The moment was interrupted by the loud ringing of a phone.
Slowly, Willow pulled back, hating herself for doing it, but she knew what the call was. The other scoobies were worried about her because she hadn't shown up for the meeting, especially today, as it was not only the anniversary of Tara's death but of the day that Willow went bad, and killed the man who had killed Tara. She knew the day brought back the memories, the feelings, and they were worried that once again she had forced herself not to feel, giving herself to dark magicks. She knew that if she didn't answer, they would come looking for her, and as Dawn could now do a locator spell, they would come straight here, and she wasn't ready to share her miracle with anyone yet, especially them, as she knew they wouldn't understand. They would think that Tara was a demon, sent to infiltrate the order. They wouldn't understand how Willow knew otherwise, how she could just sense that it was really her, that she was really back. And she didn't want to share yet, not when she didn't know how long she had.
So, she pulled back, and answered the phone. As she suspected, it was Xander's worried voice on the other end. "Willow?"
"Yeah, Xand."
"You okay? Where are you?"
"I'm fine, I'm just… It's just… today… I just want to be alone… with-" once again she had trouble saying the name, still having trouble believing what was in front of her, the reality of the woman whose arms were currently wrapped around Willow's waist, holding her from behind.
"Tara" Xander supplied the name for her.
"Yeah… I mean, you guys don't need me for anything, do you?"
"No, we can manage without you for today"
"Thanks Xand"
"No problem, Will. I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Yeah. See you tomorrow"
"I love you, Will"
"I know" and with that she hung up the phone, turning around in Tara's arms so that they were facing each other once again, reaching up to lightly run her fingers across Tara's face.
"I-is everything ok?"
"Everything is fine. Its better than fine. You're here. So everything is perfect"
"How did you do it? Bring me back?"
"What? I didn't. I mean, I tried to, but they wouldn't let me. I tried to bring you back but they wouldn't let me. You mean you don't know how?" Tara took a long look around, for the first time realizing that this wasn't anywhere she was familiar with from her life. Everything about the place was foreign, and something seemed very wrong. She pulled back, so that she and Willow were at arms length, although never letting go of Willow's hand.
"Willow, w-w-where a-are we?"
"Cleveland. We moved here two years go after Sunnydale was destroyed when we battled the First and that hellmouth was closed permanently. Cleveland happens to sit atop another hellmouth…"
"T-two y-years ago? Willow, what do you mean two years ago? I m-mean, it f-felt like I was gone for an eternity, I missed you so much, but it hasn't even been a month…" Willow's face turned sad and confused.
"Tara, it's been three years."