North and South...and West
by Rin
Take Me Home, Country Roads
[reviews]
A/N: Just wanted to give a quick shout out to all those who reviewed this story. I know it takes a couple minutes of your life away but it allows gets me motivated to write more, since I know you're still interested! I'm so excited to be back on this story. This is my epic mini-series. LOL. Not my BIG epic but there's still so much story left to tell. We're talking chapters into the 60s on this one. Hope you stick around!
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Willow couldn't sleep the entire night, as she tossed and turned in the bed. It would be their last time in this bed for more than two fortnights. Looking over, she noticed Buffy sleeping peacefully, her hand tucked under the redhead's shirt for contact. Willow just smiled again, and wondered how one big lie turned into so many more. Then, she looked at Buffy again, and decided it was all worth it.
Snuggling back into the covers, Willow got a little more rest before the trip would start in the morning. Everything was packed, and by the door. They would be traveling light, as the train would only take them so far before they would have to take the infamous California Trail they'd traveled when heading to West Point. She was going home for the first time in almost ten years.
Waking up was the easy part. Since the train departed in an hour, Willow already had the bags packed in the wagon, and made sure Tara and Buffy were both bathed and dressed. This trip would be so much easier in a few years once the transcontinental railroad, not to mention safer. Once they departed the train, anything went as far as attacks.
Dressed for the trip, Buffy helped Tara waddle down the stairs, as they made their way to the wagon. Willow arranged for the butler to pick up the wagon later that evening, and Buffy was to wear pads under her dress to show off an extended belly just in case. It appeared as though both women were pregnant.
"Are we ready?" Willow helped Tara, as they all loaded into the wagon. Once at the station, the redhead went about securing the luggage, while Buffy and Tara loaded the train. Willow found them all settled by the time she got to her seat. "We'll be in California within the next few days, barring any complications."
"Tara, we'd like you to stay on staff." Buffy had wanted to wait for Willow before they had this discussion. Now was as good a time as any. "No arguments. This is your baby, and we'll raise it but we want you to stay on as the nanny. That way, you'll be able to see your child grow, and we'll be able to sleep better at night knowin' that we didn't take this opportunity away from you completely."
"I'm not surprised, though it will surprise you a bit that I won't argue." Tara smiled, and settled into her seat more. "When you decide to have children of your own, I will treat them no differently."
"We know you won't." Buffy patted Tara's hand, and sent a sympathetic smile towards Willow. "We just want you to know that you'll be part of this family, as long as you're willing to stay. It does surprise me a little that you're not arguing, I must admit."
"It'll be hard, watching the little one grow, and never claiming it as my own but I know this is best for us all." Tara had planned on staying anyways, since the baby would need food. "I never would have asked you to keep it, if I didn't truly believe that."
"We know." Willow took the opportunity to grasp her wife's hand, as the train started to depart from the station.
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The last train stopped somewhere in Nevada, what was once Sierra Nevada. The railroad was further along than Willow had originally thought. They would only need a day to get to California, if that, since Sunnydale was on the outskirts of the gold rush. The anticipation in her gut from returning home after so long was eating at her. She would have to stay hidden within Xander's home, for fear of running into old colleagues that would recognize her. Buffy would have to see her hometown without her, and it made the redhead pout.
"Something wrong?" Buffy rubbed Willow's arm, and patted her pillowed belly at the same time.
"No, just mad that I won't get to show you where I was raised." Willow sighed deeply before standing, and helping her wife and 'midwife' stand from their seats. "We're way ahead of schedule, so I think we should stay the night here. We can grab a nice, hot meal, and sleep in comfy beds. If we get started before dawn, I suspect we'll be in Sunnydale by dusk, as long as we don't stop too often."
"We're so close." Tara smiled at the two, as she noticed how they grasped hands immediately upon standing. They really were cute together. That she couldn't deny.
"And yet so far." Buffy, always the pessimist. "But a hot meal and comfy bed does sound like heaven about now."
They exited the train, retrieved their light luggage, and headed into town. The dust billowed from the streets, as their shoes tapped against the wooden decks of the town. They made their way into the inn, and got two rooms for the night. Willow arranged for wagon transport to Sunnydale before they took a short walk around the town. After a hot meal, and a cooling bath, the three made their way to bed. Again, Willow couldn't sleep, as she noticed Buffy's hand in the exact same spot it was the night before, resting on her belly, just under her nightshirt.
The night only seemed to drag, so Willow was up earlier than needed. She made sure everybody was ready to go before they headed to the wagon's departure point. The redhead secured the two women in the back before she sat up front at the reigns with the wagon's owner. He and his own wife were making their way to California for dreams of gold, and free land.
