Disclaimer: Even after my vigorous letter-writing campaign, it appears that I still do not own anything related to the series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I will not profit from this story unless you consider the enjoyment of writing it to be a currency.
December 31, 2003
11:49
p.m.
"We are such losers," Willow said, yawning. "We should be out with friends, or at some killer party, getting ready to kiss at midnight. But no. We're home in bed, at a quarter to midnight, practically asleep." She yawned again, turning toward Xander. "We're losers."
"Yep," Xander replied, rubbing Willow's stomach lazily. "The loserest. And you know what?"
"What?"
"I don't care. I'm in bed with a hot chick on New Year's Eve. How can I complain about that? It's only been my goal since I was fourteen years old."
Willow laughed. "Remember when we were eleven, and our parents let us stay up watching movies until midnight?"
"We fell asleep on the couch around nine, and when your dad woke us up at 11:59 so we could ring in the new year, we made him leave the room so we could kiss."
"And then you were too shy to follow through."
"I still can't believe you were such a floozy, Will. Even at that tender age."
"Hey, somebody had to make a move. You turned out to be all talk and no action."
"Time marches on, Will. This tummy tells me I've changed." He smiled in the dark as he felt the baby somersault.
Willow poked him in the ribs, causing him to squirm. "Not completely. Still ticklish, I see. Besides, I was the one who went to your room that night," she said. "Looks like, after all these years, I'm still a floozy."
Xander tightened his arm around her shoulders. "And after all these years, I'm still not complaining."
They lay there silently for a few minutes, he rubbing circles on her belly, and she running her fingers up and down his arm.
"We really have spent a lot of years together, haven't we?" Willow remarked quietly.
"Yep," Xander replied on a yawn. "A lot. Best years of my life."
Willow giggled. "Yeah, those first four years must've been hell without me."
"They were," he said with mock sincerity. "I'd rather not even think about those dark, dark days." He faked a shudder, which made Willow laugh harder.
"If you don't knock it off, I'll get on a giggle fit, and then I'll have to go to the bathroom again."
"Oh, you can't do that," Xander said.
"And why not?"
"Because, it's…" He raised up on one elbow and craned his neck to see over Willow's stomach. "It's 11:56."
"Why, that's almost midnight," Willow said innocently.
"Yes, it certainly is."
"And what happens then?" she asked demurely.
"In some cultures, they kiss. But Sunnydale culture is a little different," he said in an educational tone that made Willow smile.
"Oh? What's different about our culture?"
Leaning toward her, Xander replied, "We start at 11:57."
And they were never ones to break with tradition.
January 21, 2004
"So, he still won't marry you, huh?" Buffy asked.
"Nope. Holding out for a bigger ring, I guess," Willow said wryly.
"Want me to beat him up for you?"
Willow laughed. "Nah, that's okay, Buffy. I still need him to be able to mow the lawn and move furniture around according to my whims."
"Good thinking, Will," Buffy said. "What good is an indentured servant who can't indenturedly serve?"
"My thoughts exactly. Ooh, hold on."
Buffy heard the muffled sound of Willow directing someone to move something underneath the picture window. "What's going on over there?" she asked when her friend came back on the line.
"Oh, we're getting new living room furniture. Xander's couch was like a refugee from the Salvation Army. I keep teasing him that if it'd fallen into the Hellmouth, it would've gotten spit back out for being too yucky even for the demons. I couldn't bear to think about how many different butts had been on it over the years."
Buffy gave a resounding "Ew."
"Yeah, it had a pretty high ick quotient." She covered the mouthpiece for a second, but Buffy could hear her say, "Maybe a little bit to the left? Closer to the wall. Yeah, that's better, thanks."
"Sounds like you're busy directing traffic. Want me to call back later?"
"No, that's okay. I hardly ever get to talk to you. Here, talk to Xander for a minute while I go point at stuff."
"Sure, Will—"
"Buffy?" Xander said, taking the phone from Willow.
"Hey, Xander," Buffy said cheerfully. "Long time no talk. So, I hear your bachelor pad's getting overhauled. Is that emasculating for you?"
Xander laughed. "I'll survive. Willow actually doesn't seem to have the super-girly decorating tendencies. I'm pleasantly surprised." He walked further down the hallway and lowered his voice. "You'll judge for yourself, though, right?"
"Yep," Buffy said. "Be there Friday. You sure she doesn't know?"
"Not a thing."
"And this won't send her into an early labor?"
"Honestly, I don't think she'd mind. And besides, it'd only be 2 weeks early—that is, if she hits the due date."
"I can't wait to see you guys," Buffy said warmly. "God, I feel like I'm gonna cry. I've missed you so much."
"We've missed you, too, Buffy," Xander said, choking up a bit himself. "I'm glad you're coming."
"Well, I could hardly miss this. I can't believe it's been almost nine months since I've seen her! I can't wait to shop for baby clothes. After all, I am the godmother."
"The slayer godmother. It's a little more Grimm's than Disney, but I wouldn't have it any other way."
"Hey, where'd you go?" Willow called down the hall. "Oh, here you are," she said, finding Xander sitting on the bed with the phone. "Why'd you come in here?"
"Your furniture direction was sort of scaring me, Will. You were just a little too good at ordering big moving men around." He handed over the phone and kissed Willow on the cheek as he left the room.
"So, you're decorating his house. Tell me your plans for getting him down the aisle," Buffy said conspiratorially.
"Well, it's really quite simple," Willow began. "I plan to get knocked up and have his baby. Then he'll have to marry me, right?"
"Oh, definitely," Buffy agreed. "As long as he doesn't get a better offer from Peggy Sue."
"That tramp had better stay away from my man, or I'll pull her pigtails!"
"Note to self: never mess with a hormone-enhanced Willow," Buffy said. "Listen, Will, I've got to go. I'll talk to you soon, okay?"
"That is a promise I'll hold you to," Willow replied. "Now excuse me while I go make sure Xander doesn't have them put the loveseat in the back yard."
"Bye, Will."
"Bye, Buffy. See you soon."
"Huh?" Buffy said, but the only response was a dial tone.
...
A/N: There are still a couple of chapters left, because I'm having trouble letting go. Hey, it's tough, man! This is the first fanfic I ever wrote, and I only intended it to be like 3 chapters long but then I got invested in it (not monetarily, mind you) and I wanted to know where it was going to go myself. So I just kept on going. Hope you don't mind.