North and South...and West
by Rin
Can't Help Lovin' Dat 'Man'
[reviews]
A/N: I forgot about this story completely, which surprises me b/c it's one of my favorites I've done! I have so much more story to tell here, and somebody brought it to my attention, and I couldn't resist. So, I found my notes, and voila! I'll try to remember now.
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Buffy escorted Mrs. Grant into the house, as they removed their bonnets and shawls. The weather had started to get warmer as summer approached but there was still a nip in the air. Making their way to the kitchen, Buffy noticed the female servants fanning themselves, and looking guilty as she passed them.
"Will insisted on stayin' home today, somethin' about conditionin'. I hope everything is alright." Buffy continued her path to the kitchen, as Mrs. Grant followed. "Tara is not well, so I'll see about making us some tea, Mrs. Grant."
"Please, please, Buffy. I've asked you time and time again to call me Julia." Mrs. Grant patted Buffy's upper arm, as they made their way into the kitchen. Tara was there, staring out the window, almost in a daze.
"Everything all right, Tara? I thought you would be in bed." Buffy was relieved that Tara hadn't started bulging to the point of showing yet, so they could still pass Buffy off as the pregnant one.
"Huh? Oh, yes, yes, Mrs. Rosenberg. All is well." Tara turned around, and hid her eyes behind her hair, shame and guilt written all over her face. "I'll...uh, I'll retire back there now."
"Okay, get better." Buffy eyed her suspiciously, and made her way to the sink. Out the window, she could see what Tara was staring at, and couldn't blame her. Willow had built a contraption in the backyard, and was using the steel bar to pull herself up repeatedly. Chin-ups would be the best way to describe it, the redhead's feet never touching the ground. Buffy could see the sweat pouring from Willow's brow, and running down her shirt (which she must've tripled to avoid the wet from showing off her breasts). Her sleeves were rolled up over her elbows, and her hair was slicked back from the sweat. Buffy found herself salivating.
"Oh my. You truly are a lucky girl." Mrs. Grant was fanning herself, too. "Such a gorgeous young man your Will is. I wish I could talk Sam into keeping toned like that."
"Yes, well...um...tea?" Buffy fanned herself a little, and made her way to the cupboard.
"Maybe some iced tea would be more appropriate now." Mrs. Grant's cheeks were flushed, and she was obviously embarrassed at ogling another soldier. "I do apologize, dear."
"It's...it's quite alright. I think." Buffy couldn't shake the mental image of Willow from her mind, all hot and sweaty. "I...um...iced tea, then."
"It's not everyday you see a high-ranking official still conditioning his body like that. Your husband must be very determined to look extra nice for you." Mrs. Grant winked at Buffy, and accepted the glass of tea that Buffy poured from a picture.
"Yes, well, I am a lucky girl." Buffy couldn't hide her blush.
"No need to be ashamed, my dear. Your husband is a truly gorgeous man, and he adores you. I wouldn't imagine there's much he wouldn't do to please you. You truly are a lucky young woman." Mrs. Grant took off her gloves before sipping her iced tea. "And I was correct in my assessment, too. You truly are the envy of the ladies around here. Then again, General Rosenberg is the envy of all the fellows, as well. He must've had to fight off many a suitor to get to you."
"That's actually quite a difficult story." Buffy's cheeks flushed, and she tried to hide behind her glass.
"Oh, do tell, dear. My ears may be getting old but I still do love a bit of romantic tales." Mrs. Grant settled into her chair, sitting up straight, and giving Buffy her undivided attention.
"Not much to tell, really." Buffy saw that Julia Grant was not giving up that easy. "Well, Will and his best friend happened upon our plantation in South Carolina, lookin' for work, so they could get back to California to their sweethearts."
"Oh, Sam did mention the difficulties he had in locating General Rosenberg. There were no records of a family whatsoever." Mrs. Grant interrupted just briefly but was afraid Buffy would stop her tale. "Please continue."
