Similar questions ran through Willow's head. Has too much changed? Had she been through too much to just be happy? She had wanted this more than anything for three years, but could she accept it when it happened? Could she be the Willow that Tara knew, that Tara loved? So much had changed. About her life. About herself. Could Tara accept that? And what had she been through. She mentioned fighting her way through dimensions, but how

They sat all night, both staring alternately at their knees, and the woman they wanted so badly to just be holding, if only their doubts didn't hold them back. A few times a hand crossed half the distance between them, only to be pulled back quickly.

Both jumped when the alarm went off the next morning, neither having slept at all. Willow turned off the alarm and got out of bed, crossing the room to the dresser in a daze, and opening a drawer. When she looked down to grab clean clothing, she was surprised as she realized what drawer she had opened. She had kept it shut for so long. In fact, she had opened it only once since she first filled the drawer, a year earlier than yesterday. A single tear slowly rolled down her face.

Tara heard the splash of a tear hitting wood, and got up to try to comfort Willow. She stood behind her, looking over her shoulder to see what had made her cry again. She brushed against Willow's shoulder, sending a jolt of electricity through them both with the touch. When she saw what Willow was looking at, she suddenly knew that everything was going to be all right. It was going to work out. Everything would work out

She was looking at a pile of clothes and pictures. She ignored the clothes at first as Willows, looking instead at all the pictures of the two of them, from before. A tear began to roll down her face as well. Then she turned back to the clothes, when one of them caught her eye. They were hers. Well, half of them were. It was all of Willow's favorites, the ones Willow loved to see her in, and her own favorites, of both her own clothes and Willows. She had saved all of her favorite things, and tucked them away for her. Tara could tell the drawer had been closed a long time, as everything was lightly coated in dust. She turned to look into Willow's eyes, a tear rolling down her cheek, a huge smile on her face.

"I put it all away. For when it wouldn't tear me to shreds to look. Hid it all away, closed it off, so I could try to move on, to be happy. But you were always right here, locked away with that giant portion of my heart that is forever yours and yours alone. I brought it all out of Sunnydale, and locked it away. I opened it once, a year ago. It ripped me into so many pieces. I thought I would never be ready to open it up. But you're here now. And everything is open for you."

More tears had started to roll down both faces as Willow spoke. They fell into each other's arms, into a passionate kiss that told them both that they could work through anything. Things finally felt right again, like they were back in the few days leading up to Tara's death, as they celebrated their reunion. They were moving back toward the bed, when suddenly the door broke open, and a demon unlike any they had seen stood in the doorway.

Willow put up a magical shield with everything she had. She wasn't going to lose Tara again now. She couldn't. But the beast was strong, it was going to break right through.

Tara saw the power in Willows shield, and it scared her, but she could see the beast, breaking its way through like it was a sheet of plastic wrap. She put her hand in Willow's, letting her power run through to reinforce the shield. Suddenly, the shield was too solid, and as the demon realized that, he turned, although they were both sure they hadn't seen the last of him.

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Ok, i know this is getting to be a lot of crying, but it just always seems so fitting, like the natural course this would take... These will hopefully be some of the last tears in this story...

please review!!!!!!!!