Getting Ahead of Myself
by sailor80
Nineteen
[reviews]
Willow woke with a start. The pain was sharp and unexpected, and it took her breath for a few seconds. She poked Buffy, who grunted, "What?"
"Ow!"
Buffy sat up immediately and groped for Willow's hand. "What's wrong?"
"Ow!" Willow repeated, then drew in a long breath. "She's coming."
"I'll call Liz." Buffy swung her feet onto the floor and peered at the phone.
"Ow, damn it!" Willow rolled to her feet. She walked slowly to the bathroom while Buffy punched the keys.
By the time Buffy hung up the phone and came to the bathroom, Willow was ready to scream. Buffy grabbed towels with one hand, with the other, helped Willow back to the bedroom. She threw the towels down and helped Willow sit on some of them.
Willow laid back and pulled herself further into the bed. "This really hurts," she complained to Buffy.
"Breathe," Buffy ordered, and Willow tried to comply.
"She's coming now," Willow said, and tried unsuccessfully to suppress a scream.
"Will?" Buffy asked, her voice tight with panic. She pushed Willow's nightshirt up, and between her legs, saw the top of the baby's head. Buffy drew a deep breath and looked at Willow. "Push."
"I am," Willow said. She panted for a few seconds, then groaned. She pushed with everything she had, screaming with the effort and the pain.
Buffy caught the baby, and grabbed up one of the towels. She wiped her face first, hands shaking, before pushing Willow's nightshirt aside and placing her on Willow's chest.
Willow looked from one face to the other, oblivious to all but the three of them. She kissed Buffy's cheek, and when she turned, her lips. They exchanged "I love yous" before Buffy turned to their audience. "Little help?" she asked.
Liz took over, sending Tara and Faith for towels, hot and warm water, string, and scissors. After Buffy cut her daughter's umbilical cord, and after Willow delivered the placenta, and after both she and the baby were clean and comfortable, and after the baby nursed herself to sleep, everyone finally left them alone.
Willow, exhausted, rested in Buffy's arms. Buffy was mostly still. She kissed Willow's head frequently, and touched the baby tentatively. 'Dawn,' Buffy corrected herself mentally, and Willow settled a little more against her. Buffy had only begun to drowse when Dawn began to fuss, and she reluctantly woke Willow. Willow changed the baby to her other breast and adjusted her head on Buffy's shoulder. Dawn quieted immediately, and Buffy slid into the most restful sleep she'd had in months.
Downstairs, Joyce, Tara, and Faith sat in the living room with coffee. It was too early to get up and too late to go back to bed, and none of them wanted to share anything of what they had witnessed. They sat in companionable silence as the time passed.
Shortly after sunrise, Buffy came downstairs. She sat on the couch beside Joyce, drew up her feet and laid her head on her mother's shoulder. Faith grinned at her, and Buffy stuck out her tongue. Tara giggled at both of them. "Girls," Joyce warned.
Buffy smiled sweetly and leaned a little more into her mother. "I'm glad you're here," she said quietly.
Joyce put her arm around her daughter. "I am, too."
"She's beautiful, isn't she?"
"Definitely." Joyce smiled. "The child born on the Sabbath day is bonny and blithe, and good and gay," she recited, a memory from long ago.
Buffy smiled and bussed her mother's cheek. She uncurled herself, stood and stretched. "Willow's going to be thirsty, and they're both starting to wake up," she said, and went into the kitchen.
The next time she passed through the living room, she had water bottles and yogurt. Buffy paused at the foot of the stairs. "Get me half an hour before we have to go to Giles'," she said to Faith.
"Will do," Faith answered.
"When is that?" Joyce asked.
"Eleven," Tara answered.
"Then you both should get some rest." Joyce stood. "I'll call you at 9:30 so you have time to eat."
"Thanks, Mrs. S," Faith said, and stretched before getting up. Tara was a few seconds behind her.
Faith rapped lightly on the door, and receiving no response, opened it enough to see the bed. Buffy's back was to the door. She was propped up on her elbow. The other hand stroked Dawn's head, and Faith was surprised to see that hand shaking ever so slightly.
"B," Faith called quietly.
"Yeah?"
"We need to get going soon. Your mom made some breakfast, if you're hungry."
"I'll be down in a few."
"K," Faith said, and closed the door.
"Where are you going?" Willow asked.
"To have a chat with Quentin Travers."
"I thought you sent vampires after him."
"Just to bring him to us." Buffy sounded a little hurt.
Willow digested that information and nodded. "Be careful, please."
"I will," Buffy promised. She leaned over and kissed Willow, then Dawn. "I love you, and I'll be back as soon as I can."
