Boris Yeltsin - Thanks!
Guest -I'm so glad to hear you're going to keep writing! I'm finding it soooo helpful right now (and thanks so much for taking the time to leave me reviews, they're so motivating!)
Katherynne the Great - It had to happen but it is very sad. Yes, I think Robyn has better taste in dog names than Willow! I hope you're coping okay with everything. I know my anxiety is sky high but the internet is a great tool and being able to write and post is huge for me (reading too, thank god for kindles!) I tend to prefer milk/while chocolate to dark but in something like cookies or desserts then it's delicious! I will certainly keep that recipe in mind! (Trying to eat healthy right now...lockdown limited my choices for about a week and I consumed a lot of sugar!)
bluepaintbox - Thanks so much for reading!
ImSoCooliPissIceCubes - Oh yay, I'm so glad you found it!
Chapter Twelve
Willow watched the casket holding Myra Potts be lowered into the ground and was surprised by the profound sadness she felt considering she'd only ever waved to the woman in passing.
One of her hands was on the small of Tara's back and the other held Robyn to her leg while JJ stood in front of them all with his hands clasped, taking in this new experience stoically. He held Woofy's leash, who sat at JJ's feet respectfully like he knew exactly what was going on.
Willow felt Robyn start gyrating against her leg and bent down to gently extract her.
"You okay Robbie?" she whispered.
Robyn looked up at Willow while rubbing her fist into her eye socket.
"There's cwying in my eyes."
"Oh baby," Willow comforted quietly and lifted Robyn up to snuggle against her chest.
Robyn sniffled into Willow but was comforted enough to not let it go any further.
The priest finished his prayer and Mrs. Potts's children took turns to cast some soil over her casket. Woofy suddenly laid his paws down at the edge of the grave and started to howl.
This caused a few more tears to be shed around the graveside but with a final little whimper, Woofy stopped and came back to lay on JJ's feet on his shiny new black shoes.
JJ hunched down to pet him and Willow felt her heart clench.
The service ended and Tara turned to Willow.
"I just want to offer my sympathies to her children."
Willow nodded and jostled Robyn more securely against her body.
"We'll wait in the car."
She stepped forward and placed a hand on JJ's shoulder.
"Ready to go back to the car buddy?"
JJ looked up, back down at Woofy and then up again to nod. He stood again and Woofy came willingly as they walked out of the graveyard over to where Willow's car was parked.
"You were so brave and respectful," Willow said to him gently when she noticed his eyes stayed on the ground, "Do you want to talk about anything?"
JJ shook his head.
"Can I stay out with Woofy?"
"You can sit with the door open, but I don't want you walking around the parking lot," Willow replied, "Another car might not see Woofy and hurt him accidentally."
JJ nodded that he understood and sat into the backseat with his legs hanging out.
Robyn was still sniffling, so Willow sat into the driver's seat and gathered her in a bigger hug.
"It's okay, baby. It's okay to be sad and cry when you need to."
She looked in the rearview mirror at JJ who glanced back and Willow offered him a little smile.
Robyn slowly quieted, not even quite understanding why she was crying in the first place but feeling it nonetheless. As Willow stroked her back she caught a little ticklish spot and Robyn let out a little giggle. Willow smiled and tickled her again gently until she could see a permanent smile settle on her daughter's face.
She settled Robyn on her knee and kissed her forehead.
"Who loves you?"
"Mom-mah," Robyn announced with a definite nod of her head.
"And?" Willow prompted.
Robyn grinned.
"Mom-mee."
"And?" Willow asked again, the corners of her mouth curling upward.
"Jay-Jay," Robyn clapped her hands and Willow was sure she heard a small chuckle from the back that accompanied the eye roll she caught in the mirror.
"And?" Willow asked one more time, her voice rising playfully.
Robyn seemed shocked for a moment to be asked and then her eyes blinked excitedly as she realized she knew the answer.
"Bubb-eees!"
"That's right, the babies love you too," Willow replied, closing her arms around Robyn's back and cradling her from side to side, "We all love our Robbie-Robs."
She kissed the top of Robyn's head multiple times as she stood out from the car again and brought her to the back to sit in her car seat. She strapped her in and noticed Tara walking across the lot so asked JJ to sit in with Woofy.
"Juice," Robyn requested, smacking her lips together.
"Uh uh," Willow shook her head.
"Juice pwease," Robyn amended with a slightly protruding bottom lip.
Willow cleared her throat.
