Getting Ahead of Myself
by sailor80
Twenty-three
[reviews]
Buffy laid awake and held Willow. Willow's meltdown had shaken her; in all their time together, Buffy had never seen Willow totally lose it. For the moment, Willow was snuggled against her, and Dawn was asleep in her crib. That led to a whole new set of thoughts, wondering about Faith and her ease around Dawn.
Dawn began to fuss, and Willow stirred a little. "It's all right, love, I'll get her," Buffy said quietly and kissed Willow's cheek before untangling herself from the redhead. She got out of bed and went into the room across the hall. Buffy picked her daughter up. "I've got you, Dawn. Be quiet so your mommy can sleep," she said softly. The noise immediately decreased.
Buffy carried the baby to the changing table and rained kisses on the tiny face as she got the baby out of the sleeper. She opened the diaper and was assaulted by a foul odor. "P U stinky baby," she sing-songed and began changing the little girl's diaper. She talked quietly as she cleaned her and put on a clean diaper and sleeper. Dawn was still fussy, and Buffy chuckled when she picked her up. "Your mommy will have to help you with the rest."
They went to the bedroom and got in bed with Willow. Buffy lay the baby between them leaned across her to kiss Willow. "Somebody's hungry," she told Willow when her eyes opened.
"Mmmm." Willow sat up and picked up Dawn. She looked at the baby, then at Buffy. "That's your nose," she told Buffy, then kissed Dawn's nose. Willow got the baby settled nursing and closed her eyes.
Buffy watched them, delighted and content. When the baby finished, Willow put her between them and slid back down on the bed. Buffy's hand was all ready rubbing the baby's back when Willow settled. Their eyes met and they smiled at each other.
"You feeling better?" Buffy asked.
"Yeah."
"What was that?" Buffy asked cautiously.
"Part hormones, part exhaustion, part frustration," Willow answered.
"You really scared me."
"I scared myself," Willow admitted. She looked sadly at Buffy. "This is so hard."
Buffy frowned a little, and moved her hand from Dawn's back to Willow's cheek. "Not so hard."
"I wanna be a good mom," Willow continued, "but I'm just tired all the time. I mean, I haven't even read her a story yet."
"Will, it's all right," Buffy said. "No one expects you to be supermom."
"I do."
Buffy just looked at Willow for a few seconds, and tried to choose her words carefully. "Sweetheart, you only need to be the best mom you can be for her. No matter what we do, no matter how hard we try, we'll never be perfect parents because there isn't such a thing."
Willow reached up and covered Buffy's hand with her own. She smiled a little. "I love you, Buffy," she said, and pushed herself up so she could lean across Dawn and give Buffy a brief kiss. The she lay down and drifted back into sleep.
Buffy mentally gave a huge sigh of relief, and let herself rest, too.
The next week was quiet, and everyone at Revello Drive was relieved. They got into a routine again: Buffy and Willow spent part of each day in the back yard with Dawn while Faith and Tara continued to go to the gallery with Joyce. That relieved some of Buffy's worry, because she trusted Faith and Tara to make sure her mother didn't overdo.
When they came home each evening, Buffy and Faith sparred in the back yard. Dinner was simple and quick, and afterward, Willow and Buffy were shooed away for time alone without their daughter. When night fell, one Slayer or the other headed out to patrol. Willow kept her laptop downstairs, and she and Tara researched while Joyce played with Dawn, who continued to grow at incredible rate.
After another week, Giles called and said he would be by in the early evening. They waited nervously for him, and apprehension grew when he was accompanied by a woman who was unmistakably another Watcher. Faith and Buffy shot each other uneasy looks while they followed everyone into the dining room.
Giles made introductions, and Jane Parsons got down to business immediately. She told them what the Watchers' Council had cobbled together about the history of the Beast, and even Faith blanched at the damage it had done since being cast from its corner of hell. When she finished, Buffy asked calmly, "Where is it, and how do we kill it?"
"We don't know," Parsons admitted.
"What does it want?" Buffy continued.
"To return home and gain revenge on those who cast it out. It seeks a key."
"A real, physical key or a mystical one?" Willow asked.
"We don't know," Parsons repeated.
"So you came here to try to scare us?" Faith asked.
"No, Ms. Spencer, I came here to share with you what we know, as promised."
"Great. Thanks so much." Faith stood up. "Call me when you actually know something useful." She exited via the kitchen, and moments later, the back door opened and closed.
"That all you got?" Buffy asked.
