Tara grabbed her old nursing pillow from when the twins were little from its spot on the couch beside her and quickly pulled it over her ribcage when she felt a sneeze coming on.
Her first few sneezes after waking from the fire had been some of the most painful moments of her life but she got a tip before leaving the hospital about utilizing the nursing pillow as a buffer and very quickly sneezing, coughing, and even standing had become a lot more tolerable.
From the kitchen, she heard Willow calling her name and braced herself to stand.
"Coming, sweetheart. Don't try to pour your own juice again!"
Tara cautiously stood and gently walked toward the kitchen, where she could still hear Willow saying her name.
"Willow, I'm coming!" she called, trying hard to stem any frustration as she arrived, "What is it?"
Willow was sitting at the island with her laptop open and looked over her shoulder when Tara got there.
"Oh, I wasn't talking to you."
Tara bent her arms softly at her hips.
"If you've taken another lover named Tara than your type is even more narrow than I thought."
Willow smiled. She gestured Tara over.
"The voice recognition system on my laptop was driving me crazy so I developed my own."
She used her minimally bandage-free fingertips to press a button on her laptop. A computer-generated woman's head popped up that looked eerily similar to Tara.
"How may I assist you?" it asked.
"I call it TARA," Willow grinned, "Technological Articulation Resolution Application."
Tara arched an eyebrow.
"I hooked it up to the virtual assistant," Willow continued excitedly, "TARA, dim the lights."
The lights dimmed and Tara settled her arms across her chest.
"You developed a system you can tell what to do and named it after me?"
Willow nodded eagerly. She leaned in toward her wife.
"Do you want to give me a smooch, Tara?"
"I am an automated application," the voice spoke from the laptop, "I am not capable of physical affection."
"So I'm not completely replaceable," Tara added dryly.
Willow hooked a finger in the air and curled it for Tara to get closer. She kissed Tara softly.
"I didn't mean for you to get up. How are you feeling?"
"I'm getting used to the pain," Tara replied evenly, "Learning how to take easier breaths. It's helping with the panic that starts to rise anytime I think of the crapstorm that's heading our way."
"I know," Willow breathed softly and reached over to brush the backs of her fingertips on Tara's cheek, "How bad are we talking panic wise? Should you move up your therapy appointment?"
"It's not that bad," Tara reassured, "And we'd have to pay a rescheduling fee. We can't be throwing away money right now."
"I know that Tara but your health is more important," Willow replied insistently.
"I know," Tara replied softly, "I know it took way too long for me to get that, but I do now. I promise I'll speak up if I need help."
"My health barometer is at full capacity," the laptop spoke, "I have a full battery and am free of viruses."
Both Willow and Tara looked at each other and burst out laughing.
"Oh, no," Tara wheezed as she clutched her ribs, "Laughter not good."
"Oh, baby," Willow replied sympathetically, "Let's get you back on the couch."
Willow helped Tara back into her chair, though her help was mostly just following her inside. She used the back of her arm to inch Tara's pillow closer to her and her mouth to pull Tara's blanket over her.
"Oh, honey," Tara said tenderly, "Thank you."
She smiled as Willow settled beside her.
"Both of us home from work in the middle of the day and we can't even fool around."
Willow smirked lasciviously.
"I mean technically I don't have to use my hands…"
Tara ducked her head and looked back at Willow.
"That's a very alluring offer but you drive me too wild. My body can't take it."
Willow sighed deeply.
"Foiled by my own damn sexiness yet again."
They laughed together and the same kind of smile settled on their faces.
"Can you even remember the last time we had whole hours to ourselves?" Willow asked wryly.
Willow watched Tara stare off into space and grew a little concerned.
"Tara?"
Tara's head swung toward Willow.
"Sorry, I was trying to remember."
Willow giggled.
"Exactly. It's always Robyn's soccer or JJ's basketball or Lily's piano or Emily's art class or Kayden's therapy."
