The Bronze wasn't too crowded when they arrived, Sunday night not a huge draw for the masses. Xander and Anya were already there, the couple playing pool, and Xander waved them over as he spotted Willow's hair in the dim club.

"Hey guys," he greeted them, hugging them both. "Any sign of Buffy?" he checked.

Willow shook her head. "Nope. She called earlier but I haven't seen her tonight."

The young man shrugged, grinning. "Well, we just finished this game, so we can rack them up if you two want to play," he suggested. "Our drinks are over there," he said, pointing at a nearby table.

Tara laughed as Willow took their jackets, one threaded through each crutch, over to the table. "You want something to drink?" Willow called over.

Tara shrugged. "I'll just drink out of yours," she said. Willow shot her a grin and a thumbs-up and swung herself toward the bar.

"Tara, you want to break?" Xander offered, handing her a pool cue.

She smiled shyly, leaning over to line up her shot. The clacking of the balls was muted by the thumping music around them, and she smiled as a striped ball fell into a corner pocket. She found another shot and circled the table to set it up.

"You guys are stripes," Xander told Willow as the redhead returned from the bar, the lip of the plastic cup held between her teeth. Xander took it from her with a laugh, putting it on the table for her.

"Alright!" Willow cheered. "My girlfriend's a pool shark!"

Tara made her second shot and Anya scowled, eyeing the pool table with renewed determination. Tara's third shot missed and the ex-demon stepped up to take the first shot for her team. She got two balls into pockets before she missed and she grinned triumphantly around the table at the others, her competitive streak obviously in full swing.

Willow went next, trading her crutches for the pool stick and balancing carefully on her good leg while she leaned over to take her shot. She got her ball in, but the white ball also rolled into a pocket and Anya cheered as she snatched the cue ball from the pocket and handed it to Xander.

He rolled his eyes obligingly at his girlfriend as he put the ball on the table, giving Willow an apologetic smile as the witch shot the vengeance demon a glare over the table. Tara slipped her hand into Willow's and the redhead's scowl vanished, replaced by a shy smile as she glanced sideways at her girlfriend.

They were still playing when Buffy and Riley appeared, trailed by what appeared to be the rest of Riley's squad of Initiative soldiers.

"They invited themselves to come along," Buffy muttered as she leaned over to hug Willow. "I didn't…"

Willow shrugged. "No big. I'm sure their boss will call with some kind of emergency soon." She winked at her friend, taking a sip of her drink.

The troopers took another pool table, starting their own game, and Buffy and Riley took Xander and Anya's place at the Scooby table as Anya suddenly gave up her competition at the pool table in favor of dancing farther away from the potentially non-ex-demon friendly troops.

They finished their game, lingering around their table in conversation while Riley's soldier guys were still playing their own game of pool. The sudden chiming of fifteen pagers was conspicuous enough to draw some glances and Buffy laughed, covering her mirth with a sip from her cup.

"We've got to go," Riley said regretfully.

"Okay," Buffy said, giving him a kiss. "Be careful."

He blinked in surprise, looking down at her. "You're not coming?"

The Slayer shook her head, taking a longer sip from her drink. "No," she said simply. "I'm hanging out with my friends." She gestured around the table. "I'll see you tomorrow," she prompted. "You can call me when you get done," she offered. Riley looked confused and Buffy smiled at him encouragingly. "You've got your squad to back you up, and I don't work for the Initiative," she reminded him.

He still had traces of a frown on his face, but he nodded. "You're right," he agreed. "I'll call you later?"

"Sounds good," she said, leaning up for another, longer kiss. Buffy watched them go, smiling at her friends. "Sorry about the soldiers crashing the night," she apologized.

"They're gone now," Xander said, shrugging. "Their mommy cracks the whip and they come-a-running," he joked, the others laughing. "So, how'd it go over there yesterday?" he asked, stealing a sip of Anya's drink.

Buffy shrugged. "The tests and stuff were no problem because it wasn't written," she said, grinning at Willow, the Slayer's study habits, or lack thereof, a source of never-ending frustration for the redhead. "They offered me clearance and stuff, but I didn't say yes yet. I don't know about signing up with something like that. For now at least, I want to stay freelance. Riley knows I'll help him if he needs it, but I'd rather not make any decisions without talking to Giles."

"That's smart," Xander agreed.

They talked at the table, Xander and Anya occasionally getting up to dance whenever a song that Anya liked came on. It was after midnight and almost closing time when they decided to go, Xander and Anya heading back toward Xander's house while the girls started off toward the campus. They headed to Fike without speaking, riding upstairs in the elevator. Tara opened the door, not sure where Willow was planning on spending the night.