"Well, they offered to help on the farm for just enough to get back to California, and my mother agreed, even knowing they were Yankee soldiers. I think I fell in love with him the minute he stepped into that dining room." Buffy had a faraway look, obviously remembering that moment. Mrs. Grant just smiled in excitement. "Anyways, they helped on the farm, Will and I got closer but my mother didn't want me to marry him because he was only a farmhand."
"I imagine that was difficult for her, knowing that had he been a Confederate soldier, there would've been no problem." Mrs. Grant gave that knowing 'mother' sympathetic look.
"Yes...well, she found out that Will's friend was a senator's son, and threatened to kick Will off the farm if I didn't marry his friend instead. We found out later that my mother was suffering from mental delusions. All is well with the family now." Buffy tried to leave it there but Mrs. Grant was quite the prier.
"And of course, you wound up marrying the right man in the end, or else you wouldn't be here today." Mrs. Grant finished her tea, just as they heard the back door swing open and shut, barring Julia from probing further. Looking up, they saw Willow toweling sweat from her hair, her cheeks flushed, and shirt drenched. "Speaking of..."
"Oh, dear. I hope you were only saying good things." Willow walked into the tea alcove, wrapping the towel around her neck, and leaned over to kiss Buffy's forehead. "Hello, dear. I didn't know you were home."
"We just got in not too long ago. I see you've been busy." Buffy played with Will's dangling suspenders, and smiled up at her.
"Yes, well. I have to stay conditioned if I hope to keep such a beautiful wife in my grasp." Willow placed her hand behind Buffy's chair, and the blonde placed her hand over her own shoulder to grasp it awkwardly. Mrs. Grant just gave a knowing grin.
"You've got me for good." Buffy smiled up at the redhead, and squeezed her hand gently. Willow just smiled back.
"Shall I see you home, Julia? I'm afraid the doctor is coming by soon." Willow saw this as the opportunity to make hints that a baby was on the way, without actually saying it. Another knowing, speculative grin came from Julia, as she stood from her seat.
"No, dear. You just make sure your wife is well." The bait was hooked. Soon, there would be gossip making its way around Washington.
"We'll see you to the door at least." Buffy allowed Willow to help her from her seat, as the two let Mrs. Grant out of the house. "I'm glad she finally took the hint. We've been trying that for weeks now."
"Yes, well. I just hope we're doing the right thing." Willow was still worried about the entire situation. Truth be told, so was Buffy but they were going to have a child. "There's just so much to do with this. Deception is really hard."
"You've been doin' it for years. I'd say you're a professional by now." Buffy saw the forlorn look on Willow's face, and immediately regretted what she'd said. "I'm sorry, Will. I didn't mean it like that."
"I know. I...I just hate all this lying. It really bothers me." Willow took a seat in the front room, and Buffy sat next to her, cupping her cheek in her hand.
"I love you, Will. We couldn't be together otherwise. We're doing this for us." Buffy stole a quick kiss to Willow's still reddened cheek.
"That's all that matters. It makes it all worth it." Willow took a deep breath, and steeled herself again. "Okay, it's settled then. You'll stop wearing your corset next month, not that you ever need it."
"Aww...thank you." Buffy smiled adoringly, and grasped Will's hand in hers.
"Then, you'll be on bed rest during the eighth month. After that, we'll take a trip away to California to stay with Xander and Anya, and Anya will deliver the baby. Then, we'll forge the documents claiming us as the birth parents. Easy, see?" Willow gave a nervous giggle. "I still don't see how they let Anya be a midwife."
"Slim pickin' out there, I guess." Buffy was excited. "I just hope Tara's up for the trip."
"I know Sam won't have a problem giving me leave to take care of my 'pregnant wife,' so getting away won't be a problem. I'm just so scared." Willow laid her head against Buffy's shoulder, as the blonde pulled her closer.
"I know, baby. Me, too...but we'll do this. Not just for us but for Tara and Daniel, too." Buffy kissed Willow's temple, and looked down at the sweaty mess her lover had become. "Now, mind letting your wife ogle you instead of the help for a change?"
