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Epilogue

Devil’s Paradise, Texas
August 2001

“…he’s going to meet you guys at the airport…. Don’t worry, he’s taking the ‘Beast,’” Tara laughingly told her friend, referring to the huge SUV that Lindsey drove when he was out and about on their ranch. “Plenty of room for everyone.”

Tara laughed delightedly at something that was said.

“Well, I had to swear that I could calculate the exact date of delivery, and that I wasn’t due to deliver for another week. I swear, you’d think I was the first female ever to have a baby the way he was acting…”

“For me, maybe,” Lindsey cut into the phone conversation, causing Tara to shriek in fright.

“What? No! I’m ok… Lindsey just decided to scare me half to death…”

“Well, tell him to stop,” Willow laughed. “That’s my niece or nephew he’s messing with.”

“I’ll tell him. Now, I better let you go so you guys don’t miss your flight. Give my love to everyone, and I’ll see you all soon…”

Tara rang off and disconnected the portable phone. She leaned her head back and saw Lindsey standing behind her.

“You’re back early. Hank told me you guys were going towards the north end of the property.”

“I let him go by himself. He took a few hands with him. I didn’t want to be too far away in case you needed me.”

He leaned down and brushed his lips over hers.

“How’s my lovely wife?” he murmured against her mouth.

“She’s fine. Willow and the others are leaving for the airport now. Their flight gets in about 9 o’clock tonight.”

“Good.” Lindsey came around the couch and swept his wife up into his arms and walked back towards their bedroom.

“Lindsey! It’s the middle of the day!”

“So?”

“So! And I’m as big as a house!”

“And a lovely house it is too…” He wiggled his eyebrows at her, causing Tara to laugh… and blush.

“You’re insatiable.”

“You know it. Can’t ever get enough of you… won’t ever get enough of you.”

~*~*~*~*~

Tara greeted her friends with smiles and tears.

They were all there: Joyce, Buffy, Dawn, Willow, Xander… and Spike. Giles was in England at the moment at the Watcher’s Council’s behest; the head councilman had died from a sudden heart attack and arrangements needed to be made to secure his replacement. He was going to follow along as soon as he was able, though it was doubtful he would make the birth.

Spike stepped inside at her warm welcome, giving her a brief hug and kiss like the others. It was when his eyes went wide upon hearing the two accelerated heartbeats thumping away, instead of just the one that Tara had to mentally shush him with a quiet voice inside his head.

It was a surprise she was saving for the birth.

Though, how anyone could not guess she was having twins by looking at the size of her stomach was beyond her.

The last six months had been rife with problems for her friends in Sunnydale, though they’d dealt with it with the resilience they’d always exhibited.

It was a miracle that Joyce was even with them. Before Tara had left, she’d noticed the elder Summers’ aura flooded with white, and had urged her to get checked by her physician. The worry in her tone must have reached the woman, because she’d gone back. They’d found a blood clot and had performed emergency surgery on the woman.

Tara swore her ribs still hurt from where Buffy had hugged her tight in gratitude.

Glory had been defeated as well. Spike had been the one to determine that the hellgod had to share time in a human’s body. Giles had been the one to kill the man, because the vampire was still unable to hurt humans.

Seeing Spike’s aura made Tara wonder if the chip was even needed anymore. The other Scoobies all seemed to agree with her assessment. It was only the thought of what damage removing the piece of metal from the vampire’s brain would cause that held them back.

Maybe she and Willow could work on something.

That thought led her to others about her friend. The rough patch they’d had before getting to this point. Tara had explained everything to Willow, from the wish to the thought of never seeing her friends again… how Lindsey had taken care of her and how the two had eventually fallen in love.

Willow had finished out her year at Sunnydale University then transferred to a college in England. The school had ties to a powerful coven, and they were helping Willow learn about her capabilities. She had the month of August off and had flown to Sunnydale to meet with her friends before making the trip to Texas.

There was another person in her life, but Willow was taking things slow. Tara was happy for her.

For all of them, really.

Herself included.

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