All of her life, Willow Rosenberg has been an outsider. As a Jew she was unable to even celbrate Christmas, sneaking over to lifetime-friend Xander's house merely to watch A Charlie Brown Christmas each year. As a computer nerd she was picked on and often ignored. As a witch she has been persecuted. As a lesbian she is now even further separated.

Not that any of this ever weighed too heavily on Ms. Rosenberg's shoulders. She always made light of her predicament, finding joy in her group of close friends. Early in life, this was mostly just Xander.

She has loved Alexander Harris since childhood. They dated for a while - until he stole her Barbie. Oh, they were 5. Willow watched Xander lust after one woman after another - including Buffy Summers and long-time arch-enemy Cordelia Chase. For a time, Xander returned Willow's affections, but this was short-lived and had disastrous consequences for both.

A case could be made that this final let-down, coupled with her bad experiences with Oz, was the last factor in turning her to 'the other team' so to speak. After all, in Triangle she observes that she is "gay now" and no longer is attracted to men as once she was (thus hinting that her sexuality has altered - she had not always been gay).

In addition, being a constant outcast and finding herself often powerless as a Slayerette may have been the driving force toward Wicca. Despite advice of caution from Watcher Rupert Giles and boyfriend Oz, she delved further and further into witchcraft. Its power held an attraction for this once-geek that should be readily apparent. Her religious conversion is not too dissimilar, in fact, from Jonathan Levinson's spell of fame in Superstar.

Willow is very shy. She can play the piano, but refuses to do so in public. Her timidity even extends to having a fear of frogs! Her reserved nature is a trait she shares with girlfriend Tara McLay. The two, indeed, complement each other well.

Here's to our "Little Tree"!