Tara smiled, exhausted just at the thought but there was plenty of fondness mixed in there.
"What we signed up for," she mused thoughtfully, just as Woofy jumped up on the arm of Tara's chair, as if he knew not to jump into her lap, "Can't forget this little guy. I think he takes care of us more than we take care of him though."
She scratched behind his ears and he happily settled on the spot.
"…he's started calling us moms," Willow said after a moment, then frowned, "Not Woofy. I'm not hallucinating on the pain meds."
Tara reached across and brushed her palm over Willow's wrist.
"I know who you mean," she said softly, "I didn't want to call attention to it."
Willow looked up with a speck of uncertainty in her eyes.
"You're cool with it right?"
"More than 'cool'," Tara replied, her smile lifting on one side, "It's the only silver lining in all of this."
Willow looked down at her lap.
"You know, all of this, the fire…" she paused and slowly met Tara's gaze, "It's really got me thinking."
"I know what you're going to say," Tara replied quickly.
Willow's eyebrows lifted on her face.
"You do?"
"Yes," Tara nodded, then nodded once more surely, "And…yes."
A slow smile spread on Willow's face.
"Really?"
"Yes," Tara smiled and nodded again, "Of course."
Willow got bouncy on her seat but Tara had to hold her hands out.
"But it's not our decision."
Willow sat somberly in her chair again.
"Right."
She slowly cocked her head at Tara.
"So…when do we ask him?"
"Um scuse me can everyone listen?" Lily called politely and flashed her teeth in a happy smile.
Her voice didn't quite carry across the whole of the back yard and she started to bounce nervously when nobody paid attention to her.
"Um…"
"Listen the hell up!" Robyn yelled across their, and several yards over.
"ROBYN!" Willow and Tara said sternly, in unison.
Robyn just shrugged; everyone was listening now. Her methods had merits.
The quiet chatter among the crowd — the whole gang, even Angel as well as Ira and Michelle and a select few neighbors — died down and everyone focused on Lily. Lily was standing on a storage box being used as a podium and bounced up on her toes excitedly with all eyes on her.
"Um, today we would like to resent, I mean present, Aurey McNally with the Bravest Dog In The World award for recusing our dog Sir Woofington Rosenberg-Maclay The First from the fire."
"That's not his name," Robyn scoffed from the side.
"Yeah, it is!" Lily threw back petulantly.
Robyn crossed her arms on her chest.
"I named him."
"You don't even remember!" Lily shot back.
"That doesn't mean it didn't happen!" Robyn returned and from the sidelines, Willow winced.
"Emily," Willow whispered, gesturing for her to bring the medal she had in her hands up.
Emily placed the medal over Aurey's head, who even ducked her head to accept it and stood proudly as it hung over her neck.
"My girl!" Jesse hollered and threw his arm over Alice's shoulders and threw her a wink, "My other girl."
Ella looked up with a pout and Jesse grinned and he stroked her hair.
"Blessed am I amongst women."
Back on the podium, Lily clasped her hands together.
"And we would like to present Sir Woof—" she paused when she saw Robyn rolled her eyes and only her mothers' unrelenting gaze on her stopped her from sticking out her tongue, "Woofy with being the Bestest Good Boy award for waking JJ."
JJ placed a smaller medal over Woofy's neck, who was pleased with any attention.
"And finally," Lily popped her words excitedly, "We want to present…"
She looked down to read from her hand.
"Alexander, um…uh…Lav…uh…Lav-uhl?…um…yeah."
She looked back up and flashed her teeth again.
"Uncle Xander with the Bestest Uncle In The Whole World And Saving Mom From The Fire And Um Just Being Really Cool award."
"I was looking forward to being called a good boy," Xander grinned as he kneeled to accept a medal that Kayden managed to get on him one-armed.
"Later!" Anya shouted from the crowd.
There was an uncomfortable chuckle around the yard.
Lily jumped off the podium.
"That's all I got."
Everyone clapped — except Willow, who approached Xander instead for a hug.
