Willow woke up, smiling at the sight of her love's sleeping form as she lay peacefully beside her. Tara was turned to face her and her long, flowing blonde hair cascaded over her pillow as the sunlight coming in through the window made her face glow. Willow allowed her head to sink back into her pillow as she watched Tara sleep.

It was only minutes before Tara's eyelids flittered open to reveal the beautiful blue eyes hidden beneath.

"Morning." Tara said groggily, slowly edging closer to Willow under the covers.

Willow leaned forward and softly pecked Tara's cheek. "I was wondering when you'd wake up." She smiled.

Tara returned the gesture and slipped her arms around Willow's waist, hugging her. "Yesterday was too good to be true!" She said breathlessly.

"It wasn't." Willow answered, gently gripping Tara's left hand and pulling it from under the covers. Tara looked down at the ring on her finger.

"I was so scared it would all be a dream." Tara admitted quietly, looking up at Willow.

"I'm right here Baby." Willow squeezed Tara's hand gently and smiled at her. "I love you, and I'm not going anywhere. I promise."

"I hate to say it, but there's a slight problem." Dawn admitted sadly. She sat at the kitchen table with her laptop with Buffy, Tara and Willow crowded around her.

Dawn looked at the happy couple apologetically.

Tara rested a gentle hand on the young girl's shoulder. "What is it Dawnie?"

"It. It's not exactly legal."

Tara looked back at Willow, disheartened. Willow smiled and rubbed her back with one hand. "It'll be ok Tara. We'll work it out."

"Yet." Buffy declared, and everyone turned to look at her.

"It's not legal. Yet." She clarified.

"Buffy's right." Willow smiled hopefully. "It'll happen one day. I'm sure of it."

"It's not fair!" Dawn whined. "You guys are just like everyone else. Why shouldn't you be allowed to…"

Willow put a hand on her shoulder, and Dawn stopped in her tracks, looking up at her. "It's ok Dawnie. It will happen. Besides," Willow slipped her free arm around Tara's waist, pulling her close. Tara looked over at her and smiled.

"Tara's worth the wait." Willow leaned over and met Tara's lips with her own, kissing her quickly and lovingly.

"But that's just it!" Dawn protested as they broke apart, a hint of anger in her voice. "You shouldn't have to wait in the first place!"

Buffy came over and put a firm hand on her sister's shoulder.

"Dawn," She said seriously, demanding Dawn's attention. Dawn looked up at her as she went on.

"I know it's not fair. It's true, it's not fair. Not at all. But do you remember what Mum always said?"

"Good things come to those who wait." Both sisters said at once, slowly.

Tara and Willow smiled warmly when Dawn turned to look at them. "I'm sorry." She said quietly.

Both smiled wider at the guilty look on Dawn's face.

Tara broke from Willow's gentle embrace and came to kneel beside Dawn's chair. She put her hand on Dawn's knee and looked up at her. "Dawnie," She smiled warmly. "It's ok. It's sweet you feel so strongly about it."

Willow came forward and knelt beside Tara, looking at Dawn affectionately. "But Buffy's right." She said. "There's nothing we can do except wait."

"Your mother was right too Dawn. Good things come to those who wait. Willow's well worth that wait." She smiled.

"Surely there's something we can do." Dawn persisted.

"Well," Willow admitted. "We could go somewhere else. Somewhere where it's legal. But we don't want to do that. We want to get married right here. We'll wait however long it takes."

"Dawnie," Tara said gently. "We're not going anywhere if that's what you're worried about. We're not breaking up."

Willow laughed. "Nothing like that at all! We'll always be together. It's just, we might be engaged for a while. Us waiting to make it official is exactly like your mother said, good things come to those who wait."

Dawn smiled, finally relaxing. "Good. Because I'd hate for that to happen. You guys are the best."

Tara and Willow smiled and opened their arms. Dawn got up and came forward and the two witches hugged her close.

"Dawnie's so sweet isn't she?" Tara asked, gently stroking Willow's hand as they sat facing each other on the lounge later that night.

"She really is," Willow agreed.

"I meant to ask you the other night." Tara said, changing the subject. "The flower that Dawn put in my hair? What was that for?"

"A forget me not." Willow answered, giving Tara's hand a gentle squeeze. "Because I'll never forget you."

Tara smiled. "You're sweet too Willow." She whispered. "I'm so lucky to have you."

As the two lovers broke apart from a kiss, the doorbell rang.

"Who'd be coming this late at night?" Tara asked.

"Could be Spike." Willow suggested, getting up. "I'll get it."