Thirty-one hours of Glory research had netted a big, fat goose-egg of info.

“There must be something,” Tara called from the loft above them. She was examining some of the older tomes in Giles’ collection, and she leaned over the rail to drop another book into Willow’s waiting hands. “Someone, somewhere in time must have mentioned a Goddess like Glory after a key. The monks knew about her.”

“And the knights!” Anya chimed enthusiastically. “Those knight guys know about the Key.”

“But did they mention Glory?” Giles asked distractedly.

“You would figure a gaggle of men would be all over this ‘most-powerful-goddess-after-the-key’ thing,” Xander agreed. “She’s noticeable enough. Got those long legs and those eyes…”

Anya lowered the book she was reading to glare at him. “Are you saying she’s prettier than me?”

“No, no!” Xander exclaimed, rushing to make the save.

“He’s just saying,” Willow intercepted, trying to help, “That most men would be aware of a woman that, um, powerful.”

Anya shot Xander a suspicious ‘I’m-not-totally-buying-that-but-I’ll-let-it-slide’ look and resumed her reading. Xander let out the breath he’d been holding in relief and selected another book from the collection on the table.

“The fact that she’s wrapped up in an attractive package makes her all the more … noticeable. It’s the power *and* her looks…” Willow continued, not aware that Anya and Xander had moved past the moment of jealousy.

Tara stopped reading and peeked inquisitively from the loft at Willow, who had a small frown on her face. She hoped that meant that Willow was considering a new angle on Glory. Maybe the breakthrough they’d been looking for… After a few moments of silence and curious looks, Willow shook her head and caught them staring at her. “Oh, I’m sorry. I was just thinking about the attractive thing. Y’know, cuz I’m a lesbian now.”

“THAT’S IT!”

Xander exploded without warning. He jumped to his feet and slammed the book in front of him closed with a loud bang.

“What?!” Giles asked excitedly. “Glory--?”

“No! Not Glory! Willow! Gay Willow!” Xander exclaimed. The redhead looked up in confusion. “I’ve just had it with Willow and the lesbian-speak!”

“What!?” Willow asked, surprised. She too climbed to her feet and glared at Xander defiantly. “What are you talking about? You have a problem with me being a lesbian now?”

Both Tara and Anya rose to their feet, not sure where this was headed, but getting ready to intercept in the event of fisticuffs. Xander and Willow began to circle each other around the table, venom gathering in their expressions.

“You’re a lesbian now,” Xander began softly. “And we *get* it. Okay? We support that you want to love Tara, and we're okay with the gay thing. Honest. We completely know you’re into Tara. We know you love Tara. We like Tara. Hell, she's like my sister now. We love you. It’s all fine.”

Willow stopped circling and straightened in bewilderment. “Then why are you freaking out at me?”

“It’s the lesbian-talk!” he shouted in reply. “I’m a lesbian now. I’m a lesbian now,” he mimicked. “We know you’re a lesbian, Will. Let me tell you something. Lesbians don’t just stand around and proclaim their gayness all the time. They actually run around and *be* lesbians!”

Willow’s eyebrows bunched and she took on a hurt expression. “I’m with Tara--”

Xander didn’t wait for her to finish. "Then be with Tara and do the gay thing and just stop hammering us over the head with the ‘I’m gay now’ speech. Okay? The whole frickin’ world knows you’re gay now. I wouldn't be surprised if it's been broadcast on TV and covered in magazines across America.”

Willow seemed taken aback by his outburst. “I didn’t know you felt that way.”

“We all feel that way,” Anya replied. “Even Buffy and Giles. We were just being nice about it.” Giles cleared his throat and tried to appear invisible under Willow’s questioning gaze.

“Well, I’m sorry. I guess I can try to not mention it.” She sank into the chair that was formerly occupied by Xander before his wig out.

Xander sighed and patted her shoulder. “That’s all we’re asking.” He started to move away when something occurred to him. “One more thing. You’re not a lesbian, by definition.”

“What?!” Willow asked, snapping around to look at him.

“Well,” Xander opined. “According to your history, I think you’re bisexual. You were with Oz, and into the guy thing, and you were with me, and I *know* that you enjoyed that too.” Xander hurried past that point as Anya’s glared penetrated his back. “And now you love Tara, which is fine. It’s just that she happens to be a girl. That was what you kept telling us when we first found out, right?”

“That I love Tara as a person and she just happens to be a girl,” Willow echoed. “Yes, I guess I did.”

“Right. So, bisexual,” Xander proclaimed. “Just love who you love, and quit trying to label it so much.” Willow looked doubtful that it was that easy.

“You want to tell me you didn’t like the sex with Oz? The wild, passionate, animal love?” Xander questioned, pushing her.

Giles coughed and left the room quickly, mumbling something about tea. Tara sat down on the top stair to the loft and waited Willow’s reply. Even Anya moved around Xander to get a better look at Willow as she answered.

“Well, um,” Willow stammered. “It was a long time—“

“Bull-hockey!” Anya yelled, stepping forward in a fury. “You liked it at the time because you loved Oz!” Anya turned to Xander in frustration. “Why is she lying to herself like that?”

“I dunno Ahn.”

“You did love Oz then,” Tara said softly from her perch. “And now you love me, and you were capable of loving both of us, and being happy with both of us, so I guess Xander’s right.”

“Tara!” Willow protested, scarcely believing that her girlfriend was taking his side in this argument.

“Well, he was right about the talking thing,” Tara pointed out. “I’m gay too, but I don’t tell everyone all the time.”

An awkward silence settled over the room before Tara caught Xander eyes. They both laughed unexpectedly at the same time, breaking the tension in the room.

“Okay,” Willow giggled. “I went overboard in trying to prove that this wasn’t just some college-experimentation phase. I’ll try to *be* a lesbian and not talk so much.”

“Good,” Anya breathed. “Because it was getting harder and harder not to yell at you, and with all the politically correct drills Xander’s given me, I knew it was wrong to yell about you being a lesbian. I was afraid I was going to have to cast a tongue-removal spell.”

Willow fidgeted nervously, fully realizing that Anya probably still knew a few ways to do that.

“Well not everyone knows,” Willow pointed out. “So I may still mention it now and then.”

“Will, everyone who matters knows. Unless you start just telling complete strangers…” Xander trailed off with a grin.

“That’s not true!” Willow protested. “My Mom and Dad don’t know yet.” She caught Tara’s eyes over the group. “But they will soon.”

Xander sat back at the table and grabbed his book. “Good. Now, back to Glory, who is evil, dangerous, powerful, insane, and attractive, okay?”

Willow reached for a book as well, and flipped several pages in. Tara went back into the loft and Anya went to retrieve Giles now that the coast was clear for his British ears.

Xander watched Anya disappear into the back before he remarked casually, “Y'know, your father already knows.”

“My father knows?” Willow asked in a small voice, dropping her book. “You told him?”

Xander snorted. “I didn’t have to. Let’s face it Will. That ‘we’re trying on each other’s clothes’ excuse only flew so many times…”