"You serious, kiddo? We could have you back next week?"

Willow nodded, blushing slightly at how happy Jesse seemed to be that she could return to work. He and Alice had come over to say hello and Willow had excitedly told her colleague about the doctor's assessment for her return to work while Alice and Tara went to prepare some drinks.

"Ya missed me?"

"Oh you better believe it," Jesse replied with a smile, settling back into the sofa he was sitting on, "The temp can't do shit. Me and Xand asked for a full background check on some two-bit tax fraudster and he didn't even look into international accounts! We can't wait to have you back on the team."

Willow's cheeks tinged an even darker red before she looked up at Jesse curiously.

"You're...you're glowing , you know that?"

Jesse looked mock-horrified.

"Now that you mention it...oh my god, Willow, I'm late. You don't think I'm pregnant, do you?"

Willow rolled her eyes and picked up the cushion behind her, throwing it across the room at the man.

"Goof."

Jesse caught the pillow and grinned, before adopting a semi-serious but still light-hearted tone.

"I'm in love, kiddo. Not something that's happened to me before. So if I'm glowing, well...it's all down to her."

Alice and Tara appeared in the doorway then, both holding a long glass with cloudy-coloured liquid inside in each hand.

"Home-made iced fea," Alice said, handing one glass to Jesse and sitting beside him on the sofa.

Tara sat on the edge of the armchair Willow was sitting on and handed her a glass as well as Jesse smirked.

"Our women bringing us drinks. Just the way it should it, right Willow?"

"Watch it, mister," Alice replied, elbowing her boyfriend in the stomach lightly, "Or you'll have this drink all over your face."

Jesse's smirk just got bigger and he wrapped his arm around the brunette's shoulder.

"You know I like you feisty, babe."

Willow and Tara exchanged a smile at the interaction between their two very-obviously-in-love friends. It was still a bit of a surprise that Jesse and Alice were actually in a relationship – especially for Willow, since it had come completely out of left field for her, but neither could deny the obvious love that was passing between the other two.

And that was all they cared about. Their friends and family were happy, and after a very rough few weeks, the women's lives were settling back into its normal pattern.

"So little Willow is coming back to work next week," Jesse broke the silence with a smile.

"That's great!" Alice replied enthusiastically, "You must be so pleased."

"I am," Willow nodded, before ducking her head slightly, "A little scared about getting back into things, but I'm definitely happy to be doing so."

"You'll be great, Will," Jesse responded with an affection dismissal gesture, "Look how well you settled in when you first arrived. Like a fish to water. You've only been gone a few weeks."

Willow shot her friend a grateful smile.

"Thanks, Jess. I know I can count on you guys."

"Whaddya think? Does this say 'hey everyone, I'm back and please don't treat me any different even though I had an inch long piece of metal embedded in my chest'?"

Tara looked up from where she was standing over a frying pan on the stove and gave her wife a reassuring smile as the redhead stood nervously in the kitchen doorway.

"That's a very tall order to ask of a shirt and pants."

"Okay," Willow nodded before plastering a winning smile on her face, "How about this smile? Does this say it?"

Tara transferred the food she had been cooking onto a plate.

"That says your jaw muscles are going to be aching for days," she replied before setting the plate down on the island, "I made you French toast."

Willow walked further into the kitchen and sat down on the stool in front of her breakfast.

"Thanks, baby. My favourite."

Tara could hear the apprehensive tone in her wife's voice and knew Willow was extremely nervous about going back into work after everything that had happened. She walked around the island and stood behind the redhead, starting to lightly massage her shoulders.

"Don't you worry, sweetheart," she whispered lovingly in her ear, "It's gonna be just fine. You've got Xander and Jesse right there with you, and Buffy just on another floor. And I'm going to waiting for you outside as soon as you're finished. You've been itching to get back to work ever since you left the hospital."

Willow took a few calming breaths and started to tuck into her food.

"I am kinda excited," she admitted through mouthfuls of French toast, "Baby, this is amazing."

Tara dropped a kiss on top of her wife's head and gave her shoulders a final comforting squeeze.

"Enjoy and relax. You're gonna go into work and you're going to be the rockstar you always are."

Willow felt more reassured than she had when she first walked into the kitchen and smiled softly to herself.

"Gonna be a rockstar."

"Welcome back, Willow."

"Great to see you, kid."

"Good to have you around again."

"We've missed you."

"The temp couldn't do half the work you could."

"Nice to have you back on the team."

Willow smiled and thanked each of her colleagues as they expressed their appreciation that she was back at work, blown away by how nice all the men and women she worked with were being, especially since she'd never seen any of them, bar Jesse and Xander of course, outside of the building.

