Thanks to everyone who read this and who still have love for these characters all these years later!
Big thanks to Boris Yeltsin, Katherynne the Great, bluexaphyre, bluepaintbox, ImSoCooliPissIceCubes, I'm Missy, Tara, me again, JustJane18 and various anon guests for taking the time to leave feedback!
Epilogue
Six Years Later
Tara walked through her office after printing some documents and sat back into her chair - the ergonomic one Willow had always wanted to buy her and she'd finally allowed.
She looked around at the suspiciously at the empty cubicles nearby.
"Where are Alice and Michelle?"
One of their two new fresh-out-of-college recruits, Joshua and Brandon, popped up from behind his partition.
"They cut out early," Josh said and then Brandon suddenly appeared from the other side.
"You should too."
They happened to be identical twins and Tara may have been a little biased in hiring them. They weren't bad at the job, they were quite caring in fact, but they did need a little bit more professional molding.
"Thanks, boys, but I think I'll stay and catch up on some paperwork," Tara replied pointedly, and started to repeatedly press the screen's buttons on the computer that hadn't been replaced for the entire time she'd been working there, "If my computer will co-operate."
She looked under her desk to see if the power plug was loose but it was stuck right in. After a few more attempts to produce any kind of screen movement, she threw up her hands.
"Okay. IT isn't going to come out this late. I guess the universe is telling me something."
She stood and grabbed her purse.
"I need those foster action plans on my desk by 10 am."
"You got it, boss!" Brandon saluted, then when Tara was sufficiently far enough away not to hear, he continued, "She's not even going to be here tomorrow. Can you say automatic extension?"
"How'd you make her computer stay off?" Josh asked.
Brandon held up a cable that led nowhere.
"Dummy plug."
"Old school," Brandon complimented and held up his hand for a high five, "Nice."
Out in the car, Tara switched through some radio stations as she pulled out of the parking lot.
"Speaking at the White House today, President Warren—"
"The moon mining mission today hit a snag when—"
"The fate of upcoming movie Avatar 4 has again been called into question after allegations that—"
Finally, some Destiny's Child played on the oldies channel and Tara left it there to play in the background as she drove.
It was a nice time to leave work; the sweet spot between when schools got out and when offices started to close up. The streets were relatively clear and she could sing along with how Bootylicious she was without a care in the world.
When she got home, she was surprised to see Willow's car already in the driveway.
She parked up beside it and let herself into the house.
"Willow, are you home already?" she called out as she closed the door, "Did you remember to pick up Lily's Ritalin? I rescheduled our therapy appointment like you asked…"
She trailed off and paused.
Something was off.
All of the doors were closed, for one.
She took a step inside and noticed a post-it stuck to the pole at the base of the stairs, telling her to go up. It was in Willow's handwriting.
"…Willow?" she called again, but everything was eerily quiet, "Kids?"
When there was no answer, she resigned herself to whatever plan her mischievous wife and kids were up to.
She made her way upstairs, passing photo frames on the wall along the way.
A picture of Lisa and Rose lived there now, along with one of Ira and Michelle all dressed up in black and white respectively, and photos of Mrs. Potts and Ruth.
A collage of Lily and Emily's first photo in their crib; JJ and Woofy getting a rosette at the local dog show; Robyn winning her first soccer league; Willow and Tara cutting a ribbon outside a store.
There were photos of them all together, of course. Some were taken from holidays like their Christmas card one year of them all wearing their animal hats so lovingly knitted by their missed neighbor. Some were taken on vacations or Halloween; the most prominent one from the twins' first birthday when Willow had pulled off her Cat In The Hat theme and fulfilled her dreams of dressing the them up as Thing 1 and Thing 2.
Tara had to give it to her wife, it was all that the neighborhood talked about for weeks.
Upstairs, a new trail of post-its led Tara to hers and Willow's bedroom. Inside, a gown cover lay across the bed with a note that said 'wear me'.
Tara unzipped it and her brow furrowed when she saw it was her wedding dress, which hadn't even been out of the back of her closet in many years.
"What on earth…"
She took it from the bag, where another note was pressed to it saying 'just wear me' and she had to laugh.
"Alright, Willow," she said with amusement but wasn't sure it was going to fit after decades and babies and surgeries (and plenty of wine and cheese too).
She undressed down to her already-matching bra and panties and stepped into the dress with a slightly bracing look on her face. To her surprise, it fit like a glove.
She turned around in it and smiled as it swished around her ankles, then held her bust, which she still filled out nicely.
"Wow," she whispered to herself as she smoothed her hand over her stomach.
After putting on the shoes that were left out for her — white heels that were thoughtfully supplemented with gel insoles — she followed instructions to go back downstairs. This time she heard another very familiar voice say 'wow'.
