Old moon's anew.

Magnolia st. Boston, Massachusetts 2025

Dawn had left the girls with her two old aunts for the weekend because her and Xander were going away for their anniversary. It was the first time they'd managed to get away since the girls were born, and yes nine years was a long time, but I mean properly get away, like leave the state. They'd gone on a bit of a road trip in Xander's van, trying to see 'wonders' Xander was awfully enthusiastic about this, much to Dawn's dismay, she was being dragged along, but they would get some real quality time together for the first time in a good long while.

Emma and Joyce were perched around the dining table sitting in chairs abandoning their homework and listening to another of Tara's stories. For two women well into their eighties they looked like they were still in their fifties, but then again witches always reached a point and then simply seem to stop aging. Emma was perched on Tara's lap, soaking in the warmth radiating from her, Willow was sitting close by her wife, stroking Emma's head as she lay against Tara's chest, she was tired, holding a lollipop but quietly smiling. Joyce was sitting on the table in front of them asking all sorts of questions, like Dawn she was inquisitive and curious about almost anything.

"So where did we come from?" She asked politely with another lick of her own strawberry lollipop. Tara gave Willow one of her 'umm how did we do this last time again' looks. When Willow mouthed 'I don't know' back at her, both sets of eyes flicked back to nine-year-old brunette sitting opposite. Then Tara heard something from the back of her brain. Hey, Tare, why don't we just tell her? She's old enough really, I can take Emma up to bed if you want. I think Dawn was about her age when we told her. It took Tara a minute to work out exactly what was happening, their psychic channel wasn't one they used all too often and reawakening it was a bit of stretch.

I'm getting old. Tara thought, forgetting Willow could hear her, no, you're not baby, you'll always be young at heart and beautiful and we can't forget gorgeous. "Willow, off topic." Tara whispered out loud, she'd rather have her wife out of her head, even though she enjoyed the closeness it brought them, it was also kinda annoying that they could read every thought coming from the other at times, especially when Willow's head was babbling.

"What? I can't tell my wife that she's gorgeous? 'Cause I thought that was one of my perks." Willow replied back, avoiding whispering altogether, much to Joyce's confusion about what the hell her aunts were going on about. She'd mostly forgotten her question for now and was just enjoying watching the tomfoolery and teasing appear before her eyes.

"Umm, let me think." Tara replied lifting her chin slightly and cupping Willow's cheek. "Yes, yes you may." Leaning down she kissed the redhead's cheek lightly before looking back to Joyce who was bemused and smiling happily. "What're you so happy about?" Tara said grabbing at her little feet swinging past the edge of the table.

"Um, hello, excuse me. Can I have a proper kiss please?" Willow interrupted them with a large pout strewn across her face, she was such a child sometimes. Tara gave Joyce an eyebrow which made her giggle as she turned her head back towards the eighty year old child sitting next to her. She took her time, peeling a hand away from Emma long enough to stroke the side of Willow's neck, fumbling with her earlobe as she pressed their lips together softly. She took a breath and left a final lingering kiss before turning back to an even more smiley Joyce.

She was just like her mother, the love of the family always shining through them all. She still had her questions but they could wait until the morning. She yawned tiredly and held her arms out expectantly for Willow to carry her up the stairs to bed, which despite her age, she could still do without much effort. Magic, works perfect miracles. Tara followed quietly with Emma, laying her down in the same bed that'd housed Buffy and Dawn some twenty years ago. Not much had changed for the two of them, but they missed Buffy dearly, had heard she'd given up on magic, worked her way through the world with men instead. Not that Tara or Willow had much thought for men.