"Do you want to come in?" Tara offered.

Buffy shook her head, covering a yawn with one hand. "Thanks Tara, but I'm beat. I'm heading to bed," she said, grinning. "Willow, you need me to walk you back?"

Willow hesitated, looking carefully into Tara's face, searching for any hint that the blonde would be disappointed if she didn't stay. Tara just smiled, nodding her head toward Buffy subtly. "Yeah Buff, that would be great," she agreed. "Just let me get my chair."

Tara moved out of the doorway to let Willow come in, the redhead dropping herself slowly into the seat of the chair, grinning as she moved a discarded notebook from out of her way.

"You're not upset, right?" she checked, whispering.

Tara smiled, shaking her head. "No, sweetie. I'll see you tomorrow for lunch, okay?"

Willow nodded, winking. "Don't sleep too good without me," she teased.

Tara narrowed her eyes at her girlfriend, laughing. "Vixen," she murmured, kissing Willow softly.

The Initiative kept Riley hopping for the next few days, busy with strange tasks for Professor Walsh, and it took a week before Buffy managed to track down her boyfriend. They had all had a long day of classes, but Buffy decided to go see Riley after their classes, feeling bad for ditching him that night at the Bronze, and sorry about the stress he was feeling, torn between his job and his relationship.

The Slayer had only been gone a few minutes from the dorm when the phone rang and Willow answered it to find Giles on the other end. "Buffy just left," Willow told him.

"Actually, I need your help, if you're available," he told her.

"Sure, what's up?" she asked. He explained as briefly as he could that something had happened to Spike and she hung up, assuring him that she was on her way.

She got the ionization spell done, and they got the tracker out of Spike's shoulder, the vampire explaining that he'd been the reason the troopers were all summoned away from the Bronze and that he had been on the run since then, keeping the Initiative troopers chasing him all over town. Giles agreed to let the neutered vampire hide out at his apartment, and Willow got ready to leave, wanting to get back to her room before dark. She was pushing at her hair in frustration, as it was still standing on end from her spell, when Buffy walked in.

"I thought you'd be out with Riley tonight," Willow blurted in surprise as she saw her roommate.

Buffy laughed, looking around the room at each of her friends' hair, but sobered quickly. "Walsh tried to have me killed," she announced. Her friends all froze, looking at her in shock. "She called Riley down while I was over there this afternoon. He asked me to come along, so I went down there and Walsh sent him out and asked me to help her out with some demons in the sewers. It seemed easy enough so I said I'd help, but the sewers had gates that closed behind me and the electric gun that she gave me to use didn't work."

"Could it have simply been a mistake?" Giles asked, frowning.

"No, this place doesn't make mistakes like that. She wanted me gone," Buffy said firmly.

"Riley wasn't…?" Xander started to ask.

Buffy shook her head, cutting him off. "No, he wasn't around. She wanted him out of the way while she was dealing with me."

"Are you sure?" Giles asked.

"He's not involved," Buffy stated. "And if it turns out that he is, I'll deal with him."

"So, what should we do?" Giles asked.

"I think everyone should stay here, actually," Buffy said. "Xand, they know how close we are and they've seen you on campus a lot with me and Will, but they haven't seen Giles around much. We should be safe here. Xander and Anya can stay in the spare room, I can bunk here on the couch."

"What about me?" Willow and Spike chimed in simultaneously.

Buffy grinned, pointing at Spike. "You can do whatever you want as far as I'm concerned," she answered. "The bathtub is open," she offered. She grinned at Willow next. "I figured Tara wouldn't mind sheltering you for a few days. I'll walk you over there."

Willow nodded, blushing under her friends' eyes. "Thanks, Buffy. You guys will keep me in the loop, right?"

"Yeah," the Slayer answered. "I'm going out to find Riley after I get you squared away Will, and then I'll be back here for the night. Does everyone understand the plan?"

"Everyone is staying here, in my apartment?" Giles asked reluctantly, sighing when Buffy shot him a look. "Fine. I think we're clear," he agreed.

Buffy nodded, following Willow into Giles' patio, walking slowly with Willow as the redhead hopped her way up the stairs. The Slayer took over driving the chair once they were back on sidewalk, walking them faster than Willow could have driven herself. They swung by Stevenson to pick up some clothes for themselves before they went to Tara's dorm.

