”They were right, both of them. Tara is almost always right, she was right about the magic, she was right when she said we needed a break and she was right to have left me.

At the same time, Kennedy had a valid concern. She should’ve known that after the incident with Xander and Oz all those years ago, that I wouldn’t mess around… too many people get hurt! She was right in knowing that I was torn, it is Tara after all, my world, my life, my soul mate but I needed to make that decision for myself. What I saw in that hospital room confirmed that I needed to follow my heart and do what would make me happy. No one ever gets a happy ending around here and I figure that someone should. Scarily enough, that someone might just be me.”

Willow and Tara arrived back at the house a little before ten o’clock. The lack of screaming, yelling and running that had echoed around the building since the arrival of the first potentials confirmed that they were all still out with Spike and Buffy and the women were thankful for this small mercy.

They had travelled back to the house in near silence, neither one mentioning the events that had unfolded within the small room at Sunnydale General.

Pushing the door open, the light radiating from the television was the only sign of apparent life and as they stepped into the living room, they covered their mouths to hide their giggles.

Giles had been watching an old black and white film and had clearly fallen asleep. In his lap, a large bowl of popcorn, the contents spilt over his torso. His glasses that were usually so neatly and regularly polished, sat sideways on his head and the arm that should have straightened them hung limply over the side of the couch.

Tara crossed to his and gently removed the bowl, setting it silently on the table, behind her, Willows shoulder shook with laughter and she indicated that she was going upstairs. Stealthily removing the Watchers glasses, Tara folded them and placed them on the small coffee table before turning off the TV and making her own way up the stairs.