[fic] something to talk about pt 9
Jun. 3rd, 2011 07:05 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
leonhart_17Title: Something to Talk About pt IX
Rating: PG/PG-13
Disclaimer: Not mine, don't sue...
Summary: "Mama, how come I don't have any brothers or sisters?" The simple question was enough to make Willow and Faith choke simultaneously...
"Mama, how come I don't have any brothers or sisters?" The simple question was enough to make Willow and Faith choke simultaneously, their daughter's eyes widening comically at her parents' reaction.
Faith managed to clear her throat first and she reached over to slap her partner on the back helpfully. "What made you think about that, baby?" she asked breathlessly, brown eyes wide and frantic. She realized what word she'd used, the familiar pet name that she only ever used on their little girl, and she started coughing hard as Willow offered her a glass of juice while she tried to settle her own breathing.
Joy shrugged, giving her parents both concerned looks. "Just curious," she said slowly. "You didn't want more kids?"
Willow swallowed hard, exchanging looks with Faith before she answered. "You know it stays so busy around here, and we never really talked about having more kids…"
"When you get such a great one on the first go," Faith offered, giving a grin that looked strained.
Joy rolled her eyes at her mother, poking at her breakfast. "Thanks, Mama, but those reasons don't sound real."
Willow met Faith's eyes, both of them at a loss for what to say. "Do you want a brother or sister?" Willow asked tentatively.
Joy shrugged again. "I don't know. I mean, I know how you found me, and…"
"We…" Willow started to interject. Joy didn't remember any of it, but they'd been honest with her about her origins as soon as she was old enough to ask and understand, never lied to her, but reiterated that they were her parents and loved her no matter how she'd come into their lives.
"I know, Mommy," Joy said quickly, letting Willow take her free hand on the table. "And I know you don't just find kids and bring them home every day."
"You stole your Mama's heart," Willow said, giving Faith a smile across the table as the Slayer's hand touched her leg out of sight. "That doesn't happen every day." Faith shook her head silently, though her eyes were still panicky.
"But I know you're a mega-witch," Joy continued, eyes on her parents. "If you wanted to have your own kid, I know you could…"
"You are our kid," Faith chimed in at that.
"I didn't mean it like that, Mama," Joy reassured her. "You could have more kids. Kids that look like you," she said, her voice teasing. Despite their lack of blood relation, Joy bore a startling resemblance to her brunette parent.
Faith smirked, Joy ducking her mother's swatting hand. Then the Slayer's eyes settled on her partner and she cleared her throat. "You really could do that?" she asked curiously. "More kids?"
"What?" Willow yelped helplessly, surprised by the inquiry. "I mean, I could, but Faith…" She paused as Joy laughed. "What brought this up, again?" she asked, pinning her gaze on her daughter.
"Aunt Buffy and Uncle Xander were joking about you two not wanting kids back in the day," Joy confessed, smirking at her parents. "So I wondered if that's why you never had any more."
Willow met Faith's eyes, neither speaking. It was true that they'd never anticipated having children, had even laughed about it, but neither of them regretted changing their minds when they'd met Joy, the silent child stealing their hearts before she'd ever spoken a word to them. "Will?" Faith asked hesitantly, not sure what she wanted as an answer.
"Whoa, no! I'm not making this decision!" Willow protested. "Do you want to talk about it?" she asked, looking at Faith directly.
"I don't know," the Slayer answered, shrugging. "Kids is a big deal," she hedged.
"Which is probably why we didn't talk about it until Joy dropped into our laps," Willow conceded, eyes shooting across to their daughter, the eight year old watching with a wide grin on her face. "We were never big on the responsible side of things," she reminded her girlfriend with a laugh.
"Getting married," Joy coughed, patting her chest unconvincingly when Faith sent her a narrow look. She knew perfectly well why her parents weren't married, but knew just as well how much they loved each other.
Faith looked back at Willow, the redhead rolling her eyes patiently. "Keep it up and see if you get a sibling," the witch teased back, sticking her tongue out.
"Real mature, Mom," Joy replied even as she poked her tongue between her lips.
Faith sighed impatiently, drawing Willow's attention back to her with a squeeze of her knee. "Do you want to have another kid? Be pregnant?" They both knew without discussion that Faith wouldn't be the one to carry a baby, the Slayer's role too dangerous and unpredictable to even think of it. "And, hypothetically, how would this happen, anyway?"
Joy shot up from her seat. "I'm too little to know this!" she declared, clapping both hands over her ears and bolting for the back door. "Bones!" she yelled, the old dog rising from his spot at the base of the stairs to slowly follow her outside.
Willow and Faith were left staring at each other at the kitchen table, neither speaking. The witch broke the gaze first, standing up and starting to clear away the breakfast dishes. She ignored the fact that neither she nor Faith had touched theirs since Joy had asked her question.
Faith watched her from the table, swallowing hard as she tried to imagine it - a little kid that looked like some combination of them, Willow's brains and her own stubborn guts paired with her eyes and the redhead's dimples and freckles. She didn't even notice when the grin broke out on her face. "Oh shit," she muttered under her breath as she recognized the goofy expression on her face.
Willow was distracting herself with dishes and she sucked in a surprised breath as Faith's arms curled around her suddenly. "Seriously?" she asked, unable to help smiling herself. "You want a baby?"
Faith shrugged against her back, chin on her lover's shoulder. "What do you want?"
Willow sighed, glancing down at Faith's hand moving over her stomach, tried to imagine her body swollen with a child. It was easier to picture than she'd expected and she shivered as she was overwhelmed with a sudden longing. "Oh shit," she echoed her girlfriend's assessment, taking a deep breath.
"It's not crazy, is it?" Faith asked. "It feels less crazy than it used to."
Willow grinned, leaning back against her. "We have been parents for a few years now," she pointed out with a laugh. "Are we seriously considering this? Or is this some kind of reactionary thing because our daughter challenged us to have another kid?"
Faith thought it over before she spoke but she couldn't shake the image of the child with her eyes and Willow's features. "It could be fun," she admitted, voice low.
Willow leaned her head back against the Slayer's shoulder, looking up at her. "You've obviously never taken care of a newborn before. No sleep, lots of crying, big mess…"
"We deal with all of that in our day jobs anyway," Faith joked, holding her breath. "Will, I think I want another kid. I think I want a baby."
Willow didn't speak immediately, turning in Faith's arms to meet her eyes. She scanned her partner's face, searching for something she wasn't even sure about. There was uncertainty in the Slayer's gaze, but not doubt, and the love that she knew only she and Joy ever saw in Faith's eyes. Willow had a sudden flash of the expression on Faith's face when she watched Joy sleep as a small child and it took her breath away. "Okay," she breathed softly. "Want to try for kid number two?"
Faith's eyes widened and her mouth dropped open in surprise. "Wait, it's not going to hurt you or anything, is it?"
Willow leaned back against the Slayer's hands on her back, a smile on her mouth. "I've heard labor is rough, yeah…" She knew that wasn't what Faith meant, but she hoped the joke would help her girlfriend relax. "No, sweetie. It's not going to hurt me, or do anything drastic to you either," she assured her, giggling at the relief that swept over Faith's expression. "It's actually surprisingly simple."
"Well, what do I have to do?" Faith questioned.
