With the appetites of the potentials satisfied, at least for now, the kitchen was clear. Most of them had descended to the living room where they involved themselves in watching TV, chatting, examining the weapons and their benefits or talking with Giles, who had returned from his room and was reprising his role as mentor and guide.

Willow and Tara busied themselves in tidying the kitchen, stealing longing looks when the other wasn’t watching. The devastation that the potentials always seemed to leave in their wake took longer than they had imagined to straighten but when the task was finally completed, they sat heavily on the stools and sighed.

Turning her head slightly, Willow smiled. The late morning light beamed in through the glass in the kitchen door and lit Tara in a warm golden glow. ‘She really is an angel!’ Willow thought, her mind travelling back to the cherub she had acquired for the Christmas tree the previous year.

“You really shouldn’t stare!” Tara said without moving. “It’s not polite!”

Willow blushed deeply, she was sure that Tara wouldn’t be able to tell she was looking, even if she had turned to face her.

“I wasn’t staring!” she said defiantly, “I was resting my head on my hands… you just happened to be in my line of sight!” she finished with a giggle.

Tara grinned warmly and got to her feet. “We’re on shopping detail!” she reminded the redhead before stealing a quick kiss and vanishing into the living room to fetch the shopping list.

Stepping into the warm lunchtime light, Willow and Tara sighed in unison, even with the hustle and bustle of the busy street, they could enjoy the peace. Cars honked their horns and various conversations carried to their ears, somewhere a dog barked urgently and children called and taunted each other yet it was still quieter and more relaxing than a houseful of potential slayers.

As they turned in the general direction of both the hospital and the grocery store, Willows eyes filled with a resigned sadness. Slipping her hand gently into Willows, Tara smiled sadly, she knew that she should probably ask Willow what was troubling her, but in her heart she knew the answer.

“Do you want to stop by before shopping?” she asked softly.