Tara in the very same clothes she was wearing, Willow thought about all the questions that the police could ask Tara and the others. She used her, specifically Niko's, experience and training as a Ranger to think of several possible questions that police could ask.

Once Faith found a hospital nearby, the group prepared to leave. With Jenny holding on to the injured Althanea as they walked out the room, Willow and Tara were the last to leave and closed the door behind them. The two young women pulled back away from the rest of the group, and walked at a hurried pace. They wanted to show for the camera's that they ere in a hurry in case the video was checked. In the meantime, Willow already had a few questions she believed the police would ask; something that she would brief Tara on once they reached the hospital.

After a five-minute ride to the hospital in two cabs, a short wait in the emergency room and admission, and then followed by a CT Scan of Althanea's head at hearing how she got her injury, the group stood at the foot of the witch's hospital bad as the doctor explained that her scans were clear.

"But we'd still like to keep you in observation for twenty-four hours," said the French doctor, "and then we'll perform some cognitive tests before we can let you go."

"We're supposed to be flying back to the States the day after tomorrow," Althanea said.

"If everything's normal, you can leave tomorrow," said the doctor as Willow and the others looked on, "but I'd suggest against flying so soon."

"We all have work, Doctor," said Althanea before Iles could speak up."

"You may have some slight headaches, or sensitivity to light." The doctor explained more of the symptoms that could develop tomorrow, but Althanea was insistent although Jenny and the others were sure that they could stay in Paris for a few more days.

"Or I could stay with Althanea," said Willow, "my Freshman semester doesn't start until August, in three months, so I'll stay here with her. Once she's recovered enough, then we'll head back to Sunnydale."

"Althanea?" asked Giles, "sounds like a good compromise."

"I'll have to contact the head nurse at the hospital in Sunnydale, and take a few more days off," said Althanea referring to the woman who was in charge of all nurses in Sunnydale General, where Althanea was working, as Tara glanced at Willow with a small smile on her face. A smile that vanished when the doctor said that Willow was doing a good thing. The blonde watched the former redhead chuckle while brushing her hair behind her ear.

"So, let's hope you two get to stay here a bit longer," said the doctor smiling at Willow before turning to Althanea who was lying on the bed, "I'm sure the airline can assist you in rebooking. IN the meantime, I suggest you get a lot of rest. The nurses will check-in with you every hour… and if you have any problems, then just press the button on your left and call the nurses station." The doctor pointed at the oval shaped device next to Althanea's hand, and then looked at Willow and asked her to call him if they needed anything.

Willow nodded her head before the doctor brushed past her while Tara looked away at Buffy and Faith who frowned. Jenny, Xander, Anya, and Giles then approached the bed on either side and said that they'll call the airline, explain the situation, and then try to have all of their flights changed.

"Tara needs to get out of here," Althanea whispered at Giles, "and it's better if we leave when we're supposed to leave. And… and don't call the airline."

"But you said…" whispered Willow.

"Doctors will say things like that, Willow," explained Althanea, "I don't have a headache, I'm not hearing or seeing things… other than what I regularly see anyway, and I'm feeling fine. I know the symptoms of a concussion. They did a complete check-up on me and found no bleeding in my brain."

"But.."

"I'm feeling fine," reassured Althanea as she stared at Giles, "I'll feel much better once I'm home, and I'll have a check-up every for the next few months in Sunnydale. In the meantime, we should stay safe. Eliza must have been a really powerful Succubus to keep Tara in that kind of a thrall. A death of any being that powerful would draw others to examine the death, and maybe even hunt down the killer."

"But they won't go out of the city," said Anya as she looked at Tara, "once we're out of here, you'll be safe. But Althanea's right, if they knew the location of the Succubus' home, then they could catch Tara's scent."

"Faith and I will stay with Tara back in the hotel room," Buffy said softly. Tara glanced at Willow, mentally hoping that she'd stay too. However, she knew that the doctor seemed interested in the former redhead… and Willow seemed receptive thanks to her action in brushing her hair behind her ears.

'Stop thinking about that, Tara,' thought the witch to herself, 'it was simply Willow brushing her hair away since it covered her eye. It was just that, not a sign telling the doctor to ask her out or something. And besides, she's not ready yet to go out. That's what she said before we left for Paris.'

"Maybe Willow should stay with us too," said Faith as Tara was brought out of her thoughts and turned her head towards the dark-haired Slayer. One part wanted to hug Faith tight for saying what she herself wanted to say, but another part of Tara was terrified that Willow would say no.

"Yea, sure," Willow said as a smile appeared on Tara's face as she glanced at Willow, and then at Faith who winked at the witch. Jenny and Giles voted to stay with Althanea; which they did a few hours later when everyone left for the hotel. In the hours before they left, Willow briefed everyone on the questions that the police could ask them. Once everyone was on t eh same level, Willow, Tara, Faith, Xander, and Anya left and returned to the hotel while the adults remained in the hospital.

Two days later, international airspace.

