I love the Buffy/Tara connection. And the Dawn/Tara connection.

Yes there's really this whole "sisterly" (Tara as metaphorical sister/ mother figure) connection of Joyce/Buffy/Dawn/Tara/Willow that runs around in a loop. Tara carries the role of "mother figure", the Mother Principle on her shoulders when the burden becomes to heavy for Buffy - it's no accident Joyce's photo is visible in DT. Or TTG. Buffy, the "Mother/Protector" to the entire world as well as Dawn literally, still sometimes needs a mother herself.

And Faith is in there as well a bit more distantly (the sister Slayer, and Tara seeing her energy in WAY). There's really a lot there when I begin to dig - or fanwank.

The Buffy/Willow connection drives the entire series.

*nods* Willow, "little sister" is the one who spurs Buffy to meet the Master in PG; then Dawn takes that role in the Gift. (I love the way the final scene of STSP parallels the Buffy& Willow scene in PG.)

have you written about this btw?

OT, I've responded to your OAFA poll but haven't in the comments and I will amend that soon.