The blonde witch looked surprised to see the pair at her door, but she let them in without question at the serious look on both faces. "What's going on?" she asked.

"Willow needs to hide here for a few days. Everyone else is staying at Giles' apartment," Buffy explained cryptically.

"Hide?" Tara asked.

"The soldiers are after Buffy," Willow answered. "Can I stay?"

Tara nodded, frowning. "Of course," she answered immediately. "Buffy?"

"You'll both be safe. They don't know you," the Slayer answered. "Just stay here tonight and I'll call you in the morning, okay?"

Willow nodded. "Be careful, Buffy."

The Slayer nodded back seriously, taking a deep breath before she walked out the door, leaving the witches alone.

"You're okay?" Tara checked anxiously.

Willow smiled. "I am, promise."

"Good, but what's up with your hair?" Tara asked, smiling suddenly as she circled around behind Willow's chair.

Willow poked at her still weightless hair, laughing. "Oh, I did a spell to ionize the air at Giles' house. It made everyone's hair stick straight up in the air. It's actually come down a lot," she said, attempting to push it down. "It was up to here," she said, holding her hand up over her head.

Tara laughed, hugging Willow around her shoulders. "You're adorable," she said. "Sleepy, baby?"

Willow shook her head, leaning back to smile up at Tara. "Not really. Are you?" she asked hopefully.

"Not really," Tara agreed.

"Well I hope I didn't interrupt anything you had planned tonight," Willow said, her fingers finding Tara's hand on her shoulder, and her eyes dropped closed as Tara's hand pressed at her muscles, gently moving in circles.

Tara leaned over as she shook her head, pressing kisses to the opposite side of Willow's neck while her hand kept working at soothing Willow's tense muscles. "Nothing that can't wait," she said quietly, smiling as Willow's head rocked forward on her neck, a groan of satisfaction tearing from her throat.

"That feels good," Willow moaned.

Tara's other hand moved to Willow's other shoulder, her thumbs digging carefully into Willow's tension. "You should lay down," Tara prompted. "You're really tense."

Willow nodded but shrugged her shoulders. "I can handle it."

Tara laughed quietly, smiling fondly as she leaned her head over again to press a kiss to Willow's cheek. "I'm sure you can, but the point is that you don't have to," Tara said. "I can go back to my homework if you don't want me to," she teased, pressing a kiss to the back of her neck.

"Please don't," Willow requested groggily, her head still bobbing against her chest.

"Go lay down," Tara said, guiding Willow's chair beside the bed and helping her girlfriend from the chair to the surface of the covers. She moved the chair out of the way and sat down beside Willow, rubbing gently at the witch's back. "Don't fight falling asleep," she directed softly. "If you get sleepy, just go."

"Okay," Willow agreed, already sounding more relaxed.

Tara smiled to herself, feeling Willow's body relax under her hands, but Willow was still awake when she finished. "You were supposed to fall asleep," she reminded her as Willow turned onto her side.

Willow shrugged. "I'm not sleepy yet." She deliberately slid both hands behind her back. "I have something for you."

Tara arched an eyebrow at her, but took a seat in front of Willow on the bed. Willow kept her hand hidden for a few more teasing seconds before bringing it forward and revealing a red rose.

Tara blinked in surprise, taking the flower carefully. "Where did this come from?"

"It's for you," Willow said, smiling.

The blonde blushed, touching the petals softly. "It's beautiful, and you're sweet, baby. You didn't have to do that."

Willow shrugged. "I wanted to." She pulled a white one from behind her back with a sheepish grin. "And this one is for a spell I wanted to try."

Tara smiled, amused by the redhead's antics. "I should have known," she laughed, leaning in to kiss Willow softly.

"Hey, I got yours first! The spell was just an afterthought!" Willow protested against her lips, nipping teasingly at Tara's bottom lip. "It should be very pretty," she coaxed.

"What do we have to do?" Tara asked, kissing Willow again softly.

"Well, we'd float the rose," Willow said, the words scattered between kisses. "Use the magic to pluck off the petals." Tara nodded, not moving far enough to stop their kissing. "It's a test of synchronicity…"

Tara pulled on Willow's bottom lip with her teeth, letting it go with a pop. "Okay, let's do it," she said, hopping up from her seat and laughing at the shocked look on Willow's face. She held one hand out to Willow, grinning as the redhead took it.

