Well all here's the moment you've been waiting for, or maybe not. There are a few chapters that I struggled through, this is one of them. Ask my beta
. Hope this has just the right amount of W/T love.
Chapter 16
Do you like what you see?“Uhhhg! It… just… wont… go…” Willow grunted. “ON!”
“What sweetie?” Tara asked as she walked from her bath. “Did you say something?”
“My shoe.” Willow grunted back. “I can’t get my left shoe on. Does that make any sense to you at all?” Willow tossed the shoes into the bottom of the closet. “I mean I know you were due yesterday and that you are tired and your back aches but it seems a bit over the top for only one of my feet to be swollen. Is that like a sick joke?” Willow pulled out a pair of hot pink plastic pool flip-flops. “I mean I should at least be able to wear the same shoes. Ya know like a matching pair. I look ridiculous in these sandals.” She looked up at her wife and paused before saying, “And I’m stupid for complaining when your towel doesn’t even make it all the way around your belly.” Willows eyes grew large as she noticed the gap between the edges of the blonde’s towel. Tara paraded in front of the red head in hopes of causing a distraction.
“Do you like what you see?” Tara smiled. She’d managed to distract the red head three times this week by picking a small towel from the cabinet.
“Not as much as what I don’t see.” Willow reached for the towel and pulled it from her wife. “There that’s much better.”
“Oh so you like this huh?” Tara grinned and rubbed the taught flesh of her very large belly. “Only a little time left to enjoy it.” Tara grinned wickedly as she turned to leave the room. Willow laughed and jumped to her feet grabbing the blonde in front of her.
“So then I better seize the day?” Willow smiled as her fingers traced across Tara’s skin. They moved slowly toward the bed and Tara eased herself down. “Seize the wife.” Willow moved in carefully beside her. “I’m pretty sure if we do this all day Abbey might just pop right out.” Willow giggled like a child as she slid her hand to Tara’s face. The mood was interrupted by a knock on the door. “GO AWAY!” Willow yelled to the wall. Giving a frustrated grumble she stood from the bed.
“Will, it’s ok. I’ll wait here you go answer it.” Tara smiled as she rolled onto her side. Willow walked down the stairs and opened the door. She was very disappointed at the sight of Anya standing on her front porch.
“I came to see the nursery.” She said as she pushed her way into the house. “Tara told me yesterday that it was finished and that I should come and see it sometime. So here I am.”
“Great.” Willow grumbled under her breath. . “We were just in the middle of something. So come back later.” Willow tried to maneuver her out the door. Anya twisted around squeezing herself into the foyer of the house.
“It’s the middle of the afternoon and she said I should come. So I’m here.” Anya looked at the redhead standing in her flip-flops. “Nice foot. What the hell happened to you?”
“Swollen,” Willow looked down and wiggled her chubby little toes.
“Just the one?” Anya asked smirking at the unhappy red head. “What are you a freak?”
“NO!…It’s just a thing. I have no idea why just the one.” Willow paused in frustration. She surrendered to the moment and let the woman into the house. Trying to change the subject from her mutant foot. “So you want to see the nursery?”
“Yes, Where’s Tara she said I should come and see it?”
“She’s upstairs.” She started to explain but Anya interrupted with her own version of events.
“Ohh you were in the middle of an or…gasm something.” Anya shifted her head in response to her own question. “Tryin to pop that cork are ya?” Anya slapped Willow on the shoulder. “I hear it works. Got no first hand experience, but I’ve heard a good physical sexual experience can shaken things up.” Anya pounded the air for emphasis.
Willow was unhappy with the joke and about to express it as Tara came down the stairs. Shadowed by disappointment at the sight of her wife fully dressed. Tara noticed and offered a kiss as consolation.
“Still like what you don’t see.” Tara whispered in her ear. “I’ll get rid of her as fast as I can.” Willow blushed a bit and moved into the living room. She wanted nothing to do with Anya and her current state of mind. She decided she would do a little work while Tara showed off the wonderful mural she’d painted in the nursery. A few minutes later the phone rang.
Willow answered and chatted with Dawn for a few minutes and hung up the phone. She yelled up to Tara.
“Baby…I have to go to Buffy’s house. Dawn thinks she has a virus on her computer. She’s having a meltdown and she wants me to take a look at it. I’ll only be gone about half an hour.”
“Okay sweetie,” Tara yelled back. “We’ll be here. I’m not planning on going anywhere.”
Willow walked out the door and hurried over to see Dawn. Tara and Anya sat in the nursery. Anya was trying to understand why everything was so bright and cheery.