"It's not personal that the dogs went first, Xand. Thanks for being a good sport."
"You could have sprung for the real gold," Anya commented as she bandied the medal about, "Oh well. We can use it in our Olympic role play."
"Okay," Willow smiled to conceal a groan, "I'm not on enough pain meds for this."
She pivoted and walked away with a rub of her arm on Xander's arm; her primary way of expressing affection until she got her bandages off. She weaved between Robyn and Pixie running off with a soccer ball and Aurey and Woofy zooming around with the medals waving in the wind until she was stopped by two people she hadn't seen in a while.
"Will, Garrett!" she said warmly and did the lean-in hug she was becoming accustomed to, "You live six houses away, it might as well be six miles. I can't keep up with your social lives."
"It's a blessing and a curse," Will said with a glint in his eyes, "But I can't say which curse amongst polite company!"
Garrett bumped Will's shoulder and Willow chuckled. She spotted Kayden walking by with his plate heading for the grill that Buffy was running and nudged his hand.
"Kayden, have you met Will and Garrett?" she asked, standing behind him and kissing the back of his head, "They just live across the street. We're due a good catch-up. We haven't been to yours since your Donna End-Of-Summer Soiree last year."
"It's nice to meet you, Kayden," Will offered his hand and narrowed his eyes just slightly at Kayden, "Are you in the high school?"
Kayden nodded politely.
"Yes, sir."
"Oh please, I only like being called sir in—" Will started, then both Willow and Garrett kicked him and he blushed, "Anyway. It's good to meet you too, young man."
"Very nice to meet you," Garrett echoed.
Kayden looked back at Willow.
"Can I go get more potato salad?"
"Of course," Willow smiled and nodded.
Will watched Kayden go and looked down his nose at Willow.
"You've acquired another one in the meantime. Are you going for a full synchronized swimming team?"
"Something like that," Willow replied easily.
"He's a nice boy," Garrett said with a kind smile, "…you guys are the best thing for him."
All of their eyes averted at what was being unsaid.
"Show me these," Will thrust his hands out to take Willow's arms, "A lesbian without her hands. It's like a Greek tragedy."
"The doctors say I'll get pretty much full function back," Willow replied, twisting her hands around indicatively.
Garrett put his hand on Willow's upper arm.
"Scars are so in these days."
"Yaas, Seal is everything," Will agreed with a definitive nod, "I'll take a kiss from that rose any day."
Willow grinned.
"You should put that on the agenda."
Will and Garrett looked at each other, then back at Willow fondly.
A while later, when everyone had a plate and had found a seat made of whatever they could perch their tush on, Willow was in the kitchen smiling at how well they'd pulled off their get-together without her hands or any kind of lifting from Tara.
"Uh, Willow?"
Willow lifted her mouth from the straw in her glass of Dr. Pepper with a sheepish smile.
"Hey, Angel," she said with a welcoming nod, "How nice to see you in the daylight."
"Been working less. Trying to," Angel replied with his hands in the pockets of his slacks, "Can I speak to you?"
"Sure," Willow nodded, "Thinking of upgrading the wheels? Rose has some pretty good contacts if you're interested. She took me to a Ferrari dealership a few months ago and if I wasn't certain it would break my marriage up, I would have signed the dotted line then and there."
"No," Angel shook his head, then paused, "Maybe. But later."
He turned his back to the door and looked over his shoulder suspiciously for a moment. As he turned back, one hand came out of his pocket and with it, a ring box. He popped the lid and held it out for Willow to see.
Two silver rings with intricate designs sat with each other. They were newly shined.
Willow looked up and slowly smiled.
"Angel, I'm flattered but do you really want to take on all of my children? We come as a package deal."
Angel shifted uncomfortably and Willow reached out to touch the rings. She looked up at Angel with an arched eyebrow.
"Does this mean what I think it means?"
Angel gave a slight, almost imperceptible nod.
