Willow looked up at Buffy, her smile so wide it reached her eyes and seemed to make them glimmer.

"What do you think Buff?" Willow turned the golden ring around in her fingers, admiring it.

"It's beautiful Will. She'll love it." Buffy studied the ring intently. Either side of the silvery coloured diamond was a bright emerald green stone that matched Willow's eyes and another, beautiful bright blue stone on the other side that matched Tara's eyes.

"It's the one." Willow smiled joyfully at the shop keeper. "I'll take it."

Later that night, Tara opened the door to Buffy's house. "Hello?" She waited a few moments, but no answer came. All of a sudden, she noticed a lit candle on the ground. As she walked toward it, more appeared and she followed them. The long trail led her around the first storey of Buffy's house and back to the lounge room. As she looked around, she saw countless candles lighting the room and all of her friends. Buffy, Dawn, Giles, Xander and Anya.

"What are you guys doing in here?" She asked, growing suspicious as her and Willow's friends all smiled back at her. "And where's Willow?"

As if Tara had called her, Willow appeared. She seemed to be gliding along before she came to a stop in the middle of the room, a few feet from Tara.

Tara felt a gentle brush on her right arm and looked over to see Xander, now standing next to her, still smiling. He came around in front of her and fastened something around Tara's neck. It felt cold on her skin as she pulled her hair away. Xander returned to her side as she looked down at the silver chain. On the end was a heart shaped locket with a rose on the front. She opened it to see a picture of her and Willow dancing at her birthday the previous year. A picture she'd been unaware someone had taken.

Tara smiled as she saw the inscription on the opposite side of the locket.

"Aeternum mea ætérnam diliges." She read the inscription aloud in Latin before translating. "Forever my everlasting love."

Tara smiled up at Willow, tears forming in her eyes as she looked at her. Dawn came forward and slipped an object into her hair. She reached up and felt the soft, delicate petals of a small flower. Buffy slipped past her sister and squeezed Tara's hand quickly. Tara looked over at her and smiled, silently thanking her for the reassuring, friendly gesture.

Tara turned back to Willow and let her mouth fall open as Willow slowly fell to one knee.

"Tara," She started, looking Tara deeply in the eyes. The rest of the world seemed to melt away as their friends watched in silent awe.

"The other day, when you were almost ripped away from me. It made me realise how much I love you. How much I can't live without you. How much better you make me."

Tara finally gave in and let the tears fall as Willow went on.

"You make me complete Tara. I couldn't bear to spend another day without you. Will you make me the happiest woman in the world and be my wife?" She whispered.

Willow began to shake with nerves as the whole room held their breaths in anxious anticipation. Suddenly Spike burst in to the room and everyone turned to stare.

"Sorry to crash. I…" He stopped, noticing suddenly what was going on and leaning against the wall, silent. "As you were. I'm not even here."

After what seemed like years of waiting, Willow rose and Tara stepped forward, taking Willow's hands in her own and squeezing them gently.

"Of course I will." Tara smiled, the tears falling rapidly now. Willow's worried expression relaxed into a grin as she let go of Tara's hands and hugged her.

Pulling away after a moment, Willow clicked her fingers. Tara looked over Willow's shoulder, and saw the ring box in Giles's open hand. The ring was floating in mid air, coming to land in Willow's waiting hand. She turned back to Tara, tears now forming in her own eyes as Tara held out her hand. Slowly, gently, Willow slipped the ring on Tara's finger and they both smiled as fresh tears fell down both their cheeks. They leaned forward and kissed each other tenderly.

As the two broke apart, their friends came forward to hug them both. Giles put his hands on both the girl's shoulders and when they turned to face him, he embraced them both warmly, tears of joy falling waterfall style from his pale eyes. When he let them go, Tara smiled while Willow shook her head as she looked up at him.

"Oh Giles!" She laughed. "There's no need to cry. It's a happy thing."

"I know." Said Giles, pushing his glasses upwards in order to wipe away a tear. Tara reached forward and rubbed his forearm supportively.

"Happy tears." He admitted. "Besides, it's my turn now. Dawn's cried already." Tara whirled around to face Buffy's younger sister, who smiled up at her.

"You cried?"

Dawn nodded. "When Willow told us."

Tara opened her arms and Dawn hugged her gently. "Dawnie!" She smiled. "You're so sweet."

"You and Willow. You guys are the best!" Dawn smiled.

Tara let Dawn go and turned back to Willow. "Was that when I saw you and everyone else.." She stopped as Willow nodded. "You were planning this?"

"Telling them I wanted to." Willow corrected.

Tara's beaming smile grew wider as she fell into Willow's open arms, the happiest she could remember being in her life.

Xander bounded forward like an over excited puppy and patted the pair on the back. They turned around to face him, and an emotionless Anya standing beside him, clinging to his hand like if she'd let it go, she'd fall from a cliff.

She smiled at them. "Well done Willow. Congratulations."

"I'm really happy for you two. You're made for each other." Xander declared, a big smile on his face as he let go of Anya, much to her disappointment, to envelop the loving pair in a hug. He pulled away and went with Anya back to their place along the side of the room.

Spike came forward and patted Tara and Willow on the back. "I always liked you two together." He smiled. "Well done. Both of you are two very lucky ladies."

Buffy came forward as Spike retreated and took one of Tara's hands and one of Willow's in hers, squeezing them. She smiled widely at them and they returned her warm gesture.

"I hope you guys are happy." Buffy said tearfully. "You deserve each other." Gently, she guided their hands together and slipped hers away. Stepping back, she smiled, pleased.

"Willow, you've made me the happiest I can remember being in my life. I love you. Always." Tara smiled as Willow gently squeezed her hand under the covers of their bed.

"I can't live without you Tara. If I were to have to try, my heart would break into a million pieces." Willow whispered.

"Willow, are you crazy? I couldn't live without you. Sweetie, you're the best thing that's ever happened to me. I couldn't face living without you by my side. Ever."

"You make me complete." Both whispered at the same time, their voices growing fainter as they drifted off to sleep, hand in hand.