Tara sat there dejected. Once she had felt loved by Willow but now she knew
that the other woman just used her to become stronger.
Dispite of the knowledge she couldn't leave her. Because then she would be alone.
That was how she thought it would be month ago. But now she knew that Xander, Giles and especially Oz would stand up for her rather than for Willow or Buffy.
Since then she saw them with different eyes.
Xander was her dear brother and she loved him like he was. Always joking but serious when it came down to business. He had a brilliant mind when it came to demons and strategy.
Giles was her father. She had never thought about her biological father the father the way she tought about Giles. Tara knew that Rupert Giles loved them and protected them against everything they couldn't fight off. She three young people shared the feelings towards Giles. He was their leader. Their father and they would do everything to make him proud and happy.
Just like at this moment.
She saw that everyone in the room seemed to catch up on the emotional atmosphere and they cond#fessed their love to their loved one.
First were the three men who had entered the shop earlier.
Tara knew they could trust them but as the wolf had gotten out and growled she was a bit frightened. But suddenly she felt an arm around her shoulder and recognized Oz. He was growling more quiertly and she doubted that anybody could hear it.
Then it started the three revealed their love to the group and it seemed that all wanted to follow their example.
First Wesley and Gunn then Cordy and Faith. Finally Giles and Ethan. And if she guessed right Xander, Angel and Spike.
Now she sat here next to Oz and didn't know what to do.
She knew that she loved him since she had gotten to know him better.
But what if she confessed and he rejected her?
Without her knowledge a tear escaped her eye.
***************
Oz was sitting there silent.
He knew that everyone had found their soulmate.
Now he just had to convince Tara that he was hers.
Oz knew deep down that he had loved her since he first laid his eyes on her. But he had been blind with his jealousy because of Willow. Now he knew that he had been jealous because he couldn't have Tara due to Willow.
A few weeks back Tara told them that she sdidn't love anymore and thought that Willow was just with her because she wanted something.
The red haired boy knew that she was right. Willow had changed over the last months and not for the best. She was now more manipulative and bitchy. Oz thought that she didn't deserve someone as lovely and shy and wonderful as Tara.
But despite all that Tara didn't leave Willow. She probably thought that it would be better to be with Willow than to be alone.
That would change now.
As he looked towards her he saw a tear on her cheek.
He couldn't resist and leand forward to kiss it away. As his mouth touched her skin she couldn't hold back a sigh and turned her head so that her mouth was touching his fully.
*****************
Sirius could feel the rightness in everything around them as he saw the pairs
coming together.
Severus seemed a bit impatient as he cleared his throat loudly and drew everyone attention.
"Now that everybody is happy, could we start with the prophecy?!" he asked with his voice full of sarcasm.
Everyone in the room stopped what they were doing and they looked chagrined till they suddenly started laughing. The tension had been tomuch and now it released itself in the laughter.
Snape stood there looking a bit sour till his two mates hugged him a his lips began to twitch.
tbc