By default more than necessity Tara had become the designated cook in the house. Mostly this was because, although Willow was fine as if she had a recipe in front of her, she didn't have the finesse or creativity of a natural cook and Dawn…Dawn had too much creativity and a liberal definition of edible. So it became a common occurrence to wake up and find Tara preparing breakfast in the morning.
A proper breakfast, as she'd call it, complete with pancakes, fruit, and juice. Willow and Dawn, both being veterans of foraged cereal and milk mornings were understandably pleased with this new development.
It was on one of those mornings midsummer that Willow sat at the island admiring her girlfriend. Later they would head over to the Magic Box to discuss the night's patrol after dropping Dawn off at a friend's. But right then all Willow could see was Tara standing patiently at Dawn's shoulder, gently coaching the girl on hoe to flip pancakes. Judging by the growing pile of malformed burnt batter, she was having little success.
Smiling, Willow raised her glass to her lips. God, she's gonna be a wonderful mother one day, she thought suddenly, choking on her juice when the thought registered.
"Are you okay, sweetie?" Tara asked, keeping one eye on Dawn and the flammable stove she was near.
"Ye-yeah. 'M fine." Willow waved her off before wiping the citrus liquid off her chin.
Where the hell did that come from?
They had never really talked about having kids before, not really, but Willow knew that Tara wanted children even if she never said anything. Part of her realized that one reason for her silence was that Tara had never thought she could have children. Not when she was so afraid that she might be something evil. Even so, Willow could see it. There was something about the way she'd light up whenever someone brought their child into the shop or the way that her voice lightened when she spoke about the things she used to do with her mother that made Willow realize that Tara wanted to share those things with her own child one day.
And Willow wanted to share that with Tara.
Willow had never really thought about having kids before, but now she could see it all clearly. A small girl with Tara's eyes and her smile or a little boy with dark blonde hair and a familiar half smile. Tara sitting under a tall tree nursing a tiny infant while big sister napped peacefully curled up comfortably against her mother's knee. Willow herself frantically buzzing around trying to get everything ready on the first day of school. The rest of the Scoobies would be there, too: Xander hauling in beautifully hand-carved toy chests, Anya being banned from ever telling bedtime stories again, and Dawn volunteering to baby-sit and letting them stay up way too late. Her thoughts were interrupted by a plate of pancakes being pushed towards her.
"Pancakes a la…me," Dawn said handing Willow a fork. "I couldn't get them round or funny shape, so their, um both," she explained gesturing at the oddly formed pancake.
Willow smiled, "Cool, hybrid pancakes."
Dawn returned the smile and turned back to the stove. Willow watched Dawn as she poured more batter into the pan before shifting her gaze to Tara. Tara was leaning slightly against the counter next to the sink, looking on at the scene before her with what could almost pass as a content smile on her face. She caught Willow staring at her and asked, "What?"
"I love you," Willow replied simply. She knew that she would do anything to make Tara happy, to build that future with her.
"I love you, too," Tara beamed.
Yes Willow decided, we can be happy.