Getting Ahead of Myself
by sailor80
Five
[reviews]
Joyce left a list of things for the girls to accomplish that day to begin changing the house to meet their new needs. Willow's instruction was to sit down, keep her feet up, and eat healthy. That left Buffy and Tara to move, haul, sort and clean the basement.
By the end of the day, Tara had a good idea of how she wanted the basement to look, and while dinner was in the oven, she pulled Faith downstairs to show her. Joyce followed them to check on their work. Buffy sat beside Willow on the couch, examining her left hand in detail. It kept Willow from doing anything on the computer, so she closed it and set it aside. "Happy now?" she asked Buffy.
Buffy smiled. "You bet. So tell me what you've learned."
"Getting a birth certificate is going to be difficult."
"Nah," Buffy said. "The Watchers' Council will be falling all over themselves to help a Slayer's daughter. They'll be hoping she'll be a Slayer, too. Or a Slayer witch."
"Can't be a bewitching Slayer," Willow teased. "You've got that covered."
"Yup." Buffy kissed Willow. "What else?"
"Babies are noisy, messy, and exhausting."
"We have help." Buffy raised Willow's hand and kissed it. "What else?"
"Babies are noisy, messy, and exhausting," Willow repeated.
Buffy laughed. "We'll be fine, Willow." She kissed the back of Willow's hand again.
"Okay," Willow said. She laid her head on Buffy's shoulder. "Why am I tired? I didn't do anything all day."
"Parasite," Buffy said, and rubbed Willow's tummy.
The phone rang, and Buffy got up to answer it. She asked the caller to hold, then called to Tara from the top of the basement stairs. Buffy returned to Willow's side on the couch, and Willow laid against her again.
They heard Faith and Joyce climb the stairs, and Tara hang up the phone. Then the oven opened briefly. After that, Tara came in. "That was the m-midwife. She'll be here around 8:30."
"What midwife?" Buffy asked.
"She's someone that Tara knows. You know we're going to have problems if we use a regular doctor," Willow said. "Because she's growing so fast."
"She's coming when?" Buffy asked Tara.
"8:30," Tara repeated. "Buffy, I had Mr. Giles check her out. She's a good midwife and a nice person."
"Okay, but I'm staying with Will."
"Good. Dinner's ready in five minutes."
"Thanks, Tara," Willow said to her retreating back.
"When were you going to tell me about this?" Buffy asked.
"As soon as I knew what was going on. You heard Tara, Giles checked her out. It's safe."
"Better be," Buffy grumbled. She kissed Willow briefly and pushed them apart. She got to her feet and pulled Willow up. "We should wash our hands before dinner."
After eating, they all waited in the living room for the midwife, who turned out to be an ordinary-looking woman in her early 30s. Tara introduced her as Liz, and they all made small talk for a few minutes.
Buffy and Willow went upstairs to their room. Liz followed them and closed the door. Buffy and Willow sat on the bed, and Liz pulled the chair from the vanity. She got a notebook from her bag and sat down across from them.
"Tell me what's going on," Liz began.
"What did Tara tell you?" Buffy asked.
"Nothing, just that one of her friends needed some help."
"Did she tell you anything about us?"
"No."
Buffy sighed, and Willow began their story. "Buffy's a Slayer, and I'm a witch."
Liz turned her attention to Buffy. "You're a Slayer?" she asked.
"Yes," Buffy answered.
"Wow, I thought Slayers were a legend."
"I am," Buffy said with a tight smile.
"Okay," Liz said slowly and returned her attention to Willow. "You were saying?"
"We had to do a spell," Willow started.
"Who did the spell? What was its purpose?"
"Me and Tara and Xander and Giles. It was to give Buffy and Faith the power of the First Slayer. It worked, and we won, and then we came home and took a shower and made love. Next thing I know, I'm pregnant," Willow said in one breath.
"There's no other way you could have gotten pregnant?" Liz asked carefully.
"No," Willow said emphatically.
"Ok, it's not unheard of. When was the spell?"
"Right before finals," Willow said.
"Middle of May," Buffy added.
"And when's your due date?"
Willow paused for a moment. "July 20th."
Liz looked at her carefully. "Based on what?"