"Oh my god, Tara," Willow's eyes glazed from the foot of the stairs, where she too was donning her wedding dress, "You look amazing."
She held her hands out for Tara to take and helped her down the last step.
"And yes I did remember the Ritalin," she grinned, "AND Emily's inhaler, before you ask. I have got this parenting thing down too, you know."
Tara gestured Willow up and down, speechless at how beautiful she looked.
"Willow, what the heck is going on?"
Willow made a little pout but her eyes were dancing playfully.
"You don't remember?"
Tara gestured between them.
"I think I would remember…whatever this is."
Willow grinned and looked up wistfully.
"'On our…20th anniversary, Willow Rosenberg-Maclay, will you—"
"Marry me again," Tara finished softly.
Sudden images flooded her mind of being on one knee as she 'proposed' again in their bedroom while Willow was pregnant, after Willow getting all in a fluster when she thought she'd lost her ring but Tara had just taken it to get cleaned. It had been a moment, just a passing moment between them that Tara hadn't put any stock in. But Willow had.
"I can't believe you remember that."
"I've been planning it ever since that day," Willow smiled tenderly, "And guess what? It's our 20th anniversary today."
Tara felt tears spring to her eyes as she realized what Willow had done. She lifted her hands up a bit helplessly.
"My hair—"
"Looks amazing since you became a brunette?" Willow grinned, "Hard agree."
She placed her hands on the back of Tara's neck and rested their foreheads together.
"You have never looked more beautiful."
Tara smiled through glassy eyes and gently pulled the fabric at her hips.
"I can't believe this still fits me."
Willow just smiled and didn't bother to tell Tara that she'd had both of their dresses altered.
It didn't matter.
It wasn't important.
"Are you ready?"
Tara raised an eyebrow.
"Ready for what exactly?"
"Our wedding," Willow said with mock-exasperation, as she opened the kitchen door, "Now…we have to share a best man."
Inside the door, JJ stood awkwardly filling out his suit as he'd gone through yet another growth spurt in the time between when Willow had bought it from him and today. His teenage face bore the shapely features of the adult he was becoming but his youthful smile betrayed his young age. A typical bout of acne confirmed it.
Tara's hands covered her mouth as she saw him all dressed up.
"And a bridesmaid," Willow continued, pushing the door open enough to see Robyn, her wild strawberry-blonde locks flowing right down her back and her scuffed and dirty sneakers kicking out from under her pink dress, "But we do get a flower girl each."
Willow let the door open fully where Lily and Emily were standing; Lily jumping back and forth on her heels and Emily with her arms bent behind her back, swaying from side to side and her glasses sitting a little bent on her face. They each wore white dresses with poofy skirts and had a basket with pink and white flowers on their arms.
"Oh look at all of you," Tara said, holding her face as she looked back and over them all repeatedly before putting her fingers against JJ's cheeks, "My handsome boy."
"Moooommmm…" JJ protested but didn't twist out of her grasp like he had done many, many times before.
Lily jumped for Tara's attention, spilling a few petals.
"Mommy you're getting married and I'm gonna be your flower girl and Momma says I can have as much cake as I like and it's chocolate cake and do you like my dress and—"
"I love your dress, Lil," Tara replied softly, moving down onto her knees, "And yours, Em. Did you pick it?"
Emily nodded keenly.
"I picked it," Lily jumped it, then glanced sideways, "Emily helped."
"I'm sure you both picked it," Tara replied with a serious nod, "And you both did a great job."
She kissed both of their foreheads and pivoted to Robyn, giving her a half-smile.
"Wearing shorts under there?"
Robyn gave the same smile back.
"Can't play soccer in a dress, Mom."
"Or you could go one day with a little break from soccer," Willow called from behind, "But if you insist, then not in front of the guests. Only in the front yard…"
Robyn opened and closed her mouth mockingly while Willow spoke.
"Don't mock your mother," Tara chastised but she was still smiling.
"Hey!" Willow protested from behind, "What are you doing?"
She dropped to her knees and grabbed Robyn from behind.
"Are you mocking me with silly faces?" she said in the same kind of mocking tone, "Are you? Huh?"
She started to tickle Robyn, who began giggling uncontrollably.
"Oh no…" Tara said, lifting her arm up shakily as if she couldn't control it, "I think it's catching…!"
Her arm flew forward and caught Lily and then her other arm did the same to Emily. She pretended to fight it but lost and started to tickle them too.
In fits of laughter, Robyn tried to twist out of Willow's arms.
"JJ save me!"
JJ cracked a smiled and after a requisite eye roll, he moved to intervene but Willow was too quick and caught his sensitive ankles.