“She’s not even going to notice all of this ya know.” Anya said looking around at the incredible enchanted forest Tara had created on the four walls. “Really all she’s going to do is eat, pee and sleep, not very productive as far as I can tell.” She milled about the room opening drawers and touching things on the dresser. “Must be a human design flaw. Most demons are spawned fully grown. Did you know that? Too bad you aren’t having one of those. You could skip all the cuddling.” Anya peeked behind the door and screamed. “AHHH! … what the hell is that? I thought you liked your daughter.”
“I do,” Tara laughed as she noticed the fluffy bunny Willow had placed on the dresser in the corner. “It’s harmless. One of the ladies from work gave it to us.”
“And you’re going to keep it in here?” Anya questioned. “Nightmares that thing will cause nightmares. Nothing is more frightening then fluffy bunnies.”
“Right.” Tara giggled. “No fluffy bunnies. I’ll put it in the closet.”
“What!” Anya yelled. “You’re going to put that monster in the closet. Are you insane? Between you and Willow that kid is getting screwed.” Tara laughed as she closed the closet door. “Hey! How’s that going anyway? The kid I mean.”
“Fine,” Tara answered. “The kid has a name you know. It’s Abigail and Abigail is great and she is ready to come out any time.” She rocked slowly in the antique rocking chair. “Andie our midwife came yesterday. Everything looks fine so now we just have to wait till Abbey wants to see us all. We set up the spare room for the delivery.” Tara gave Anya a quick tour of the room. And they discussed the home birth plan. Anya was interested in the bloody aspects of delivery and Tara wanted to change the subject. “So how about some tea?”
“Not the chamomile crap.” Anya said as she walked down the stairs. “Willow’s been trying to make us all drink that nasty stuff. She should have tried fennel. It settles the stomach. Works for babies too.”
“Tea for babies?” Tara laughed, but was very interested in her explanation.
“Well sure. Dates back at least 1000 years. You steep the seeds into a tea. Of course you let it cool for a baby. Duh! They burn easier. It does help to settle the stomach.”
Tara was a bit surprised that Anya of all people knew how to settle colic in an infant. The idea made her giggle and she thought about looking it up in her book of herbal remedies. The two women walked into the kitchen. Tara was busy making tea when the phone rang. It was Willow letting Tara know she had to take Dawn to the Computer Warehouse for an anti-virus update. They planned to be gone for only an hour. Tara hung up the phone and turned to face Anya.
“So Willow is gone for a bit. What do you want to do?”
“Let’s play Monopoly.” Anya clapped her hands with excitement.
“Um.” Tara paused as Anya interrupted.
“Yes you know.” Anya explained. “The game with houses and money and the ultimate goal is to force your friends and family to sell of all their belongings and send them into the poor house.” She smiled largely at the idea and clapped vigorously. “Lets play.”
Tara just laughed as she thought about Buffy and Dawn. This was an inside joke and Anya was clearly out of the loop. They quickly set up the game and began to play. They played for a while. Anya was an expert at the game and she somehow managed to land on the very best properties. Tara leaned in to roll the dice and felt a sharp pain in her back that traveled around to her side. Leaning to catch her breath, it passed quickly and she continued to rolled the dice.
“You okay?” Anya asked. “You look like you’re in pain.” Shuffling the play money and planning her strategy she ignored the blonde’s response.
“Just a bit.” Tara answered. “But it’s gone now. I’m alright.” They continued to play and a few minutes later another pain raced through Tara and this time she was very certain it was a contraction. “Anya I think the baby is finally coming.”
“Well it’s about frikkin time.” Anya spat. “Wait I just landed on Park Place I want to buy it.”
“Okay you do that.” Tara breathed through the pain. “When you’re done please get me the phone would you?”
“Calling an Ambulance?” Anya asked. “Good idea lets get you to a hospital.”
“NO!” Tara yelled. “I need to call the midwife. Go in the kitchen. That phone is cordless.”
“See I knew it.” Anya spat. “The damn kitchen. It’s gonna happen right in there. I’m telling you right now if that kid is born in this kitchen I’m never eating dinner here again. I mean it. That’s just extremely unsanitary.”
“No. I’m staying right here. Your future meals are completely safe.” Tara stopped speaking when she felt Willow call her.
Tara Baby. She heard the redhead in her mind.
You’re in labor aren’t you? Yes Sweetie. I think I am. Please get home quickly. I’m already on my way. I love you and don’t worry. Is Anya still there? Yes. She glanced at Anya who was collecting $200.00 for passing go, after rolling doubles and buying Park Place.