"About the Beast, yes." Parsons pulled a business envelope from her bag and handed it to Buffy, who sat at her left.
Buffy looked at it. "What's this?"
"I have no idea. Mr. Westrope asked me to deliver it to you."
Buffy looked at Willow, who eyed the envelope curiously, and Giles, who shrugged, before opening it. There were two pages inside, and when Buffy unfolded them, Willow leaned close to read along.
Dear Ms. Summers, Please accept my congratulations on the recent birth of your daughter, and extend my warm regards to Ms. Rosenberg, as well. I
trust that mother and daughter are thriving.
As the American authorities may not understand your peculiar circumstances, I have taken the liberty of securing a birth certificate for the child. If it
is not suitable, or you require other documentation, I will be delighted to assist you in obtaining the appropriate certificates.
Your servant, Philip Cable Westrope
Buffy passed the letter to her mother while she and Willow examined a birth certificate showing Willow Rosenberg as the mother and E.A. Summers as the father of Dawn Marie Rosenberg Summers. "Thank you," she said.
Parsons nodded. "I'll be in touch when we have something more," she said, and let herself out.
As soon as she was gone, Tara excused herself. Buffy asked Giles, "How does he know about Dawn?"
"I don't know,' Giles replied. He removed his glasses and began to polish the lenses. "I didn't say anything about your personal life," he reassured her.
"Neither did I, and neither did Faith."
"I suppose they're still watching you. You are the Slayer, after all."
"I'm A Slayer," Buffy said emphatically. "And those Council people still creep me out. No offense."
Giles nodded and replaced his glasses.
Faith paced the back yard restlessly. She had hoped the Watchers' Council would have something new about the Beast, and was disappointed and angry at the lack of information. "A bunch of scary bedtime stories," she thought dismissively. She heard Tara come out the door, and turned toward the house. She waited for Tara to approach.
"You all right?" Tara asked.
"Yeah." Faith ran a hand through her hair. "Just annoyed. She didn't tell us anything we don't all ready know."
"We'll figure it out."
"Yeah."
"She brought something for Buffy, but I couldn't tell if she was happy about it."
"B's not happy with 'em on general principles," Faith answered.
"N-neither are you."
Faith shrugged. "I'm getting' paid enough. I don't have to like any of 'em."
"Do you believe her?"
"Only because what she said is what you and Red found."
"I thought they had resources and things that we don't."
Faith shrugged and changed the subject. "Wanna go out after patrol?"
Tara smiled. "Sure."
"Bronze or late movie?"
"Whichever."
"All right, we'll decide later." Faith looked toward the house. "You think she's gone?"
"She left before I came out. Of the house."
"Let's go see what B got." Faith went toward the house. She caught Tara's hand on the way, and the blonde went with her willingly.
"You did what?" Buffy asked incredulously.
"I think it's a good idea," Joyce said.
"Who did what?" Faith asked as she and Tara returned to the dining room.
"Giles bought the magic shop."
Faith looked at him and shook her head. "Didn't know you have a death wish."
"What do you mean?" Tara asked.
"Place changes hands three times a year. Usually because the owner is murdered in some really gruesome way," Faith explained.
"Exactly," Buffy said triumphantly. "See, it's dangerous."
"Rubbish," Giles answered.
Buffy turned to Willow. "Little help?"
"Are you kidding? Do you know much money I spend in there?" Willow turned to Giles. "Can we bill the Council for what I use helping Buffy?"
Buffy glared at her and muttered, "You're not helping."
"Excellent idea," he said. "As I was saying, I would appreciate some assistance with preparing to open."
"Count me in," Willow said.
"I'll help, too," Tara volunteered. She thought for a moment. "You should call Xander and Anya."
"Yeah, where's he been?" Willow asked. "I mean, he's only seen Dawn once."
"He's working two jobs," Tara said.
"Xander?" Buffy said doubtfully.
"Uh huh," Tara said. "Anya's been looking for a job, too. So Xander can move out of his parents' basement."
"Wow," Willow said softly. She frowned and looked at Tara. "You sure we're talking about Xander? And he's not possessed or something?"
"He's fine," Tara answered. "We had lunch with him yesterday."
Giles cleared his throat, and all eyes turned to him. "Does tomorrow afternoon suit?"
"Yup," Willow answered cheerfully, and Tara nodded.
"Thank you." He stood up. "I have some other things to attend to this evening." To Joyce, he said, "I'll let myself out."
"Goodnight, Rupert."