�I, couldn�t have, s-said it better, myself.� This statement was accompanied by a timid, lop-sided grin.
�Really?� Although calmed by the words and accompanying smile, Willow still needed reassurance.
�Really. I�ve been r-rehearsing a million different speeches, not one of them came close to expressing what that kiss did.� Tara caressed Willow�s cheek as she spoke; hoping it would ease the redhead�s concerns.
�Oh.� A pause as Willow took in the words. �Oooh.� As she realised exactly what it was that Tara was saying. �You mean you�? That�s what you wanted to�? Ahh, I see.�
�You see?� As yet neither had spoken the words that the kiss had so easily expressed, Tara was desperate to ensure they were both on the same page before she actually took the plunge and revealed the full extent of her feelings.
�Yeah.� Willow frowned at the timid wiccans question; suddenly she was not entirely certain about what was going on. �I think? Do you know what I think?� It was a rhetorical question and no pause was left even if an answer had been required. �I think we should probably talk now. You know? Now that there�s less tension, and anticipation, and nerves, and fear of rejection.�
�I agree. Shall I go first?� The kiss had erased most of Tara�s fears and she now had enough confidence to say what she�d been planning on saying all along.
�Do you want to?�
�Well, last time you went first, we, erm, we didn�t do much talking.�
Willow couldn�t disagree with that, so she nodded for Tara to proceed.
�Well, I think that, that it�s pretty o-obvious that I, uhm, h-have feelings for you. And clearly, y-you�re not f-freaked by the, me being a w-woman, and stuff.�
�Right, but, erm, what does it mean? No, I don�t mean that. What does it make us? Are, are we, girlfriends now? �Cos I�d like to be, if, if that�s what you�d like? And, and if we are girlfriends, is it, would it be too early on in the relationship to tell you, to tell you that I love you?�
Lost in a mini-babble Willow almost didn�t realise what she�d just revealed. When realisation did set in she winced as her stomach tied itself into a huge knot and her cheeks turned a shade of red to rival her hair. There was a silence, to Willow it seemed to last forever, in reality it lasted a few seconds. Just long enough for Tara to process Willow�s last three words and think �Oh my god, oh my god, I�m dreaming. I must be dreaming.�
�R-really?�
Willow swallowed hard and forced herself to look into Tara�s warm blue eyes before answering.
�Yeah.� Her voice was barely above a whisper and if Tara hadn�t been listening so intently she would have missed it completely.
�Oh Willow.� She grinned. She honestly could not remember ever feeling as happy as she did at that moment. �I love you too. That�s what I w-wanted to tell you.�
�Really?� It was Willow�s turn to doubt her own ears now.
�Really.� The truth of the blonde�s words was confirmed and amplified in not only her voice, but also her whole face.
And now, it was Willow�s turn to grin from ear to ear.
�Geez Will, could you look any more like a goof? What are you twelve? Or are you trying to repel her? Stop grinning or she�ll decide she doesn�t love you any more. Oh my god! She loves me! She actually said it, she loves me. Wow! Oh, okay, so I am a big goof. Say something dufus. Anything. Ask her out.�
�So, erm, do you wanna go out somewhere, you know, on a, a date?�
�Sure, sounds fun.�
�Cool.�
�Willow?�
�Yeah?�
�C-can I� I mean, w-would it be okay if, if we, kiss again?�
�Of course it�s okay. That�s what girlfriends do.� Willow assured the blonde, her mouth forming another goofy grin.