Willow thought for a moment, the spell she'd need already floating through her mind. "Um, nothing different, really," she answered, looping both arms around the Slayer's neck.
"It's not like some deal where you're just pregnant all of a sudden, is it?" Faith asked, brow furrowing. "Like tomorrow?"
The witch shook her head. "No. I can give you all the dirty details if you want them, but I really don't think you do," she advised. "But I'll do the spell and afterward we'll be able to get pregnant the same way anyone else does."
Faith blinked, eyes wide. "So I'll basically be knocking you up," she realized. "And how does this not do anything to me? Because I don't really figure on being your boyfriend all of a sudden."
Willow rolled her eyes, head shaking from side to side. "It's not like that," she said quickly. "Believe me, I have no desire to have you be my boyfriend either! Just trust me that you don't want to know the details here." Faith looked doubtful and Willow chewed on her lip. "Trust me," she repeated.
"You're sure there's not going to be anything weird…"
"We, two women, are talking about having a baby without any kind of man involvement," Willow reminded her.
"So I should just go with the weird?" Faith realized.
"Unless you want to ask Xander for some…"
"No!" Faith cut her off loudly. "Don't even say that!" She shuddered, sticking her tongue out in obvious disgust.
Willow laughed, amused. "Of the two of us, you're the one who slept with him," she teased. "I just kissed him a few times."
"Stop it!" Faith said, letting her go to cover her ears with her hands. "No guy or his stuff is touching you."
Willow was giggling, her shoulders trembling with her mirth, and she whooped loudly as Faith suddenly planted her shoulder in the witch's stomach and stood up, leaving the redhead laughing over her shoulder while the Slayer's arms held the back of her knees.
"You're so weird," Joy chimed in suddenly as she appeared in the doorway, staring at her parents.
Willow peeked around Faith's leg and grinned at their daughter. "Everybody's parents are weird," she agreed dryly.
"Doubt it," Joy responded. "I'm just lucky."
"You really are," Faith said with a wink, not appearing to notice that she still had Willow slung over her shoulder.
"Why do you have Mom up like that?" Joy asked pointedly. "Or is this another thing I'm way too young to know about?"
Willow giggled again. "Mama's feeling kind of territorial today."
Joy just gave them a blank look and shook her head. "I don't know what that means." Faith slapped her free hand to Willow's butt and the girl threw both hands into the air. "And now I wish I didn't! I'm going to Aunt Buffy's house!"
"Look both ways before you cross the street! And dinner's at seven," Willow called, unable to stop herself from laughing. "Buffy and Xander are welcome to come!"
The screen door slapped into place behind her as Joy beat a retreat, Faith starting to laugh herself. "Too much?" she asked cheerfully as she shifted them two steps to the right so she could watch Joy cross the road through the kitchen window.
"Put me down, you cavewoman," Willow requested, catching her breath as her girlfriend set her back on her feet. Their eyes met and they both started laughing again, breathless with some new feeling. Neither one wanted to put a name to it, but it felt good and Faith curled an arm around Willow's waist and pulled her closer.
Willow could feel the same need to be closer to her lover, both hands coming to rest on the Slayer's chest. "Hey," she breathed into the quiet as they calmed down. "Are we really doing this?"
Faith nodded, looking surprisingly confident. "Yeah. Just…one thing?" Willow cocked a questioning eyebrow, nodding. "Could we keep it quiet, you know, that we're trying? At least till we know something…"
"Of course," Willow agreed immediately. "We don't have to tell anyone anything…" She cocked her head and let her body lean into Faith's knowing that the Slayer wouldn't let her slip. "Will you do one thing for me?"
Faith's head bobbed up and down easily. "Name it," she requested.
"Kiss me."
The Slayer's eyebrows lifted in surprise, not expecting the simple request. "I think I can do better than that," she said, curling her arms tighter around the witch's thin waist and leaning back to lift her off her feet. She kissed her as they moved, Willow smiling against her lips as her lover carried her toward the stairs.
*****
Faith always woke up if Willow got out of bed. Willow could toss and turn all she wanted and the Slayer wouldn't stir, but as soon as her weight shifted off the bed, Faith was awake and alert. So when the witch bolted from their bed to throw up, Faith was quick on her heels. "Will, babe, what's wrong?" she questioned even as she held her lover's hair back.
Willow continued to heave even after her dinner was gone, Faith rubbing her hand gently across the witch's back. Finally, she regained control of her stomach and slumped back on the floor, breathing hard and lightly sweating. "Water?" she croaked weakly, grateful when Faith crouched down with the cup.
"You okay?" Faith questioned anxiously. "Will…"
The witch shrugged, gulping down her water. "It's either food poisoning, or…"
It took Faith a moment to realize what Willow wasn't saying, and the Slayer sank to the floor beside her. "Whoa…" She looked a little like she was going to be sick herself, and Willow curled her legs up in case her girlfriend needed to lean over her to the toilet. "Is it… could it have happened so quick?" she asked, glancing sideways at the side of Willow's head. "I mean, it's only been a month."
Willow tried to think, work out the timing, but her head was pounding and she couldn't make her brain work. "I can't…I don't know." She was watching her hands in her lap, fingers playing with the short hem of the shorts she slept in. "If it is, you know…are you freaked?" she asked hesitantly, not looking over at her girlfriend.
Faith swallowed hard as she sensed her partner's need for reassurance. "Honestly, yeah," she breathed without thinking. Willow flinched beside her and the Slayer was quick to nudge her with an elbow, drawing her eyes. "But not because I don't want it, Will. I want this kid. Don't ever doubt that, okay?" She took a deep, shuddering breath. "Anyone who thinks they're having a kid and says it doesn't freak the hell out of them is a liar, though," she declared hoarsely.
Willow smiled, relieved, and let herself slump against the Slayer's shoulder. She curled her arm through Faith's, rolling her girlfriend's fingers between her own. "What are you thinking?" she asked softly.
"I'm thinking that if you're already pregnant that I'm damn good," Faith said, grinning when Willow swatted her arm. "I'm thinking that you're amazing," she said earnestly.
"And if it's not…if it's just food poisoning, or just me getting sick…" Willow reminded her.
Faith shrugged gently, her shoulder moving beneath the red head. "You're still amazing," she declared, voice soft. "And if you're sick, we'll get down on this floor every night until you're feeling better."
Willow giggled softly, tracing the lines in Faith's palm. The Slayer's hands were rough, but it wasn't something she noticed normally. In spite of the calluses, Faith's touch could be outstandingly soothing and gentle. Of course, they were also capable of great force and violence, but that was the side that Willow saw less. At the top of her mind whenever she thought of her partner's hands were always memories of pleasure and comfort rather than the pain she knew rationally that they inflicted more often. She tried to imagine Faith holding a baby, the anxiety she knew the Slayer would feel. She knew there would be nowhere safer in the world for a child than those hands, though.
"And if it's a baby?"
Faith sighed, leaning her head against the top of Willow's head. "And if it's a baby, then that's awesome," she whispered. "But if it hasn't happened yet, then we'll just keep trying like we have been."
Willow grinned, squeezing the fingers in her grip before she dragged the hand up to kiss the fingertips. "I'd be okay with that," she admitted, hoping that she wasn't hurting the Slayer's feelings if she admitted that not being pregnant yet wouldn't upset her personally.