Downstairs, Faith paced. Tara's eyes followed her. After half a dozen trips across the living room, Joyce said, "Faith, please sit down."
Faith lowered herself beside Tara, who rested a hand on Faith's black denim clad thigh. Faith covered Tara's hand and tried to sit still. After a few minutes, Buffy came downstairs, and she and Joyce went to the kitchen.
Once they were gone, Tara asked, "What's going on?"
"I'm just nervous."
"About this thing with the Council?"
"Yeah." Faith began tapping one foot.
"It'll be fine," Tara said, but Faith continued to fidget. "What is it really?" Tara asked.
"That's it," Faith insisted.
"Come on, then," Tara said, getting to her feet. She pulled Faith up, through the dining room and kitchen into the back yard. They sat in a sunny patch, and began the now-familiar routine of morning meditation.
Tara found it difficult to get into sync with Faith. Her concentration fluctuated wildly, and Tara caught snatches of Faith's emotions, but not enough of anything to reach a conclusion. As they continued, Faith settled down a little, but it was obvious to Tara that she was relieved when they finished.
Faith scrambled to her feet. She helped Tara up, and they went back into the house. Buffy was talking with her mother, and gave her a peck on the cheek when she saw Faith. "Ready?" Buffy asked.
Faith nodded. They left without acknowledging, "Be careful," in stereo from Tara and Joyce.
Once the Slayers were gone, Joyce and Tara went upstairs. Willow waved them into the room. Joyce sat on the bed. Tara stood nearby. Willow transferred Dawn to her grandmother's arms, and rolled out of bed.
"Tara, there's a camera on my dresser," Joyce said.
Tara waited to be certain Willow wouldn't need help, then went across the hall. She returned with the camera and snapped a few pictures of Joyce and Dawn, and a few close-ups of Dawn's face. When Willow returned, Tara added a few of the three of them together.
That done, Tara sat on the bed and held Dawn for the first time. She looked carefully at the baby, and a small "oh" slipped out of her mouth.
Willow frowned. "Oh, what?"
The doorbell rang. Tara returned Dawn to Willow. "I'll tell you later," she promised, and went to answer the door.
She returned with Liz, who had a small, gift wrapped box as well as her usual bag. "Hi," she said cheerily. "Just checking in."
Joyce and Tara left; Willow heard their footsteps on the stairs as Liz closed the door.
"How are you feeling?" Liz asked.
"Sore, mostly."
"That's good. How's the baby? Is she nursing?"
"All the time, except when she's sleeping."
"Good." Liz sat on the bed beside Willow. "Can I see her?"
Willow handed Dawn over and watched Liz check her. "Wow, she's grown all ready."
"I was wondering," Willow said.
"Let me take a look at you," Liz said, and laid Dawn beside Willow. She checked Willow's genitals and breasts, and pulled Willow's nightshirt down before getting to her feet. "Everything looks great. You should keep taking the vitamins while she's nursing. I don't think that will be long, though," Liz said thoughtfully.
Willow sat up. "What do you mean?"
"She's growing as fast now as she was before she was born."
Willow closed her eyes. "I was afraid of that," she said.
"Don't worry about it too much," Liz said. She remembered the gift box and presented it to Willow.
"Thanks," Willow said automatically. She opened the package, and smiled at Liz when she saw what it contained. "Thanks so much." She pulled the tiny bracelet from the package. It was silver, with crosses and pentagrams alternating.
"I figured it's never too soon around here."
"That's true. Is it safe for her to wear?"
"Yeah. Just keep an eye on it since she's growing so fast. I got extra links for her. They're in the bottom."
"Thank you. For everything. I can't imagine how we would have done this without your help." Willow slipped the bracelet on Dawn's left wrist.
Liz smiled. "You're welcome. Where's Buffy? I thought she'd be here with you two."
"Slayer stuff."
"Ah. Guess I'll see her later then." Liz stood up. "I'll stop by tomorrow about this time if that's all right."
"Great. Thanks again."
"See you."
Liz left the door open. She stopped downstairs to chat with Joyce and Tara before leaving, and they came back upstairs. Willow decided to go downstairs with them, and they slowly and carefully went down the stairs, Tara first, then Willow and Joyce. They settled themselves in the living room, Joyce holding Dawn, and Willow remembered Tara's earlier reaction to holding Dawn.
"What was the 'oh' about before?" Willow asked.
"Hmm? Oh, just that her aura is so strong. It's rare, but not unheard of." Tara smiled at Dawn, who clutched her finger. "It surprised me." Tara looked at Willow. "In a good way," she stressed.