"Thank you for saying please, but no. There's no eating or drinking in Momma's car," she replied firmly, "I'll find your sippy cup with your water."
"No wan' watah!" Robyn protested, flailing her little arms.
"Then nothing," Willow said as she closed the door again and returned to the driver's seat, "Can't wait for that minivan to be delivered."
Tara sat into the passenger seat moments later and looked back to check on the kids.
"I talked to Mrs. Potts's children and they are very grateful that they know Woofy has a new family," she said in a gentle tone, "They said she would be very happy to know he's with great kids who love him and take care of him."
She petted the dog's head, who was now lying beside JJ, who had snapped him into his special safety belt. She looked at JJ with a sad smile and then over to Robyn who had turned from blubbery to grumpy since she'd last seen her.
"Robyn, what's wrong?"
Robyn's little arms crossed petulantly across her chest.
"Momma no lemme dwink!"
Tara glanced over to Willow.
"Why won't you let her drink?"
"She wanted juice!" Willow protested, "Do you remember what JJ did with the grape juice when he was her age?"
"I don't even remember that!" JJ protested at his good name being brought into this.
Tara sighed at Willow, exasperated.
"Are you seriously being this petty, today of all days?"
Willow's teeth clenched but she let it go as Tara reached into her bag to give Robyn a juice box.
Willow looked over at Robyn as best she could through the rear-facing seat.
"Please don't spill."
Robyn just grinned and took a long, slow victorious sip through the straw.
Willow's nose scrunched and she looked ahead forlorn as she started the car. She had to wait to let the hearse pull out again and that sobered her pretty quickly. She reached over and put her hand on Tara's thigh and just rubbed softly, letting Tara know she was there.
She felt Tara's hand cover hers and hold on.
Back at the house, Robyn grinned a toothy grin for Willow as Willow unstrapped her to take her from the car.
"No spill Mom-mah."
"Hey, good girl," Willow smiled back, kissing the top of Robyn's head as she set her down.
She cheerily grabbed the empty juice box Robyn had left behind.
Except it wasn't quite empty and the pressure of her grabbing it made the last spurt of juice squeeze out and stain the interior.
"Goddammit!"
Inside, Tara refilled Woofy's food bowl and took some meat out of the fridge for dinner and just generally tried to find things to keep her busy.
The kids ran in and out with the dog but she didn't think to correct them; she was glad to see them be able to be happy.
After a little while had passed, Willow appeared with her phone pressed to her ear.
"Uh, let me check."
She put it against her shoulder to muffle the speaker.
"Um, Tare?" she asked, noting the way Tara was half-leaning on a stool, half hunched over the island like she'd become too exhausted to move and had just leaned on the spot, "The dealership just called. They want to deliver the minivan today. Is that okay?"
Tara forced herself up and held her back.
"Yeah," she agreed wearily, "Sure."
Willow finalized the details with the dealership and hung up. She came over to Tara and rubbed her back gently.
"Do you need some space?"
Tara sighed gratefully for the contact on her back.
"Maybe?"
The kiddie smiles were great but she wasn't able to compartmentalize her emotions quite so easily.
Willow gave Tara a side-hug from behind and kissed her cheek.
"I will…take the kids to the arcade. Burn off some energy on Dance Dance Revolution."
Tara sighed again, a little easier this time.
"Thank you."
Willow thought of griping about the car but thought better of it when she saw how sad Tara still looked at losing her friend. It reminded her to give Mrs. Michelson a call and see how the old book store in Sunnydale was doing.
"Remember when we'd do that on dates?" she asked instead, smiling softly, "We were good."
Tara couldn't help but smile back.
"The only dancing I do these days is in the five seconds between when I realize I have to pee and when the pee is coming out. Is this what you envisioned when you asked me to marry you?"
Willow kissed the side of Tara's neck from behind.
"No," she admitted in a low tone, "I never knew it could be this good."
Tara reached back and covered Willow's hand on her shoulder. Willow leaned up and placed her chin there and they just had a quiet moment.
Until a crashing sound and annoying child-sized bickering made Willow pull away.
"I'm on it. Make some tea and take some time for yourself. We're out of here for an hour. JJ, Robyn, come on. We're going to the arcade and if you come quickly I'll give you $10 each to spend."
Tara didn't even argue the bribery; she was too tired. She made tea as Willow advised and after giving the children a quick hug goodbye, she sat on the couch with a pot and cup and put her feet up. She'd stood more today than she had in a while and everything was screaming in protest.