Tara guided Willow down to the floor, helping her sit down carefully with the base of the bed behind her. She pushed back the corner of the rug and drew out the symbol Willow showed her in chalk on the bare patch of floor. She put the rose in the middle of the circle and sat down in front of Willow, joining their hands. They were sitting close, Tara's legs folded in front of her, her knees touching Willow's bent knee while Willow's frozen right leg was lying close beside her left hip.

They each stretched out slowly with their power, their fingers curling around each other's wrists. They didn't have any trouble falling into sync with each other, their hearts beating simultaneously, the inhales and exhales of their breaths in perfect time. They'd practiced spells before, but they'd been keeping it simple, careful about every step they made toward expanding both their power when working together, as well as the growth of their individual abilities. They'd discovered early on that they were extraordinarily attuned for two people that weren't related, and it was the work of a second to funnel that synchronicity into the spell.

Tara opened her eyes without realizing that she'd closed them to find Willow smiling softly at her. "We did it," Willow said quietly, looking beside them to where the rose was hovering a foot from the ground. "Now for the tricky part, the petals."

Tara let her fingers slip gently over the pulse she could feel beating in Willow's wrist, pulsing at the same speed as her own. Their power, combined in perfect unity, reached out and touched the rose, the texture of the petals tangible in their minds, their touch sending specific petals spiraling slowly to the floor.

The rose was softly glowing and the petals kept their soft light as they fell. "Beautiful," Willow breathed, but when Tara looked at her the redhead wasn't watching the results of their spell.

Neither could have said who moved first, but their mouths met in the middle and Tara ended up on her knees between Willow's legs, kissing each other deeply, slow and soft but quickly growing more passionate. Willow moaned into Tara's mouth, her hands finding Tara's hips, her nails dragging gently over the soft skin between her shirt and pants.

"Are we doing what I think we're doing?" Willow asked breathily as Tara's roaming hands broke through the fog of feeling that was clouding her mind.

"God, I hope so," Tara groaned, her kisses moving to Willow's neck. "Do you want to stop…" she started to speak, pulling her head back from Willow's skin reluctantly, but needing to know that she wasn't pushing Willow into anything she didn't want.

Willow shook her head, pulling Tara back to her before the words were out of her mouth. "Don't stop," Willow pleaded, her hands finding a grip around Tara's waist as the blonde's hands slipped under Willow's butt, lifting her just enough to clear the mattress.

Their kissing resumed before they were horizontal, falling back with a laugh, and Willow pulled herself backwards as quickly as she could while Tara followed her. They'd been kissing since before they were even dating, and since then things had been progressing quickly. Tara had been more than a little surprised by how easily Willow seemed to be adjusting to the physical side of dating another woman, but she couldn't say she wasn't happy about it.

"You feel so good," Willow moaned, one hand in Tara's hair while the other was dragging over her back. Tara was kissing at Willow's neck, feeling the rapid pulse beating under her lips, and she dimly wondered if hers was still beating in time with Willow's, sure that it was, but knowing that it was through no result of the spell.

She giggled against Willow's pale, freckled skin, feeling the redhead's tickling fingers under her shirt. She let herself reciprocate, trailing her nails gently over Willow's stomach. Willow squirmed under her, hips rolling as much as they could, and her eyes snapped closed, a deep groan tearing from her throat.

"Tara," she groaned her name and the blonde breathed soothingly against her neck.

"It's okay, Willow. I'm right here," Tara whispered to her. "Just be slow." She pressed a kiss to her neck. "We'll take it slow, together," Tara encouraged her, her palm flat on Willow's rapidly rising and falling stomach as the redhead struggled to catch her breath. Tara lifted her head to look down into her eyes. "You're okay, right? With this?"

"God, yes," Willow gasped, lifting her head up to kiss Tara again.

"This isn't just the spell, is it? You want this, don't you?" she asked, gasping as Willow nipped her ear.

Willow didn't let her earlobe go, just shook her head minutely. "No, it's not magic, or at least, it's not that kind of magic. It's you. I want you." She let Tara's ear slide from between her teeth as she dropped back onto the bed so she could meet Tara's eyes. "You…I mean, you do want…"

"I want you, Willow," Tara interrupted her before she could finish, kissing her before another word could pass either of their lips. Willow groaned in frustration as Tara pulled away from her after only a few seconds. "Is this too fast? Are we going too fast?" she questioned even as Willow leaned up on her elbows, scattering sucking kisses across her neck. "We've only been dating a few weeks."

"I've wanted you for longer than that," Willow objected into her skin. "I just didn't admit it." She whimpered sharply as Tara's hands squeezed her hips. "Please, Tara," she pleaded, her eyes finding Tara's above her. The blonde could see the truth in her eyes and she nodded, kissing her in a rush.

