A/N: Finally, this is the final chapter for 'The Aftermath'. It's been long, and I loved writing this story but the situations between this and AEM were getting similar. Which is why I wrote the final chapter the way I did; I hope you've all enjoyed reading as much as I have enjoyed writing this story. Cheers, and thank you.

Willow's Room, General O'Neill's Cabin, Silver Creek, 1700 hours; one and a half years later.

Willow stood in her blue wedding dress and smiled at her reflection on the full length mirror in front of her. As she thought about her alternate, Major Rosenberg, Captain Willow Rosenberg looked at her reflection and imagined everything that happened that led her to this point in her life.

She remembered her getting kidnapped by Riley, she remembered the rescue, and then everything that happened since then; the offer to attend the Air Force Academy, the peek into her alternate self's mind, and then there was her meeting with Tara. She still remembered the day she met her soon to be wife… it was as if it only happened yesterday for the redhead. Willow looked at her reflection and closed her eyes, she shut out the sounds of her parents, her friends, he colleagues; she shut out everyone a she remembered the first day she saw Tara… the day she walked into the Stevenson Hall lobby and noticed the blonde girl in the Wicca group. Willow remembered how she looked that day, the day they went for what Tara considered their very first date; and it was there that Willow differed with her wife.

That was the day a nervous Willow who was still smarting from her breakup with Oz, and her attempted kidnapping, and excited about accepting the offer to the Air Force Academy; that was the day that the redhead just counted as an outing with a girl she had met.. a girl who would become her future. No, Willow's memory of the first date they shared was a few days ago; a simple date of a movie, and then dinner.

Following which the redhead took Tara to the roof of Stevenson hall so that they could look up at the stars. That was the day Tara showed Willow the 'big pineapple', and 'the towers of cookies', in the night sky. That was the day that, as they were lying down on blankets, Tara and Willow looked at each other; and shared their first kiss; a kiss that brought memories of Oz as Willow pulled back almost immediately and apologized.

It wasn't the perfect kiss that Willow was looking for; but it was still a kiss.

Back in the present, Willow looked at herself and thought back to her days with Tara when she would visit her at the Academy. T hose were the best days of her time there; it was true that she loved the Academy, she loved the Air Force, and she loved being a part of something bigger… but having Tara next to her elevated everything to a high point that she couldn't reach on her own. It was then that a knock on the door threw Willow back to reality as she turned around and asked whoever it was to come in.

"Hey," said Cassie, and Dr. Fraiser who was right behind her, "we've just been to Tara's room and…"

"OH God," said Willow with a squeak in her voice, "she's terrified, isn't she? I mean she…"

"Relax," said Dr. Fraiser, in her dress blues, as she walked towards Willow as she waved her hands about, while Colonel Carter walked into the room in her dress blues as well, "I was just going to say that Tara looks beautiful."

"So does Willow," said the excited teenager who was already in her second year at John Hopkins University for her medical degree. The younger redhead started to fix Willow's dress while Dr. Fraiser was telling her to stop fussing. Willow smiled at the mother and daughter before she looked at Colonel Carter who was grinning at her.

"You look beautiful, Willow," said the Colonel as Willow thanked her, and then walked down from where she was standing and hugged the Colonel.

"Thank you for your support, ma'am," said Willow as she looked behind the Colonel, at the door to her room which opened slightly as Buffy, also in her dress blues, peeked her head in and grinned at the redhead, who signalled for her to come in.

"You always had my support, Willow," said Colonel Carter as Willow recalled the night that she and Tara revealed to the blonde officer the truth about herself.

"Ma'am?" asked Willow as she looked at the Colonel who had her mouth hanging open a year and a half ago. They were at a barbeque at General O'Neil's house when Willow and Tara pulled the blonde officer to the balcony, a bit of a distance away from the General who was grilling some steaks, and various other meat, "you alright?"

"So," said the Colonel as she pointed at Willow and Tara, "the both of you…. I mean…"

"We've been in a relationship for a while now and… and we wanted you to know, Sam," said Tara as the Colonel looked at her, and then at Willow. The both of them tried to look for some emotion on her face that would give a hint for what the blonde officer was thinking; and not even Tara could say what the Colonel was feeling since her aura was flashing wildly as she went through a variety of emotions; the only good thing was that Tara never felt that Colonel Carter was disgusted at the both of them.

"I… I love Tara and… and we've been hiding it and…" said Willow as the Colonel looked at her, "I mean… we were a couple in Sunnydale and… and since then… I mean she'd visit me at the Academy and I kept it a secret and.. and we'd do things in private and not at the SGC and… and now. I mean now you guys are like my family… our family and we wanted you to know."