She tried not to think about the twelve long weeks she had left to go with her stomach just growing more and more swollen, along with multiple other body parts. She felt like she was starting to look like helium was being pumped into all of her extremities.
The warm tea felt nice as she cradled the cup between her palms so she just closed her eyes and appreciated the moment of solitude to say a private goodbye toward the heavens.
After a while, she heard activity from the driveway and watched Woofy jump up, on alert.
She pulled herself up into a standing position and started working toward the front door.
"It's okay, Woofs," she reassured vocally when she wasn't able to bend down to pet him.
Woofy lay down but stayed in the hallway to keep his eye on things.
Tara opened the door expecting to see the new minivan being towed into the driveway but it was a woman leaving a bundle of flowers on the doorstep.
"Rose," Tara said in surprise as the woman looked up, equally surprised.
"Tara," she replied, standing up straight again with the flowers still in her hands, "I didn't think anybody was home. There were no cars."
"Willow took the kids out in her car," Tara explained with a gently creased brow, "We're waiting on the replacement we had to get after the crash."
Rose visibly swallowed.
"My heart still stops for a moment when I think of the picture of the wreckage you sent."
"Mine too," Tara admitted and looked away for a moment, "But we were going to have to upgrade anyway."
She ran a hand down from her shoulder over her heart, then stepped back to open the door fully.
"Come in."
Rose cautiously stepped over the threshold.
"I really didn't mean to impose," she said with a slight nervous shake in her voice, "I-I know it's a tough day. I just wanted to leave you these."
She offered Tara the bunch of flowers, which came accompanied by a sympathy card and a box of candy.
"Runts," Tara smiled.
"You loved them when you were little," Rose replied with a self-deprecating smile, "Silly to think—"
"My Mom would buy a box when we went to the movies," Tara interrupted, though not rudely, "She would always give me all of the strawberries because they looked like hearts."
"I remember that," Rose replied softly.
Tara found the nostalgic craving overwhelming and broke into the box then and there. She tossed a small handful into her mouth, cautious not to spike her sugars, and immediately felt like a little girl sitting in the front row of the movie theater, popping candies into her mouth while she watched The Little Mermaid on screen and fell in love with her first redhead.
She seemed to realize how she must look and sheepishly held the open box out.
"I'm sorry, do you want some?"
Rose just raised a hand and shook her head.
"I'll leave you alone," she offered and began to leave.
"You don't have to," Tara cut in quickly as she swallowed what was in her mouth, "I'm just sitting around waiting for our new car to be delivered."
Rose held the strap of her purse on her shoulder and hesitated.
"Are you sure?"
"I'd appreciate the company," Tara admitted, transferring the flowers between her hands to hold them better, "Willow took the kids out. I just needed some space to process but I think I have. What are you doing over this way?"
"Just some shopping," Rose shrugged noncommittally and Tara smiled softly at what was unsaid.
"You were really kind to remember me."
"Your message sounded like you were very fond of your neighbor," Rose said kindly, "I'm sure she was a lovely woman."
Tara nodded sadly but didn't feel that stab of grief that had been there even minutes earlier.
"She didn't have any family living near. We became friends. I couldn't bear to think of anyone lonely."
Rose reached up and placed her palm on Tara's cheek.
"You're just like your Momma. Kindness is innate."
Tara blushed and ducked her head, but was smiling.
"Tea?"
Rose nodded agreeably and Tara gestured with the hand holding the flowers.
"Let me go put these in water. This is our new dog Woofy by the way."
Woofy barked in greeting.
Tara guided Rose to the living room and detoured into the kitchen to get a vase. She took the flowers and splayed them out in the water, then brought them back into the living room with an extra cup for the tea.
"I love this bouquet," she said as she set it down in the middle of the coffee table and let her fingers brush against some of the petals in the mixed bunch, "Willow loves pink roses and I love yellow daisies. It's so colorful."
She leaned down to get the sweet, fresh scent and felt her soul replenish.
"They're beautiful. Thank you so much."
She set the second cup on the tray and moved to sit beside Rose on the couch but ended up kind of falling in instead. She blushed.
"I'm sorry, grace has gone out the window in the last few weeks."
"Your mother was a heavy carrier too," Rose replied with an understanding smile, "We thought you were going to be a boy because she ended up so big, but you weren't even a big baby in the end. Six pounds, three if I remember correctly."