They had arrived in Sunnydale before the sun even threatened to set. The driver and his wife bid them good luck before they continued on their own journey into the heart of the gold country. Everything was so different from what Willow remembered. There were more buildings, more people walking the streets, more houses. The September weather was the only thing that was the same. Afraid of running into somebody that would recognize her, Willow didn't gawk long, as she ushered the two ladies towards the old shop. It was even different, as they walked inside.
Anya just stared at them for a minute before realizing who they were, and making her way over to give them each a hug in greeting. Hearing the commotion, Xander limped out of his upstairs study, and saw Willow standing there with a very pregnant Tara and Buffy. When he hugged Buffy, he realized her 'baby' was only a pillow. Leave it to Willow to think of everything.
"Oh, how I've missed you, Xander." Willow didn't hold back, and threw her arms around her oldest friend.
"How is the family? I never thought I'd say this but I do miss the East." Xander hugged his friend back, enveloping her tiny frame in his arms. He'd put on some weight since last year.
"They're having trouble with Riley Finn's old slave keeper. Apparently, the Klan has shown up as well, threatening them with fire and brimstone, all because Mom allows Mary, Forrest, and Susie to stay inside the house with them." Buffy's eyes showed how much she missed her family. "Luckily, Dr. Giles was there, shotguns a'blazin', and scared 'em off."
"Who knew Mr. Britain himself could be so dangerous?" Xander grabbed their bags but Willow swatted his hand away. "You're our guests."
"Yes but you still have to climb those stairs. I saw you come down them. Is everything alright? Your limp looks worse than I remember." Willow scrunched her brow in worry. It was true. Xander never had that much trouble walking. Matter of fact, the injury never really caused many problems.
"I'm fine." Xander smiled in reassurance but Anya was still tactless as ever.
"You're not fine. I told him not to overdo it but what does he do?" Anya eyed her husband with something akin to sympathy and consternation. "I swear men never listen. If I wasn't there to call for the doctor, he would probably not have a leg right now."
"What? Xander!" Willow knew her friend was stubborn but he'd never been wreckless.
"It was just another box, albeit heavier than I should've carried. I just slipped, and it dislocated my knee." Xander saw the admonishment in Willow's eyes, and had the decency to hand his head in shame. "On a lighter note, we should get you settled. I'm sure Tara here needs to rest."
"I'm fine, Private Harris, though I could use a glass of water, and a place to do my business." Tara took a seat in one of the store's chairs. "We've been sitting for so long, it was good to stand for a minute."
"We're learning that pregnant women use the privy more than average." Buffy noticed Willow's blush, and remembered how embarrassed the redhead had been every time they had to get the wagon driver to stop, so Tara (and Buffy would go for show, as well) could do her business. "Must have something to do with added weight on the organs."
"I'll see to the water, while Anya shows you to the outhouse." Xander headed into the back, and Anya helped Tara stand, showing her the way to pee.
"This isn't at all what I expected." Buffy took a seat on the couch, and Willow followed. "From the way you describe it, I thought there'd be more sand and less people."
"It's been almost ten years since I've been here, Buff. I'm not at all surprised by the expansion, since Xander mentions some of it in his letters but I didn't expect so much of it. When we were growing up, California wasn't even part of the Union yet." Willow relaxed in her seat, though her years of soldier training wouldn't allow her shoulders to go too far back. Good posture was forever embedded into her system.
"I'm glad we're here. I feel closer to you somehow." Buffy leaned over to give Willow a kiss but was interrupted by Xander walking in the room. "Thank you for doing this, Xander. I know how...awkward it must be for you."
"No problem. You married my best friend, and she's a much better man and husband than I'll ever be. I'd say you got the best end of the deal." Xander laid the tray down, filled with glasses of lemonade. "Being a shopkeeper has its advantages, though. I'm not complaining."
"Again, thank you, Xander." Buffy took the offered glass, and sipped at it with gusto. "You're the first person we haven't had to deceive in a very long time. It's refreshing."
"Anything for Willow. I owe her my life." Xander raised his own glass in a toast. He would have to watch his wordings again, since Tara was still unaware of Willow's womanhood. Anya was shocked and bewildered when she found out but glad to be in the know. She'd do anything for Xander, including keeping his best friend's darkest secret.
The rest of the evening went well, as the gang settled into the somewhat comfy quarters upstairs. Tara was due in two weeks, and this much-needed visit was long overdue. For the first time in months, Willow slept peacefully, Buffy tucked into her side.