Faith nodded. "Yeah," she agreed. "It's been fun, right?"
Willow laughed until it made her gag, leaning to heave over the toilet quickly as Faith released her. The Slayer had water waiting for her as she leaned back, Faith pulling Willow back into her arms and brushing sweaty hair back from her face. "It's always fun," Willow said, voice hoarse but soft.
"What?" Faith wondered, confused by the statement.
Willow slumped back against her partner. "You and me, making a baby. It's always fun," she clarified.
"Oh. Good to know," Faith said, unable to help a proud grin crossing her face. "How are you doing, babe? Still going to be sick?"
"I think it's passed," Willow admitted. "Just let me brush my teeth and we can go back to bed…"
She started to push herself to her feet, but Faith's arms held her firm, the Slayer scooping her up easily. "I've got you, Will," Faith said, chuckling as she stood up with the witch safely in her arms. She set the witch gingerly on her feet, lingering at her side while Willow brushed her teeth and slipping her arms beneath her knees once she was finished, lifting her back into her grasp.
"I can walk," Willow protested softly even as her head snuggled into Faith's shoulder. The Slayer was slow and careful, watching her girlfriend cautiously as she put her down in their bed, but the witch seemed settled, relaxing into the sheets.
"Sorry you're awake," Willow apologized. "I know you were out late."
"I can't sleep once you get out of bed," Faith reminded her.
Willow smiled tiredly, fingers trailing over Faith's wrist. "It's really uncanny how you do that, actually."
Faith grinned, kissing Willow on the forehead as she slid back into bed. She hesitated before she reached for the redhead though, afraid that their normal sleep position of big spoon and little spoon would upset the witch's sensitive stomach. "Are you going to be able to go back to sleep?" she asked instead, curling one arm behind her head.
"Not unless you get your arm around me," Willow said around a yawn, voice slow.
Faith conceded, curling up into Willow's back and slipping her arm across the redhead's waist. On the rare nights that Faith was asleep before Willow came to bed she fell asleep on her side, lower arm outstretched across the bed to guide Willow into her. Nights Willow was in bed first, she would face Faith's side of the bed and sleep restlessly until the Slayer joined her and coaxed her into her arms. But any night they came to bed together, regardless of what took place between going to bed and going to sleep, the position they drifted off in didn't change - Faith as the big spoon. The sides of the bed never wavered, Faith sleeping nearer the door to keep herself between Willow and any potential danger, even in their sleep.
By the next day they had determined that it wasn't morning sickness that had driven Willow from bed, but an outbreak of food poisoning from some bad eggs sold at the local supermarket. They threw the rest of the carton away, both taking an unconscious sigh of relief. They'd decided to have a baby, but neither one of them wanted to admit that having it happen so quickly would have freaked them out.
Buffy let herself in as their eyes met, both of them able to see the relief in their partner's face. "Hey!" the blonde said, chipper. "Good morning." She helped herself to a spoonful of Willow's cereal, giving them both a scrutinizing look. "Everything okay?" she asked, her tone concerned.
"Will's a bit sick, or something," Faith said, resting her hand on her girlfriend's shoulder.
"Food poisoning?" Buffy guessed knowingly. Willow and Faith exchanged looks and the blonde frowned. "What? It pretty much has to be, right? It's like an epidemic. I saw it on the news." The couple swapped glances again, and Buffy shrugged. "It's not like it could be morning sickness or anything," she pointed out jokingly, her head turning just in time to miss her friends' looks of wide-eyed panic.
"Right," Willow croaked. "It was the eggs."
"Mom's sick?" Joy questioned as she joined them, giving her aunt an absent-minded high five in greeting.
Willow shook her head, clearing her throat. "I'm okay. I was just a little sickly last night."
"Well, Joy, you're welcome to hang out with me today if you guys want to do barfy couple stuff to make Will feel better," Buffy offered with a wink toward her best friend.
"What a sweet offer," Willow commented dryly, rolling her eyes. "But I'm feeling better, mostly."
Faith hesitated, shrugging. "Maybe you should stay home today," she suggested. Her girlfriend shot her a look and she lifted both hands quickly. "You're just a little pale is all. And they said on the news that it's a pretty nasty bug…"
Willow gaped at her, confused. "And what are you going to be doing today since I'm so sick?" she asked pointedly, lifting an eyebrow at her Slayer.
"We were going to knock out a vamp nest," Faith said slowly, getting a nod from Buffy.
"Not with our daughter, you're not!" Willow disagreed flatly.
"Oh yeah," Faith realized, shrugging. "Joy, what do you want to do?"
"I want to kill vampires!" the little girl announced hopefully, slumping as both of her parents shook their heads. "Then can I practice with Aunt Buffy? I won't go near any vampires!"
Buffy gave them a reassuring nod. "We won't go near any vamps," she promised. "Faith, we can knock out the nest some other day."
"I'm really not feeling bad enough for so much consideration," Willow insisted. Joy sent her a frustrated look, though, and she shrugged. "But of course you're still free to spend the day with your aunt," she reassured her daughter. She touched her girlfriend's arm to draw her eyes. "And you're welcome to go kill a vamp nest. I know those are your favorites. Just don't take Joy."
Faith gave her an unconvinced glance and Willow kissed her quickly on the cheek. "Will…"
"Trust me," Willow said, curling her arm through Faith's. "I'm sure I'll be asleep on the couch soon enough. And I don't want either of my girls to be bored waiting on me."
"Thanks Mom," Joy said with a grin, jumping on the opening.
Faith shook her head, though. "Babe…"
"Joy, I never thought I'd see this day," Buffy said cheerfully, slinging an arm around her niece. Faith and Willow sent her simultaneous looks and the blonde smirked at her counterpart. "Faith Lehane, former bad-ass Slayer, now whipped girlfriend."
Willow rolled her eyes, but glanced up at her partner's clenched jaw and patted her shoulder gently. "Now you have to go," she said, standing on her toes to kiss Faith's cheek. "You girls have fun." She pointed firmly at Buffy and Joy. "But no vampires!"
"Promise," the pair said in unison. "And I hope you feel better," Buffy added, giving her friend a smile and getting a sarcastic eye roll in return. "Ready to go?" she asked, turning her gaze to her niece.
The little girl's head bobbed and she looked across the kitchen at her parents. "Mama, you coming?"
Faith didn't speak, throat bobbing as she swallowed. "Not this time," she answered finally, meeting Buffy's eyes. "I'm going to stay home and look after Mom today."
Joy looked up at her aunt, Buffy winking down at her and sending the little girl bolting across the room to hug Faith. "I thought you two were past giving each other a hard time over me," Willow commented quietly, pulling herself into a chair at the table.
"I was giving her a hard time," Buffy admitted. "But I'm actually proud of her." She grinned as she watched Faith and Joy together. "She's come a long way if she won't let me bully her into going out to train."
Willow swatted her friend's wrist, sighing. "I'm really okay. She can go."
Buffy shrugged, her grin turning on her best friend. "She wants to take care of you. Let her do it."
"I do. You're the one picking on her about it," the witch countered. "I'd ask you to apologize, but I know that's not going to happen."