It would be two days later that Tara found herself thirty five thousand feet in the air seated next to Faith, and Buffy on the aisle seat in the airplane. She looked down one row at the back of Willow's head as she leaned back into her seat with Althanea and Jenny next to her. It left only an unhappy Giles sitting next to Xander and Anya who were constantly kissing each other.

Tara wasn't sure why no one questioned her about the missing Eliza, however Willow believed that the police were still trying to piece together the whereabouts of the succubus. She told Tara to not worry about anything, that she could have died if nothing was done to stop Eliza.

And all the young witch could do was nod her head in agreement. By the time they left the rooms for the airport, there were still no sign of the police. Even when the group entered the plane, when it took off, and once it entered international air space; there was no news. Tara's heart was beating hard the entire time- and that entire time she recalled Willow, Buffy, and Faith reassuring her. As did the others.

As she looked at Willow's arm, she also remembered the game of Truth or Dare they played the night Althanea was admitted to hospital. The group, including Xander who was invited into the girl night, sat on the carpet in a circle with a bottle in the middle. Wherever the bottle stopped, the person had the option of asking anyone in the circle to choose between a 'truth' or a 'dare'.

"Truth," said Willow after the bottle landed on Faith after several minutes of 'dares'. The slayer selected Willow who then sighed before saying she'd answer any question honestly.

"If you had a chance to date someone again," Faith began as Tara opened her eyes wide at the Slayer who avoided looking back at her, "would you date a guy? Or a girl?"

"Ummm…" said Willow as she thought about it while the others, including Xander, looked at the former redhead expectedly. IN the meantime, Tara was glaring at Faith while Buffy nudged the witch's arm with her elbow and winked. The two Slayers held back their laughter at the redness in Tara's cheeks when Willow said that she didn't know.

"That's not an answer," chuckled Buffy.

"That is so an answer," added Tara.

"Come on, Will," said Xander, "I'm sure that Oz wouldn't want you to be alone and…"

"Oh, how about that handsome doctor?" asked Anya as Willow arched an eyebrow.

"He wasn't that handsome," retorted Xander as he nudged Anya's arm.

"Anyway," said Willow chuckling as she waved her arms, "what I mean is that… well, I want to find the right person. Oz and I? We fit perfectly. If I can find someone like him, who could be a 'her' as well, then maybe. Of course, if it's a 'her' then there's all this stuff I'll need to learn from her and…"

At this moment Tara started to caugh nervously as she looked away from the others while imagining laying Willow on the floor and kissing her.

"Hey, Tara," said Faith with a grin as they looked at each other, "you ok?"

"I'm okay," she replied with a squeak in her voice, "lets spin the bottle."

And they did. Tara remembered the fun they had for the rest of the night, ending in charades before heading off to their own rooms for bed. The next day, Tara's mind was distracted while they looked in on Althanea while Jenny and the others head back to their rooms to freshen up and change. It would be later that night Althanea was released since she didn't seem to have any problems from her 'fall'. The group wanted to spend the last night in Paris enjoying themselves before heading back to Sunnydale the next afternoon.

And here they were on the plane as Tara continued looking at Willow's arm. She remembered the guys the young woman danced with the previous night when they went clubbing, and her heart ached. Tara already had a bad experience with a one night stand, and she didn't want any more risks. As she looked at Willow swaying her hips while Althanea was sitting next to her, the only thought going through her mind was that she wanted to ask Willow out.

She wanted to ask the redhead for several hours even before leaving. But at that time, she was also worried about any potential questions from detectives… questions that never came her way. Tara looked up at the unlit seatbelt sign and then unbuckled herself. Buffy and Faith then turned to Tara as she got up off her seat and asked if everything was alright.

"Yeah," Tara said before she took a few steps towards Willow's seat. Buffy and Faith then looked at each other before chuckling. The both of them hoped that whatever Tara asked Willow, the latter would say yes.

"Will," Tara said while tapping on the shoulder of the young woman watching a movie on the screen in front of her. Willow then looked up surprised, and then smiled, while taking off the headphones. "There's something I've been meaning to ask you. Could we talk?"

"Here?" asked the former redhead.

"It.. it can't wait," Tara whispered. Tara glanced over at Althanea who was also watching the same movie before looking back at the green eyes looking back at her. "Just to the back of the plane where it's pretty quiet. Please?"

"Sure," said Willow who believed that Tara was still worried about the French police wanting to speak to her about Eliza. At least if they managed to find any taped records of Tara and Eliza… based on the police not showing up, she wondered if the camera's they passed even worked at all. Willow undid her seatbelt, which was when Althanea noticed that Willow was getting up of her seat. And it was then she also noticed Tara who looked back at her, and then at Willow before the both of them walked off.

Althanea then turned and looked through the gap in the seats at Buffy who gave her a 'thumbs up sign' after Tara and Willow passed them by. Althanea smiled and then turned to watch her movie. She was aware for some time that Tara was attracted to Willow… she could sense it and see it in her aura. And all she could do now was whisper, "don't be afraid, Willow."

It was a few minutes later that both Tara and Willow made it to the back of the plane. They looked out the window on the exit, and then at the empty galley since the flight attendants were making their rounds.

"Willow," said Tara nervously as they looked at each other, "I… ummm…. There's something I wanted to say and… I mean… look, you.."

