Author's Note: First off here is a little bonus chapter. There maybe more bonus chapters to come as I've been bouncing ideas around for post Epilogue scenes such as the one below. Another would be Buffy and Faith seeing Faith in prison. Another would be Buffy and Jaheira and deciding what to do about Jaheira's Elvish heritage in a world where elves are mythological creatures. And so on. We'll see how my muse goes.

Second off the entire story has been rewritten somewhat. Though more in the description area than anything, that said there is scattered about here and there some add dialogue or a scene or two.

Bonus: Tara

Willow stood, her heart pounding in her chest, as she faced Tara's dorm room door. The air between them felt thick with unspoken words, heavy with the weight of the years that had passed. Dawn lingered just outside, a silent witness to the emotional turmoil that played out within the confines of that small space.

The reality of their time discrepancy gnawed at Willow's mind, the disorienting disjunction of five months in Sunnydale against six long years in Toril echoing through her thoughts. She took a moment to collect herself, knowing that the hardest part lay just beyond the wooden barrier that separated her from Tara.

Her hand hovered uncertainly, poised to knock, and a thousand emotions raced through Willow's mind. How would Tara react to her sudden return? More importantly, how would she take the revelation that Willow's heart had shifted, now entwined with the love she felt for Dawn? Doubt clung to Willow's every step as she hesitated on the threshold, the anticipation of the unknown making her breath catch in her throat.

Summoning courage from the depths of her being, Willow inhaled deeply, feeling the cool air fill her lungs. She exhaled slowly, as if releasing the years of uncertainty that had accumulated during her time away. The knock echoed in the silence, a single sound that held the promise of revelations and emotions yet to unfold.

The door swung open swiftly, revealing Tara on the other side. Confusion flickered in her eyes, a mixture of disbelief and surprise. "Willow? But…you… you were…"

"I know," Willow interrupted, her voice soft and understanding. The unspoken connection between them lingered, a testament to the bond that time could not erase. "A long story short… I made it back. Can I come in?" she asked, her gaze steady as she braced for whatever storm might follow, preferring the intimacy of Tara's space over the public hallway where their secrets could be laid bare.

Tara blinked, uncertainty etched across her features. Casting a quick glance behind her, she seized Willow's hand and pulled her into the room, the door closing with a soft thud. The privacy offered a refuge from the prying eyes of the outside world. "Of course. Do you want some tea?" Tara's words, though simple, carried an undercurrent of warmth and familiarity, a tentative bridge spanning the gap of the years that had kept them apart. She motioned towards a pair of chairs, inviting Willow to share not just the physical space but the emotional terrain that lay ahead.

"Please," Willow smiled, her expression a delicate dance between warmth and a subtle apology, a silent plea for understanding. Her gaze lingered on Tara, drinking in the familiar features she had missed so deeply during their time apart. The room, once a mere dorm, became a sanctuary where the echoes of their shared past and the uncertainties of the present intermingled.

Tara acknowledged Willow's request with a nod, a quiet acceptance that carried with it the unspoken promise of a listening ear. Pouring tea with a practiced grace, Tara took a moment to collect herself before carrying the steaming cup and saucer over to the table. Placing them deliberately in front of the waiting chair, Tara hesitated, her eyes searching Willow's face for answers that lingered just out of reach.

"Willow, I... How are you here? I thought you had died, not gone missing," Tara's words held a mix of concern and confusion, the lines of worry etched on her brow.

"I was pulled into the portal," Willow explained, her voice tinged with a note of solemnity. "We think when Buffy and Dawn fell into it, a stray bolt of energy hit me as well." Pausing, she reached for her tea, finding solace in the familiar weight of the cup. A genuine smile graced her lips as she took a sip, the tea proving to be a comforting blend. "Do you have honey, by chance?"

"Y-Yeah," Tara replied, a subtle rush in her movements as she retrieved the honey. Dropping it into the tea with a practiced ease that spoke of countless shared moments, she licked the slight trace from her fingers. The exchange, a small act in the grand tapestry of their connection, carried a sense of intimacy that time had not diminished.

"Thanks," Willow expressed gratitude, her eyes meeting Tara's with a silent acknowledgment of the unspoken understanding that lingered between them. Another sip from the enhanced tea fortified by honey, and Willow continued, the narrative of her journey unfolding like pages of a long-forgotten book. "A lot happened on the other side of the portal. Me, Buffy, and Dawn were separated. I was the first Buffy found, that was within the first year or two."

"Years?" Tara interjected, her confusion palpable. To her, Willow, Buffy, and Dawn had only been gone for five months. "How many?"

"Around six, I think," Willow confessed, her words carrying the weight of temporal dissonance. The mere number was deceptively simple, masking the complex tapestry of experiences, growth, and change that had unfolded in the uncharted realm of Toril. "Time moves faster in Toril, apparently, than it does here. Fourteen Torilian days equal roughly about one day on this plane."

Tara, absorbing this revelation, closed her eyes, seeking a momentary respite against the headboard of her dorm room bed. The unexpected extension of Willow's absence deepened the ache within her, a realization that the gap between them had not been a mere five months but a substantial six years in the parallel world that had held Willow captive.

"So, five months here is actually like six years there?" Tara's voice carried a mixture of astonishment and sorrow, the implications of the temporal distortion settling heavily on her shoulders.

"Yeah," Willow whispered, the gravity of the admission sinking in as she took another sip of her tea. The ceramic cup cradled in her hands provided a small semblance of comfort in the face of the emotional storm brewing between them.