This was thrilling and surreal to Tara all at once; to hear of her mother's secret life like this. We thought, Tara couldn't help but throw around her mind, like I was theirs. She wished she could remember more of those pockets of her life where she had a second parent who wasn't an abusive alcoholic, where she had a sister, where she had a real family.
Memories did push into her mind sometimes when she and Rose spoke and learned more of those times but she was so young and what did come forward was often fleeting, and probably always would be. But just to know she was on the precipice and she hadn't even known it…sometimes it felt cruel to have that knowledge with nothing she could do to change it.
She idly poured Rose a cup of tea as her heart slowed again to a normal rhythm.
As she handed the cup over she looked out the bay window over Rose's shoulder and was quite sure this time that she could see the minivan arriving on the back of a tow truck.
"Oh," she said in surprise, having kind of forgotten about it, "I think that's our new car coming in."
As she struggled to stand again, she rubbed her temple nervously.
"I shouldn't have sent Willow out. She's the car buff, she'll know if everything is okay."
Rose just smiled and stood with her.
"I think I can help."
Tara was very agreeable to help and walked out with Rose to take delivery of their new Subaru Ascent.
"Nice model," Rose smiled at Tara before walking further out into the driveway to consult with the delivery driver.
As Willow drove home after getting a little-too-competitive at Skee-Ball and embarrassing the heck out of JJ by trying out Dance Dance Revolution by herself (she thought she'd retained her skills quite well and Robyn seemed to enjoy watching her, giggling and clapping the whole way through), she hoped she'd given Tara enough time to decompress.
Robyn wasn't wearing a pull-up and Willow had no spares in her car. Since Robyn only had a brief nap before the funeral, her capabilities at anticipating her own needs were not full capacity. Willow gave them as long as she was comfortable but she had to bring them back because if her car got urinated on she might be the one to throw a tantrum.
In the backseat, Robyn batted at the rattle hanging from her car seat handle like it was her personal maize ball.
"Mom-mah?"
Willow tensed.
"Yeah?"
Robyn looked very thoughtful for a moment as her head cocked in her seat.
"How spell ay-bee-cee-dee-eee-eff-gee?"
Willow's eyebrows rose and then almost immediately furrowed.
"Uhh…" she replied, her mouth pursing tightly, "Let me get back to you on that one."
"Momma, what's going to happen to Mrs. Potts's house?" JJ interjected before Robyn could threaten Willow's orthographical understanding of the alphabet any further.
"Well, her kids will probably sell it, buddy," Willow answered honestly.
JJ frowned.
"They won't take Woofy will they?"
Willow caught his eye in the rearview mirror and shook her head.
"No buddy, Woofy's a Rosenberg-Maclay now."
"Woseberg-Clay," Robyn clapped, recognizing her own name.
Willow smiled and it only increased as she took the corner onto their street.
"Hey look kids! The new car is here!" she pointed ahead excitedly, "It has Wi-Fi! And screens and a great safety rating and you can have all the juice boxes you want and you won't ever have to sit in my car again!"
She immediately tried to laugh off the guilt.
"Because you'll love the minivan so much, of course."
She trailed off with a chuckle and breathed a sigh of relief when she got away with it.
She couldn't pull into the driveway because the new car was there along with another car she didn't recognize, so she pulled up on the curb.
She let JJ out and immediately Robyn started wailing to be let out too.
"I'm coming, I'm coming," Willow said as she moved around to the other side of the car, "You're going to make the whole street think we have a banshee. Do you know what that is? A ghost lady who screams like you!"
She lifted Robyn out of her seat and kissed the top of her head before placing her safely on the driveway.
"Little baby banshee."
She scurried off toward JJ and by the time Willow followed up, she saw the lights on the minivan flash and the distinct sound of unlocking.
She looked up and smiled at Tara in the doorway, holding the keys. She lifted a hand to wave and then slid open the side door of the car so the kids could see inside.
"It's cool, huh?" she said, lifting Robyn in to crawl around inside, "We can put your seat right there, Robbie and JJ you get to have a whole row to yourself! And see there's room for the babies back here when they're born."
JJ sat into 'his' seat and a slow grin spread across his face.
"Cool."
"Very cool," Willow countered with the same kind of grin.
Noticing Tara was waiting at the door, she let the kids have another quick look around before bringing them inside.
"Hi," Willow greeted and popped a kiss on Tara's lips as they met in the doorway.
"Hi," Tara returned sweetly with a tender smile, "Kids, I want to introduce you to someone."
