Title: "The Promise."

Author: A.M. Glass

EMail: glasswrks@yahoo.com

Copyright: May 16th, 2000

Rating: PG, for one word

Disclaimer: The characters from "Buffy, The Vampire Slayer", well, they don't belong to me, they belong to Joss Whedon, et al. No copyright infringement is intended or inferred. This a non-profit piece of fan fiction, the story is the sole property of the author. I've used a few lines from the episode, "New Moon Rising".

SPOILERS: For "New Moon Rising."

Author's Note: This takes place shortly after Willow and Buffy's talk about Tara. Oh... btw, this is my reply to Kim's challenge. Thoughts, ( )

Feedback: Heck yes, I need it.

Buffy kept going over the conversation she had with Willow, trying to wrap her mind around the concept that her friend, her best friend was... 'in love?' with another woman. And not just any woman, but Tara. Sure she freaked for all of a minute or so... who wouldn't?

But this was Willow.

Someone who meant as much to her as her mother... maybe even more. She hadn't thought about it, how much she cared about Willow, to her it was a given, end of story.

So, she had awaken from dreams that had her sharing more than a passing hug with the hacker. (That's normal, everyone goes through it, don't they?)

This is Willow.

Willow with the fiery red hair, the infamous 'resolve face' that had no equal.

Willow.

Who she had hurt when she tried to reach out to Faith. She knew she was doing it, but she had to try to help the rogue Slayer... save her from herself.

(Well, we all know how that turned out didn't we) She wasn't going to lie to herself, there was a passing attraction to Faith... but she got over it.

Buffy continued down memory lane, and found that most of her thoughts, her memories were of the once shy red head. A smile came to her face unbidden as she recalled seeing Willow in her 'vamp' outfit. But, she was with Angel... and it was okay to appreciate how Willow looked, it's something girls... women do.. all the time... right?

"'It's complicated... because of Tara.'"

Those few words knocked her for a loop, she wasn't ready for it. How could she be, there was no indication on Willow's part that she even thought of Tara that way.

None that she picked up on... of course she was heavily into Riley, so the clues might have been there all the time and she never saw them... or didn't want to.

Tara...

What did Willow really know about her?

(Can't be much.)

She hasn't set off her spider-sense... but that's not necessarily a good sign.

(I should be happy for Willow. That's what she would be for me...) Buffy thought as she sat down on a bench outside Stevenson's Hall. (I should absolutely be one hundred percent happy for Will... so why does it feel as if I've lost something I didn't even know I had? So why now? Why do I see what's in front of my face now? Why did it take Tara presence in Willow's life to make me realize what I could of had? Well Summers, what are you going to do now? Mess things up, just so you can have your chance with Will, or are you going to do the right thing and be there for her?)

She knew what she wanted to do, she wanted Willow all to herself again. She didn't want to share Will with anyone, least of all Tara. It wasn't that she didn't like the other girl, it was just the simple fact that Tara had earned something she took for granted.

Tara had earned Willow's love.

(I'll just see how this plays out, you never know, it might just be a fling. No) she frowned, (Will isn't like that. She's... Will.)

Whatever happened between the two Wiccans, Buffy knew deep down that Willow wasn't the type of person to cut and run. She'd seen how deeply Willow had cared for Oz, and if that was any indication, she knew that Tara would have to do something so evil that Willow would have no choice but to leave her. Otherwise, this could last a very long time.

(Shit, that's all I need) Buffy thought to herself. (I love her... and I should tell her. Soon and that's a promise.)

The End.