Tara, exhaling softly, fought against the urge to let the tears spill forth. She gazed up at Willow, her eyes seeking answers and reassurance in the face of the unexpected complexity of their shared history. "That means you moved on, didn't you?"

Willow's response hung in the air, laden with unspoken regrets and the weight of decisions made in a time and space detached from Tara's reality. "Yeah," she admitted, the admission a poignant acknowledgment of the passage of time. A weak laughter escaped her lips, a fragile defense mechanism against the emotional turbulence threatening to consume them. "After Buffy and I found Dawn, I started thinking that you wouldn't pine for me. Especially before I learned how short of time passed here compared to Toril. When I thought time was one to one. I didn't expect you would still be waiting after five years." Willow's voice wavered with a vulnerability that lay bare the intricacies of her emotional journey.

Tara, holding back her own tears, confessed with a quiet sincerity, "If it had been that long here, I would have moved on, and I would have expected you to as well. But since it was only five months for me, I've yet to move on."

"Which is what makes this hard, because of how long it had been for me, I began to think maybe it was time and so I fell in love with Dawn," Willow confessed, the vulnerability in her voice echoing the complexity of her emotions. Her hands cradled the tea cup, a fragile anchor in the sea of revelations as she stared down into the swirling depths of the liquid. The weight of her admission lingered in the air, a truth laid bare in the quiet dorm room.

Tara, absorbing the revelation, wondered aloud, "Did you tell her you were coming to see me?"

"Yes," Willow confirmed, her gaze lifting to meet Tara's. "In fact, she's outside waiting by Buffy's car."

"Good." Tara, a sense of relief evident in her movements, walked back over to the small refrigerator, placing the tea, honey, and lemon back in their designated spots. The routine actions provided a brief respite, a moment to collect herself before delving into the complexities of their shared history. "So what were your plans?"

"We were hoping," Willow began, placing the tea cup down with a measured care. "I'm still in love with you, Tara. Just as much as I am in love with Dawn. And Dawn and I have talked, and if you are still available, I mean if you're not dating anyone, Dawn and I would like to try being in a polygamous relationship with you."

Tara, caught between the pull of past affections and the uncertainty of the future, felt a mix of emotions surge within her. The offer, while genuine, brought forth questions that lingered in the quiet corners of her mind. "I-I'd love to have you back, but are you sure Dawn won't end up resenting me if I'm the one that kept you from each other?" Tara's voice carried a trace of concern as she paused, turning away slightly, shielding herself momentarily from the raw honesty of the moment.

"Why don't you ask her yourself," Willow suggested, her voice carrying a note of anticipation as she moved to the window and opened it. Calling down to Dawn, she beckoned her to join them. "Dawnie, come on up. Tara has a question for you."

Dawn, with an eagerness mirrored in her swift movements, hurried toward the entrance of Tara's building. Opening the outer door, she jogged to the stairwell, taking the steps three at a time until she reached Tara's dorm floor. As she approached the door, she adjusted her pace, the sound of her soft knock signaling her respect for the intimate conversation within.

Tara, sensing the approaching presence, reached for the door and swung it open quickly, a rush of air escaping the room. "Hi, Dawn, um... I don't want you to feel forced to share Willow. And I don't want you resenting me."

Dawn, meeting Tara's gaze with a sincerity that spoke volumes, vigorously shook her head. Strands of hair escaped from her ponytail as she brushed them behind one ear. With a soft smile, she looked into Tara's eyes. "No, that will never happen, Tara. You know why? Because, truth be told, I always had a huge crush on you." She paused, offering a tentative smile that held the promise of shared desires. "I want the three of us together."

"R-really?" Tara whispered, her emotions surfacing as she closed her eyes in an attempt not to cry. The weight of the revelation settled over the room, a delicate moment suspended in time. "You want to share?" The question hung in the air, a crucial inquiry that could reshape the trajectory of their intertwined destinies.

Dawn couldn't bear to see Tara grappling with uncertainty, so, in a move that spoke volumes, she decided to bridge the emotional gap with a tender kiss. Leaning in, she pressed her lips against Tara's, a gentle and reassuring gesture that conveyed a depth of understanding beyond words. "If you're okay with sharing, I'm okay with sharing," Dawn whispered, her voice carrying a soft sincerity that resonated in the charged atmosphere.

Tara, caught off guard by the unexpected but welcome kiss, allowed her eyes to snap open again, a hopeful spark burning brightly in their depths. The room, once a battleground of emotions, now held a transformative energy, an unspoken agreement passing between them with the exchange of that simple yet profound gesture. The kiss broke, leaving Tara breathless and speechless, her gaze locked onto Dawn's blue eyes.

As the emotional tension lingered, Willow approached from behind, completing the circle that was forming between them. With a shared understanding, Willow and Dawn embraced Tara, forming a protective cocoon of affection around her. "So," Willow said, her voice carrying a blend of excitement and tenderness. "Do you want to try this polygamy thing, us in a threesome?"

Tara, enveloped by the warmth of their embrace, gasped as both Willow and Dawn touched and squeezed her from both sides. An overwhelming feeling of intense happiness settled over her, a mixture of gratitude and anticipation. "Yes," Tara breathed out, her voice carrying the weight of a decision that held the promise of a shared future. The trio, bound by a complex web of emotions and shared history, stood together, united in their willingness to explore the uncharted territories of love and connection.