Tara let Willow set the pace, not wanting to do anything to scare the redhead or push her farther than she was willing to go. That Willow didn't want to stop presented no problem for her.

Willow woke up slowly, feeling trailing fingers dragging over her arm. Tara was pressing slow kisses to her shoulder and she turned her head to meet blue eyes. "Good morning," she breathed, smiling sleepily.

"Good morning," Tara whispered back, her lips still against Willow's skin. "Did you sleep alright?" Willow nodded with the same sleepy smile on her face. "Do you…are you…?" Her voice trailed off, not sure if she could actually speak the question she knew she needed to ask.

Willow seemed to recognize what was coming and she shook her head preemptively. "Tara, no. Absolutely no to that question. I do not regret anything that happened last night." She leaned over to kiss the blonde's forehead. "Last night was the best night of my life."

Tara knew she should feel guilty for letting Willow get so involved unknowingly with a demon, but she couldn't bring herself to fight the immediate joy that shot through her at the words. "Mine too," she agreed softly.

"I swear that wasn't part of any plans I had when I asked to stay over last night, Tara. I'm not sorry that it happened, I'm actually really glad that it happened, but I need you to know that when I asked to sleep over, all I meant to do was sleep," Willow offered emphatically. "I mean, we've technically really only been dating for a few weeks, but the feelings are older than that, older than I probably realize even, and I didn't, I would never have tried to…" she blushed brightly before she even said the next word, "seduce you, of course, you know that…"

"I know that," Tara agreed. "You don't owe me anything, Willow."

Willow pushed herself up onto her elbows immediately, holding the sheet to her chest with one hand. "Tara, don't…" She gave the blonde a firm look. "You're my girl, aren't you?" she asked, her tone softening with a tinge of doubt. "Because I'm yours, and I wouldn't have done anything last night if you didn't mean anything to me. Tara…"

"Willow, no…I didn't mean…" Tara said, squeezing her eyes shut. "God, this isn't coming out right at all," she groaned, opening her eyes. "I wouldn't, if you…Willow, you mean a lot to me, I c-care about you," she said, sighing as her stutter resurfaced suddenly. "I just don't…nothing would have happened if I didn't…" She squeezed her eyes closed again, turning slightly to look at Willow as the redhead pressed a kiss to her forehead before moving her lips to both cheeks. "I am, you know…"

"What?" Willow asked softly.

"Yours," Tara breathed.

Willow nodded against her neck. "And that means that I owe you everything," she whispered. "So, no more saying that I don't, okay?"

"Willow," Tara said softly, relenting with a nod. "Thank you."

"Nothing to thank me for," Willow responded immediately. She smiled teasingly, trying to break their suddenly serious tone. "After last night, I'm thinking I should be the one thanking you," she said with a wink.

Tara blushed and Willow grinned, ducking her head against Tara's neck to scatter soft kisses across her skin. Tara curled an arm around Willow's back, pulling her against her side with a quiet laugh.

"There it is," Willow murmured, pleased. "That's what I wanted to hear." She pressed another kiss to Tara's collarbone. "So, what do you want to do today?" she asked, tilting her head up to see Tara's face.

"Shouldn't you go home at some point?" Tara asked innocently.

Willow blinked, swallowing thickly. "If you want me to go, you just have to say so," she said, not entirely concealed hurt in her voice as she started to roll away.

Tara realized her mistake before the redhead could move and she pulled her girlfriend back to her. "Willow, no, that's so not what I meant. I just meant we should swing by your room sometime today, check in with Buffy." She smiled tentatively. "It wouldn't be good to have a worried Slayer coming over here, interrupting whatever we happen to be doing," she reminded Willow, breathing the words into her ear and pressing a kiss behind her ear as one arm curled snugly around her waist.

Willow smiled sheepishly. "Sorry," she murmured. "I guess I'm a little bit jumpy this morning. I've never…last night was perfect and I guess I'm just waiting for the inevitable hammer to fall," she confessed.

Tara met her eyes solidly, shaking her head minutely. "It's not going to come from me," she promised softly. "I don't want you to go, I want to keep going out with you, and anytime you want to repeat any part of last night, I'm there," she said, trying to cover all of Willow's potential worries at one time, blushing even as she smiled.

Willow grinned. "You certainly will be," she agreed, leaning up to suck Tara's earlobe between her teeth.