"Does the General Know?" asked Colonel Carter who was still in surprise, that was the main thing that Tara could see from her aura.

"George and Jack found out on their own," said Tara, "so did Teal'c and Daniel."

"But don't be mad at them, ma'am," said Willow as she took a step forward, "we told them not to tell you cause, I mean… we didn't know if you were gonna be ok with us. I mean, technically back then we just started at the SGC and.. and now we've been together for a long time and… and.. please say something?"

"We were worried that you wouldn't approve," said Tara as she took a step forward and held Willow's hand tight, "we… we… love each other, Sam."

"You could have told me," said the Colonel as she took a step forward and put a hand on Willow and Tara's shoulders, and gave a small smile, "you said it yourselves, we're a family."

"I know," said Willow, "but I was scared you'd think we were freaks… or something."

"I don't," said Colonel Carter as Willow and Tara held their hands together with grins plastered on their faces, "I'm happy for the both of you."

"There's something else we need to tell you," said Tara as she let go of Willow's hand, and then grabbed a hold of Colonel Carter's hands before pulling her into the house. Willow chuckled before she leaned to her right and shouted at the General.

"You heard everything, didn't you, sir?" asked Willow.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Red," said the General with a grin as he poured some beer over the steak.

"Sir," said Willow as she ran over to the man and grabbed his hand, "there's something Tara and I would like to say."

"About?" asked the General confused.

"All of us, together," said the redhead as she looked at the General and then back over her shoulder at Tara who was already in the house, waving them in. Willow looked at the General again and pulled him into the house from the balcony while the man told everyone that if the meat was burnt, it would be Willow's fault.

Willow then suddenly hugged a surprised General, before whispering in his ear, "thank you for everything, sir."

Willow then pulled back, and smiled at a surprised General before she let him go and walked over to where Tara was standing, and stood next to her; holding their hands together. Willow and Tara looked at Daniel, Teal'c, Buffy, Colonel Carter, General O'Neill, Cassie, and Dr. Fraiser who were all seated in front of them wondering what was going on. Willow and Tara then looked at each other, the blonde nodding her head at the redhead.

"I know that all of you know that… that I love Tara," said Willow as she looked at everyone as Daniel drunkenly raised his glass and said, "hear, hear."

Tara and Willow chuckled when Buffy leaned forward and grabbed the drink from Daniel's hand before telling him that he was already getting tipsy. She then handed it to General O'Neill who drank it before putting the empty glass on the coffee table.

"And we know that Sam was the last to find out about us," said Tara as Colonel Carter raised her hands and chuckled while everyone else was clapping. When the clapping stopped, Tara and Willow stepped closer together and placed their hands on each other's backs, "we've been together for a long time."

"And I gave her a lot of near heart attacks," said Willow, "I died, I was cloned and lost my memory, then I was frozen… and… and all that time Tara stayed with me."

"She has," said Teal'c as he nodded his head.

"Tara is my everything," said Willow as she looked at the blonde witch while Buffy leaned forward and grinned, knowing what the both of them were going to do. While Buffy knew what was about to happen, the others looked at each other confused, and then back at the couple standing in front of them, "she is my present, and my future."

"Willow?" asked Daniel who suddenly appeared sober while he leaned forward as Tara waved her hand over the redhead's left hand, and the over her own left hand. Where there was once nothing on their fingers, now there were bands of silver with two small diamonds around their fingers as Cassie stood up and gasped before she jumped excitedly and then went to hug Willow and Tara.

"Tara proposed," said Willow as she teared up while hugging Cassie. It was then that Dr. Fraiser got up and rushed to hug Tara before telling the both of them that they had a lot of things to do.

"Oh, yeah," said Buffy as she got up and grinned at the two of t hem while Colonel Carter walked to Willow and gave her a tight hug. IN the meantime, General O'Neill nudged Buffy before whispering.

"You knew about this?" he asked.

"Tara proposed when we went to Sunnydale the last time," said Buffy, "the day I handed the Scythe to Faith?"

"Oh," said the General as the women looked at the rings while Daniel was hugging Willow, and Tara was hugging Teal'c.

"Congratulations," said another voice as everyone turned around to find a blonde woman in a white dress standing in front of the kitchen counter.

"Momma," said Tara as she rushed towards her mother, and then hugged her; the older woman telling Tara that she was proud of her.

