Willow looked around the apartment, boxes lying everywhere with most of their things already packed. Since they rented a fully furnished apartment, most of their belongings were just bits and pieces they had accumulated over the years; books, CD's, DVD's, as well as clothes and small pieces of furniture and their clothes were the only things that hadn't been packed yet.

"Hey, Tare-bear? I was thinking…"

"Yes, beautiful?" Tara asked as she stroked the redhead's arm, the two of them cuddling on the couch as they watched TV, "What's on your mind?"

"We really don't have that much stuff to move to the new house…"

Willow smiled as she said the word 'house'; given the small frame of time they had between finding out where they were moving to and actually moving there, the redhead had eagerly searched for somewhere for them to live and had found a three-bed house that was close to where they'd both be working – Tara having been transferred without any issue – and from the pictures online it suited their style, so after showing Tara and calling the real estate agent had arranged to sign the lease and get the keys the afternoon they arrived.

Both were excited at the prospect of living in a house, having lived in a small dorm, together and separately, and a small apartment for the past six and a bit years.

"Uh huh…" Tara said, raising an eyebrow quizzically.

"We could rent a car…one of those u-haul thingies…you know, drive up instead of getting movers in and getting flights and everything."

Tara let out a low laugh and turned her head to kiss the smaller girl on the temple.

"You wanna go on a road trip two days after we get married? I don't want to be divorced by the time we get to Buffalo."

"As if," Willow scoffed, "It's like an eight hour drive. If we left early enough we'd make it in plenty of time to collect the keys. We're always up early anyway."

"Need I repeat – two days after our wedding. If I have my way we won't have gone to sleep at all yet."

Willow giggled and blushed as the blonde playfully squeezed her midsection and turned her head to kiss Tara's neck.

"It was just an idea. If you don't like it, it's cool."

"You know what, it might be fun. Let's do it. But you better have good accompanying music."

Willow nodded her head seriously.

"No road trip is complete without it. So you're in?"

"You bet," Tara replied, before grinning, "Oh, and you're driving."

Willow was about to protest but thought better of and smiled sweetly at her fiancée.

"A-okay with me. Ooh, I'm gonna rent a mustang! I've always wanted to drive one since Becky got hers and won't let any of us behind the wheel."

Tara laughed and put a kiss on Willow's head again.

"You wanna look like a cool young'n'single stud?"

"No," Willow shook her head, "I wanna look like a cool young'n'taken stud."

Tara grinned again tightened her hold on the redhead.

"Shades glinting in the sunlight?"

"Wedding ring glinting in the sunlight."

Tara dropped her head into the crook of Willow's neck and laughed again.

"You are absolutely too cute for words."

Willow gave a smug grin and tilted her neck on instinct.

"Why you love me."

"One of the many reasons," Tara replied, placing a few warm kisses on the smaller girl's neck.

They lapsed into a comfortable silence again until the redhead broke it.

"How're you feeling about tomorrow?"

"You mean my last day?" Tara asked as she played with the hem of Willow's t-shirt, "Dunno. There's been so much else going on I haven't really thought about it."

"Do you want me to pick you up from work tomorrow? I mean, are you gonna be upset? I should be there."

"I'll be fine, Will," Tara reassured, "Really."

"But…but you're gonna have a box with all your stuff. I'll need to help you."

"Willow-"

Willow turned her head so she was looking Tara straight in the eye.

"Tara, you adored working there. Whether you wanna admit it or not you're gonna be sad and I'm gonna be there to hold your hand so, so…that's that."

Tara got a small smile on her face and brought her hand up to stroke Willow's cheek.

"I love you more than anything in the world," she whispered quietly.

"Is that an acceptance of my proposal?"

"I accepted that months ago," Tara replied, her smile getting wider, "I'd really like it if you were there."

"Well that's good, 'cause I'm gonna be. Hey, maybe we could go out for dinner or something-"

"No!" Tara said, a bit too quickly, eliciting a strange look from the redhead, "I just mean, I'd prefer to stay at home. You know, if that's okay?"

"Of course," Willow nodded, "Whatever you want."

"Thank you, gorgeous," Tara replied, before covering her mouth as an errant yawn left her, "I think I'm gonna go to bed."

Willow stood up and extended her hand, her eyes sparkling.

"I think I'll join you."

Alice knocked quietly on Mr. Evans' office and waited while the man finished scribbling something before looking up with tired eyes.

"Everything alright, Alice?"

"Yes, boss," Alice answered with a smile, "It's just, we were gonna do that thing for Tara…"

"Oh right, of course, of course," Mr. Evans sighed, standing up, "Does she know…?"

"No, she's just working away. But I just saw her shutting down her computer and she's the type to just slip away, you know, not wanting to be in the spotlight so I figured we should do it now."

"Lead the way."

