The smile on Willow's face grew wider still as she realised it was real. There, standing on the top of the hill was the love of her life. Tara. She looked like a goddess, or an angel, or both, standing there. There seemed to be a brilliant, almost blinding glow around her. Her eyes sparkled in the moonlight and her long blonde hair flew gently in the cool night breeze.

"Tara!" She called out excitedly, throwing her arms open wide as a fresh round of tears fell down her cheeks.

Willow ran to her with all she had, but instead of taking the beautiful girl in her arms, she ran straight through her.

Willow whirled around, to see Tara standing there, fully intact. "What?" She asked, her voice quiet.

"I'm a ghost Willow." Tara explained, a little sadness in her voice.

"What?" Willow asked again, her eyes wide. "But.."

"I know sweetie." Tara said. "But I need you to listen to me."

Willow nodded and fell silent.

"There's a spell on me. I can come back, but you need to break the spell on me first."

"Me?" Willow asked, slightly flabbergasted.

Tara nodded.

"Anything." Willow said, a hint of desperation in her tone. "Just name it Tara. What do I have to do?"

"You have to prove your love for me."

"Ah!" Willow smiled, flicking her hand in the air. "That's easy! I love you with all my heart. With all my soul. With everything that I am. You're my world Tara and I love you."


Tara looked at Willow, a worried expression on her face as tears fell slowly from her eyes.

"What is it baby?" Willow asked, beginning to get a little worried herself.

"Oh Willow. You're so sweet! But I don't think that will be quite enough to prove it. It's a start though."

Willow looked sadly back at Tara. "I wish I could hold you right now."

This only seemed to make Tara cry even more. "So do I."

"I didn't mean to make you cry Tara." Willow said apologetically.

Tara smiled.

"Now, what have I got to do? Shout it from the rooftops?" Willow laughed, making Tara laugh along with her.

"Maybe. I don't know Sweetie. All they said is that you've got to prove it."

"I'll do anything to bring you back here Tara." Willow smiled. "Anything. Anything it takes. It hurts so much being apart from you. If there's even the slightest chance I won't have to be…"

Tara looked at Willow, a glimmer of happiness in her eyes. "You can do it Willow. I know you can. I believe in you."

Willow smiled. "Naw shucks!" She said playfully, making Tara giggle again.

"I didn't realise how much I missed you until I'm with you again." Tara admitted quietly. "I'm so happy to have you back." She smiled. "Kind of."

"Nothing could have made me happier than seeing your perfect face again. Your beautiful smile." Willow said. "I could go on, but we'd be here for years." They both laughed, finally happy again.

There was a chance they could be reunited. Be together again. For good. But for them, when both their hearts had been ripped away and broken into a thousand pieces, a chance was enough.


"Come on!" Willow said excitedly, beginning to run away down the hill. She stopped when she realised Tara hadn't followed and turned around, hands on her hips.

"You're not going to chase me?"

Tara giggled and floated along after her as she ran down the hill. Both laughed, their on top of the world feeling drifting away with the wind.

"If only everyone could be as happy as we are right now." Willow mused dreamily as they walked along in the night, Tara's angelic glow somehow lighting the way.

"It would make the world a much better place." Tara agreed. "But somehow, I think most of the world would be more likely to experience the heartache and the pain we felt when we were apart."

Willow smiled, looking at Tara. "But that doesn't matter now. We're together again. I found you."

"I told you that you would Willow."


Willow jumped, startled by the knock on the door.

"Willow?" Came her best friend's voice through the door.

Willow smiled at Tara. "I'm in here Buff! Come on in."

Slowly, Buffy opened the door and slipped inside, closing it behind her.

"How are you…" Buffy stopped, noticing the smile on her friend's face she doubted she'd ever see again.

"What's made you so happy Will?" She asked, sitting beside her on the bed.

"Can't you see?" Willow asked, slight confusion not fazing her good mood. "Look who's back Buff."

Buffy looked around the room. She couldn't see anything there. Apart from Willow and herself, it was empty. She looked back at Willow, concern in her eyes.

"There's nothing here Will. What are you talking about?"

"But Tara. She's right here.." Willow said, confused. She looked from Buffy to Tara and back again.

"Um. I f-for-forgot to m-mention. Y-you're the only one who can see me." Willow looked wide eyed at her. "I'm sorry Sweetie."

"There's no one here." Buffy said, reminding Willow of her presence. "Will, Tara's gone remember. She passed away." Buffy put a gentle hand on her friend's knee.

"I know." Willow said, her eyes wide. "But please Buffy, hear me out, ok?"

"Ok." Buffy nodded, nervous.

Willow was about to tell Buffy the story when Tara stopped her. She turned to face her.

"I'm not so sure about this Willow." Tara admitted, worry evident in her tone. Willow nodded reassuringly before turning back to her friend.

"Buffy, it's Tara." Willow started nervously. "She's kind of come back."

Buffy looked wide eyed at her friend. "What do you mean Will?"

"It's magic. She's a ghost. She's here, now. She can be a human again, but there's a spell I have to break first. "

Buffy stared at Willow. "Ok.." She said slowly, not completely convinced.

"Please believe me Buff." Willow begged, her eyes pleading.

"I really want to Will, but I don't know that I can…" Buffy said uncertainly.

"Ok," Willow said. "Do you think you could try and trust me then?"

"Sure." Buffy said, smiling. "I'll try my best, but no promises ok?"

Willow nodded, smiling at Tara as Buffy left the room. "See?"

"I don't know." Tara looked at the ground, still doubtful.

"Hey," Willow said gently and Tara looked up at her.

"Baby, come on. We can do this." Willow said.

"Yeah," Tara said, starting to smile again. "We can, can't we?"

Willow nodded, smiling.