Title: Passion Never Dies Epilogue
Author: Magrat
Spoilers: As before
Ratings: R
Notes: This epilogue will lead into a sequel to Passion Never Dies; it set about a year after the end of the original story.

Willow watched Tara emerge from the bathroom of their hotel room clad only in a towel. Her eyes didn’t leave her girlfriend once as she started to pick out some clothes from the wardrobe. “I missed you this afternoon.”

“Well, The Dean wanted to show me round the campus. Anyway I thought you had enough work to keep you busy, oh and did the real estate agent call?” asked Tara.

“Yeah they have some apartments in the center of town and some houses out by the campus, in Currie that we can view, said Willow.

“That would be handy,” said the blonde.

“Yeah, but I wish Giles had told us how expensive Edinburgh was,” said Willow.

Tara frowned at Willow. “Out of our reach?”

“No, but more expensive than Bath,” said Willow. She came off the bed as Tara dropped the towel. “Are you sure you want to go out tonight? I feel all deprived of you.”

“Hmm tempting as that is…” said Tara closing her eyes, enjoying the soft kisses that Willow was leaving on her neck and collarbone. She could feel her lover’s skillful hands tracing patterns on her back and hips. Tara swallowed hard, it would be so easy to give into the passion and lust that Willow had triggered so simply.

“Why don’t you just give into temptation?” breathed Willow hoarsely in Tara’s ear.

With deep regret the blonde pushed her lover gently away “Will, the tables booked, we don’t want to get a reputation for no shows, do we?”

Willow grumbled to herself but nodded her agreement.

*******************************

Irene stretched out her back, stiff from standing. She stood behind the bar of her restaurant surveying the room with a great deal of pride. Her friends had told her she was mad 10 years ago, when she had given up a prestige job as head chef in a top trendy London bistro, to come home and open of all things a gay restaurant. It had been a success. Not straight away. She didn’t like to think of the sleepless nights, endless shifts and begging letters to the bank and creditors that had punctuated it’s first year of existence.

“Any sign of our young American friends?” asked Jayne.

“Not yet, is everything prepared?” asked Irene smiling at her lover and business partner.

“Yep, champagne is on ice and I have the ring,” said Jayne.

“Good,” said Irene. “We don’t want to add to her nervousness.”

Jayne started to giggle. “Hard to believe such a beautiful woman could be worried that she’ll be turned down.”

“I don’t think that is what’s bothering her. She told me she wants to make sure tonight’s perfect,” said Irene. “Okay, here she is.”

Jayne looked up and gave a low whistle between her teeth. “They make a stunning couple.”

Willow was dressed simply in a peach sheath, which set off her delicate features and red hair to the full. Tara had on a low cut blue dress with a plunging back. More than a few patrons head’s were turned as the proprietor greeted them.

“Dr. Maclay, Ms Rosenberg please let me show you to your table,” said Irene leading them to a quiet table for two.

“Thank you,” said Tara.

*********************

Willow was just finishing her main course when she noticed Tara had stopped eating and was starring into space. “Are you okay? You’ve been very quiet tonight.”

“I’m f-fine,” said Tara.

“No, you’re not,” said Willow noticing Tara tense. “I can’t remember the last time you stuttered. Is it the new job?”

“M-maybe…”

“You’ll knock them dead. They’ll be lining up to go to lectures with the beautiful, new History professor,” said Willow reaching out to give Tara’s hand a reassuring squeeze.

Tara smiled and rubbed her fingers over the top of Willow’s hand “I love you. You always know the right things to say.”

Willow picked up Tara’s hand and brought it to her lips. “That’s easy when you fall in love with an angel,” she smiled as her lover started to blush.

“So a year of living with me hasn’t put you off?” asked Tara.

“No, every day seems to get better and I can’t wait ‘till we buy our first house together,” said Willow.

“It’ll be sad to move away from Giles,” said Tara.

“He can visit any times he wants, anyway I don’t think he thought it would take us a year to move out. It’s hard to believe where the time went to,” laughed Willow. “And we’ll be closer to Moira.”

“True,” said Tara.

“Hmm Tara, I have something to tell you,” said Willow.

“Oh-oh, that sounds ominous,” said the blonde.

“Not really,” said Willow. “I spoke to Moira today and finally decided to do it. With both your help, I’m going to start practicing magic again.”

This time it was Tara that squeezed her lover’s hand. “I’m so pleased. I know it’s going to be hard but I know you’ll succeed. I’m so proud of you.”

They looked into one another’s eyes lost for a moment. Then Tara turned her head and nodded to Jayne who stood waiting for the next signal. “I have something important to say as well. This time last year you left your friends in America to be with me.”

Willow went to speak but Tara gently placed a finger on her lips.

“Please Willow, let me finish. You asked me to marry you and I said wait a year and if you still feel the same then ask me. A year has past and it has been the happiest year of my life, so I think it’s me that it should be me who asks the woman who is my everything. Willow Rosenberg will you marry me?” asked Tara.

Willow sat back stunned her mouth open in surprise. Then a huge grin lit up the redhead’s pixie features. “Tara, I would marry you yesterday.”

The blonde gave a small wave to Jayne who nodded and a minute later had arrived at the table with the champagne and small box that she handed to Tara.

“I b-bought this ring, if you don’t like it…”

Willow opened the box Tara handed to her and inside it was delicate gold band set with an exquisite diamond. “It’s perfect and so are you,” with those words Willow reached across the table and captured Tara’s lips in a passionate kiss.

To Be Continued in the sequel- Take Comfort in Faith

These five words in my head scream "are we having fun yet?"

Chad Kroeger