"How about we get some breakfast before this gets more involved," Tara suggested on a gasp. "And check in with Buffy so there won't be any of those interruptions," she prompted.

Willow's agreement was signaled as her stomach growled audibly and Tara dragged her fingers slowly over the redhead's belly as she giggled. "Okay," Willow said, giggling and squirming away from the tickling fingers.

Tara watched Willow lean over the edge of the bed, the sheet sliding dangerously low and Tara averted her eyes quickly, turning to face the other side of the bed. She found her robe hanging over the back of a chair and slipped into it quickly. When she turned back to face Willow the redhead had pulled one of their discarded shirts from the night before over her head and was looking around for her pants.

Tara found them on her side of the room and handed them over quickly. "Can you, do you need any help?" she asked, feeling shy and awkward suddenly.

Willow could feel her discomfort and took her hand soothingly. "I can get it sweetie, thanks," she assured her. "If you could find my chair or my crutches?"

"Oh, yeah, of course, sorry Willow," Tara said, looking around in a panic, pausing when Willow pulled on her hand, pressing a kiss to the back of it.

"Tara, are you freaked?" Willow asked. "Because I promise you that I won't be in this stupid cast for much longer, and I'll be back on my feet as fast as I can."

Tara nodded slowly. "I know that," she said.

"So, what's wrong?" Willow asked softly.

The blonde shook her head hesitantly. "I just feel shy for some reason," she confessed.

"Oh," Willow said, blushing. "And having a girlfriend that can't put her own pants on doesn't help with that."

"Willow," Tara started, pausing when Willow shook her head with a smile.

"Tara, it's fine. I'll be fine. How about you go brush your teeth, or take a shower, or whatever you need to do, and I'll handle this," Willow suggested, smiling as she gestured to her lap and her leg.

Tara sighed, but smiled gratefully. "If you're sure," she prompted, nodding when Willow did. "Okay, but I'll hurry."

She gathered her shower things as quickly as she could, giving Willow a smile over her shoulder as she went out the door. Willow was dressed in her sweats and a t-shirt and was seated safely in her chair when she returned and Tara gave her girlfriend a chiding look as she remembered that she had neglected to move the chair into Willow's reach from the bed before she left.

"You didn't…" she started, crossing her arms over her chest.

Willow shook her head, lifting both hands with a grin. "As much as I like the emphasis this stance puts on your chest, I used my good leg to pull the chair to me. I was in no danger of falling and splitting open my hard head," she said, laughing as Tara blushed.

"You're a vixen, Willow Rosenberg," Tara chided her, a crooked half-smile on her face.

Willow winked cheekily at her. "Ready to go?" she checked, wheeling herself toward the door at Tara's nod. They both stopped as Tara's phone rang, exchanging glances.

Tara picked it up, holding it between her chin and shoulder. "Hello?"

"Don't go out," Buffy ordered sternly. "There's a big demon running around town skewering people. I'm going hunting."

"Are you okay?" she asked the Slayer.

"Yeah, I haven't seen it yet, but from what they showed on the news, it looks like one of the demons the Initiative had supposedly reprogrammed, but I won't know until I get there and check it out," Buffy said. "You two just stay inside, don't let anybody in." She hesitated. "Is Willow awake?"

"Yeah, she's right here," Tara said. "Baby, Buffy needs to talk to you," she said, covering the speaker of the phone.

Willow reached for the phone, her expression growing serious. "Buffy, you okay?"

"Yeah Will, I'm fine."

"How'd it go with Riley?"

"He didn't know about what Walsh had planned. He's not sure what to think though. He's confused and scared," Buffy sighed. "I don't have time to worry about that now though. I think one of the Initiative's pet Polgara demons is loose and killing people. It got a little boy this morning."

"Polgara, okay," Willow said. "We'll get to work finding a weakness."

"Thanks, Will. I'll have my walkie-talkie on," Buffy told her.

"Good luck, be careful," Willow said as she hung up. "So much for breakfast," she commented ruefully, smiling at Tara.

The blonde returned the smile, finding a pack of pop-tarts as a substitute. "Can I make it up to you?" she asked as she handed it over. "Dinner? As soon as we're not under house arrest?" she suggested.

"Sounds perfect," Willow agreed, smiling up from her chair and leaning up to kiss her. "And thanks for breakfast," she added with a wink.

They spent hours searching, collaborating over the phone with the others at Giles' apartment. The witches were on speaker phone when Buffy and Riley came in on the other end of the phone. "Walsh is dead, he's sick, we've got to figure something out now," Buffy said. She guided her boyfriend onto the couch, coaxing him to relax. He was compulsively scratching a patch on his hand and she pulled his hand away, hushing him gently.