"Some things change, but some never will," Buffy agreed.
"I'll take what I can get, then," Willow said, smiling unconsciously as she watched her family interact.
Buffy laughed, hugging Willow's shoulders with one arm. "Me and Faith as a pair might never change, but she has. You've got her."
"That's what I meant," Willow confirmed, breaking into a grin as Faith spotted her watching from across the room. "Be careful." She said it every time Buffy or Faith went out, and twice when Joy was with them.
"Got it," Buffy agreed, already smiling as she waited for the repetition.
"Be very careful," Willow said clearly, looking up at her friend.
"We always are," Buffy promised, leaning over impulsively to kiss the top of Willow's head. "Now you just relax and let Faith take care of you and I'll take care of Joy. Oh, and how about this - if you're up for it we'll pick up some stuff for dinner so you don't have to worry about it."
"Sounds good, Buff," Willow agreed with a yawn. "Thanks."
"Okay," Faith announced as she appeared at Willow's other side. "Mom's tired. You guys go on," she instructed, waving them out. Buffy followed Joy out, smirking but she refrained from saying anything. "Let's get you lying down," Faith said, leaning down to slip one arm under her lover's legs while the other curled around her shoulders.
"Ooh, I like when you say that," Willow said, flirting.
Faith blinked as she lifted her girlfriend easily and carried her toward the couch. "Are you okay?" she asked in concern.
"Are you okay?" Willow countered, petulant now. "That was pretty okay flirting for a sick person and you didn't give me anything!"
"Babe, I think you're not as good as you say you are," Faith said as she carefully deposited the witch on the sofa. She realized what she'd said just as Willow shoved her hard. It didn't upset her balance, but she caught her girlfriend's swatting hands before the witch tried again and pitched herself off the couch. "I mean you're sick!" she protested, holding both freckled wrists in one hand as she reached up to check Willow's forehead. The redhead squirmed away from her, pouting, and Faith grumbled under her breath. "You need to sit still, hon."
"You said…!"
Faith cut her off with a kiss, capturing her lips firmly, and Willow's eyes were wide when the Slayer let her go. "I did not mean that you're not good," she breathed. "I meant…" Her hand caught the distracted witch's forehead. "You have a fever, Will." She could only stare as tears welled up in her partner's green eyes. "And you're maybe a little mood-swingy," Faith suggested hesitantly.
"What? No, I'm not!" Willow denied even as tears broke and rolled down her cheeks. "And if I'm so sick, why'd you kiss me?" she demanded.
"That's what I'm saying," Faith said, huffing in frustration. "I don't know if you are sick." She licked her lips, feeling her heart pounding in her chest. "I don't think I can catch what you have."
The alternative to food poisoning managed to sink through Willow's overwrought mind and she sniffled, squirming one of her hands free to test her own fever. "You don't think I'm sick?" she questioned, tears in her eyes again as she met Faith's gaze. The Slayer was on her knees next to the couch and she settled her weight back on her heels without speaking. Then her hand released Willow's wrists to palm her stomach, fingers sliding underneath the witch's t-shirt without hesitation.
Willow's breath hissed between her teeth at the contact, eyes closing helplessly as Faith's fingers moved slowly over her overly warm skin. Her own hand found the edge of her shirt and pulled it up, appreciating the cool air as well as Faith's light caress. Her fingers grazed to find her lover's wrist, but she didn't remove her hand, just let the Slayer's touch wander where it would, able to feel Faith's pulse pounding away in her wrist.
"I saw your face earlier, when we heard about the food poisoning on the news," Willow broke the silence, her eyes not opening. "You were relieved." It wasn't an accusation, just an observation.
"So were you," Faith pointed out, voice hoarse. Willow could hear her move closer to the couch, felt the heat of her body as Faith leaned over her. "We're allowed to be freaked out by this," she whispered. "Aren't we? I mean, that doesn't make us bad parents, does it?"
Willow could hear the edge of panic in her lover's voice, and she smiled, still without opening her eyes. "I think Joy proves pretty definitely that we're not bad parents," she stated, voice soft and affectionate.
"This is a different kid! It's a whole new opportunity to screw it up!" Faith protested. "And, God, this kid is going to have my genes! We're in so much trouble here! How could we think this was a good idea!" she demanded. "How did you let me talk you into this? You're supposed to be the smart one! Why'd you let me do this to you?"
Willow reached up blindly with her free hand, trailing her touch soothingly over the side of the Slayer's neck and tracing lines over her brows and nose. "Shh," she breathed, hoping to calm her down. "You're panicking, sweetie. Everything is going to be fine." Finding the back of her girlfriend's neck, she pulled her down for a soft kiss. "Let's talk this out, okay? Our kids, Joy and any other ones we might have, are so lucky to have you for a mother, Faith. And I for one can't wait to see a little version of you running around here," Willow said, soft smile becoming a grin.
"Oh God," Faith moaned, thinking of herself as a child. "We're so screwed!"
"Hush! That's my baby you're talking about," Willow chided her, shaking her head while she slipped her fingers to cover her girlfriend's lips. "This was a great idea, and I agreed to it because I love you and want to have another baby with you," she continued addressing Faith's panicked points. "What was next?" she asked, trying to think. "Was that it?"
Faith took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "Thanks," she breathed finally, picking Willow's hand off her mouth. "I appreciate you talking me down, but it would be more believable if you'd actually looked at me once this whole time," she complained, muttering the last bit.
"I thought I was the mood-swingy one," Willow said, eyes still closed.
"Why won't you look at me?" Faith asked, ignoring her lover's teasing. "Still nauseous?" Willow's head rocked from side to side in a negative. "Well, then what is it?"
The witch's eyelids fluttered and she smiled as she met the worried chocolate eyes above her. "It feels good," she said vaguely, tightening her fingers briefly around the Slayer's wrist to give her a clue. Faith only realized then that her hand was still tracing invisible patterns on Willow's flat stomach. "Tickles a little," the witch continued, her voice growing slow and drowsy.
Faith shifted her weight so that she could lean over the redhead's tummy, her hand swirling around Willow's bellybutton. It got her the giggle she knew it would, Willow's knee twitching against the back of the couch. Faith leaned over to press her forehead against Willow's abdomen, kissing the skin lightly before she turned her head to put her ear down.
"What are you…?" Willow asked in surprise, giggling even as her hand rose to comb through Faith's hair.
"Shh, I'm trying to listen," Faith whispered.
Willow laughed harder. "You can't hear a baby, hon!"
"You don't know I can't!" Faith denied. "I have superpowers, remember?"
"You do have many skills and talents, my love, but no one can hear a baby inside a pregnant woman," Willow insisted, voice soft as she played with Faith's hair absently. "And it might just be food poisoning," she reminded her gently. "Which kind of makes what you're doing a little gross."
Faith was quiet and Willow sucked in a breath as the Slayer's fingers trailed over her ribs. "I hope it's not just food poisoning." Faith's confession was quiet, but Willow heard it clearly. And in spite of having one ear pressed firmly against flesh, Faith heard the redhead's agreement easily.
[part 10 here]
Rating: PG/PG-13
Disclaimer: Not mine, don't sue...
Summary: "Mama, how come I don't have any brothers or sisters?" The simple question was enough to make Willow and Faith choke simultaneously...
