Sitting back heavily in her seat, Tara began handing out the presents to her girlfriend, announcing the gifts giver as she did so. With the gifts unwrapped, Chris and Vince demanded a speech. Willow stood, clearly shaking and tears of happiness leaking from her sparkling emerald eyes.

“Erm, well, I, I’m stunned.” She said, her voice shaking as much as her hands were. “I don’t know what to say. Thank you guys all so much for coming down to spend this day with me and Tara. It means so very much to have you all here.” Willow turned to Tara whose eyes were also glistening with tears, “Baby,” she began, taking Tara’s hands in her own. “I never thought I’d feel this way about anyone, you have made the past two years the most exciting, fun and love filled of my entire life.” The tears escaped Tara’s eyes and she smiled lovingly at the woman before her. “Thank you so much, this is more than I could ever have expected and much more than I deserve. I love you so very, very much!” As she swept Tara to her feet to kiss her lover, the others cheered and clapped causing both women to blush deeply.

As their celebration calmed a little, Tara excused herself to the bathroom and ducked out of the room, leaving the others to keep Willow talking. Behind her, a small stage had lit up, a band with a few member of the local high school orchestra sat neatly in matching uniforms. A tall woman whose voice Willow had admired while at a local jazz bar stepped onto the raised platform and tapped the microphone, getting the attention of the diners. Willow turned in her seat as the woman did so.

“I’d like to dedicate this song to Willow, on behalf of Tara. She wishes you a very happy birthday. This is from her.”

Willow sat in a stunned silence, so surprised was she that she hadn’t noticed Tara had failed to reappear for this moment. The woman began singing and instantly the tears fell from Willows eyes, she had loved this song from the minute she’d first heard it and had mentioned it in passing almost two years ago, she couldn’t believe that Tara had remembered.

I’d gladly walk across the desert
With no shoes upon my feet
To share with you the last bite
Of bread I had to eat
I would swim out to save you
In your sea of broken dreams
When all your hopes are sinkin’
Let me show you what love means

Love and only love
Love and only love.