"Hey!" he yelped and grabbed it, "Can we get on with this so I can eat?"
Willow released Robyn with a kiss and stood up to face JJ.
"I'm sorry, has it been whole minutes since you last cleared out my fridge?"
"Leave him alone," Tara added, making her way back up to a standing position again, "He's a growing boy."
"I'm a growing boy," JJ teased Willow and stuck out his tongue.
Willow stuck hers out back and then smiled at Tara.
"You ready?"
"No," Tara laughed, "Not even slightly. But I've never wanted to do anything more."
Willow nodded to JJ who stepped up and opened the sliding door to the back yard. He pressed a button on his phone and the opening bars of Peter Gabriel's 'Book of Love' began to play.
"Oh, Willow," Tara said, placing a hand against her heart as she remembered the first time they got ready to walk down the aisle to that song.
"Em, Lil, go," Willow pushed their backs gently, "Like we practiced."
Lily and Emily walked outside and turned toward where the ceremony was set up. There was a little aisle of red carpet laid out and meandered between rows of chairs that led to a wooden chuppah. It was carved with small hearts, Ws and Ts and was strewn with garlands of pink daisies.
The other half of the yard had empty tables laid out in an L shape with white tablecloths and there was an additional table already piled generously with bottles of alcohol and a big bucket of ice underneath.
Big outdoor heaters surrounded the area in a semi-circle and roof lights hung down from the house, just starting to glow warmly as the sky very slowly turned from blue to purple.
Emily made her way down the middle aisle, shyly averting her gaze from anyone as she gently threw out some petals. Lily did a cartwheel, losing the entire contents of her basket in the process and then did somersaults until she reached the end.
Once at the front, Michelle pulled Emily onto her lap and Ira kept a loose grip on Lily while she bounced around excitedly.
Inside, Robyn clung out of JJ's arm as they started the same walk. They managed to pull it off without incident and broke off to wait either side of the chuppah for their parents.
Willow held out her hand for Tara and Tara took it.
"Let's do this all over again."
On a perfect romantic swell, they stepped out together and every one of their friends and family, who were sitting out there on a Tuesday afternoon just to celebrate with them, stood and clapped. Even Garrett and Will from across the street had clearly taken time off of work to be there.
Tara felt misty-eyed and smiled at everyone gratefully.
The song finished before they got to the front but only by a couple of steps. It allowed everyone to settle while Willow and Tara situated themselves under the canopy.
Tara's eyes roamed over the chuppah, admiring it, then they finally settled again on Willow. Both sets of hands clasped each other and they shared a smile.
Tara waited a moment, then looked around, expecting to see a celebrant of some sort.
"There isn't one," Willow said upon recognizing Tara's confusion and understanding immediately where it stemmed from, "I didn't get a celebrant because I don't need anyone to guide me in telling you how much I love you and how much every second of the last twenty years has been more than I ever could have dreamed."
Tara swallowed some emotion and smiled. Willow tugged Tara's hands gently.
"Tara," she started reverently, "My Tara. I forgot my vows the first time around because I was so overcome with the fact that this beautiful woman was standing in front of me about to become my wife. So this time, I wasn't going to leave it to chance. I employed some help."
Robyn skidded in front of them.
"Mom, you light Momma up whenever she's in the room."
Lily took the spot and pulled at the skirt of Tara's dress.
"Mommy your eyes are so pretty that Momma spends days lost in them," she reiterated proudly, "I don't know how you can get lost in eyes because they're not very big but Momma said I had to say that exactly right so I practiced and I got it right, didn't I Momma?!"
"You sure did baby," Willow complimented softly.
Tara winked at her and Emily came up to stand shyly between them.
"M-M-Mommy," Emily started and looked back to Willow, who gave her an encouraging nod, "M-Momma loves you so much. She, she can't even count. A-And she knows a lot of numbers."
Everyone laughed and Emily smiled softly at the reaction.
"That was perfect, Em," Willow whispered.
"Great job, sweetie," Tara added to her and squeezed her hand as she passed.
Willow mimed 'so much' to Tara with her hands while JJ stepped forward.
"Mom," he said, his voice still a little too deep for his face, "Momma asked me to say that spending all of these years loving, honoring, and cherishing you has been the biggest privilege of her life."
Willow and Tara smiled at each other.
"But we want to hijack this to say…"
All of the kids rushed to stand with JJ and spoke in unison.
"We couldn't ask for better Moms!"
"Ohh!" Tara said, holding a hand to her heart and stepped forward to hug them all.
Willow did the same while holding back tears and there were a few more claps from the seats.