She was quietly thankful when she arrived in the sanctuary of her own little office and settled into her desk chair, running her fingers along the keyboards in front of her.

"I've missed you, my pretties," she said with a grin before the sound of two male voices laughing behind her made her spin in her chair.

"Talking to the machines, Will?" Xander asked with a smile, "I thought they said that bullet didn't give you any lasting damage."

"Oh ha, ha," Willow rolled her eyes, "I'm just glad to be back at work. I don't know how I survived unemployment for two years. Six weeks at home and I was about to go stir crazy. I mean, Tara was so great, making sure there were books and movies and being home as much as she could for company, but still. It's a big ole house to be alone all day in."

"Well we're glad you're back," Jesse said with a fond smile, "We haven't gotten half the work done since you're gone. You know, it's hard to remember a time when we didn't have you on our beck and call to find whatever information we need."

"Well aren't you lucky I'm back then," Willow grinned, giving a little twirl in her seat, "Oh and I meant to ask you guys, it's my birthday on the 29th. As is this Thursday? And I was thinking of getting everyone together for drinks at Rico's? You guys and Buffy plus significant others of course."

She stopped and turned to Jesse, shaking her head.

"I still can't believe you're with Alice. I mean, I'm so happy you guys are happy, but still, it's so weird."

"I'm still in shock myself, kiddo," Jesse laughed.

"I'm in shock that the notorious Jesse McNally has, for all intents and purposes, settled down," Xander laughed as well, whistling jokingly, "What was it you used to say about one woman being more confining than a male thong?"

Jesse just gave a small blush before shrugging his shoulders.

"Well that all changed when I met the right woman. You guys know what I'm talking about."

The three friends all shared a smile as they thought about their respective wives, or girlfriend in Jesse's case, before Xander just slapped Jesse on the back to let him know he understood and nodded at Willow.

"We'll be there. Rico's. After work?"

Willow nodded.

"Yea, like 6.30pm or 7pm. That okay?"

"Perfect," Xander replied and Jesse nodded his agreement, "Okay, so we don't want to catapult you straight back into things..."

"I'm here to work, guys," Willow said seriously, "I need to work. My fingers have been aching to bust into some seemingly secure network for weeks. Whaddya got for me?"

The boys relayed the information of the current case they were working on and Willow took the file offered, looking forward to getting back into the swing of things. When they were finished, the guys turned to leave but just before he left, Xander put a hand on Willow's shoulder and spoke in a low tone.

"The sentencing was last week. He got life, 25 minimum. They were gonna go easy on him 'cause he was pleading guilty but he had one of his requisite inflated-ego yelling matches in front of the judge. She didn't take too kindly to it. Just thought you should know."

He left without another word and Willow exhaled loudly, processing the information she'd just been told before spinning back around in her chair and turning on the computers, ready to spend the day getting lost in algorithms and codes.

"Hey sexy, need a ride?"

Tara grinned as she leant down, resting her arms on the windowpane of the car.

"I dunno. My mother always told me I should never get in a car with a stranger."

Willow scoffed and grinned back, leaning forwards conspiringly.

"Would a stranger know that you have a collection of freckles shaped like a butterfly on your ass or that you go crazy when you get kissed down your hip and then just above your...?"

The redhead trailed off suggestively, waggling her eyebrows and Tara blushed, looking back onto the crowded street to make sure no one had overheard before back at Willow, who smiled and patted the seat beside her.

"Hop in, baby cakes."

Tara laughed and walked around the car, slipping into the passenger seat and fastening her seat belt.

"You haven't called me that since we first started dating."

"I'm bringing it back," Willow grinned, leaning over for a quick kiss, before starting the car and pulling away from the street, towards their house.

Tara reached a hand over and lightly squeezed her wife's shoulder.

"How was your first day back?"

Willow smiled as she drove, tapping her fingers against the steering wheel.

"I was a rockstar. Tara, it was great. Actually having something to do, to focus on. Oh and I invited the guys for birthday drinks. And Buffy already said yes, so that's all the gang."

Tara smiled widely.

"I told you. And we're having dinner with your Dad and Michelle on Friday?"

"Yea," Willow nodded, "They're going to some art gallery opening on Thursday. Means I get two birthday celebrations!"

Tara smiled again and leaned over in the car, placing a gentle kiss on the redhead's cheek. Willow smiled goofily as they drove the rest of the short drive home, walking into their house. The blonde dropped her bag on the table in the foyer and stretched her arms out in front of her slightly before walking towards the kitchen.

"What do you want for dinner? I could make my lasagne..."

Willow followed her wife into the kitchen and wrapped her arms around her from behind in front of the stove.

"Yummy."

Tara put her hands over Willow's on her stomach and leant back into the embrace, sighing contentedly.