"Mama, how come I don't have any brothers or sisters?" The simple question was enough to make Willow and Faith choke simultaneously, their daughter's eyes widening comically at her parents' reaction.
Faith managed to clear her throat first and she reached over to slap her partner on the back helpfully. "What made you think about that, baby?" she asked breathlessly, brown eyes wide and frantic. She realized what word she'd used, the familiar pet name that she only ever used on their little girl, and she started coughing hard as Willow offered her a glass of juice while she tried to settle her own breathing.
Joy shrugged, giving her parents both concerned looks. "Just curious," she said slowly. "You didn't want more kids?"
Willow swallowed hard, exchanging looks with Faith before she answered. "You know it stays so busy around here, and we never really talked about having more kids…"
"When you get such a great one on the first go," Faith offered, giving a grin that looked strained.
Joy rolled her eyes at her mother, poking at her breakfast. "Thanks, Mama, but those reasons don't sound real."
Willow met Faith's eyes, both of them at a loss for what to say. "Do you want a brother or sister?" Willow asked tentatively.
Joy shrugged again. "I don't know. I mean, I know how you found me, and…"
"We…" Willow started to interject. Joy didn't remember any of it, but they'd been honest with her about her origins as soon as she was old enough to ask and understand, never lied to her, but reiterated that they were her parents and loved her no matter how she'd come into their lives.
"I know, Mommy," Joy said quickly, letting Willow take her free hand on the table. "And I know you don't just find kids and bring them home every day."
"You stole your Mama's heart," Willow said, giving Faith a smile across the table as the Slayer's hand touched her leg out of sight. "That doesn't happen every day." Faith shook her head silently, though her eyes were still panicky.
"But I know you're a mega-witch," Joy continued, eyes on her parents. "If you wanted to have your own kid, I know you could…"
"You are our kid," Faith chimed in at that.
"I didn't mean it like that, Mama," Joy reassured her. "You could have more kids. Kids that look like you," she said, her voice teasing. Despite their lack of blood relation, Joy bore a startling resemblance to her brunette parent.
Faith smirked, Joy ducking her mother's swatting hand. Then the Slayer's eyes settled on her partner and she cleared her throat. "You really could do that?" she asked curiously. "More kids?"
"What?" Willow yelped helplessly, surprised by the inquiry. "I mean, I could, but Faith…" She paused as Joy laughed. "What brought this up, again?" she asked, pinning her gaze on her daughter.
"Aunt Buffy and Uncle Xander were joking about you two not wanting kids back in the day," Joy confessed, smirking at her parents. "So I wondered if that's why you never had any more."
Willow met Faith's eyes, neither speaking. It was true that they'd never anticipated having children, had even laughed about it, but neither of them regretted changing their minds when they'd met Joy, the silent child stealing their hearts before she'd ever spoken a word to them. "Will?" Faith asked hesitantly, not sure what she wanted as an answer.
"Whoa, no! I'm not making this decision!" Willow protested. "Do you want to talk about it?" she asked, looking at Faith directly.
"I don't know," the Slayer answered, shrugging. "Kids is a big deal," she hedged.
"Which is probably why we didn't talk about it until Joy dropped into our laps," Willow conceded, eyes shooting across to their daughter, the eight year old watching with a wide grin on her face. "We were never big on the responsible side of things," she reminded her girlfriend with a laugh.
"Getting married," Joy coughed, patting her chest unconvincingly when Faith sent her a narrow look. She knew perfectly well why her parents weren't married, but knew just as well how much they loved each other.
Faith looked back at Willow, the redhead rolling her eyes patiently. "Keep it up and see if you get a sibling," the witch teased back, sticking her tongue out.
"Real mature, Mom," Joy replied even as she poked her tongue between her lips.
Faith sighed impatiently, drawing Willow's attention back to her with a squeeze of her knee. "Do you want to have another kid? Be pregnant?" They both knew without discussion that Faith wouldn't be the one to carry a baby, the Slayer's role too dangerous and unpredictable to even think of it. "And, hypothetically, how would this happen, anyway?"
Joy shot up from her seat. "I'm too little to know this!" she declared, clapping both hands over her ears and bolting for the back door. "Bones!" she yelled, the old dog rising from his spot at the base of the stairs to slowly follow her outside.
Willow and Faith were left staring at each other at the kitchen table, neither speaking. The witch broke the gaze first, standing up and starting to clear away the breakfast dishes. She ignored the fact that neither she nor Faith had touched theirs since Joy had asked her question.
Faith watched her from the table, swallowing hard as she tried to imagine it - a little kid that looked like some combination of them, Willow's brains and her own stubborn guts paired with her eyes and the redhead's dimples and freckles. She didn't even notice when the grin broke out on her face. "Oh shit," she muttered under her breath as she recognized the goofy expression on her face.
Willow was distracting herself with dishes and she sucked in a surprised breath as Faith's arms curled around her suddenly. "Seriously?" she asked, unable to help smiling herself. "You want a baby?"
Faith shrugged against her back, chin on her lover's shoulder. "What do you want?"
Willow sighed, glancing down at Faith's hand moving over her stomach, tried to imagine her body swollen with a child. It was easier to picture than she'd expected and she shivered as she was overwhelmed with a sudden longing. "Oh shit," she echoed her girlfriend's assessment, taking a deep breath.
"It's not crazy, is it?" Faith asked. "It feels less crazy than it used to."
Willow grinned, leaning back against her. "We have been parents for a few years now," she pointed out with a laugh. "Are we seriously considering this? Or is this some kind of reactionary thing because our daughter challenged us to have another kid?"
Faith thought it over before she spoke but she couldn't shake the image of the child with her eyes and Willow's features. "It could be fun," she admitted, voice low.
Willow leaned her head back against the Slayer's shoulder, looking up at her. "You've obviously never taken care of a newborn before. No sleep, lots of crying, big mess…"
"We deal with all of that in our day jobs anyway," Faith joked, holding her breath. "Will, I think I want another kid. I think I want a baby."
Willow didn't speak immediately, turning in Faith's arms to meet her eyes. She scanned her partner's face, searching for something she wasn't even sure about. There was uncertainty in the Slayer's gaze, but not doubt, and the love that she knew only she and Joy ever saw in Faith's eyes. Willow had a sudden flash of the expression on Faith's face when she watched Joy sleep as a small child and it took her breath away. "Okay," she breathed softly. "Want to try for kid number two?"
Faith's eyes widened and her mouth dropped open in surprise. "Wait, it's not going to hurt you or anything, is it?"
Willow leaned back against the Slayer's hands on her back, a smile on her mouth. "I've heard labor is rough, yeah…" She knew that wasn't what Faith meant, but she hoped the joke would help her girlfriend relax. "No, sweetie. It's not going to hurt me, or do anything drastic to you either," she assured her, giggling at the relief that swept over Faith's expression. "It's actually surprisingly simple."
"Well, what do I have to do?" Faith questioned.
Willow thought for a moment, the spell she'd need already floating through her mind. "Um, nothing different, really," she answered, looping both arms around the Slayer's neck.
"It's not like some deal where you're just pregnant all of a sudden, is it?" Faith asked, brow furrowing. "Like tomorrow?"