Back in the present day, Willow remembered all of the various questions that Colonel Carter, Daniel, and General O'Neill had for Sarah Maclay; however, she wasn't able to answer any questions. Although she did stay for dinner once General O'Neill asked her to stay; and the woman then began flirting with Daniel much to Tara's laughter… especially when she told Daniel that she was there when Oma sent him back down to Vis Uban.

"Oh," said Daniel as he understood what she meant by that; as did Colonel Carter and the others, except for Cassie who was confused as to why everyone was laughing while Daniel's face turned red.

Back in Willow's room, the Colonel told Willow that everything was ready; that everyone was seated and waiting for the both of them.

"Your parents are right outside," said the Colonel, "and Sarah's right outside Tara's room while your mother.. I mean Melina, is talking to her."

Willow nodded her head as she recalled the day that they had to fight Colonel Carter's replicator duplicate. And it wasn't just her, Replicarter wanted the frequency to the Anti-Replicator weapon, and she tricked the SGC into allowing her to examine it in a ruse… she said that she wanted to destroy Fifth since she was his slave. Little did they know that the blood from Willow and Buffy that fell on Fifth's ship would be used for the infiltration of their copies; copies that not only grew out from Replicarter's body… but copies that led to the destruction of the Alpha Site. With copies that were stronger than the originals, Colonel Carter ordered a retreat of the base's skeleton crew through the Stargate. Buffy and Willow did everything possible to hold off their duplicates, while Tara used her magic to hold Replicarter in place once they had used the previous frequency from the Anti-Replicator weapon to destroy Fifth's ship… however, soon after that… the Ancient weapon was not effective since Replicarter made herself, replicator-Buffy, and replicator-Willow immune. The Colonel had set-up the new naquadria reactors in the Alpha Site to overload, effectively destroying the base and anything still in it to nothingness. She took the Ancient weapon and ran, with Buffy, Willow, Teal'c, and Tara close behind.. the blonde witch pushing them back using her magic. And if replicator Buffy did manage to get close, the real Buffy would grab her before throwing her with all her strength into replicator-Willow.

It wasn't too long before everyone had left the Alpha site, leaving just Colonel Carter, Willow, Buffy, Teal'c, and Tara in the Gateroom as the door to the room was locked shut. However, they could hear the three replicators punching through the several inches of steel… and it was replicator Buffy that ripped her fist through the steel door first.

"I'm a much better Slayer than you, Buffy," shouted Replicator Buffy, "I can never die… I can't…"

"Oh, shut up," shouted Captain Buffy Summers before she, Tara, and Teal'c ran through the Stargate to Earth with the Ancient weapon. In the meantime, the Colonel grabbed the hard disks while wiping out the rest of the data.. and Willow set the self-destruct to a two-minute countdown.

"Willow!" shouted replicator Willow as she looked through the hole that replicator Buffy had punched through, "you are not better than me… sweetheart. You want to…"

"Oh, shut up," said Willow and the Colonel together as they stood near the gate, with Willow using her telekinesis to keep the door shut just as Replicarter, Repli-Buffy, and Repli-Willow punched more holes through the steel door. Willow then looked at the timer on the computer that was facing them that read thirty seconds left; so the redhead pushed the Colonel through the gate just as the three replicators used their combined strength, and pushed the steel door down. Willow fired energy blasts, as well as used her telekinesis to knock back the three of them while still looking at the clock.

It was five seconds left.

"Ta-ta," said Willow as she ran and jumped through the gate just as there was a bright white light. Willow remembered hitting the ramp hard as Colonel Carter shouted at Walter to raise the shield, and then close the Iris… which was heated to unbelievable temperatures thanks to the energy that travelled through the wormhole from the naquadria explosion.

An explosion that they knew had destroyed everything, something which they confirmed by using the Prometheus to run scans over the former Alpha Site. A few months after that, there was the battle over Dakara where Ba'al publically lost to the Jaffa fleet which had two Asgard vessels and the Prometheus helping them. With the defeat of Ba'al, the Jaffa now knew that the Goa'uld were not gods… and more started to fall; Amaterasu, Bastet, and more of the system lords would fall over the next few months while others went into hiding having lost their armies… and thus, their power.

With all of that over, there was one more thing that needed to be done.

The Wedding of Willow and Tara.

And here it was, back in the present that Willow found herself alone again; General Carter, who both the redhead and Tara had used their combined powers to heal after Selmak died, said his hello's to Willow before he told the blonde officer that Pete kept on calling his phone… even after she broke up with him. The break up came as a welcome surprise to Willow, Tara, and Buffy… with the blonde witch offering to turn him into a toad if the Colonel wanted it. With Buffy, Dr. Fraiser, Cassie, and the others all gone out to the outside of the cabin; Ira Rosenberg peeked his head inside the room and smiled at Willow.