"Meat or vegetarian?"

Willow shrugged.

"You choose."

Tara smiled and tapped her fingers on Willow's hand.

"You're gonna have to let go of me so I can start."

Willow gave a dramatic sigh.

"Okay, fine. If I must."

She gave a final, tight squeeze before releasing her hold and going over to hop on a stool at the island.

"So you're settling back into work okay?" Tara asked as she started rooting through the refrigerator.

"Hmm?" Willow asked, resting her chin on her hand as she watched Tara bend over to gather vegetables from the vegetable crisper.

Tara straightened up and turned around, putting the vegetables on the countertop and narrowing her eyes when she realised where Willow had been staring.

"Were you checking out my ass?"

"Yep," Willow replied shamelessly, grinning and holding up her left hand, "See this little ring? Means I get to check you out whenever I like."

"Oh really?" Tara asked, smiling a half-smile and holding up her own hand, "So, by your logic, this ring means I get to kiss you whenever I like."

Willow's grin got wider.

"That sounds fair."

She leant over the island and Tara met her halfway as their lips met in a sweet kiss for a few moments until the blonde pulled back, scrunching her nose up with a smile in a way that made the smaller girl's heart melt for a moment before giving her a final quick kiss and grabbing a knife from the drawer, starting to chop an onion.

"So work was good?" Tara repeated her question from before.

"Oh, yea," Willow nodded, lighting up, "Everyone was so nice. And it felt so good to be back in my comfort zone again."

Tara smiled down as she chopped.

"Willow Rosenberg, Hacker Extraordinaire."

"It's Rosenberg-Maclay," Willow corrected, sticking out her tongue and rolling of her eyes.

Tara's smile widened and she lifted her head to meet the redhead's gaze.

"How could I forget?"

The couple shared a loving smile for a moment before Tara dropped her gaze again and moved on to chop a pepper. Willow watched her for a moment before clearing her throat.

"Baby?"

"I thought you were bringing back 'baby cakes'," Tara replied with a grin, but looked up when Willow didn't respond, frowning at the pensive, worried look on her face, "What's wrong, love?"

Willow opened her mouth to speak before clearing it again and taking Tara's hand.

"He got 25 to life. Xand told me today. He, um, got sentenced last week."

Tara's body stilled completely for a moment before she dropped her head again and took her hand back, starting to chop again.

"Good. I hope he's in for life."

Willow audibly inhaled.

"Tara..."

Tara dropped the knife and took a deep breath, going around to sit on another stool behind the island, taking one of Willow's hands and cupping her cheek with the other, rubbing the skin beneath her thumb.

"My father, if you can even call him that, is behind bars, where he's deserved to be for the past fifteen years. He can't hurt me again and he most certainly won't be hurting you. Now, we're healthy, we're happy and we're madly in love. I have closure for that part of my life. All I care about, all I can think about now is our future together and the many, many happy years I'm gonna spend with you."

"Yea?" Willow asked and got a small smile and a nod in return, "Okay. That's all I can think about, too."

Tara leant forwards and kissed her wife between her eyes, on the bridge on her nose before moving down and placing a soft kiss on her lips, then hopping up and going back to the chopping board.

"I think I'll make it meat. Kinda in the mood for something substantial."

"Sounds great," Willow smiled as her wife calmly went about preparing their meal, "Can I help?"

Tara grinned and handed the knife across the island.

"Can you chop and I'll start making the sauce?"

Willow grinned back and nodded.

"That sounds manageable."

They both continued making their food quietly, occasionally meeting for a quick kiss until the lasagne dish went into the oven and they made their way to the living room, flopping down on the sofa together. Willow turned the television onto a news channel and cuddled into Tara's side.

"You're so comfy."

Tara giggled as Willow bounced her head against her breasts as she settled into a comfortable position.

"You mean they're so comfy. Breast-gal."

"Added bonus," Willow replied, settling her head against the blonde's chest, "You're just cosy in general."

Tara smiled and began softly stroking Willow's hair until a ringing sound came from outside of the room.

"That's your cell," Willow said, recognising the ringtone, before pouting, "Don't leave."

"I'll be back in a sec," Tara replied, kissing the top of Willow's head before standing up and walking into the foyer.

Willow heard her wife talk to whoever was on the other line for a few minutes before the blonde came back into the room, grinning and sat back down.

"Who was that?" Willow asked, settling back into their embrace, sighing contentedly.

"Buffy," Tara answered, her tone giving nothing away.

"What did she want?"

Tara's grin got wider and she was glad the redhead was looking ahead and not at her, not wanting to ruin her plans by being obvious.

"Oh, nothing. Just helping me plan a little surprise for your birthday."