She gestured over her shoulder for Willow to follow.
"You too."
Willow closed the door and followed them into the living room. Willow politely shook the woman's hand as the introduction was made.
"This is Rose."
"Ohhhh," Willow said in understanding, giving an extra squeeze in her handshake for warmth, "It is very nice to meet you, Rose."
Rose blushed a little under that intentful greeting.
"Hello everyone."
Tara put a hand on JJ's back and the other on top of Robyn's head.
"Rose, this is JJ and Robyn and Willow. Rose was…a friend of my Mommy's."
Robyn looked up curiously.
"Mommy have Mommy?"
Tara nodded. They had talked about her before but didn't expect Robyn to retain it.
"I did. She died too, like Mrs. Potts," Tara said with a sad smile.
Robyn picked up on it straight away and frowned deeply.
"Sad?"
"Sometimes I'm sad. I miss her," Tara admitted, "But I get to remember her when I see Rose and we talk about her and that's how we keep her in our hearts. Let me show you a picture."
Rose swallowed deeply and closed her eyes for a moment with her hand over her heart.
Tara took Robyn's hand and led her over to the mantle where there was a framed picture of her mother. She handed it to Robyn to look at and glanced over to JJ.
"Do you want to see it, Jake? I know you've seen it before."
"Of Grandma Lisa?" JJ asked and got an affirmative nod as he approached. He looked at the picture over Robyn's shoulder, "She looks like you, Mom."
He looked up at Tara.
"Can we put a picture of Mrs. Potts up too?"
Tara nodded and squeezed his arm.
"Sure, sweetie."
Still standing in front of the couch Willow and Rose made awkward eye contact.
"So, you knew baby Tara. Was she always so cute?"
"Born that way," Rose replied fondly as both women ignored Tara blushing off to the side, "Except for her fondness for shoving things up her nose. I only left my toolbox open once, I can tell you."
Willow's eyes widened as wide as they'd ever been.
"I KNEW IT!"
She looked over at Tara with a grin, who was purposefully ignoring her. Willow rocked back and forth on her heels and smiled again at Rose.
"Did you see the cool new wheels?"
"Your S class?" Rose asked with an arched eyebrow.
"No the—" Willow started to correct, then looked at Rose curiously, "You know cars?"
"I like to think so," Rose replied humbly, "Used to own a few dealerships."
Willow's eyes widened again.
"Know any good interior specialists?"
They talked shop for a bit until Tara gave Willow the eye to watch the kids for a moment. Willow politely excused herself and swapped places with Tara, who stood alongside Rose again.
"I hope I didn't insult you with the way I described you to the children," she said with a furrow of concern between her eyes, "I wasn't sure how you would want…"
"Oh," Rose replied, crossing her arms gently over her chest, "Whatever you feel is appropriate."
"Well they have two moms so it's not going to be a big shocker," Tara joked with a crooked smile.
Rose blinked several times, lost in thought and that familiar quirk of lips.
"It took me a long time to be able to talk about her accurately. Those few minutes we talked before I knew that you knew…it was surprising how cut deep I felt about the idea of denying her again."
"Who was she?" Tara asked softly.
Rose swallowed and lifted her chin.
"My wife," she said finally, exhaling a breath on the last word, "Not legally…obviously. But we did exchange rings."
Tara smiled and crossed her arms loosely on her chest too.
"Do you still have it?"
"Of course," Rose replied as if there could be any other answer.
Tara felt a pang of pain in her heart.
"I wish I'd known back then so I could…salvage her ring for you or…I hate to think that my father probably just sold it for a bottle of whiskey."
"Oh, no. I have it," Rose reassured, quickly shaking off that thought, "She couldn't wear it at your house so it was always left in mine."
She placed her palm over the base of her throat and looked thoughtful for a moment before slipping her fingers under to pull out the chain from under her shirt, where two rings hung together.
"I don't really show it off but you are an obvious exception."
Tara had to stop herself from reaching out to touch them but did stare for a long moment. Finally, she lifted her gaze back up to Rose with an unshed tear in her eye.
"I wish I could have been at your wedding."
"You were," Rose winked and took Tara's hand to squeeze it before placing it on Tara's belly.
Tara understood and smiled from ear to ear.
She had to sit but she stayed forward on the seat so she was still close to everyone.
"Kids?" she called again, "You remember I told you Rose was my Mom's friend?"
Everyone looked at her and Tara smiled up at Rose and then back at the children.