Alice walked back onto the floor where the rest of the staff were hovering around their cubicles, waiting from the nod for Alice to officially stop working and gather round to say goodbye to Tara. Tara was still sitting at her desk, filing the last of her paperwork and collecting her personal items into a small box.

She turned in her seat when she felt a tap on her shoulder and her eyes widened when she saw the entire staff of The Department of Children and Families standing there, clapping her, much like the morning she'd arrived in after news of her engagement broke.

"Get up, Tare, we have to say goodbye to you properly!" Alice said, pulling her shocked friend up.

Tara stood up and gave everyone a small smile, completely overcome and completely embarrassed by the display. She had intended to do what Alice expected, slip away with a quick goodbye to the people she wouldn't be seeing at the wedding and that was it. She was even more surprised when a large bouquet of roses were put in her hands.

"This is from all of us," Mr. Evans said, stepping forward, "You've been a joy to work with, Tara and our loss is certainly Buffalo's gain. You're one of the finest young social workers I've ever had the pleasure of managing and I know you'll go far and do great work. You'll help a lot of people. We wish you all the best in all your future endeavours."

"Thank you," Tara replied, holding the flowers to her chest, "These are beautiful. And working here has been one of the best experiences of my life. I've learnt so much and met some really great people. I know I won't forget you guys, whatever happens."

Willow chose that moment to walk in, holding a small bouquet of daises and smiled at the gathering she saw.

"Looks like I got here in time for the party," she said, eliciting a laugh from the group, before turning to Tara, "Got you these…kinda pale in comparison."

Tara shook her head and took the daises, mixing them in amongst her roses.

"They're my favourite. Thank you. I was just saying goodbye to everyone."

Willow smiled and nodded and held her hands out to take the flowers as Tara made the rounds to everyone, hugging them and saying her goodbyes. When she arrived at Mr. Evans she was surprised when he enveloped her in a big bear hug but closed the embrace warmly. He pulled back with a fond smile on his face.

"I wasn't kidding when I said you're going to help a lot of people. You're a healer, Tara."

"Thank you, sir," Tara said sincerely, "You've been the best boss. I mean it."

"I'll see you on Tuesday."

"Of course. I'm really happy you'll be at the wedding."

"So am I."

He put a warm hand on Tara's arm before nodding towards Willow.

"I hope you have plans for this evening."

"Oh I do," Tara said, getting a secretive smile on her face, "But she doesn't know about them."

Mr. Evans smiled and shook his head.

"Well have fun."

"I will. Thank you. For everything."

Tara nodded and turned to walk back over to Willow, picking up the box of her belongings, a tear coming to her eye. Willow noticed and took her hand quietly, squeezing it comfortingly. The blonde smiled at her fiancée in thanks and blinked away the tear before walking towards the main doors. She dropped Willow's hands momentarily to wave at her now ex-colleagues before reclaiming it as they walked onto the streets of Boston.

"You okay?" Willow asked quietly after a moment.

"Yea," Tara nodded, "Just sad for a minute. I'm really glad you were here."

"Always," Willow whispered, "C'mon, let's get a cab. I'm not in the mood for the stuffy T."

"We're supposed to be saving money…"

"But baby, we have a box and flowers and some guy will inevitably crash into the pretty roses and-"

"Okay, okay," Tara relented, "We'll get a cab."

"Honey, why are you cleaning so much?" Willow asked as she watched Tara polish the dining table for the nth time that evening, "Do you need to talk?"

Tara kept her focus on the table and continued to clean it.

"Talk about what?"

"You just left the job and every…Tara, you're gonna polish the table into oblivion!"

The redhead walked over and grabbed the cloth in Tara's hand.

"Hey, I was using that!"

"Baby," Willow said, dropping the cloth on the floor and holding both of Tara's shoulders, "You haven't stopped cleaning since we got in the door. I can practically see my face in the stove and…what's that smell?"

"I baked a cake."

"You baked a cake?" Willow asked in disbelief, "You baked a cake. Tara, for as long as I have known you, you have never ever baked a cake. Baked anything. I didn't even know we had the ingredients. What the hell is going on?"

"I just want everything perfect for tonight."

"Perfect for us to have a quiet night in? Baby, I think you're hiding how much leaving the job has affected you and you're trying to distract yourself with menial tasks so that you don't have to think about it but-"

"Willow," Tara said sternly, "Don't psych me."

Willow took a step back and looked apologetic.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to."

Tara sighed and opened her arms, which Willow walked into, holding the blonde in a tight embrace.

"I love you, Will. And I'm really okay. Have I ever lied to you?"

"No," Willow said, resting her head against Tara's chest, "But then why are you acting so weird?"

Just then there was a knock on the front door, making Willow jump back slightly in surprise.

"That's why," Tara replied, a smile on her face, "Answer it."

Willow looked confused but when forward to answer the door, her features changing to one of shock when she saw who was on the other side.

"Dad?"