"I had a sonogram last week, and the doctor said I was three months then."
"Wow," Liz exhaled lowly.
"She's growing fast, I think about a month each week," Willow added. Buffy rubbed her back in small circles and was careful not to squeeze Willow's hand.
"Wow," Liz repeated. "That's insane. No offense," she added quickly. After a short pause, she asked, "How can I help you?"
"We can't use regular doctors," Buffy said before Willow could answer. "We need someone who can keep an eye on both of them and make sure they're both healthy. And we need someone who can deliver her. I hate the hospital."
"Me, too," Willow chimed in.
Liz took a moment to take some notes. She felt Buffy's glare and looked up. "Just so I can keep track of your baby," she said reassuringly. She asked Willow," Will you please stand up so I can measure you?"
"Why?" Buffy and Willow asked together. Willow's tone was curiosity, but Buffy's was a tiny bit threatening.
"It'll help me keep track of how fast the baby's growing," Liz answered calmly. She picked up her bag and pulled out a cloth tape measure while Willow stood in front of her.
She measured Willow's breasts, then her stomach both horizontally and vertically. When she finished, Willow sat down, and Buffy put her arm around the redhead's waist.
"Are you taking vitamins?" Liz asked.
"Just started."
"Good. Since she's growing so fast, you should probably double up on them. Drink lots of milk and eat healthy. Get some exercise every day. No heavy lifting and no magic. You both need some Lamaze training to help with the delivery," Liz enumerated.
"No magic?" Willow asked, slightly panicked.
"No major spells," Liz said firmly. "If you need a circle to cast, you can't do it."
"Ok, that should be ok, Tara can do them," Willow said.
"You can have sex," Liz continued. She ignored their immediate blushes as she turned to Buffy. "Don't blow air into her vagina, and take it easy with penetration toward the end of the pregnancy. Any questions?"
"Lamaze, that's the breathing stuff, right?" Willow asked.
"Yes. I don't think you have time to find a class, so the three of us will meet twice a week so you can learn what you need to. Anything else?"
Buffy and Willow both shook their heads. Liz rummaged around in her bag again and pulled out a PDA. Willow brightened at the sight of the gizmo. Liz handed Willow a business card, and they talked about their tech toys while Liz filled in her appointments with them. "Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 okay?"
"Yes," Buffy answered for both of them. "How long will it take?"
"An hour or so," Liz said. "You're both quick studies, and it isn't difficult." She got to her feet. "I'll let myself out," she told them, and closed the door behind herself.
"Oh. My. God," Buffy said.
Willow turned to her. "What?"
"We're going to have a baby."
"Yeah, I've been telling you that."
"But there's Lamaze and twice a week and," Buffy gestured as her words failed.
"Yes, sweetheart," Willow said.
"Wow."
"Wow," Willow agreed.
They sat on the bed, holding hands, for a minute. Buffy let go and stood up. "I have to patrol."
"Be careful."
"I will," Buffy promised. She bent and kissed Willow quickly, and left the room, leaving the door open. Willow heard Buffy get her jacket and go out the door, and Faith follow less than a minute later. Willow went downstairs, where Tara and Joyce waited. She sat in one of the chairs to await the interrogation. It started almost immediately.
"What did she say?" Joyce asked.
"Not much. She asked a lot of questions. Oh, and she'll be here Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7." Willow smiled. "To give us Lamaze lessons. I think Buffy's a little freaked."
"You could say that," Joyce said.
"Faith went after her," Tara added. "Do you like her?"
"Yeah. Thanks, Tara. I wouldn't have had any idea where to start looking for someone like her."
"You're welcome."
"What else did she say?" Joyce asked.
"She wants me to take vitamins, drink milk, eat healthy and get some exercise," Willow ticked off. Joyce smiled, and Willow said, "I know, that's what you said."
"It is, and it's good advice," Joyce answered.
"Anything else you want to know?"
"What about magic?" Tara asked.
"No major spells. I forgot to ask why, though."
"M-magic takes a lot of energy," Tara explained.
"Makes sense," Willow said. "Can we watch TV now, please?"
"Of course, honey," Joyce said, and passed Willow the remote.