The kids ran off to sit in the front row with Ira and Michelle and Willow took Tara's hands again.
She took a short breath and smiled.
"Okay. So, one thing I can handle myself: the numbers. As established, I know a lot of them."
Tara raised an eyebrow, intrigued and Willow retained a wide smile.
"Four kids. Three homes. Two cities. One dog."
Woofy barked from inside the house and everybody laughed. Willow kept her face fixed on Tara.
" 631,152,000 seconds. 10,519,200 minutes. 175,320 hours. 7305 days."
She stepped closer to Tara so the fronts of their shoes touched.
"One life. One heart. One soul. One love," she said, getting choked up for a moment, "My love."
She took in a deep breath to stave too much emotion overwhelming her.
"Twenty. Years," she said emphatically, squeezing Tara's palms, "And we're only getting started. That I can vow to you. For infinity."
There was a small round of claps and then Tara cleared her throat.
"Well, unlike some people, I've only known this was happening for the past ten minutes or so and have nothing prepared."
More laughter followed while Tara took a minute to compose her thoughts. She finally just looked into Willow's eyes and knew what to say.
"When I met you, I could never imagine what was waiting for me twenty years down the line. Where we'd live or what we'd do or…" she stopped and looked to the front row, "The wonderful family that we'd make."
She looked back at Willow.
"But what I did know, even in that first spark of meeting, was that you would still be in my life. That you would be my life. When you looked at me I saw the future in your eyes. And when you look at me now I still see the future," she said as her smile radiated across her face, "My love. My light. My everything. My always. You have my heart. It's yours forever. It doesn't just beat for you, it beats with you. I will continue to walk with you, side-by-side, through the shadows and into the light until it beats no more."
She lifted Willow's hands upward and kissed each one.
"That I can vow to you. For infinity."
They shared a lingering grin that stretched across their faces.
"Can we get our ring bearer?" Willow asked.
JJ whistled and Woofy came running out in a little doggie tux with a ring pillow tied to his back. He sat between Willow and Tara's feet and accepted plenty of pets for pulling off his stunt. Willow took the ring box secured on his back and popped it open, revealing two white gold bands with five brilliant round cut diamonds and smaller diamonds going around the rest of the band.
Tara's eyes widened considerably.
Willow took one out and pushed it onto Tara's finger.
"I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine."
Tara swallowed a lump and with a slight shake in her fingers, took the second ring, admiring its heaviness, and pressed it onto Willow's finger.
"I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine."
Willow left the ring box down again and took Tara's face in her hands to plant a smooch on her lips.
After lingering a moment, she pulled away and stomped her foot on the piece of fabric obscuring some glass near one of the chuppah poles.
"Mazel tov!" everyone called to the sky.
"Shalom!" Buffy's lone voice rang out followed swiftly by, "God-DAMMIT! AGAIN!"
Willow giggled and Tara leaned into her ear.
"Nice bling."
"I thought you'd like it," Willow grinned, "Don't say I don't take care of you."
Tara took Willow's face in her hands this time and kissed her repeatedly; soft kisses that lingered and promised and reassured all at once.
Willow paused, briefly, aware they still had an audience. She looked out to the crowd.
"Um, there will be caterers with food shortly but please help yourself to drinks at the drinks table, and thank you so much, everyone, for coming!"
"Thank you!" Tara echoed and gladly let Willow pull her off into a corner, accidentally pushing her into her own rose bush, "Willow! You disrupted my soil."
"Oh what a horrible slight I have made upon you, however, could I rectify it?" Willow grinned sarcastically.
She placed her palms under Tara's shoulders, who held Willow at her waist.
"Sorry. You know I get thorny about my roses."
Willow waggled her eyebrows.
"And you know I get horny when you speak thorny to me."
They giggled together and for a moment looked like those two blushing kids sitting in a swan boat waiting for the other to kiss them.
With twenty years of confidence and love to bolster them, neither waited for the other this time.
Just like on their first wedding day, they stayed kissing in the shadows while the party started without them, and just like on their first wedding day, they were interrupted. But they only had themselves to blame for this one, since they had produced the interruption in question.
Robyn came over and tugged on both of their dresses.
"Ew gross," she said with her lips curling up in disgust upon seeing what they were doing, "Moms, can I go with Nana Rose to the market? She says one of the heaters melted all the ice."
"Goddammit," Willow blew out some air in frustration, "They told me it would be fine in the insulated bucket!"
Tara held up her hands to calm Willow.
"It's okay. It's just some ice. It will be replaced soon," she said with a reassuring nod to Willow, then looked back down at Robyn, "Don't pester her for candy."