The witch shook her head. "No. I can give you all the dirty details if you want them, but I really don't think you do," she advised. "But I'll do the spell and afterward we'll be able to get pregnant the same way anyone else does."
Faith blinked, eyes wide. "So I'll basically be knocking you up," she realized. "And how does this not do anything to me? Because I don't really figure on being your boyfriend all of a sudden."
Willow rolled her eyes, head shaking from side to side. "It's not like that," she said quickly. "Believe me, I have no desire to have you be my boyfriend either! Just trust me that you don't want to know the details here." Faith looked doubtful and Willow chewed on her lip. "Trust me," she repeated.
"You're sure there's not going to be anything weird…"
"We, two women, are talking about having a baby without any kind of man involvement," Willow reminded her.
"So I should just go with the weird?" Faith realized.
"Unless you want to ask Xander for some…"
"No!" Faith cut her off loudly. "Don't even say that!" She shuddered, sticking her tongue out in obvious disgust.
Willow laughed, amused. "Of the two of us, you're the one who slept with him," she teased. "I just kissed him a few times."
"Stop it!" Faith said, letting her go to cover her ears with her hands. "No guy or his stuff is touching you."
Willow was giggling, her shoulders trembling with her mirth, and she whooped loudly as Faith suddenly planted her shoulder in the witch's stomach and stood up, leaving the redhead laughing over her shoulder while the Slayer's arms held the back of her knees.
"You're so weird," Joy chimed in suddenly as she appeared in the doorway, staring at her parents.
Willow peeked around Faith's leg and grinned at their daughter. "Everybody's parents are weird," she agreed dryly.
"Doubt it," Joy responded. "I'm just lucky."
"You really are," Faith said with a wink, not appearing to notice that she still had Willow slung over her shoulder.
"Why do you have Mom up like that?" Joy asked pointedly. "Or is this another thing I'm way too young to know about?"
Willow giggled again. "Mama's feeling kind of territorial today."
Joy just gave them a blank look and shook her head. "I don't know what that means." Faith slapped her free hand to Willow's butt and the girl threw both hands into the air. "And now I wish I didn't! I'm going to Aunt Buffy's house!"
"Look both ways before you cross the street! And dinner's at seven," Willow called, unable to stop herself from laughing. "Buffy and Xander are welcome to come!"
The screen door slapped into place behind her as Joy beat a retreat, Faith starting to laugh herself. "Too much?" she asked cheerfully as she shifted them two steps to the right so she could watch Joy cross the road through the kitchen window.
"Put me down, you cavewoman," Willow requested, catching her breath as her girlfriend set her back on her feet. Their eyes met and they both started laughing again, breathless with some new feeling. Neither one wanted to put a name to it, but it felt good and Faith curled an arm around Willow's waist and pulled her closer.
Willow could feel the same need to be closer to her lover, both hands coming to rest on the Slayer's chest. "Hey," she breathed into the quiet as they calmed down. "Are we really doing this?"
Faith nodded, looking surprisingly confident. "Yeah. Just…one thing?" Willow cocked a questioning eyebrow, nodding. "Could we keep it quiet, you know, that we're trying? At least till we know something…"
"Of course," Willow agreed immediately. "We don't have to tell anyone anything…" She cocked her head and let her body lean into Faith's knowing that the Slayer wouldn't let her slip. "Will you do one thing for me?"
Faith's head bobbed up and down easily. "Name it," she requested.
"Kiss me."
The Slayer's eyebrows lifted in surprise, not expecting the simple request. "I think I can do better than that," she said, curling her arms tighter around the witch's thin waist and leaning back to lift her off her feet. She kissed her as they moved, Willow smiling against her lips as her lover carried her toward the stairs.
*****
Faith always woke up if Willow got out of bed. Willow could toss and turn all she wanted and the Slayer wouldn't stir, but as soon as her weight shifted off the bed, Faith was awake and alert. So when the witch bolted from their bed to throw up, Faith was quick on her heels. "Will, babe, what's wrong?" she questioned even as she held her lover's hair back.
Willow continued to heave even after her dinner was gone, Faith rubbing her hand gently across the witch's back. Finally, she regained control of her stomach and slumped back on the floor, breathing hard and lightly sweating. "Water?" she croaked weakly, grateful when Faith crouched down with the cup.
"You okay?" Faith questioned anxiously. "Will…"
The witch shrugged, gulping down her water. "It's either food poisoning, or…"
It took Faith a moment to realize what Willow wasn't saying, and the Slayer sank to the floor beside her. "Whoa…" She looked a little like she was going to be sick herself, and Willow curled her legs up in case her girlfriend needed to lean over her to the toilet. "Is it… could it have happened so quick?" she asked, glancing sideways at the side of Willow's head. "I mean, it's only been a month."
Willow tried to think, work out the timing, but her head was pounding and she couldn't make her brain work. "I can't…I don't know." She was watching her hands in her lap, fingers playing with the short hem of the shorts she slept in. "If it is, you know…are you freaked?" she asked hesitantly, not looking over at her girlfriend.
Faith swallowed hard as she sensed her partner's need for reassurance. "Honestly, yeah," she breathed without thinking. Willow flinched beside her and the Slayer was quick to nudge her with an elbow, drawing her eyes. "But not because I don't want it, Will. I want this kid. Don't ever doubt that, okay?" She took a deep, shuddering breath. "Anyone who thinks they're having a kid and says it doesn't freak the hell out of them is a liar, though," she declared hoarsely.
Willow smiled, relieved, and let herself slump against the Slayer's shoulder. She curled her arm through Faith's, rolling her girlfriend's fingers between her own. "What are you thinking?" she asked softly.
"I'm thinking that if you're already pregnant that I'm damn good," Faith said, grinning when Willow swatted her arm. "I'm thinking that you're amazing," she said earnestly.
"And if it's not…if it's just food poisoning, or just me getting sick…" Willow reminded her.
Faith shrugged gently, her shoulder moving beneath the red head. "You're still amazing," she declared, voice soft. "And if you're sick, we'll get down on this floor every night until you're feeling better."
Willow giggled softly, tracing the lines in Faith's palm. The Slayer's hands were rough, but it wasn't something she noticed normally. In spite of the calluses, Faith's touch could be outstandingly soothing and gentle. Of course, they were also capable of great force and violence, but that was the side that Willow saw less. At the top of her mind whenever she thought of her partner's hands were always memories of pleasure and comfort rather than the pain she knew rationally that they inflicted more often. She tried to imagine Faith holding a baby, the anxiety she knew the Slayer would feel. She knew there would be nowhere safer in the world for a child than those hands, though.
"And if it's a baby?"
Faith sighed, leaning her head against the top of Willow's head. "And if it's a baby, then that's awesome," she whispered. "But if it hasn't happened yet, then we'll just keep trying like we have been."
Willow grinned, squeezing the fingers in her grip before she dragged the hand up to kiss the fingertips. "I'd be okay with that," she admitted, hoping that she wasn't hurting the Slayer's feelings if she admitted that not being pregnant yet wouldn't upset her personally.
Faith nodded. "Yeah," she agreed. "It's been fun, right?"