It took her a few minutes to get him settled, the Marine sleeping uneasily on the couch with Buffy's scarf tied over the sore on his hand.

"You guys, we have to do something. He's cracking up," Buffy said worriedly, crossing her arms over her chest. "Any ideas?"

"The Initiative probably knows how to fix him, right?" Xander suggested. "We could break in, try and find some notes, or a cure, or something."

Buffy nodded brusquely. "Good," she said. "Anything else? I need to find the Polgara. Anything you can do, Will?"

"We could try a demon locator spell," Willow suggested.

"Do it. Xander, you're with me. Will, call me when the spell is done," she ordered.

Willow heard the phone click as Buffy ended the call and she shared a look across the room with Tara. There was anxiety in Tara's face, her expression guarded.

"D-demon locator?" she asked softly, and Willow frowned as she heard the tremor in her lover's voice.

Willow stood up shakily without her crutches, taking one short step before Tara was there, sliding an arm around her waist. "Tara, what's wrong?" she asked.

"Willow, you have to sit back down. You can't walk without your crutches," Tara chided her gently, helping her girlfriend into a chair instead of answering.

"Why are you shaky-girl?" Willow asked again, brushing hair back from her face gently. "Talk to me."

"Willow," she said softly, trying to muster the strength to tell Willow the truth. "I-I c-can't…"

Willow shook her head minutely. "What? Baby, what is it?"

"I c-can't do t-that spell," Tara whispered, choking on the words.

Willow pressed a kiss to her forehead, one hand brushing over her girlfriend's cheek. "It's okay. I'll do it. You don't have to…"

"Willow…no, I, you'll find…" Tara breathed, sitting shakily on the corner of her bed. She curled in on herself slowly, breathing hard.

Willow was staring at her, frowning in concern and she leaned forward, putting one hand on Tara's arm. "Fine baby, I won't do the spell, but I have to do something to find the demon," she said. "I guess I could roll around town in the chair and hope it finds me," she suggested, corner of her mouth lifting as Tara's head came up, the blonde glaring at her.

"Not funny," Tara said sternly.

"Have you got another idea?" Willow asked. "Buffy needs us to find this thing before it kills again."

Tara sighed heavily, her head dropping. "Do the spell," she said, feeling resignation. She wouldn't let her demon cost anyone else their lives because she was trying to hide.

"Tara, are you sure?" Willow asked, voice soft with concern and confusion, not sure why Tara was hesitant to do the spell, but not wanting to do anything that had Tara scared.

"Do it," she said again. Willow's mouth opened to question her again, but Tara shook her head. "Do it!" she said sharply, covering her face with her hands as Willow blinked in surprise at Tara's harsh tone. "Willow…I'm s-sorry, please, I d-didn't…"

"Shh," Willow hushed her gently. "Whatever it is, I promise it'll be okay," she said seriously. "I just need to do this spell and tell Buffy where to go, and we'll figure out whatever's wrong, okay?"

Tara sighed in resignation, nodding as she stood up to help Willow out of her chair and sat down on the floor with her. "What do we need to do?" she asked, tone all business.

Willow eyed her carefully, still concerned, and she reached over slowly, plucking a vial of powder out of a bag of things she'd brought from her room. She explained the spell, laying out the perimeter of the map with stones. Tara held one hand out for the powder, pretending that she didn't notice Willow's worried look directed at her.

"Ready?" Willow asked softly, getting only a nod from Tara in response. They blew the powder out simultaneously, colored mist floating over the square of the rug they'd set aside for the spell. Willow frowned between the map of Sunnydale, the square of color on the floor, and the page of her notebook where she'd written out the color system for identifying the demons.

She glanced from the map to Tara, frowning in confusion. "W-what is it?" Tara asked hesitantly, her hands trembling. She blinked and tears slid down her cheeks.

"There are no Polgara demons on the map. Whatever killed those people wasn't a Polgara, or else it's already dead," Willow said, looking busily between the spell and the map.

Tara sat forward, turning the map toward herself quickly, ignoring Willow's surprised glance. The redhead noticed her tears, reaching forward to touch her face gently. "There's nothing here," Tara said, shocked as she stared at the empty spot where her demon light should have been glowing on the campus portion of the map.

"Hey, you're crying! Baby, what's wrong?" Willow demanded firmly, not willing to be put off anymore. "Tell me," she said.