"No promises," Robyn called back as she ran off, holding her dress above her ankles, "Her Tesla produces so much less CO2, I need the sugar to fuel the glee at not destroying the environment!"
Willow rolled her eyes and smiled at Tara. She offered her hand.
"We have a little social justice activist on our hands. Let's go enjoy our party."
"Willow, everything is beautiful," Tara replied softly, "I'm so touched you've done all this without me even knowing."
Willow winked.
"That's the benefit of marrying a younger woman."
Tara's lips sloped up on one side.
"You're not any younger than me than the last time we got married."
"I'm in a whole different decade," Willow protested indignantly, her chest puffed out.
Tara arched her eyebrow.
"You're going to be 40 in a couple of short months too."
"So let me lap it up until then," Willow grinned and winked again.
She squeezed Tara's hand and they walked back around the rosebush into the party. JJ had put some music on now and the caterers were unpacking the food onto the tables, laying it full with eggplant parmesan, roast beef, and mashed potatoes, mac'n'cheese, lasagna, a few different kinds of salads and an assortment of desserts heavy on the chocolate. It was twilight by now and the fairy lights were really starting to glow.
As they stepped back in, Ira was quick to clear his throat and let his voice fill the yard.
"Ahem," he caught everyone's attention and brought his arm around to gesture at the couple, "Mrs. and Mrs. Rosenberg-Maclay. For the second time."
From wherever they were standing, all of the guests started to clap and a few threw in some hollers and whistles.
Willow waved like she was the queen and Tara blushed but smiled in gratitude at everyone. She smiled up at Ira and patted his bowtie affectionately.
"Ira, you look so dapper."
"It was an honor to again witness your vows," Ira replied fondly and linked arms with Michelle, who he looked at adoringly, "And even lovelier to have my wife on my arm this time."
"You look stunning, Michelle," Willow complimented her red and gold patterned attire, "That is a gorgeous dress."
Michelle bowed her head bashfully.
"I missed the first one. I had to make up for it."
"And we're both so grateful to be here," Ira added, placing a hand on his heart, "And to have our health."
"I ordered you a special low-salt meal," Willow said to Ira, rubbing his arm, "We're so glad to have you here too."
At that moment, Will spun Tara from behind and gestured up and down her dress.
"You look fab-u-lous!"
"Oh please, tone down the homo in front of the straights," Garrett said, holding a hand up with a chuckle, "They're not equipped."
Ira and Michelle smiled and nodded but did creep off to the side.
"Never tone it down," Tara replied, hugging them both and touching each of their bowties, "So dapper. Thank you so much for coming. We need to have dinner again soon, it's been too long."
"We haven't seen you since our celebration for Jodie Foster's birthday," Will nodded seriously.
Willow grinned and swung her whole body into it.
"The Agenda needs an update. I say we demand better parking outside the Y. I feel like I live in that parking lot ferrying all the kids to their activities," she quipped, then spotted something over all of their shoulders, "Oh, help needed!"
"She's so cute when she overplays that joke," Will said with genuine affection, holding his hand against her heart.
Tara reached out and touched his arm.
"She thinks it's really funny, don't tell her."
Willow hastily made her way across the yard when she spotted Rose had returned with the ice and was trying to angle the nearest heater away from it.
"Thank you, Rose. I thought I had everything figured out but thermodynamics foiled me again."
"It's no problem," Rose smiled as some of the kids came up to steal ice to throw at each other, "The cashier did look at me oddly as to why I was buying thirty bags of ice in the middle of winter, though."
Willow's hands flew to her hips as if she had pockets.
"Oh, I'll pay you back."
Rose held up a hand.
"As I said, it's no problem."
Tara excused herself at that moment and came up to hug Rose.
"Rose, thank you so much for coming. We haven't seen you in so long! You're so busy touring the country giving your talks. The kids miss you. And we miss you."
Rose smiled bashfully.
"Starting the Lisa Monroe Foundation for Automobile Safety would have been pointless if I missed out on Lisa Monroe's daughter's nuptials. She would never forgive me."
"She was a very forgiving sort," Tara smiled and Rose seemed far-away for a moment.
"Yes, she was," Rose nodded and raised the glass she'd poured while they'd been talking, "And she finally put my retirement to good use so cheers to her."
Willow handed Tara a glass of wine and kept one for herself, which she clinked against Rose's glass.
"Cheers to Lisa," she said as she beamed at Tara, "She gave me my wife."
"Cheers to Mom," Tara answered wryly, "She gave me my life."
"Here in spirit," Rose said wistfully with every ounce of love that had never left her, "And she did always enjoy a spirit."
Willow's eyes grew wide.
"Could she speak to ghosts?"
Rose laughed loudly, a real hearty laugh from her belly.
