Disclaimer: I own nothing, except Sophie.

"Definitely better" Tara agreed.

"Good" Willow smiled. "The next morning, since their relationship had improved so much, Tara agreed to have breakfast with Dark Willow.."

--

Tara was about to take a spoonful of her cereal when she glanced over at Dark Willow, who was eating with her hands and gobbling down her food with no manners at all. Tara tried to ignore it, but couldn't. Dawn, sitting on the table with Buffy, nudged a spoon towards the witch, who looked at it confusedly for a moment before picking it up and trying unsuccessfully to eat with it. Dawn giggled, but Buffy silenced her with a glare. Dark Willow hadn't used a spoon in so long that she had forgotten how. Seeing that her new friend was embarrassed, Tara quickly thought of an idea. She lifted her bowl as if in a toast, then indicated for Dark Willow to do the same, before starting to drink her breakfast out of the bowl. The witch smiled and mirrored her actions.

--

That afternoon, Dark Willow watched as Tara fed the family of bluebirds that often visited the garden. The birds liked Tara, and were comfortable enough to eat straight from her hand. Dark Willow tapped her on the shoulder and held out her own hand, indicating she wanted to feed the birds too. Tara smiled and gave her some birdseed. The witch crouched down beside the birds with her hands held out, her face falling when they flew away.

Tara: There's something sweet,

And almost kind,

But she was mean,

And she was coarse and unrefined.

Yet now she's dear, and so unsure.

I don't know how I didn't see it there before.

Dark Willow continued to try and feed the birds, but they flew further away every time she approached. Tara laughed and shook her head, then sprinkled a trail of seed into the snow, leading to the witch's hands. A baby bluebird followed the trail and hopped straight into Dark Willow's hand, not frightened at all. The witch was elated. She and Tara smiled at each other.

Dark Willow: She glanced this way,

I thought I saw..

And when we touched

She didn't shudder at my claws!

It couldn't be, I'll just ignore..

But then she's never looked at me that way before.

Tara ducked behind a tree, then peeked out at Dark Willow, who was now covered in a whole flock of bluebirds. The witch laughed loudly, accidently frightening the birds away. When they were gone Tara threw a snowball which splattered into Dark Willow's face, before giggling and ducking back behind the tree.

Tara: New, and a bit alarming.

Who'd have ever thought that this could be?

True, that she's not a princess,

But there's something in her that I simply didn't see.

The witch turned to see Tara with another snowball in her hand, and smirked, before magically lifting up a large pile of snow. Tara threw her snowball, causing Dark Willow to lose concentration and dump the snow over her own head. She chased Tara around a tree, but Tara crept around the other way and snuck up on her from behind. The servants watched through a window, smiling.

Xander: Well who'd have thought?

Buffy: Well bless my soul!

Wesley: And who'd have known?

Buffy: Well who indeed!

Xander: And who'd have guessed they'd come together on their own?

Buffy: It's so peculiar!

All: We'll wait and see,

A few days more,

There may be something there that wasn't there before.

Wesley: Maybe there's something there that wasn't there before.

"Like what?" asked Dawn, confused.

"Tell you what, Dawnie" Buffy sighed. "If Tara helps Dark Willow break the spell, you can ask Mom about it."

--

"Now it's getting really good" Sophie grinned.