The One Who Does Magic
Chapter 19Disclaimer: I claim no ownership or money-making ventures with regard to characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It's just fanfic, yo.
A/N: This is the final chapter of this story. Holy crap, it's hard to let go! I have had such a great time writing it, and I've appreciated all the wonderful feedback I've gotten on it. I know that no ending is ever good enough, but I hope this one will give you some food for thought. Thank you so much for reading!
- - - - - - - - - -
As Willow looked expectantly between her parents and Rabbi Gellman, she felt Xander take her hand and squeeze it. "Xander?" she said, confused. Buffy and Dawn were gripping each other with huge smiles on their faces.
Before Willow had a chance to once again put two and two together, Xander turned to face her, taking both her hands in his. He got down on one knee as Willow's mouth dropped open.
"Willow," he began nervously, "this isn't my first choice of how to do this—in front of your parents and the clergy and all—but the thing is…I guess we've all learned over the years that you can't wait for things to be perfect, because they hardly ever are. And if you don't appreciate what you've got when you've got it, you might not get the chance."
Willow, Xander, and Buffy all had tears in their eyes, thinking of those they'd lost. Mrs. Rosenberg dabbed at her eyes with a kleenex, and Dawn seemed to be holding her breath.
Xander continued. "I don't want to lose any chances with you, Will. Everything good in my life…you've been a part of it. Hell—oh, sorry, Rabbi—heck, you've been the instigator of most of those good things. Every time I've needed someone, you've been there." He released one of her hands to swipe at his cheek. When he took back her hand, she could feel the damp of his tears, and she squeezed reassuringly. "We've been friends for twenty years, and most people would say that's too long for feelings to suddenly change.
"But I don't think it was one sudden change as much as a hundred tiny ones. I think the pieces were all there, all along, and they finally just…"
"Lined up," Willow whispered, tears in her eyes.
"See?" Xander said. "Already finishing each other's sentences. Which brings me to my question. Willow—"
"Xander," Willow said uncertainly.
Xander looked nervous, but plowed on. "Come on, Will, it'll only take a minute, and then we can eat." It drew a few giggles, but not Willow's. Gaze firmly planted on Willow's hand, he continued. "Willow Rosenberg, will you marry me?" The words sped out of his mouth, and he let out a whoosh of breath and dared to look up at Willow, who was crying harder now. "After dinner, that is," he threw in to lighten the mood.
Buffy and Dawn were gripping each other tightly, and Mrs. Rosenberg was crushing the life out of her kleenex. Even Ira and Rabbi Gellman were on the edge of the couch wearing expectant looks.
Willow's expression was pained as she said, "Xander, I just…I'm so sorry."
"Please?" he said softly.
"I can't," Willow said in a voice that almost wasn't there. "I mean…not right here. Not tonight."
Xander's expression cleared a bit, and he tried to smile, for Willow's sake and the sake of his pride. Maybe later…maybe, like he'd initially said, after the baby was born. Whatever her reasoning, she hadn't said never. She'd said "not tonight." Maybe he could live with that. "So, whatcha got goin' on tonight, Will?" he joked, trying hard to be typical Xander in front of the group. "Hot date?" Willow glared, and he knew he'd gone too far. She must really be hungry to get so mad over…
"Yeah, Xander, a hot date. With a doctor, no less. And with any luck, it'll include pain killers, because—ow!" She squeezed his hands hard. "I'm really sorry," she rushed on. "I wasn't sure before, but it's been going on all afternoon and it's getting worse, so I'm pretty sure it's—and I just don't think I can wait any longer, and—OW!"
"Oh my God," Xander said, slightly woozy.
"Oh my God!" Dawn and Buffy squealed.
"Ira," Sheila Rosenberg said calmly, "could you please turn off the roast?" Her husband jumped up off the couch and sprinted into the kitchen. Sheila continued, "I'll call the hospital and make sure Dr. Travis is in tonight." She turned to her daughter, who was suddenly very pale, and her future son-in-law, who, if possible, was even paler. "Okay, kids, why don't you go back to your house and get your bag, and we'll meet you at the hospital." Receiving no response, she put her hand on Xander's shoulder. "Xander? Bag?"
"Uh…" Xander said, rising shakily from his kneeling position.
"It's already in the car," Willow answered for him, regaining her senses as the contraction wound down.
"It's already in the car," Xander said belatedly, and apparently not realizing his repetition. He snapped into focus and said, "The four of us will take my car, and you can follow. Rabbi Gellman?" he said, and the man turned to him. "I'm sorry for the, er, inconvenience, but I hope to see you again." He put an arm around Willow and kept his other hand on hers. "Soon." He mustered up a smile, which the Rabbi returned warmly.
- - - - - - - - - -
"How much longer will it take?" Dawn asked Buffy for the forty-seventh time.
Rolling her eyes, Buffy answered, "How would I know? Do you see any children clinging to my skirt hems?"