"Tara?" asked Willow at the nervous Tara who was pacing before she looked around to make sure they were alone. She then turned back towards Willow and said that she was keeping something in for months, and that if she didn't let it out.. she was afraid that she'll regret it.

"And I do regret it because if I told you this earlier, then maybe the whole fiasco with… you know who… wouldn't have happened," said Tara as she ran a hand through her hair while she looked at the passing white clouds below though the glass viewport on the door. "I take responsibility for what happened with her and… I mean that's on me. Not you, not Buffy, and not Faith, and…"

"You're not making any sense," said Willow as she took a few steps forward and placed her hands on Tara's arms. Willow whispered that it wasn't her fault.

"I… that.. that night we went to the club," said Tara, "I.. I know you weren't there and… I mean I wish you were there, and… I mean I know you were on your own date with Oz. What I'm trying to say is…"

"I'm sorry, I wasn't there," said Willow gently as she looked into Tara's eyes.

"You.. You don't understand," whispered Tara before shaking her head. "I.. I think… never mind. I think we should go back and…"

"Tara," said Willow gently, but sternly, as Tara tried to turn around but Willow stopped her, "what's going on? We already discussed this back in the hotel after… you know… after what happened. It's not your fault. It's not anyone's fault."

"It's my fault," said Tara as tears started to gather in her eyes while Willow narrowed her own in confusion as she looked at the young witch, "I… that.. I mean that night I wanted to dance with someone I was attracted to and… and Buffy and Faith were dancing with people and enjoying themselves and all I could think about was this one person."

"Tara?" asked Willow as Tara looked back into her eyes.

"I wanted her there.. I wanted to ask her to dance and… and… I mean it's Paris you know? It hurt a bit and I went home with the first girl who showed me attention. But all I could think about while we were… you know… was what you'd say when you found out."

"It's not your fault, Tara," Willow whispered as her heart raced in the hope that Tara wasn't saying what the former redhead though she was saying.

"I… I know I made a mistake and…"

"You didn't make a mistake," said Willow.

"If I wasn't so distracted, then maybe I'd have sensed there was something wrong about her," said Tara, "so I put myself into that situation. And… and I don't want to put myself into that kind of a situation ever again. I.. I don't want to be distracted."

"Okay," Willow said.

"I… I can't replace Oz," said Tara as Willow closed her eyes and shook her head. Tara sensed disbelief coming from Willow as she opened her eyes and looked into hers again, but Tara pushed on. Even though her heart was racing uncontrollably, and her neck, and ears were getting warmer while her palms were sweating. But she continued, "and… and I don't want to. I… I've been attracted to you for a long time. And… and this incident's made me realize that… that if I don't tell you, then I'll regret it."

"Ta…"

"I almost died, Willow," she whispered as a tear slipped down her cheek, "I… I can't let that happen again without telling you the truth. I'm attracted to you. I… I have been since that the day you came back from Devon. Maybe it started the day I first saw you and…"

"Or maybe it was because you saw me naked?" asked Willow as Tara chuckled while wiping her eyes. However, she noticed that Willow never let go of her arms even though disbelief was emanating off her body.

Tara looked at the smile on Willow's face, a smile that slowly vanished when the seriousness of what they were talking about came into focus again. The smile on Tara's face vanished too as she continued to speak, "I… I was hoping that maybe we could go for some coffee at the Espresso Pump. Just you and me… a.. a date."

"A date?" said Willow looking into Tara's eyes.

"A date," Tara nodded her head while her heart raced hoping that Willow would say 'yes'.

"And what happens if we hit it off?" asked Willow who was showing no outward sign of nervousness. However, Tara could see the heavy nervousness in her aura.

"I… I can show you… I mean… I can help to… you know," said Tara nervously before shaking her head and then taking a deep breath, "I… I can teach you. I… I think we… we could give it a try."

"Let's start with a coffee then," said Willow as a smiled came on Tara's face. A smile that was reflected on Willow's face as well.

"It's a date," smiled Tara as her hearth slowed down. She wanted to kiss Willow, but thought against it. Instead, she resolved to take things between them slowly. Willow then placed a hand on her back, and the both of them walked back to their seats. Tara sat back down while looking at Willow, who sat back down on her seat. The two smiled at each other as Buffy got up off her seat, moved past a surprised Tara and into the aisle. She then strode towards Willow and asked here only one question while Althanea looked up at the two young women.

"Did you say yes?" asked Buffy.

"Yea," replied Willow.

"Alright," said Buffy nodding towards the seat next to Tara, "you're sitting on my seat. Go.. go…"

"Buffy," said both Tara and Willow together.

"Move, Will," whispered a smiling Slayer. Willow chuckled and got up, and then walked down the aisle while brushing her hair behind her own ear. She smiled at Tara, who smiled back at her as she sat down. The both of them looked at each other, and Willow looked past Tara at the grinning Faith who was watching a movie on the screen. Willow then sat back as a flight attendant came up to them, and asked one simple question.

"Coffee or tea?"

"Coffee," Tara and Willow said together.

TBC.