Willow got on her hands and knees, looking a little like Cinderella as she scrubbed Tara's tombstone in an attempt to make it gleam. Tara floated in mid air close to her and laughed lightly.

"Hey!" Willow shouted playfully, looking up at her. "What are you laughing at?"

"You. That look on your face. You look so…" Tara stopped, searching for the right word. "Determined."

"I'm taking care of you." Willow smiled innocently.

"I love you Willow." Tara said. "I knew it from the second I saw you."

"So did I." Willow admitted. "You were so beautiful. You still are. If anything, you're even more beautiful than that first time I saw you."

Tara blushed.

"I'm so glad I met you Tara." Willow said. "I'm so much better with you here."


The two reunited lovers wandered around Sunnydale, stopping at various places so Willow could attempt to prove just how much it was that she loved Tara.

"Tara," she said, looking up at the blonde beauty floating along side her.

"What is it sweetie?"

"I don't know that I can do this." Willow admitted worriedly. "I don't know if it's even humanly possible to show how much I love you."

"Oh you!" Tara laughed. "You can do it."

"I know I can. Anything for you baby."


That night, on the hill where they were reunited, Willow smiled lovingly at Tara. "What?" Tara said breathlessly. She flew a few metres up into the sky. The words 'I love you Tara Maclay' were spelt on the ground with countless lit candles.

"Oh Willow." She gushed, a few tears falling as she came back to Willow's side.

"You haven't read it all yet." Willow smiled. Tara gave her a questioning glance as Willow gestured up at the starry night sky.

Using a little magic, Willow had a group of stars spell out the words 'with all my heart, with all my soul, with everything that I am.'

Now Tara couldn't possibly hold them back any longer and more tears began to fall in a steady flow down her cheeks. Her eyes twinkled like the stars above them as Tara looked back at Willow.

"Well?"

"It's beautiful Will. So beautiful. I can't believe I have you. I'm so lucky.." Tara stopped as her smile started to reach Willow's eyes, making them glimmer.

"You'd better believe it Baby." Willow smiled. "Because I'm not going anywhere."


That wasn't the only surprise Willow had in store, Tara realised as they returned home. They sat on their bed and Willow slowly flipped through the book she'd made of them.

"It's us! Oh Willow." Tara gushed as Willow opened the book and revealed the first page with a picture of Tara on the left and Willow on the right, words in the middle.

"The only two actual witches in a university Wicca group that spends all their time planning bake sales. Shy, unassuming natural beauty, hidden behind a veil of glossy blonde hair sits quietly on the far side of the room. From first glance, I knew." Willow read aloud.

On the next page was a picture of a vending machine on the top and another of the two of them together on the bottom, with more story in the middle. "Magic brought us together, and we grew close quickly. But then I was engulfed in magic and you left. It broke my heart. It ripped out of my chest and went with you."

Willow turned to the final page and continued to read the story beside another picture of the two of them, happy together. "You came back and we were so happy. But then you got ripped away again and it tore me apart. You were with me in my dreams, and I was only happy then. With my angel. The angel of my dreams. And now you're back again. I found you and I'll never let you go again. This I promise, now and forever." Tara looked up from the book at Willow, her eyes solemn.

"Really?"

"Not a chance!" Willow smiled. "It's like you said. I love you too much to let you go. Besides, I don't think I can face a third heart shattering."

Tara laughed.


"Now," Willow said, crossing the room and returning with a small box in hand, sitting back on the bed beside Tara. "This would be a lot easier if I could actually touch you."

"What is it?" Tara asked curiously, leaning over as Willow opened the box to reveal a little gold key charm.

"It's the key." Willow smiled.

"The key to what?" Tara asked, her voice soft.

"The key to my heart." Willow answered. "I know it sounds cheesy. But you really do have it Tara. I've never loved anyone as much as I love you, and I don't think I ever could again."

"Maybe just a little." Tara admitted. "But it's sweet. Just like you."

"There's more." Willow smiled.

"What? Sweetie! You've done enough already!"

Willow pulled a charm bracelet from the bedside table against the wall, holding it in her palm and bringing it closer so Tara could see.

On the golden bracelet were a few other charms. Two, interlinked hearts, a flame, a little angel, a 'T', and a 'W'.

"I was going to give it to you for your birthday." Willow admitted. "Before you, you know.."

Tara nodded, smiling at her. "What do they all mean? The charms?"

"Well, the key is the key to my heart. The hearts are our love, the flame is for magic, seeing as we often do it around candles, the angel is because you are my angel, which came in more when you left. I think the T and W speak for themselves right?"

"Tara and Willow?" Tara guessed, and Willow nodded, smiling.

"I love it Willow. I love you!" Tara smiled. "I just wish I could wear it."

"You will." Willow said confidently. "You're coming back, remember?"