Good have her help you up to the bedroom. All the blankets and stuff are on the floor in the closet. Did you call Andie yet? I’m kinda busy talking to you sweetie. Both women gasped as another contraction hit.
Son of a bitch. Tara heard Willow’s thoughts and laughed through the contraction.
Willow you and your mouth need to relax and breathe. I’ll be okay Tara. Call Andie I’ll be home in 20 minutes. I love you. I love you too.Tara dialed the phone, surprised when she got an answering service, but not at all concerned. Andie's practice was very high tech and she knew the message would be delivered. Anya sat impatiently tapping at the table waiting for Tara to come back and take her turn.
“Hey!” Anya screeched. “I just bought Park Place. I got more money for just going passed go. It’s your turn and you’re heading down my street. Come on. Baby needs a new pair of shoes.”
“Um… Anya.” Tara tried to ignore the irony of the situation. “I’m having the baby. I think we could just hold off on the game.”
“Oh Sure!” She spat sarcastically. “Just when I was about to take you down, you go and get all contraction-y.” Anya looked at her with a straight faceflipping her hands at Tara's belly. “Big cheater.”
Tara smirked at Anya and tried to walk up to her bedroom. Another contraction hit as she lifted her foot to the bottom step. Tara screamed loudly and Anya came running.
“You should really go to a hospital, they give you stuff for all that pain now.”
“Uugh.” Tara suffered through the contraction. “I’m not going to the hospital. But I would like to get upstairs. Will you please help me?”
“Sure if you think that’s the best thing to do, I’ll help you, but if things go wonky, I’m gonna say I told you so.”
“Yes Anya, I know.” Tara grabbed her around the shoulder and climbed the stairs. Two contractions later they were finally in the spare bedroom. Willow and Tara had set it up as a birthing room. Andie their midwife, had delivered a special bed for childbirth just the day before. Anya helped Tara to the bed and looked for instructions on what to do next.
“Now what do I do?” She stood nervously rubbing one hand in the other shifting her body from side to side.
“You ever deliver a baby?” Tara asked nervously shifting onto the bed attempting to get comfortable.
“Seen it a few times.” She answered seriously. “It’s So awful. I’m not watching you do it. And if it gets stuck, I’m not allowed to gut you. But don’t get me wrong missy I could do it and do it well.”
Tara’s eyes widened at the thought and she worried that Willow wouldn’t get there on time. Everything seemed to be happening very quickly. She was completely unprepared for it to happen this way. At that moment they heard the front door slam. Tara called to Willow.
WillowTara quieted her mind to listen.
I’m almost there. Willow thought back
Five more minutes. I can tell you are close. I’ve been timing them. They are ohhhhh... son... of... a... bitch these are so damn painful. Will... sweetie... you have to stop swearing in my head. Tara was working hard to concentrate and breathe through the contraction.
Hurry please. Anya is trying to help me. Oh Goddess help me. Please hurry.Anya realized Tara was communicating with Willow, checked to see who came in the door. It was Xander and the sight of him brought relief.
“Xander!” Anya squealed. “You’re just in time to see Tara have her baby. Now that you are here, you can go pull that thing out of there. It’s too awful. I’m not watching. I’m going to boil something.”
“What!” Xander shook his head as he focused on her words. “Did you just say Tara’s in labor?”
“Yes!… and Willow is nowhere to be found.” She nervously paced the floor. “Thoughtlessly abandoning her in her time of need.”
“Where is she?” He attempted to stop her pacing by grabbing her shoulders.
“Out driving around with Dawn and her computer.”
“Tara’s out with Dawn and a computer in labor?” Xander was clearly confused.
“No Willow’s with Dawn.” Anya explained slowly so the cro-mag could understand her confusing explanation. “Tara is upstairs… alone… without the midwife… Her contractions are very close together… and Willow… is out shopping for viruses.”
The screaming from upstairs interrupted the conversation. Anya and Xander raced to the spare bedroom. Tara was lying on the bed trying to focus and breathe through the contraction. The pain eased a bit and she turned to them.
“Call Andie again please!” Tara begged. The pain was more than she could handle. She felt alone and very frightened. Her body, tense and was chilled with sweat.
“Okay, The number is on the fridge right?” He asked.
“Yes!” Tara barked as she felt another contraction. “Hurry this is happening way to fast.” Xander ran out of the room and made the call.
“Anya.” Tara looked at her. “Will you please help me out of my clothes and into that gown in the closet?”
