Willow opened her eyes the next morning to see Tara looking back at her, her blue eyes shimmering from the sunlight that crept under the curtain.
"Did all that actually happen yesterday?" Willow asked, slightly dazed. "It was all so horrible. I was hoping it was a dream."
Tara stroked Willow's cheek tenderly, looking into her eyes. "No baby. It happened. But I'm still here." Tara reassured her, smiling. Both felt like they were in heaven. Tara pulled Willow closer and wrapped her arms around her. Willow smiled and softly kissed Tara's lips.
"I couldn't be any happier than I am right now. All I want is you." Willow admitted softly. Tara kissed Willow's neck and then met her lips. "I love you Willow. I always will."
Willow went downstairs to find Buffy while Tara took a shower. She found her alone in the kitchen.
Buffy's face lit up when she saw Willow approaching. "Hey Will." She smiled cheerily.
"How are you feeling Buff?"
"Peachy." Buffy answered simply. "It's almost like it didn't even happen. Only that Warren's still out there…" Buffy trailed off. "Wait, you've got something you want to talk about. Don't you?"
"Kinda. But it can wait."
"Are you sure? How's Tara doing?" Buffy asked, changing the subject.
"I think she's just relieved it's over. The drama and everything."
"What about you? You seemed awful shaken there."
"I'm fine now. Just happy that nothing happened to Tara. I don't know what I would have done without her Buffy. She makes me so much better."
Tara sauntered into the room and slipped her arms around Willow's waist from behind, pulling her close. Willow looked over at her and smiled. "I keep telling you Will. Nothing happened. It could have, but it didn't. You can stop worrying. I'm not going anywhere. I promise." Tara gently kissed Willow's cheek and Buffy smiled as she watched them, pleased to see Willow happier than she'd ever seen her before.
"You feeling ok Tara?" Buffy asked, turning her attention to the tall blonde embracing her best friend.
"Yeah." Tara nodded. "It's like it never happened." She smiled up at Buffy and bent down to kiss Willow's cheek before letting Willow go and disappearing again.
"What is it Willow? There's something you wanted to tell me." Buffy smiled teasingly.
"It can wait." Willow smiled, the sun that was streaming in from the kitchen window making her eyes shimmer.
"Are you sure? You looked so keen. Like you were itching to tell me…"
"Alright." Willow sighed, then smiled up at her best friend, her eyes wider and brighter.
"It's Tara. I. Yesterday made me realise how much I love her. How much I can't live without her…" Willow trailed off and looked deep into her friend's eyes. "Buffy I need your help. Please?"
"Anything Will. What is it?"
"I want to ask Tara to marry me." Willow said slowly, a nervous smile creeping across her face.
Buffy's mouth erupted in a wide grin and she enveloped Willow in a tight squeeze. "Oh my god. Will. Of course." She stammered.
"I want to make it really special. I definitely wanted you and Xander involved. Dawnie, Giles, Anya maybe? Do you think they'd…"
"Of course they would Will! Why don't we all meet at the Magic Box this afternoon? You can tell everyone and we'll figure it all out." Buffy suggested and Willow's smile grew wider.
"But how are we going to distract Tara?" Willow asked, her eyebrows knitting together slightly.
"Just tell her you're going shopping for a surprise for her."
Willow patted Buffy's shoulder and smiled. "You're the best Buffy!"
Later that afternoon, Willow was the last to arrive with Buffy and Dawn. They made their way to the back of the shop were Xander, Anya and Giles sat around the table near the counter waiting for them. Buffy and Dawn took seats beside Giles while Willow remained standing, nervously playing with her hands. It was only when Giles spoke that she looked up at them all.
"Willow, Buffy says you've got something to tell us?"
Willow nodded. "I wanted to ask Tara to marry me." Willow said, her confession a nervous whisper. Everyone leapt up from their seats and enveloped Willow in one big, joyous, family like huddle.
Just at that moment, Tara peered through the window of the dimly lit Magic Box. Her eyes quickly adjusted and when they did, she could barely make out the fiery red, flowing hair that belonged to her love amidst the rest of the Scooby gang, all hugging her tight. Tara felt a tear trail down her cheek and hastily wiped it away. She felt like an outsider. Again. Gulping her emotions, Tara made a run for it, back to the safety of Buffy's house and the room she shared with Willow.
Finally free of the initial onslaught, Xander was the first to come forward. He clapped his oldest friend softly on the back and smiled wide. "I'm so happy for you Will."
"Thanks Xander." Willow smiled back at her friend then turned her attention to Buffy's younger sister, a blubbering, emotional mess in front of her. "Oh Dawnie!" She said, opening her arms.
Dawn threw herself into them. Finally she smiled up at Willow. "You and Tara? Oh that's great Willow. That's the best thing that's happened around here in ages!"
"I couldn't agree more." Giles stepped forward, wiping a tear from his face and hugging Willow gently.
Anya came up. "Congratulations Willow." She said.
"Thanks. But nothing's happened yet. Not really. She's got to say yes first." Everyone scrambled back to their seats as Willow spoke. "But, I was hoping you'd all help me."
Willow arrived home to see Tara fully clothed atop the covers on their bed, asleep. She lay down on her side next to her and noticed the pillow Tara's head rested on was a little damp. She reached out and tenderly stroked Tara's hair. A few seconds later, Tara's eyes fluttered open and she edged closer to Willow.
"Tara?" Willow said, concerned. She continued to gently stroke her girlfriend's hair as she waited for her to speak.
Finally, Tara looked up at Willow and she could see that there were tears trailing down Tara's face from her beautiful blue eyes.
"Baby, don't cry." She said softly. "What's wrong?"
"I saw you in there with them. They were all hugging you and…" Tara couldn't bring herself to say it. "Th. They. They d- don't l- like me do they?"
Willow laughed lightly. "Tara! Don't be silly! They love you! What are you talking about?"
"They were all there. Everyone but me."
"Oh Tara." Willow kissed her forehead as she realised. "You felt left out. Didn't you?"
Tara could barely manage a nod as a fresh round of tears began to flow down her soft cheeks.
Willow slipped her arms around Tara and pulled her close, squeezing her tight and kissing her lips. "Tara. I just ran into them on my way home! That's all. They were pleased I was happy and not without you. There's nothing to worry about."
Tara met Willow's glittering green eyes. "Really?"
Willow nodded and met Tara's lips with her own. "Nothing at all." She smiled.