Tara shook her head, panting for breath with her heart pounding, and she wondering if she was going to faint. She was a demon. She'd known it all her life. It had been engrained in her since she was a child. It couldn't have all been a lie. The only reason she could think of that she hadn't shown up on the spell was because she hadn't manifested the demon yet. She was still safe, could still hide, she didn't have to lose Willow yet.

"Tara!"

Her name, spoken in near panic by Willow, brought her back to the present. "Willow, I'm s-sorry. I don't know w-what…I don't know w-what came over me. I'm sorry."

"Don't scare me like that," Willow groaned, wiping the tears from Tara's cheeks. "I need to call Buffy. Will you be alright? I'll only be a minute."

Tara nodded, smiling in almost manic relief. "I'm fine. Nothing's wrong n-now."

Willow still looked confused, but pulled herself up to sit on the bed, finding her walkie-talkie and relaying her lack of success with the spell to her friend. Buffy whispered a response, the signal crackling since she was already sneaking through the underground Initiative complex with Xander.

Willow put the communicator to the side, her eyes settling on Tara. "What happened, Tara?" she asked seriously.

"I just, I got s-scared," Tara offered the explanation weakly, not expecting Willow to believe her.

Willow's expression softened and she held a hand out to her, smiling encouragingly. "It's all okay Tara, I swear."

Tara nodded in silence, smiling almost sadly. "Thank you, Willow." She swallowed down her fear, forcing her heart to slow down. Her eyes squeezed closed, final tears slipping out of the corner of her eyes.

Willow was watching her, still anxious. The last thing she expected Tara to do was dive at her suddenly, tackling her backward into the bed. "Honey, what is going on?" she asked, looking down at where Tara had her head buried in her chest. She was surprised to see that Tara was smiling when she lifted her head.

"I'm just happy," she said, leaning up to kiss Willow before the redhead could speak. They broke away from each other when Tara's phone rang again. Tara slid up to grab the phone, leaving Willow flat on her back and confused.

Tara was on the phone for a few minutes, giving a signal of acknowledgement. "Okay, we will. Good night," she said, hanging up the phone.

"Who was it?" Willow asked, moving slowly to sit up.

"Giles. Buffy called. Riley ran off after her and Xander and he got hurt by the same thing that killed that boy and Professor Walsh. The Initiative is keeping him to patch him up. Buffy said that the thing is some kind of medically created mutant demon. We're still in hiding mode," Tara said, turning her head to look at Willow. "Will, I'm sorry I lost it like that…I didn't mean to scare you."

Willow could see her girlfriend's sincerity in her face, and she relaxed slowly, nodding. "You're okay, right?"

"I'm okay," Tara responded. "I promise. I'm just sorry I worried you."

Willow leaned over to press a kiss to the blonde's temple. "Don't do it again, okay?"

Tara smiled as naturally as she could. "I'll do my best." She knew it was a promise she couldn't keep, but Willow wouldn't drop the issue without some assurance. "Sorry," she apologized again.

Willow opened her arms, gratified when Tara moved into her arms immediately. Tara pressed a kiss to her neck, one hand tracing her cheek, sliding into Willow's red hair. "Are we okay?" Willow asked gently.

"I'm not sure. Are we?" Tara asked the question back to her.

"I want us to be," Willow said honestly. I'm only okay if you are though, Tara."

Tara nodded, leaning against Willow's shoulder. "Then we're okay," she agreed.

Willow let out a deep breath, curling her arms tighter around Tara. "Good," she said softly. She pressed a kiss to Tara's hair. "I know that wasn't strictly a fight, but whatever it is, I don't like doing it with you," she admitted.

"Me neither, sweetie," Tara agreed. "What can I do to make it better?"

Willow shook her head. "Just stay where you are," she requested.

"I can do that," Tara said.

They rested together, letting their tension drain away slowly, Tara struggling to grasp her second chance, her demon still concealed from Willow, the woman she was rapidly falling in love with, the person she would lose when the demon took her. She didn't know if it was better or worse that she had someone in her life now when she'd been so alone for all of it up until now. Before Willow, there would have been no one to miss her once she turned, now though, she knew Willow would cry for her, would feel her loss.

Tara knew she should speak up, tell Willow the truth, but hiding the demon had been taught to her almost before she had known her own name. Instead, she let Willow guide them down, the redhead pulling her into the comforting circle of her arms and Tara let her secret stay buried as they slipped into sleep.

Next Time: Willow walks!