“Sure.” Anya grabbed the gown and helped Tara change. It was awkward for both women, but necessary. She eased herself back onto the bed. The contractions were coming so closely together that she got very little relief in between. Anya decided she should check to see if something was coming out yet.
“Do you think I should look and see if it’s coming out yet?” Anya asked.
“I don’t know.” Tara was a bit confused as all of her energy was focused on the pain.
“I’ll just look and let you know if I see anything.” Anya lifted the gown to look, just as the bedroom door swung open.
“What the hell are you doing?” Willow screamed at the sight of Anya looking between Tara’s legs. “Get away from her.” She grabbed the fabric from Anya’s hand and forced in down against Tara’s skin.
“Hey!” I’m just trying to help.” Anya yelled pulling her hands back. “That thing is sticking out. I’m just trying to make sure it comes out right.”
“Goddess! Get the hell… oh son of a bitch!” Willow screamed countless obscenities as Tara had another contraction. “Christ Tara, how can you be so quiet?”
“Well you seem to be doing all of the screaming and cursing for both of us.” Tara breathed through the pain, panting and Hee Hee Heeing.
Willow moved onto the bed to help relax her wife. She reached for the note pad next to the bed and gave it to Anya.
“Please go and get these things for us.” Willow asked as calmly as possible.
“Okay, I’ll be right back.” Anya quickly ran down to the kitchen.
The two women were finally alone, together, and they attempted to comfort each other.
“Baby how are you doing?” She rubbed Tara’s brow. Pulling thin strands of sweat soaked hair from her face. “I know how you are doing… but what can I do?”
“I need to focus Will.” Tara’s eyes pleaded for help. “Will you do something to help me focus? I can’t do it alone.”
Willow quickly turned on some music. The soft instrumental sounds began to play. Willow folded the bed upright into a giant chair, and moved in behind Tara. Their bodies found comfort as they leaned into each another. Willow began to chant, "Diana bring us strength and surround us with your peace." She repeated it over and over as Tara joined the rhythm of the chant. "Diana bring us strength and surround us with your peace." They became as one and lost themselves in the safety of each other. As the next contraction came, their breathing eased them through it. This continued until Tara felt the need to push. They were forced to make a decision neither hoped would be necessary.
“Will we can’t do this alone.” She said with astonishing calm. “Should we call Andie’s emergency number, or an ambulance? I really think Abbey is coming, NOW!”
Willow knew how much it meant for her wife to have the baby at home. So she decided to call Andie one more time. She yelled for help.
“ANYA!” Willow screamed. “Call Andie again. But call the emergency number written in red.”
“We already did!” She yelled as she walked through the door, quickly followed by Xander and the midwife.
Andie smiled as she walked into the room. The very tall skinny brunette bundled her hair up into a sloppy bun. She slipped a smock over her baggy sweats and t-shirt. Clearly she’d been interrupted from her daily routine. “Sorry I didn’t get here faster. My pager went off while I was out for a run. I delivered a baby just a few hours ago. Busy day. So you started the party without me?”
“Abbey seems to be in charge at the moment.” Willow smiled. Another contraction came, but this time the two women were so connected and focused they closed their eyes and breathed through it.
Andie moved in and lifted Tara’s gown. She checked to see how things were progressing.
“Well,” Andie smiled at the two women. “Another ten minutes and you wouldn’t have needed me. Tara you are amazing. You’re fully dilated and fully effaced. So whenever you’re ready to push you can.”
Those were the words She’d had been waiting for. During the next contraction the two women leaned forward and Tara pushed. The head started to come out and the room was abuzz with excitement.
“I can see the head.” Andie smiled as she looked at Tara. “I’m just going to ease my fingers around her here to help just a little. Tara screamed loudly for the first time as another contraction ripped through her body. It startled Willow and she tried to look at Tara.
“Baby Are you okay? Should I move?”
“NO! Stay here.” She said grabbing Willow’s hands. “It’s much easier with your arms around me.” Both women noticed how they were sharing the intense pain and that once their bodies made contact the intensity seemed to ease.
“Tara, stop pushing.” Andie said calmly. “I can see that you are beginning to tear. I need to make a small incision to ease some of the stretching.”
Willow was a bit concerned, she wondered why it was necessary at this point. She looked to Andie for an explanation. “Why? Is everything okay?”
“It’s fine Willow.” Andie explained. “She has just progressed so quickly her body didn’t get time to stretch slowly. This will make it easier. And once the baby is here an incision is much easier to repair than a tear. Just trust me. This is perfectly normal.”
“Normal for you maybe.”