"They belonged to my parents," he explained and looked down at the rings yet again, "You're her best friend. Do you think she'd like it? Or should I get her a real diamond?"
Willow put her arm on Angel's arm, which made him bristle uncomfortably but he didn't move.
"I think," she said with an affectionate tone, "That you're her best friend. And that you already know the answer to your question."
Angel pulled his ring box back, closed it, and put it back in his pocket.
"Can I intrude on your party?"
"You wanna do it right now?" Willow asked in surprise.
Angel nodded once.
"Been feeling like…" he paused and considered his words, "Seizing the moment a lot lately."
Willow nodded slowly, understanding.
"Well, please, hijack away. Give us all something to gossip about."
She wanted to hug him but resisted because he seemed nervous enough already.
"Go get 'em, slugger," she tried instead though sensed that didn't inspire much either, "I do have one tip…"
A few minutes later Willow walked back out into the yard.
"TARA! Cue romantic music and turn the solar lights on."
"Damn lady, that's your wife! You could say please!" Robyn shouted loudly.
"Robyn," Willow hissed, blushing under all of the stares suddenly coming her way, "You know who I'm talking to."
Robyn's tongue poked out between her teeth.
"Yeah, but they don't."
She ran away giggling before Willow could react. Willow held her arms up in frustration and had to let them fall back down by her side.
She took a breath and walked over to Tara, who had a real chair with arms for her to rest on. Willow kicked over an upturned crate and plopped herself down beside her wife.
"Perfect. Front row seats."
"To what?" Tara asked with an arched eyebrow.
Willow grinned.
A minute or so later, Angel began his walk across the yard to where Buffy was adding extra potatoes on the grill.
Angel took her hand from behind and she turned and leaned into him. He kissed her on the head.
And then he dropped to one knee.
"Angel?" Buffy asked in confusion, "What are you doing?"
"A little hush please," Willow murmur-shouted to the rest of the group.
Once again silence descended. Angel kept his gaze focused on Buffy.
"I know you've always wanted me to be seen more. Out of the shadows. That's why I want to do this now, in front of everyone you love."
He reached into his pocket and held up the ring.
"I was going to give this to you before now. I thought of it, often."
Buffy smiled at the ring, still not quite putting together what was happening.
"It's beautiful."
"My people, before I knew you," Angel started to explain and Willow had to give him credit, he didn't break stride once, "They exchanged this as a sign of devotion. It's a Claddagh ring. The hands represent friendship, the crown represents loyalty. And the heart…well, you know…"
Buffy's eyes widened as she finally figured out what was going on."
"Wear it with the heart pointing towards you," Angel encouraged, "It means you belong to somebody."
He lifted his own hand and showed he was wearing his own ring.
Willow had her fingertips on Liam's back and gave him a gentle push.
"Go, buddy. Just like Aunty Willow told you."
Liam happily toddled over and stood between them.
"Mama, will you mawwy Daddy?"
Buffy shrieked, her hands flying up to her face.
"Oh my god! Of course, I will!"
Angel got his arm around Liam and stood with him. He held out the ring.
"Put it on."
"You puh ih on, Daddy!" Liam giggled and some actual color filled Angel's cheeks.
He put the ring on Buffy's finger and they all embraced.
"Yeah!" Willow called out with a grin, stomping her foot against the ground since she couldn't clap, "Go Angel!"
There were lots of whoops and hollers and even a tear or two was shed. All of the couples shared a kiss, including Becky and Brian. Becky threw a wink at her boyfriend.
"Don't get any ideas, mister. I wouldn't change a thing," she smiled tenderly, then lifted and dropped her eyebrows, "You can buy me some new just-because-I-love-ya earrings if you want though."
Brian smiled back.
"You must be due a new pair of pearls."
Becky pursed her lips because the joke she wanted to make was definitely not appropriate for all of the young years scooting around this place.
Hours later when the crowd had dispersed and the kids were pooped from all of the cleaning up they were forced into doing with injured moms unable to help much.