"You're wearing jeans, Buffy," Dawn said sulkily, crossing her arms over her chest.
The Rosenbergs smiled to each other, the picture of calm. Never mind that Ira hadn't retained one word of the article he'd been "reading," or that Sheila had had so many cups of coffee that she would easily be able to babysit for the child's first three years without stopping to sleep.
As the sun came up, Dawn finally dropped off to sleep, her long legs stretched across a row of waiting room seats, her head on Buffy's lap. Buffy was asleep, too, her head dropped back against the top of the seat, her mouth slightly open. She'd have died to be seen in that state, but she soon was.
Xander met the eyes of the Rosenbergs, who were still awake, and snuck up behind Buffy and Dawn. He drew a deep breath, leaned down next to Buffy's face, and yelled—as loudly as was reasonable at that hour—"It's a girl!"
Buffy's head snapped up, smacking into Xander's and knocking him backwards. Dawn jerked awake, teetering on the edge of the row of seats for a second before swinging her arm out wildly to regain her balance, failing, and rolling onto the floor.
The Rosenbergs stood and hugged each other, while Xander, Buffy, and Dawn scrambled to standing positions, each rubbing various bruised body parts.
"Fellow stooges," Xander said, smiling despite his sudden headache, "you're officially aunts. Well, I guess not 'officially,' but definitely honorarily. Anyway, you know what I mean." His grin kept getting bigger.
Buffy laughed and hugged her friend. "Aww, look at you, the proud daddy."
"So, it's a girl?" Dawn clarified excitedly, and Xander nodded. "Can we see her yet? Is she all cleaned off and suctioned?"
"Dawn!" Buffy scolded.
Dawn looked at her petulantly. "Hey, I watch documentaries. I know about the slime and stuff."
"Slime?" Buffy squeaked. "Dawn, could you be less mature?"
"It's okay, Buff," Xander laughed. He leaned closer to Dawn and said conspiratorially, "It is pretty gross. But it's all for the greater good, right?" The sisters grinned, friends again. "Right," Xander answered himself. "Now, who wants to see the cutest baby in the world?"
Four hands shot up, and Xander quirked his eyebrow at the Rosenbergs. "Been into the coffee, huh?" Sheila nodded sheepishly but fell into line as the group made their way toward the nursery.
- - - - - - - - - -
March 20th, 2004
8:00 p.m.
"Look at her. She's so beautiful. Can you even believe how beautiful she is?"
"Yep," Xander replied, turning his gaze to Willow. "She'd have to be. Look at her mother."
"Xander," Willow giggled. He still made her blush. As she put her hand on his, she glanced down at the diamond ring she was still getting used to wearing.
"Do you think we should move her to her room?" Xander asked, noting the baby's eyes falling closed.
"I just want to keep her out here for a little while longer," Willow replied, pulling Xander back over to the couch. "I can't stop wanting to be in the same room with her. I feel like I'll miss something." She curled up next to Xander and gazed over at their daughter, who lay in her playpen next to the couch. Her tiny mouth made little sucking motions in her sleep.
"I know whatcha mean," Xander said, absentmindedly rubbing Willow's arm while he watched his daughter sleep. Her little fingers twitched as she dreamt. "I wonder what she's dreaming abou…" He trailed off, his mouth hanging open and his eye fixed on the playpen.
"Is that supposed to happen?" Willow asked shakily. "I mean, I've read the books, and I don't remember 'What to Expect When You're Expecting' telling me to expect…this." She gestured a bit frantically, and Xander grabbed her hands to still them.
"We just have to remain calm, and…uh…well, I'm sure it'll…" But he was at a loss. Their daughter slept peacefully with only an occasional twitch of her fingers, a mobile of her favorite animals twirling above her head.
The problem was, there was no mobile on her playpen, only the stuffed animals that had once been surrounding her on the floor but were now…levitating above her tiny, sleeping form.
"We'll call Giles in the morning," Xander said decidedly. Willow nodded and threaded her fingers through his. It was a good thing they were used to sleepless nights.
- -
- - - - - -
- -
->->->->
The End… sorta
A/N: Okay, I know it's not a big-bang-explainy ending like some stories have, but I wanted it to open up the imagination to possibilities for the future. I don't know if witchcraft is genetic, but for the purpose of my story, I'm imagining a hijinks-filled life for Willow and Xander. After all, marriage is hardly the end. It's really just the beginning…
Additional note: I have mentioned before that there is an epilogue. There is. It was finished long before the rest of the story, so I will probably post it tomorrow. I just don't want to post it at the same time as this chapter because you don't have to read it to get a sense of fulfillment from the story. It's almost more of a stand-alone, or another new beginning, though I don't have plans to continue with this storyline because it is completely non-canon, and I don't really want to go there. It's really just for my own fun, and, I hope, the fun of the readers. Which—HUGE THANK-YOUS to all of you!