"She was my Mom's wife."
Willow smiled too and nodded respectfully at Rose.
"Like Momma is my wife," Tara clarified when there was no reaction.
"I know what wife means, Mom," JJ all but rolled his eyes.
"Watch it," Willow warned, poking him gently at the back of his shoulder.
"I wife!" Robyn announced cheerily as she squeezed her plush tiger toy, "Mah-wee Stwy-pee."
"Can I come to the wedding?" Willow asked and Robyn had to spend a long time thinking about it.
"There you go," Tara smiled at Rose, "No big deal to them."
Rose exhaled through a grin, sitting beside Tara again.
"Amazing to see."
"Would you like to stay for dinner?" Tara offered, both kind and hopeful.
"Are you sure I'm not imposing?" Rose asked with a flattened brow that facilitated an intent look to make sure Tara wasn't placating her.
"Don't be silly," Tara dismissed, "Willow doesn't mind, do you?"
Willow looked over, still in the middle of trying to wrangle an invite to the first-ever documented banshee/stuffed tiger wedding.
"Hmm?"
"Rose staying for dinner?" Tara clarified.
"Oh no," Willow shook her head agreeably, "Please do. It's nice to have a friendly face around who can implicate my perfect wife in all kinds of shenanigans."
She extricated herself from wedding planning and walked over.
"Speaking of, baby — you need to eat."
"Yes," Tara nodded as she checked the time.
"Sit," Willow said before Tara even had a chance to try and stand, "I'll bring you something."
"Thank you," Tara smiled and leaned up to give Willow a kiss just as Willow leaned down.
Willow brushed her fingers against Tara's as she left and Tara watched her go. Rose watched her watching.
"She's lovely," she said in a quiet, almost teasing voice, "Lisa would approve."
"Oh, I'm pretty sure she sent her to me," Tara smiled serenely, then place both hands over her belly, "We named the babies."
"Oh how wonderful," Rose said with an excited bounce in her words and body.
Tara motioned to take Rose's hand, who offered it obligingly. Tara held it under her stomach.
"This is Emily Eve," she said as she let their hands follow the curve upward, "And this…is Lily Lisa."
Rose's breath audibly caught and Tara felt her hand froze on her stomach. There was an entirely still moment just between them under Robyn's tiny feet started to stamp.
"Give Jay-Jay!"
"No, it's not yours!" JJ protested, swiping back his Lego piece he was trying to build with.
Tara blinked and shook her head, throwing her hands up in the air.
"And this is what we decided to double down on."
"I can hear you hollering from in here!" Willow yelled from the kitchen.
"We can hear you hollering from in there!" JJ retorted.
"JJ," Tara corrected softly, reached out to rub his shoulder and let him know she was there.
He glanced over apologetically and Woofy came over requesting pets.
Robyn suddenly dropped her claim on the brick and jumped up yelling at the top of her voice.
"Need potty!"
"Willow!" Tara called out, knowing there was no way she could move fast enough.
"I heard, I'm coming!" Willow yelled back, skidding into the room moments later, "Hold it, Robbie!"
She yanked Robyn up under the arms and ran flailing with her toward the stairs to bring her up to the bathroom.
Tara just gestured around and could only smile.
"I am so sorry."
Rose shook her head.
"Please, don't be," she replied emphatically, "My— Lisa would have loved to be part of this wonderful, real family."
Tara suddenly felt two kicks on opposite sides of her stomach and a peace came over her. She felt her mother closer than she ever had and that piece that had been missing clicked into place. She smiled.
"She is," she replied confidently.
"I think so," Rose agreed and it seemed like perhaps that was the first time she'd ever allowed herself to believe that might be true.
And that's when Tara knew she could change the past and had already. Not what had happened, but what she allowed to influence her. Those snapshots of an almost-family she had as a child had imprinted enough to allow her to form her own family as an adult.
"Would you excuse me one moment?"
"Of course," Rose smiled, already at ease and smiled over at JJ who was still intently building between comforting pets of the dog, "You know, JJ, I have a nephew who once had a whole wall made of Lego."
JJ's head snapped up with his eyes as wide as saucers.
"You can do that?!"
Tara walked out of the room and made her way toward the steps.
This happiness she felt inside her stemmed from one place; one person; the only one who she could ever have built this life with.
She needed to go kiss her wife.
Right now.
Even if it was in front of their toddler on the potty.
Especially if it was in front of their toddler on the potty.