Still, they both tried. Willow came into the kitchen after using floor scrubbers on her feet to clean the floor and saw Tara standing at the sink, doing dishes.
"Babe, don't exert yourself," Willow warned softly.
"It's just dishes," Tara replied with a soft smile, "I like to feel useful."
Willow sneaked up behind Tara and leaned against her back while closing her arm loosely around Tara's waist so her hands hung limp.
"That went even better than expected. We had an engagement and everything! Though I'm glad my bandages will be off before any of the kids' birthdays roll around. I would not like to be hands-free for one of those."
"Oh, I'm so happy for Buffy and Angel," Tara's smile was evident in her voice, "Was she expecting it?"
"Not at all," Willow smiled softly, "I knew before she did, which is weird. Angel asked me for advice."
"He clearly wanted it to be right for her," Tara nodded as she strained the last plate, "He's a sweetie. Oh, we'll have to get new dresses for the wedding."
"I think they're keeping it small by all accounts," Willow replied, nuzzling her nose into the back of Tara's neck, "Neither of them have family around…it's sad really."
She exhaled softly.
"It's a bad situation when I'm getting my jollies from nosing your hairline."
Tara pulled the plug and dried her hands before turning to Willow.
"Actually, I think I might be ready to sleep lying down again."
Willow arched an eyebrow.
"Don't tease me."
Tara rubbed Willow's hips with her thumbs.
"I love to tease you," she leaned in and pecked Willow's lips, "But I'm not teasing you about this. My ribs are much better. I don't even need the painkillers anymore."
"Well I will be glad to get rid of that monstrosity of a pillow that was keeping you upright in bed," Willow shook her head, "With it's soft, comfortable arms replacing my soft, comfortable arms."
Tara kissed Willow's lips again.
"Nothing could replace your soft, comfortable arms. I can't wait to be back in them."
Willow leaned in and pressed her nose against Tara's.
"Sounds like we just scheduled ourselves a snuggle."
Tara lifted her hands to Willow's face and held her cheeks as they kissed.
They both smiled and Tara left a final kiss on Willow's mouth before parting.
"Are we going to…?"
"Oh!" Willow replied quickly, "Yes! Yes. Okay. I'll um…"
She gestured broadly and her arms fell by her side.
"We'll 'um'," Tara said a calm voice, "Together."
Willow smiled easily. She offered her hand and had to pull it back.
"Still getting used to that."
Tara put her arm around Willow's shoulders and appreciated the help to get up the stairs, especially when they continued up the second flight up to the attic.
Tara knocked on the panel door and waited for a 'come in' before she pulled the door enough for her and Willow to step in.
"Nugget, can we speak to you for a minute?" Willow asked as Tara closed the door over again.
Kayden had been sketching one-handed but put his sketchbook aside when they'd walked in.
"Um, yeah, of course."
Willow and Tara sat on his bed together while he stayed at his desk, with his chair turned politely toward them. Before either Willow or Tara could say anything else, Kayden's knee started to rock.
"Was I rude to those guys? Going to get potato salad?"
Both Willow and Tara exchanged confused looks, but Willow caught up first.
"Oh, no, sweetie, not at all," she reassured quickly and looked to Tara to explain, "I introduced him to Will and Garrett."
"Oh, it was so nice to see them for longer than five seconds waving across the street," Tara said with a smile.
Kayden pulled at the fraying threads on his sling.
"A-are they a…a couple?"
"Yeah, honey," Willow nodded while crossing and uncrossing her ankles, "They moved in when the twins were just little. They call themselves their fairy godfathers."
"They're the ones who gave the twins the glitter ball in their room," Tara added.
"Yes, we're very Jane Fonda them," Willow said with a waved of her arm, resulting in an arched eyebrow from both Tara and Kayden, which looked adorably learned, "What? Only they're allowed make gay icon puns?"
"Anyway," Tara continued easily and looked back at Kayden, "We wanted to talk to you about something."