Willow laughed until it made her gag, leaning to heave over the toilet quickly as Faith released her. The Slayer had water waiting for her as she leaned back, Faith pulling Willow back into her arms and brushing sweaty hair back from her face. "It's always fun," Willow said, voice hoarse but soft.
"What?" Faith wondered, confused by the statement.
Willow slumped back against her partner. "You and me, making a baby. It's always fun," she clarified.
"Oh. Good to know," Faith said, unable to help a proud grin crossing her face. "How are you doing, babe? Still going to be sick?"
"I think it's passed," Willow admitted. "Just let me brush my teeth and we can go back to bed…"
She started to push herself to her feet, but Faith's arms held her firm, the Slayer scooping her up easily. "I've got you, Will," Faith said, chuckling as she stood up with the witch safely in her arms. She set the witch gingerly on her feet, lingering at her side while Willow brushed her teeth and slipping her arms beneath her knees once she was finished, lifting her back into her grasp.
"I can walk," Willow protested softly even as her head snuggled into Faith's shoulder. The Slayer was slow and careful, watching her girlfriend cautiously as she put her down in their bed, but the witch seemed settled, relaxing into the sheets.
"Sorry you're awake," Willow apologized. "I know you were out late."
"I can't sleep once you get out of bed," Faith reminded her.
Willow smiled tiredly, fingers trailing over Faith's wrist. "It's really uncanny how you do that, actually."
Faith grinned, kissing Willow on the forehead as she slid back into bed. She hesitated before she reached for the redhead though, afraid that their normal sleep position of big spoon and little spoon would upset the witch's sensitive stomach. "Are you going to be able to go back to sleep?" she asked instead, curling one arm behind her head.
"Not unless you get your arm around me," Willow said around a yawn, voice slow.
Faith conceded, curling up into Willow's back and slipping her arm across the redhead's waist. On the rare nights that Faith was asleep before Willow came to bed she fell asleep on her side, lower arm outstretched across the bed to guide Willow into her. Nights Willow was in bed first, she would face Faith's side of the bed and sleep restlessly until the Slayer joined her and coaxed her into her arms. But any night they came to bed together, regardless of what took place between going to bed and going to sleep, the position they drifted off in didn't change - Faith as the big spoon. The sides of the bed never wavered, Faith sleeping nearer the door to keep herself between Willow and any potential danger, even in their sleep.
By the next day they had determined that it wasn't morning sickness that had driven Willow from bed, but an outbreak of food poisoning from some bad eggs sold at the local supermarket. They threw the rest of the carton away, both taking an unconscious sigh of relief. They'd decided to have a baby, but neither one of them wanted to admit that having it happen so quickly would have freaked them out.
Buffy let herself in as their eyes met, both of them able to see the relief in their partner's face. "Hey!" the blonde said, chipper. "Good morning." She helped herself to a spoonful of Willow's cereal, giving them both a scrutinizing look. "Everything okay?" she asked, her tone concerned.
"Will's a bit sick, or something," Faith said, resting her hand on her girlfriend's shoulder.
"Food poisoning?" Buffy guessed knowingly. Willow and Faith exchanged looks and the blonde frowned. "What? It pretty much has to be, right? It's like an epidemic. I saw it on the news." The couple swapped glances again, and Buffy shrugged. "It's not like it could be morning sickness or anything," she pointed out jokingly, her head turning just in time to miss her friends' looks of wide-eyed panic.
"Right," Willow croaked. "It was the eggs."
"Mom's sick?" Joy questioned as she joined them, giving her aunt an absent-minded high five in greeting.
Willow shook her head, clearing her throat. "I'm okay. I was just a little sickly last night."
"Well, Joy, you're welcome to hang out with me today if you guys want to do barfy couple stuff to make Will feel better," Buffy offered with a wink toward her best friend.
"What a sweet offer," Willow commented dryly, rolling her eyes. "But I'm feeling better, mostly."
Faith hesitated, shrugging. "Maybe you should stay home today," she suggested. Her girlfriend shot her a look and she lifted both hands quickly. "You're just a little pale is all. And they said on the news that it's a pretty nasty bug…"
Willow gaped at her, confused. "And what are you going to be doing today since I'm so sick?" she asked pointedly, lifting an eyebrow at her Slayer.
"We were going to knock out a vamp nest," Faith said slowly, getting a nod from Buffy.
"Not with our daughter, you're not!" Willow disagreed flatly.
"Oh yeah," Faith realized, shrugging. "Joy, what do you want to do?"
"I want to kill vampires!" the little girl announced hopefully, slumping as both of her parents shook their heads. "Then can I practice with Aunt Buffy? I won't go near any vampires!"
Buffy gave them a reassuring nod. "We won't go near any vamps," she promised. "Faith, we can knock out the nest some other day."
"I'm really not feeling bad enough for so much consideration," Willow insisted. Joy sent her a frustrated look, though, and she shrugged. "But of course you're still free to spend the day with your aunt," she reassured her daughter. She touched her girlfriend's arm to draw her eyes. "And you're welcome to go kill a vamp nest. I know those are your favorites. Just don't take Joy."
Faith gave her an unconvinced glance and Willow kissed her quickly on the cheek. "Will…"
"Trust me," Willow said, curling her arm through Faith's. "I'm sure I'll be asleep on the couch soon enough. And I don't want either of my girls to be bored waiting on me."
"Thanks Mom," Joy said with a grin, jumping on the opening.
Faith shook her head, though. "Babe…"
"Joy, I never thought I'd see this day," Buffy said cheerfully, slinging an arm around her niece. Faith and Willow sent her simultaneous looks and the blonde smirked at her counterpart. "Faith Lehane, former bad-ass Slayer, now whipped girlfriend."
Willow rolled her eyes, but glanced up at her partner's clenched jaw and patted her shoulder gently. "Now you have to go," she said, standing on her toes to kiss Faith's cheek. "You girls have fun." She pointed firmly at Buffy and Joy. "But no vampires!"
"Promise," the pair said in unison. "And I hope you feel better," Buffy added, giving her friend a smile and getting a sarcastic eye roll in return. "Ready to go?" she asked, turning her gaze to her niece.
The little girl's head bobbed and she looked across the kitchen at her parents. "Mama, you coming?"
Faith didn't speak, throat bobbing as she swallowed. "Not this time," she answered finally, meeting Buffy's eyes. "I'm going to stay home and look after Mom today."
Joy looked up at her aunt, Buffy winking down at her and sending the little girl bolting across the room to hug Faith. "I thought you two were past giving each other a hard time over me," Willow commented quietly, pulling herself into a chair at the table.
"I was giving her a hard time," Buffy admitted. "But I'm actually proud of her." She grinned as she watched Faith and Joy together. "She's come a long way if she won't let me bully her into going out to train."
Willow swatted her friend's wrist, sighing. "I'm really okay. She can go."
Buffy shrugged, her grin turning on her best friend. "She wants to take care of you. Let her do it."
"I do. You're the one picking on her about it," the witch countered. "I'd ask you to apologize, but I know that's not going to happen."
"Some things change, but some never will," Buffy agreed.
"I'll take what I can get, then," Willow said, smiling unconsciously as she watched her family interact.
Buffy laughed, hugging Willow's shoulders with one arm. "Me and Faith as a pair might never change, but she has. You've got her."