"How is that a change? You're always ogling me." Willow smirked, as she leaned back upright. "What did you have in mind?"
"Oh...getting you all hot and sweaty, giving me a show." Buffy leaned forward in a conspiratorial manner. "Starting with that new contraption in the backyard that's caused my husband to look like he fell into pond."
"Oh, right! My steel bar! It's neat, really. We used to have something similar to it at the Point. I just use my entire body weight as leverage to add muscles. Being a little more feminine in nature, I have to work that much harder to keep a toned exterior. My arms are already dainty enough; imagine what would happen if I quit conditioning altogether."
"I'd still love you, even if you were a limp noodle." Buffy stole a quick kiss, as Willow pulled her into the backyard, and showed off her newest invention. After Willow did a few chin-ups, Buffy decided to play unfair, and started to tickle the redhead, who just fell to the ground, the blonde falling on top. They kissed in the mid-afternoon sun, and didn't stop until Tara came out to announce supper was ready. The sun was beginning to set, showcasing how time flies by when kisses are involved.
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Buffy was making her way down the stairs, when Willow answered the door. Taking the mail, the redhead thanked the young man before turning around to greet her wife.
"Glad to see you up and about, my dear. Are you ready for your big debut tonight?" Willow was referring to the social that Mrs. Grant was holding. Tonight would be the first night Buffy would stop wearing her corset, and start to 'show' a little belly growth. The sixth month was upon Tara, who was starting to show major growth as well. "You have a letter from Dawnie."
"Oh, I hope all is well." Buffy took the letter, and took a seat in the front room. Willow retired to the kitchen to bring them both some hot tea. She returned a few minutes later to find Buffy's eyes wide as the saucers she was carrying. "She says that Dr. Giles has asked for Mother's hand, if she'll have him. Apparently, our suspicions were correct, and he's been furiously courting her these past few months since the divorce was finalized."
"That's good news. He was a bit too British at times but it was obvious he adored your mother." Willow poured the tea, as Buffy continued reading the letter. "What was your mother's reply?"
"She hasn't yet, though Dawn will keep us updated on the situation." Buffy took a sip of her tea, and spewed it once she read the next line. "What?!?!"
"Thanks, dear." Willow was wiping hot tea from her face with an amused grin. Buffy noticed this, and began to apologize. "I take it something was funny."
"The opposite. My Lord, you'll never believe this. Mother confessed to Dawnie that Dr. Giles is her real father." Buffy shook her head to clear it, as Willow picked up the weeklies. "That means Dawn isn't my real sister."
"Sure she is, Buffy. She just has a different father is all. You're still both your mother's daughters." Willow smirked, and sipped at her tea between articles.
"Wow, I mean...and my mother was worried about the scandal OUR marriage would create? She has a love child with the town doctor! I wonder if our...my father knows." Buffy continued to read but the spew worthy news was finished. She just continued reading, informing Willow of all the goings-on at SunnyDale plantation, and the surrounding area. "It says here that Drusilla is coming from England in a couple months to stay with William."
"Who is Drusilla?" Willow looked up from her weeklies, and poured them another cup of tea.
"William's wife, though we don't like to discuss her too much. If you think Mother was hard on you..." Buffy almost laughed at the memories. "Let's just say Drusilla has a few pegs missing."
"What does everyone think about her coming?" Willow smiled, as she watched Buffy purse her lips to take a sip of tea. It was so cute.
"William is obviously excited but the others are weary. Drusilla is a handful, as I recall, and I'm sure the years haven't been too kind to her sanity." Buffy laid her cup down when she noticed Willow staring. She just smiled, and sighed at the adoration on Willow's face. She never got tired of seeing it. "What has you all giddy?"
"You, as per usual." Willow laid the weeklies aside, and stood from the table. "How about a walk? We still have some time before we have to get ready for the party tonight."
"I would love that." Buffy smiled, and took Willow's offered hand. They put on their jacket and shawl, and headed out into the sunshine.