Kayden suddenly looked gray.
"You're not in trouble," Tara reassured quickly, "Not at all."
"Definitely not," Willow shook her head, "We just wanted to talk to you about, well…"
She shared a smile with Tara.
"Well, Kayden, we wanted to see how you'd feel if we…asked to adopt you?"
The room suddenly went very quiet.
Willow gulped. Tara felt her hopes dashed but wanted to ease the shocked look on Kayden's face.
"You have to know that whatever your answer is, nothing will change."
"Yes," Willow nodded quickly, sensing what Tara was doing, "This is your home. Nothing will change that."
Kayden's head reeled back and snapped in place.
"Don't you stop getting paid if you adopt me?"
Willow and Tara exchanged confused looks.
"What do you mean?" Willow asked, slowly dragging her gaze back to Kayden, "Are you worried about college? Because we'll have the same in your account as all of the others by the time that comes around. That won't change."
Kayden frowned.
"Huh?"
"The money the state pays us to foster you," Willow explained slowly, "We put it in a college fund for you."
Kayden's eyes widened considerably while Willow kept speaking.
"And we add the same amount to it that we add to all of the kids' accounts plus we've been diversifying a bit to make up the time we've missed," she stopped herself and waved a hand, "It's boring business stuff but you'll have what you need. So don't worry about that."
Willow and Tara looked at each other and Tara braced herself as her eyes found Kayden again.
"But know that it's okay to say—"
"Yes."
Kayden felt like his brain was short-circuiting with all of this information but then his eyes blinked open and all he could feel from these women; this house; this family.
His family.
"Yes," he repeated quickly as if the idea was about to be snatched away, "Please. Yes. Yes. Please."
Tara stood and reached to touch Kayden's face.
"Darling, you don't have to say please. It would be our honor."
Kayden threw himself at Tara, whose breath left her lungs quickly and with a soft 'oof'.
Kayden backed off and looked stricken.
"Mom, I'm so sorry."
"It's okay," Tara comforted him, holding his face, "I barely felt it. They're getting better."
She kissed his forehead.
"And you can think about this for as long—"
"No," Kayden interrupted, politely, "I don't need to think about it."
Willow stood and embraced Kayden from the other side.
"We love you, Kay."
Kayden's eyes closed and he started to cry.
Willow kissed his head and Tara rubbed his neck.
"We don't need a piece of paper to tell us you're our boy," Willow said softly, "But we're going to get it anyway. Just to be safe."
"Because you are," Tara added.
She pressed three kisses to Kayden's temple.
"You are safe."
Tara sat in the waiting room at the hospital and flicked through a magazine.
She wasn't really paying attention, so got up to get a cup of water from the cooler. She didn't take for granted the zero pain she had upon standing after so many weeks limited by her bruised ribs.
The only negative was that without the physical pain to focus, she was growing even more worried about when the people who ran the cabins were going to get in touch about the damages and just how much they would be.
They'd just promised Kayden college and that wasn't a decade away, it was just a couple more years. JJ would be going off even sooner and all of their children had come accustomed to their hobbies and vacations and days out and the latest gadgets. She and Willow had worked hard for it. And now one stupid mistake could ruin it all.
They were all okay, she had to keep reminding herself. They were all okay. Alive.
The door to the treatment room opened and Willow walked out, bandage-free.
Tara stood up and strode over.
"Show me."
Willow turned her hands over. The skin was blotchy and there were some rough skin and patches of indentations but they were healed.
Tara brought Willow's hands up to her face and kissed each palm.
"Beautiful," she whispered reverently in their own little corner of the hospital.
Willow's eyes suddenly filled with tears.
"I was worried I would lose sensation," she said with a sniffle, "That I wouldn't feel it when I touch you or the kids. But I felt that. I felt all of that."
Tara kissed Willow's eyes, then offered her hand.
"Let's go home."
Willow took it and held on as tight as she ever had before.