"That's what I meant," Willow confirmed, breaking into a grin as Faith spotted her watching from across the room. "Be careful." She said it every time Buffy or Faith went out, and twice when Joy was with them.
"Got it," Buffy agreed, already smiling as she waited for the repetition.
"Be very careful," Willow said clearly, looking up at her friend.
"We always are," Buffy promised, leaning over impulsively to kiss the top of Willow's head. "Now you just relax and let Faith take care of you and I'll take care of Joy. Oh, and how about this - if you're up for it we'll pick up some stuff for dinner so you don't have to worry about it."
"Sounds good, Buff," Willow agreed with a yawn. "Thanks."
"Okay," Faith announced as she appeared at Willow's other side. "Mom's tired. You guys go on," she instructed, waving them out. Buffy followed Joy out, smirking but she refrained from saying anything. "Let's get you lying down," Faith said, leaning down to slip one arm under her lover's legs while the other curled around her shoulders.
"Ooh, I like when you say that," Willow said, flirting.
Faith blinked as she lifted her girlfriend easily and carried her toward the couch. "Are you okay?" she asked in concern.
"Are you okay?" Willow countered, petulant now. "That was pretty okay flirting for a sick person and you didn't give me anything!"
"Babe, I think you're not as good as you say you are," Faith said as she carefully deposited the witch on the sofa. She realized what she'd said just as Willow shoved her hard. It didn't upset her balance, but she caught her girlfriend's swatting hands before the witch tried again and pitched herself off the couch. "I mean you're sick!" she protested, holding both freckled wrists in one hand as she reached up to check Willow's forehead. The redhead squirmed away from her, pouting, and Faith grumbled under her breath. "You need to sit still, hon."
"You said…!"
Faith cut her off with a kiss, capturing her lips firmly, and Willow's eyes were wide when the Slayer let her go. "I did not mean that you're not good," she breathed. "I meant…" Her hand caught the distracted witch's forehead. "You have a fever, Will." She could only stare as tears welled up in her partner's green eyes. "And you're maybe a little mood-swingy," Faith suggested hesitantly.
"What? No, I'm not!" Willow denied even as tears broke and rolled down her cheeks. "And if I'm so sick, why'd you kiss me?" she demanded.
"That's what I'm saying," Faith said, huffing in frustration. "I don't know if you are sick." She licked her lips, feeling her heart pounding in her chest. "I don't think I can catch what you have."
The alternative to food poisoning managed to sink through Willow's overwrought mind and she sniffled, squirming one of her hands free to test her own fever. "You don't think I'm sick?" she questioned, tears in her eyes again as she met Faith's gaze. The Slayer was on her knees next to the couch and she settled her weight back on her heels without speaking. Then her hand released Willow's wrists to palm her stomach, fingers sliding underneath the witch's t-shirt without hesitation.
Willow's breath hissed between her teeth at the contact, eyes closing helplessly as Faith's fingers moved slowly over her overly warm skin. Her own hand found the edge of her shirt and pulled it up, appreciating the cool air as well as Faith's light caress. Her fingers grazed to find her lover's wrist, but she didn't remove her hand, just let the Slayer's touch wander where it would, able to feel Faith's pulse pounding away in her wrist.
"I saw your face earlier, when we heard about the food poisoning on the news," Willow broke the silence, her eyes not opening. "You were relieved." It wasn't an accusation, just an observation.
"So were you," Faith pointed out, voice hoarse. Willow could hear her move closer to the couch, felt the heat of her body as Faith leaned over her. "We're allowed to be freaked out by this," she whispered. "Aren't we? I mean, that doesn't make us bad parents, does it?"
Willow could hear the edge of panic in her lover's voice, and she smiled, still without opening her eyes. "I think Joy proves pretty definitely that we're not bad parents," she stated, voice soft and affectionate.
"This is a different kid! It's a whole new opportunity to screw it up!" Faith protested. "And, God, this kid is going to have my genes! We're in so much trouble here! How could we think this was a good idea!" she demanded. "How did you let me talk you into this? You're supposed to be the smart one! Why'd you let me do this to you?"
Willow reached up blindly with her free hand, trailing her touch soothingly over the side of the Slayer's neck and tracing lines over her brows and nose. "Shh," she breathed, hoping to calm her down. "You're panicking, sweetie. Everything is going to be fine." Finding the back of her girlfriend's neck, she pulled her down for a soft kiss. "Let's talk this out, okay? Our kids, Joy and any other ones we might have, are so lucky to have you for a mother, Faith. And I for one can't wait to see a little version of you running around here," Willow said, soft smile becoming a grin.
"Oh God," Faith moaned, thinking of herself as a child. "We're so screwed!"
"Hush! That's my baby you're talking about," Willow chided her, shaking her head while she slipped her fingers to cover her girlfriend's lips. "This was a great idea, and I agreed to it because I love you and want to have another baby with you," she continued addressing Faith's panicked points. "What was next?" she asked, trying to think. "Was that it?"
Faith took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "Thanks," she breathed finally, picking Willow's hand off her mouth. "I appreciate you talking me down, but it would be more believable if you'd actually looked at me once this whole time," she complained, muttering the last bit.
"I thought I was the mood-swingy one," Willow said, eyes still closed.
"Why won't you look at me?" Faith asked, ignoring her lover's teasing. "Still nauseous?" Willow's head rocked from side to side in a negative. "Well, then what is it?"
The witch's eyelids fluttered and she smiled as she met the worried chocolate eyes above her. "It feels good," she said vaguely, tightening her fingers briefly around the Slayer's wrist to give her a clue. Faith only realized then that her hand was still tracing invisible patterns on Willow's flat stomach. "Tickles a little," the witch continued, her voice growing slow and drowsy.
Faith shifted her weight so that she could lean over the redhead's tummy, her hand swirling around Willow's bellybutton. It got her the giggle she knew it would, Willow's knee twitching against the back of the couch. Faith leaned over to press her forehead against Willow's abdomen, kissing the skin lightly before she turned her head to put her ear down.
"What are you…?" Willow asked in surprise, giggling even as her hand rose to comb through Faith's hair.
"Shh, I'm trying to listen," Faith whispered.
Willow laughed harder. "You can't hear a baby, hon!"
"You don't know I can't!" Faith denied. "I have superpowers, remember?"
"You do have many skills and talents, my love, but no one can hear a baby inside a pregnant woman," Willow insisted, voice soft as she played with Faith's hair absently. "And it might just be food poisoning," she reminded her gently. "Which kind of makes what you're doing a little gross."
Faith was quiet and Willow sucked in a breath as the Slayer's fingers trailed over her ribs. "I hope it's not just food poisoning." Faith's confession was quiet, but Willow heard it clearly. And in spite of having one ear pressed firmly against flesh, Faith heard the redhead's agreement easily.
[part 10 here]
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Date: 2011-06-04 04:01 am (UTC)And you're preying with my emotions. Pregnant Willow is too beautiful to even think of. This was another delightful chapter, thank you.
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Date: 2011-06-04 01:57 pm (UTC)Aww, yay! I wasn't sure what people were going to think of the pregnancy storyline...or is it food poisoning? ;) Well, thank you for reading it! I'm glad you're still enjoying this!
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Date: 2011-06-04 04:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-06-04 02:00 pm (UTC)