Title: "Mine"

Author: A.M. Glass

EMail: glasswrks@yahoo.com

Copyright: April 6th, 2000

Rating: 'PG'

Disclaimer: Joss, Fox Studios, Mutant Enemy, et al, have something to do with "Buffy The Vampire Slayer". No copyright infringement is intended or inferred. The story is the sole property of the author.

Distribution: Kim, Gary, Bill, Pat, Jen, if you'd like it, it's yours. All others, please ask.

Author's Note: This hasn't been beta read, so, any mistakes are mine and mine alone. BTW, this is a ONE part story. It was just something that popped into my head late this afternoon.

Spoiler: "Wild At Heart", "Who Are You, Parts 1,2".

Feedback: It always helps.

Buffy watched as Willow left their dorm room and went to join Tara for a little study time. Buffy hadn't spoken with Tara much, not since the whole Faith body switch. Sure, they had been in the same room at times, but they really hadn't talked.

Tara was more Willow's friend, and that was a good thing as far as she was concerned. Willow has started to show some signs of returning to her old self again, and Buffy had missed that side of Willow terribly during her trip down misery lane.

The whole 'Oz' incident had brought out a protective mode in her that had astonished her in its intensity. She knew she was protective of her friends... no, they were more than just mere friends to her, they were her family. And Buffy would do anything to defend them.

So, when Willow told her the sordid details of how she found Oz and Veruca together, it had taken every ounce of self-control she possessed not to go out and seriously harm him. Regardless that he himself had become a extended part of her 'family'.

And as the old saying goes, 'Time heals all wounds,' Willow was able to put Oz behind her, but not without her share of ups and downs.

Buffy didn't know much about Tara, Willow has kept her budding friendship with the other girl fairly close to the vest. But what Buffy did know was that Tara had done something she and the others had failed to do.

Tara made Willow happy.

She could see it. The smile that automatically founds its way onto Willow's face when she was with Tara. Yes, Tara was good for Willow. Buffy could tell that their friendship was growing closer and had to admit that she was a bit jealous about it.

She wasn't the only person in Willow's life, but she felt that she had held a special place in Willow's heart. And it almost seemed as if Tara might displace her from her spot. And could she let that happen without saying something? She shook her head, dismissing those thoughts that had no basis in fact.

'Willow was mine long before Tara.'

Buffy looked at that thought carefully.

"My friend, that's what I meant to say," she told herself, deciding to leave the suddenly confining space of the dorm room and take a stroll on the campus grounds. As she began to walk aimlessly, she spotted Willow and Tara sitting underneath a tree. Willow was laughing at something, and had placed her hand on the other girls' arm, letting it rest there for a few seconds longer than Buffy thought it should have been.

She felt her breathing increase, when Tara took hold of Willow's hand and squeezed it, before letting it rest on her lap.

Buffy watched them for a few minutes longer prior to turning around and walking away. She felt the overwhelming desire to dust a few vampires... or something... anything.

The only thought she had as she headed off campus and towards Giles' apartment; hoping she would be able to talk him into sparring with her, was 'mine'.

The End