"No, honey, but she sure could charm a bottle of vodka."
"Oh," Willow replied sheepishly, "And with that I back away slowly."
As she did so, Robyn came bounding across the yard with her soccer ball in hand.
"Pixie, wanna come play with me?"
Pixie, whose tiny frame and elfin features suited her name, whipped her long, pink-hued blonde hair back over her shoulder.
"Dropkick!"
Robyn complied and booted the ball toward Pixie. Unfortunately, her aim was off to the left, and Anya got it right in the back of the head. She spun around, irate.
"You two and that dratted ball! I have enough balls flying at my face every night!" she put it under her arm and looked down sternly at the girls, who were trying not to giggle, "I'm partner at my firm now, don't think I won't sue just because you're small humans and I birthed one of you! Xander, tell them to stop kicking me with the ball."
Once again backing away from an awkward situation, Willow found Becky and waved on approach.
"Hello, Principal Hardy."
Becky rolled her eyes to herself.
"When are you going to stop greeting me like that?"
"When it stops being funny," Willow grinned.
"So six months ago when I got the job?" Becky shot back.
Willow stuck out her tongue and looked over Becky's shoulder where her father and Brian were sharing a beer and in deep discussion.
"I thought when my dad retired he and Brian would stop talking shop all the time."
"Are you kidding?" Becky laughed loudly, "Ever since Brian took over Ira's role in the company, they have like weekly phone calls. It's a big step up for him, he wants to get it right."
"Will he switch off when you go on your cruise this summer?" Willow asked with a hopeful pep in her tone, "I know you spent a lot of money."
Becky smirked and sipped on her drink.
"He has to — the signal onboard is awful."
Willow chuckled and clinked their glasses together. As she did so, Lily suddenly pounced on her from nowhere.
"Momma, I would never poke you in the eye so hard that it falls out. Even if you were really mean to me, I'd never do it! Where's Zayde? Never mind I see him!"
"Err thanks kiddo…" Willow replied as Lily sped off as quick as she'd come, "I think…"
Becky arched an eyebrow.
"Your kid is strange."
Willow watched Lily skip up to Ira and start to dance with him.
"Occasionally. But not callous. You gotta give her that."
Both Willow and Tara had to spend some time moving around the party just so they could thank everyone for coming, but kept an eye on each other and eventually met back up at the drinks table for a refresh, where Buffy was also filling her glass with seltzer.
"Where are the twins?" Tara asked as she cast her eye about and saw Robyn playing with Ella and Pixie but not them.
"Playing dress-up," Willow answered, pointing to just outside the kitchen door where they'd dragged their dress-up chest.
"Of course, our Halloween babies, what else?" Tara smiled, grateful to take a break from everything for a moment, "I'm surprised you're not in there with them."
Willow mocked being aghast.
"Do you hear how my wife speaks to me?" she asked Buffy, "Like I'm her fifth child!"
"You asked for a reward chart last week so you could have more TV time," Tara replied with an arched eyebrow.
"She watches so many gardening shows," Willow defended herself to Buffy.
"You can watch your shows on your iPad," Tara countered.
"I like to snuggle!" Willow replied with an indignant raise of her chin.
Buffy smiled between them.
"You guys just don't get less cute, do you?"
Willow smiled and Tara blushed but was smiling too. She tucked some hair behind her ear.
"How are you, Buffy?"
Buffy nodded eagerly.
"I'm great, thank you."
Tara smiled again.
"Where's Angel?"
Buffy waved a hand about.
"He couldn't get here until after dark."
Tara nodded and brushed her fingers against Willow's arm.
"I'm going to get some food, I'm famished. Does anybody want anything?"
Buffy and Willow both shook their heads. Tara went off to get a plate and Willow poured herself more wine.
"Top you up?" she offered, reaching for some bottles at the back, "Is that white wine or gin?"
Buffy suddenly stalled.
"Um…" she stopped and swallowed, "Just seltzer, actually."
Willow frowned.
"There should be something you like, I practically cleared out the liquor store."
Buffy pursed her lips.
"Actually…" she opened and closed her mouth, then her brow furrowed unsurely, "I'm pregnant."
Willow dropped the bottle in her hand but thankfully it just spilled a little and didn't smash. She put it upright and spun around to Buffy.
"What?!"
Buffy reached across herself and rubbed her opposite arm.
"I wasn't going to say anything. It's your day."
Willow's mouth hung open, stunned.
"Is this…happy news?"
The smile slowly spread across Buffy's face.
"Angel actually smiled when I told him."
"Ahh!" Willow screamed happily and drew attention, but it was quickly lost again, "Buff, I'm so happy for you."
She threw her arms around her friend.
