Buffy watched as Willow and Tara raced up the stairs, her heart longed to have half of what they had. Tears stung the corners of her eyes and she took several deep breaths before turning to face Giles.

He too watched as the reunited lovers chased each other upstairs, Willow playfully slapping the blondes ***** as she lead the way.

“They’re good together!” Buffy sighed happily.

Giles nodded thoughtfully, “Yes.” he mused as he polished his glasses once again.

“But we don’t have to hear them being good together!” Buffy said, her cheeks burning with her admission. She nodded towards the door and Giles led the way into the sun-dappled yard. Taking a seat on the warm bench, he sighed regretfully.

“What’s up Giles, you’re being all British!” Buffy told him firmly although the concern shone brightly in her eyes.

He turned towards the slayer and frowned. “Erm, translate?!” he asked when he failed to understand.

“Stiff upper lippy with something to say.” Buffy offered with a weak smile. “You’ve been here long enough, learn to speak Scooby!” she chastised playfully.

He smiled warmly and slipped his handkerchief-warmed glasses back on his nose.

“Have you spoken to Tara since she returned?” he asked gingerly.

Buffy looked at him cautiously, “About? About where she was.” she realised. Giles only nodded and remained silent.

“We had a chat yeah!” Buffy said proudly.

Before Tara’s death, the pair had grown close after her own mothers death, with Tara having gone through the same thing, Buffy knew she could talk to the young witch and did so regularly, revealing things to her she barely wanted to admit to herself.

“And?” Giles pushed for details.

“What, she’s fine, she’s adjusting well and she’s ok….” Buffy looked up to the top floor of the house and smiled. “Now that things are back to abnormal!” she joked.

“Did she divulge where she had been?” Giles asked, pulling the slayer from her vicarious happiness for her friends.

Buffy turned to him and frowned. “Why, what happened?” she asked cautiously.

Giles closed his eyes sadly and hung his head. “Nothing, but the fact you think something may have means there’s something I should know!” he said. “I think you should tell me everything, Tara may be inexplicably altered.”