"You look beautiful, Willow," said Ira as he smiled, "we're right out here when you're ready."

Willow saw a light at the corner of her eyes, and smiled while telling Ira to give her a few minutes to take a few deep breathes. HE then looked over his shoulder as Sheila peeked in and said that Tara looked absolutely beautiful.

"I'll be right out," said Willow with a smile as the two Rosenberg's closed the door behind them. Willow then looked to her left at the ball of light which started to grown, and eventually formed into a smiling Melina who walked towards her daughter before holding her tight in a hug.

"I am so happy for you, Athena," said the ascended woman as she pulled back slightly and looked down at her daughter, "I have seen Tara as well, and spoken to her. I am proud of the both of you."

"Thanks," said Willow as Melina caressed her cheek, "I just wish father was here."

"I believe he knows," said Melina with a smile as she leaned forward and kissed her cheeks, "there are others who wish to see you be united with Tara, they will be outside… as will I. You have made me so proud, Athena."

"I love you, mother," said Willow as she hugged Melina, "I love you so much."

"As do I," said Melina as she whispered into Willow's ear, "now, you must go.. Tara awaits."

Melina siled and vanished; and then Willow took a deep breath before she headed towards the door. She opened it to find her father and mother standing still; Sheila then held onto Willow's right hand, while Ira held onto the redhead's left hand as they walked through the hallway, and then left to the front door where Willow looked at the guests who were standing; guests in both civilian clothes and dress blues. She walked out of the door as she glanced at Faith and Amy together, then Anya and Xander holding hands; she then saw Giles who gave her a wide smile, Cordelia, Spike, and Angel. Willow then saw a pregnant Joyce dabbing her eyes with Jayden by her side, and Jay in Dawn's arms while standing next to Buffy. The redhead saw Walter, Teal'c, Daniel, General O'Neil, Siler, General Carter, Colonel Carter... all standing as they looked at her... and then at the sight that Willow was now looking at. A blonde vision in cream white dress with Sarah by her side, and the redhead's heart started beating. As she walked towards Tara, there was a warmth that went through Willow's body that made her stop, and then slowly look to her left.

There was Melina smiling at her from the cabin's porch, a sight that only she and Tara could see. Willow then continued to walk while occasionally glancing back at the porch, and now there were three more old friends standing there; bowing their heads in respect to the redhead and her wife.

Janus, Melia, and Ganos Lal… old friends from Atlantis were there to be with her on this important day. The four of them bowed their heads at Tara, who could see them, as well before nodding their heads at Sarah who smiled at them before she looked at her daughter, and held her hand.

And then the ceremony started.

It would be six months later that Atlantis called for aid, they were being attacked by Wraith that were being kept at bay thanks to the Ancient energy weapons that were fitted onto the city; weapons sent through the Stargate thanks to a ZPM that was recovered from Egypt, with the Daedalus sent to the Pegasus galaxy soon after. It was another six months later that one Vala Mal Doran called on the to the SGC. It was following the handover to of the SGC to the new base commander, General Landry; with preceded the transfer of Colonel Carter to Stargate Research and Development at Area 51, the resignation of Teal'c so that he could help build a new government for the new Free Jaffa Nation, and the new leader of SG-1 had taken control and managed to keep Daniel, who was scheduled to go to Atlantis, around for one last adventure.

Or that's what Daniel thought at least.

Thanks to Vala's trickery, SG-1, which now included Tara, and the temporary return of Teal'c due to unforeseen complications, again with Vala, headed to Glastonbury Tor where they had found a huge cavern. It was the place where Willow fought with a knight, and then activated the long lost treasure of Avalon. And among that treasure was an item that SG-1, and some archaeologists from the SGC, would find a few hours later.

A very familiar item… an item that the alternate Willow had warned Captain Rosenberg about.

The purple, oval shaped object with a crystal on top.

Willow and the other looked at each other; Willow had already warned then about the Ori… and there was no way that anyone them were going to risk using that device. And to prevent anyone else from using it, Willow, Daniel, and Colonel Mitchell fired their Zats multiple times at it until it was de-atomised.

There was no way that they were going to allow the same things that happened in Major Rosenberg's reality with the arrival of the Ori happen in their own. No way.

And now their future was open.

And Willow was going to help her team prevent any other dangers to their home.

THE END.