"I didn't think you wanted kids."
"It wasn't planned. It just happened," Buffy said with a shrug, "I'm nervous about doing it at our age. Do you know they call it a 'geriatric pregnancy'? Way to stick the boot in."
Willow shook her head.
"You're scrappy," she said reassuringly and reached out to squeeze Buffy's arm, "Your baby will be too."
She breathed in and out, still smiling but her nose scrunched.
"Does this mean I'll have to lunch alone in the office cafeteria in a few months?"
"You could eat with Jesse," Buffy suggested, looking glum for a moment, "He always looks sad these days."
Willow frowned too and looked over her shoulder for Jesse, spotting him with Xander, Becky, and Tara getting some food.
"Xander, that chuppah is so beautiful. Thank you so much for making it for us," Tara gushed, rubbing Xander's arm gratefully, "How's the business going?"
"Sales are good. Got in good with some Mom groups before Christmas who wanted personalized Christmas Eve boxes and cleaned up. And I love it," Xander grinned as he helped himself to a third slice of lasagna, "Working with my hands, working with the wood. No running after perps so I can eat whatever I want."
He grinned boyishly at Tara who smiled and thanked him again, then excused herself to eat.
The two men found seats too and Jesse nodded at Xander to continue the earlier conversation.
"You don't have a cool partner to work with anymore though."
"Well, sometimes Alex helps," Xander replied affably.
Jesse bumped Xander's shoulder.
"Just feed my ego, would ya?"
"I sure do miss ya, bud," Xander replied in an exaggerated manner but there was a warmth there too.
Jesse scoffed.
"At least my new partner doesn't bring in leftover pizza for lunch."
"I always offered you a slice," Xander replied with a grin, then noticed Jesse's attention wasn't quite on him any longer, "How's the co-parenting going?"
Jesse blinked several times and looked back at Xander.
"Good, finally," he sighed deeply, "Hence actually showing up to the same event together."
"Good for you, man," Xander replied, patting Jesse's back, "Thinking of getting back out there?"
Jesse watched Ella across the yard do a few turns in the air, showing off her ballet moves.
"I think I'm gonna keep my focus on my baby girl right now."
Xander grinned and stood.
"And I think I'm going to focus on more lasagna."
As he went off, Jesse nodded to Becky, sitting behind them.
"You like the black-eyed peas?"
Becky shrugged one shoulder.
"I liked Behind The Front but I thought Monkey Business was regressive. I think I stopped paying attention after that."
Jesse held up his fork with a little beige bean stuck between the tines.
"I meant the salad."
Becky smiled self-deprecatingly.
"The salad is not regressive. The salad is modern and broadly developed in flavor."
Jesse grinned in much the same way.
"You're whipping out those English degree words on me."
Becky chuckled and chased some bulgur wheat around her plate.
"You know, if we'd been the ones to hook up, we'd be Aunt Becky and Uncle Jesse."
Jesse arched an eyebrow sharply at the thought.
"You terrify me."
Becky cocked her head, then nodded.
"Fair."
Xander returned with his plate piled high just as Ella came in from the other side and pulled on Jesse's arm.
"Daddy, Daddy!"
"Yeah munchkin?" Jesse smiled, picking her up from the spot and throwing her a few inches off the ground like she was a baby again.
Ella giggled and tugged on his hand.
"We're playing Frozen."
"Will that thing never die?" Jesse asked Xander, then slicked a hand back through his hair, "You need a Kristoff?"
Ella's face scrunched.
"…we need a Sven."
She pulled him off the chair and Xander waved his fork about after him.
"Be the antlers," he yelled, "BE THE ANTLERS!"
As she was throwing her paper plate in the trash can, Tara spotted Alice standing alone and took the opportunity to say hello.
"I wondered why you'd snuck away from work earlier," Tara grinned as a greeting but they weren't alone for long as a man, 6ft tall with broad shoulders and salt-and-pepper hair and older than them all by about ten years, came to stand alongside Alice and handed her a glass of white wine.
Tara cleared her throat awkwardly.
"Oh, hi Dennis."
"Tara," Dennis greeted cordially, if lacking a little warmth, "It was a lovely ceremony."
"Oh, thank you," Tara replied sincerely and gestured around, "It's all still a bit surreal. But such a lovely surprise."
"I was worried the two boys would let the cat out of the bag," Alice said in a disapproving tone, "I told Michelle not to tell them but she said she needed them to help."
"Those two cretins you're always talking about?" Dennis asked derisively, "Why did you hire them again?"
Tara raised a hand awkwardly.
"I did, actually."
"Tara's my boss now," Alice replied with a curt look in Dennis's direction, "Remember?"