Andie made the incision lifting her hands from under the drape covering Tara. Xander saw the blood on her hands and got weak in the knees. Anya noticed and helped him out into the hall. He slid down to the floor and stayed there trying to catch his breath. Anya ran down to the kitchen to get the water and ice chips she had forgotten when Andie came in. She also grabbed her popcorn from the microwave. She ran back up the stairs and entered the room. She put the ice and water next to the bed and offered some to the ladies in the room.
“Tara do you want ice or water?” Anya asked. “I brought it. How about the washcloth? Should I cool it off for you?”
“I’m fine.” Tara answered. Another contraction hit and she pushed hard.
“Her head is out.” Andie smiled as she gave the news. Tara sighed a bit of relief. Anya peeked her head around to take a look. She was stuffing popcorn into her mouth and giving a casual grossed out look.
“It looks pretty disgusting for being human.” She offered commentary as she chomped the mouthful of popcorn.. “It’s all covered in goo. Hey, it’s got blonde hair.”
“Anya.” Willow barked. “This isn’t a show. Stop looking under there.” She paused. “Blonde? …really? Ohh baby she has your hair.” Willow leaned to kiss her wife as another contraction hit. Tara gave one long last hard push and Abigail Maclay-Rosenberg was welcomed into the world. Andie cleaned her off briskly wiping her from head to toe. She suctioned her nose and mouth, wrapped her in a soft blanket, and gently placed her on Tara’s stomach. Andie continued to work and clamped the umbilical cord.
“Willow do you still want to cut the cord?”
“Oh yes.” She sighed. She slipped slowly out from behind her wife and reached to cut the cord. Tara leaned back into the bed and held her daughter in awe. Abbey let out a gentle cry as Willow moved back onto the bed beside her wife and child. Tara ran her fingers across the sweet face of her daughter. Willow touched the tiny open hand and it wrapped around her finger. She gasped at the feeling.
“Okay Tara you still have a bit of work to do.” Andie interrupted. “Willow take Abbey to the nursery and clean her up. Do you remember how I showed you to do it?”
“I took notes.” She explained with a smile. “I even drew diagrams.” Tara kissed her daughter and wife before they left the room. As she stepped through the doorway she met Anya crying in the hall slumped next to Xander.
“Are you okay?” Willow looked at Anya strangely. “What happened?”
“She did.” Anya said pointing at Abigail. “I think that is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in all of my eleven hundred and twenty-five years.” Anya stood to look at the baby. She reached to touch her skin and was amazed by the flood of emotion. “I feel so soft and fuzzy. She is just so cute and cuddly.”
“Welcome to your humanity Anya.” Willow patted her on the shoulder as she walked into the nursery. Xander stood as they walked by and followed them into the room. The three of them stared in amazement as Willow carefully cleaned her daughter’s beautiful pink body. They counted fingers and toes and Willow tenderly touched the soft blonde hair on her head. Following her written instructions Willow diapered and dressed her daughter in a one-piece t-shirt. She wrapped her in a blanket and carried her back into the birthing room.
“Here she is.” Willow lifted her daughter so she could see Tara. “There is your Mommy. Isn’t she the most beautiful lady you’ve ever seen?” Willow leaned in and kissed the damp brow of her wife placing her daughter in the blonde’s arms. Andie was finishing the stitches as Willow sat down on the bed. Tara winced a bit and quickly caught her breath.
“Tara,” she said apologetically. “I’m sorry baby are you okay?”
“Oh I’m better than okay.” Tara reached and pulled Willow beside her on the bed. “She’s finally here sweetie. She’s so beautiful.”
“She definitely takes after you then.” Willow said lovingly.
“So do you like what you see?” Tara smiled brightly as she asked.
“OH yes!” Willow answered emphatically. “Very much.”
TBC
Urn of Osiris
_________________**
"Ninety-nine percent of the failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses."
— George Washington Carver
Voice your opinion about Tara www.petitiononline.com/Tara/petition.html
by fairydust » Sat Sep 21, 2002 5:52 am 
she's sooo mean....*evil snicker*
*
Her annoyance at Tara going into labour just as she'd purchased Park Place was funny.
Loved how Willow kept cursing, that was funny!! 
But what really got me is Anya still trying to play Monopoly while Tara is fixin to have the baby! She kills me!! 
I didn't think Andie would make it, but whew showed just in time! Can't wait 4 more! 
and 
I could just see her sayin that.
at: 9/23/02 9:33:34 am
But you promised there would be no angst!!! 
on you here. No way. It'll be all Happy in this particular fic. Be brave little camper It'll be fine and good. Hugs and puppies. 
YES! 