"Right," Dennis nodded with a completely obvious pointed look back, "Since she went back to school."
"Yes, she got her masters," Alice said with a forced smile.
"The one you got at the start of your career," Dennis muttered and Alice dug her elbow into his side.
Tara tried hard not to let a flush come up over her face.
"Not really a boss," she waved her hand in front of her.
"Well, yes, really," Alice replied tersely, then tried to (fake) laugh it off, "You know she chooses to sit out at the desks with us when she could have her own office?"
Tara felt the little wiggles of tension shooting out from everywhere and just shrugged.
"It's easier to pass around files and whatnot."
"And that is why you deserve to be boss," Alice replied in a grudging tone and tossed back the rest of her wine before holding up the empty glass, "Happy Anniversary."
"Thank you," Tara replied sincerely but couldn't help but feel sad.
Thankfully, Willow came up to her and said two words that were sure to cheer her up.
"Family photo."
"Oh, okay," Tara replied quickly, "See you guys later."
She waggled her fingers in a wave and went with Willow to where she'd corralled the kids together to hopefully stay still for a few seconds.
"Okay kids, stand in front! JJ, you're gonna need to crouch a little. Your hair looks fine! Lily, stop doing bunny ears on your sister. Robyn, no soccer ball! For five seconds, please! Okay, say cheese!"
The flash went off and they got a few more for safety before the kids disbanded again, springing back to their own corners like they were elastic bands being flung off.
Tara looked at the photos on the screen and smiled at how she thought that their little family was so complete.
Emphasis on thought.
Willow peered over Tara's shoulder to look at the photos too and smiled. Those were ones for the wall. She put her hands on Tara's shoulders and rubbed gently.
"How are you holding up? Need a seat?"
Tara shook her head dramatically.
"Have to make sure I can keep up with a younger woman."
"Oh, you can keep up," Willow murmured into Tara's ear, "But if you're not interested in sitting…"
She gently spun Tara around and offered a hand.
"My dance?"
Tara smiled and took the proffered hand. Willow led them out onto the dance floor — the grass — and settled her hands on Tara's waist. Tara put her arms behind Willow's neck and smiled as Willow kept a steady gaze on her.
"What?"
Willow blinked slowly.
"I can't take my eyes off you."
Tara smiled and pecked Willow's lips.
They swayed on the spot.
"Our limo will be here soon," Willow said with an intriguing grin.
Tara's brows rose into her hairline.
"Limo?"
Willow smirked.
"You think I was going to bring you to the airport in a Prius?"
"Airport?!" Tara asked, her mouth hanging open.
Willow nodded quickly.
"Yeah, we're actually going on our honeymoon the night of our wedding this time. Call me old-fashioned."
Tara's eyes bounced with excitement.
"Where are we going?"
Willow gave nothing away.
"You'll see."
"Are we going to California to check on the bookstore?" Tara guessed.
Willow looked insulted.
"You think I'd take you on a business trip for our honeymoon?"
Tara frowned.
"Are the kids coming?"
"Well, since Spring Break doesn't start until Friday, I thought we'd have a few days to ourselves and they could follow," Willow said, then added on quickly and pointedly, "I say 'thought' but it's happening so there's no point arguing."
Tara was feeling perpetually surprised.
"What about Woofy?"
"Jesse offered to take care of him," Willow replied with a smile, "Think he's looking forward to the company."
Tara smiled sympathetically but then it grew a little exasperated.
"Are you really not going to tell me?"
Willow chuckled.
"Put it this way," she said and spun Tara, holding her waist from behind for a moment, "Jamaican me crazy with all these questions."
Tara's eyes widened as she was spun back to her previous position and her hands settled behind Willow's neck.
"You're really splashing that bookstore money."
Willow shrugged.
"And why not? We're finally making decent profits. Who knew adding booze was the way to get people to visit a book store in the 21st century?"
Tara pecked Willow again.
"You did, my smarty-pants wife."
"It's an ethanoly, epeolatry experience," Willow rattled off her tagline with a grin and a laugh, "But seriously though, yeah Bibliosmia is doing well…but I did all of this because you deserve it. And we deserve it. Everything we've gone through, all of the hardships and the trauma and moments where I know we both felt on the brink and still…"
She stopped and inhaled a long breath. Her eyes were glassy on fixed on Tara.
"Still I can't take my eyes off you."
Tara's answering smile lit up her face, with a little help from the fairy lights Willow had strung from the roof.
"Baby…"
Willow beamed.
She loved it when Tara called her 'baby'.
They embraced and put their heads on each other's shoulders.
They stayed there and swayed to the music, lost to the rest of the party, feeling like they were walking on air.
The End