Please do not archive, link or reproduce without Author's Written Permission

Disclaimer: I don't own any Buffy the Vampire Slayer characters. No copyright infringement is intended. Original characters are mine.

Pairing: W/T... of course.

Angst Rating: Some angst, less than most of my stories.

Rating: PG 13 for adult themes and W/T goodness.

This is a sequel to the Willow and Tara novel, Unexpected Consequences. If you haven't read that first, you will be quite lost. It can be accessed at

http://www.quiknet.com/~lcountry/unexpected01.html
 
 

CHAPTER TEN

Brent placed a blanket on the lawn near the lowest pool below the Imbolc house and then worked quietly as Brianna played. This pool had a replica of Stonehenge around the water built to one half scale. The elder was pulling weeds from the base of the stones as Brianna sat on the blanket and played with her sister. Like any sister, Brianna soon learned that tormenting her sibling was quite enjoyable.

Brianna tickled Megan's foot with a blade of grass. Her baby sister was not amused.

Megan kicked her feet and let out a squawk of protest.

Brianna giggled and scooted closer to Megan and tickled the other foot with the blade of grass.

The squawk was much louder this time, and Megan flailed her arms and kicked her feet. She inhaled and let out a screech that rivaled a wounded hawk.

Brent turned and cleared her throat. "Miss Brianna, please don't torture your sister." Her tone was full of love and she had just the hint of smile. She knew Brianna was investigating Megan, and she knew the explorations were mostly harmless.

"But…" Brianna paused with the blade of grass a few inches from Megan's toes. "Mistress Brent …she makes fists with her feet," Brianna said, as if that justified further research.

"What do you mean?" Brent put down her pruning sheers and went to the blanket. "Fists with her feet?" She sat next to Brianna and leaned down so she could look into her eyes. "Are you just making up a reason to torment her." She smiled so Brianna wouldn't think she was angry.

"No, really." Brianna tickled Megan foot again to demonstrate.

Megan squealed angrily, but the toes on both feet curled overlooking very much like fists.

"See?" Brianna asked.

"Oh, my." Brent chuckled and picked Megan up and held her close. "Shh, little Miss." She smiled at Brianna as Megan settled down. "She definitely makes fists with her feet."

Brianna smiled smugly.

"But no more teasing, okay?" Brent asked. She put Megan back onto the blanket in the shade of one of the larger stones.

Meagan yawned up at Brent. The infant seemed to enjoy the warm air, despite squinting against the bright sky.

"Okay." Brianna bit her lip and wondered what other fun games she could play with Megan. She sighed as she watched Megan yawn.

"When she's bigger you can romp on the lawns and teach her how to play lacrosse," Brent promised.

"Can she go with us to the garden someday?" Brianna asked. "And learn about the goddess?"

Brent sat and lifted Brianna into her lap. "Megan will be big enough for the garden before you know it." She smoothed Brianna’s hair as she hugged her with one arm. "I will gladly teach you and your sister all that I know."

Brianna smiled and squeezed Brent with both arms. She was just about to ask if they could make a trip to the main hall when she heard someone approaching across the lawn. She looked behind Brent and her entire face lit up.

"Fluffy!" She squirmed loose and sprinted across the lawn toward the Slayer.

"Hey, Embrianna." Buffy knelt and held out her arms. She and Brianna always used the affectionate nicknames. It had once bothered Buffy, but now being called ‘Fluffy’ warmed her tired soul. "How's it feel to be a big sister?"

"Aunt Fluffy, you finally came!" Brianna leapt into Buffy’s arms.

Only Buffy’s slayer strength kept her from being bowled over. "Of course I came, silly." She stood and balanced Brianna on her hip. "So I'm a little late." She frowned as she walked over to Brent. "Not like saving the world has to take priority… again." She sighed.

"How are you, Buffy?" Brent asked. She hugged the Slayer and smiled warmly. She had been worried. When they had called Buffy to come for Megan's birth, the Slayer and the guardians with her had been fighting a new vampire master who was trying to open the hellmouth. Not an original idea, but certainly one that required Buffy’s presence. The new master had a huge army, one that kept Buffy in Sunnydale for over three weeks. No Slayer could leave a town being overrun each night, and Buffy and her companions had been busy slaying every night since.

"Me? I'm exhausted, but good." Buffy yawned.

"I take it you averted yet another apocalypse?" Brent asked.

"Yep." Buffy let out a weary sigh. "Buffy twenty-two, dark forces zero." She never counted her own two deaths in her optimistic tally against evil. Buffy looked over at the blanket where Megan was resting. "Is that my new niece?" she teased. "Or did you decided to have one of these rug rats?" She raised an eyebrow at Brent as she bounced Brianna on her hip.

"Yes, that redheaded miniature Willow is mine." Brent chuckled. "See? I still have a few pounds to lose from carrying her." She patted her rounded hips.

"That's Megan," Brianna said slowly. She didn't realize they were joking. "Mistress Brent doesn't need a baby. She already has mama."

Brent faltered and felt tears fill her eyes. The truth of Brianna’s words made the elder's chest tighten. "Lady Tara is very special to me." Her voice cracked. "But she had a mother she loved very much."

"Yes, she did." Buffy wrapped an arm around Brent. "But her heart is full of love. She has plenty left over for you, and I think you fill that void losing her mom left."

Brent sniffled. Completely taken off guard.

"Aunt Buffy! You made my Mistress cry!" Brianna was worried, and a little angry.

"I didn't!" Buffy insisted. She knew Brianna was mad because her niece only called her ‘Buffy’ when she was upset with her. "Brianna, I didn't make her cry." She saw the tears on Brent’s cheeks. "Okay, so I made her cry, but these are not sad tears …are they?" she asked the last question directly to Brent.

"These are happy tears." Brent smiled and wiped her eyes.

"There, see?" Buffy said. "She's not sad." She scowled. "So no more ‘Buffy,’ okay?"

Brianna glanced to Brent, and as soon as Brent nodded, Brianna hugged Buffy. "Okay, aunt Fluffy."

"That's my Embrianna." Buffy patted Brianna’s back. "Now, let's have a look at that baby sister of yours." She squealed happily. "She's just the cutest thing ever!" Buffy said, mirroring Willow's first reaction to the child.

*****

Willow was aware of three things. First and most obviously, her breasts hurt. She groaned and slowly opened her eyes. She could tell by the amount of sunshine pouring into the room that it was afternoon, which meant she had slept several hours. That fact explained her painfully overfilled breasts.

The second thing that was instantly apparent was the sound of Tara’s snoring. It wasn't a loud, disturbing snore, but it was a sound Willow knew well. It was the light snore that plagued Tara when she was exhausted. Willow looked down at her beloved partner and smiled. Tara was sprawled across Willows chest accounting for the third sensation that had awakened the redhead.

Willow had felt wetness on her chest and had assumed her breast had sprung a leak. The wetness wasn't milk. Tara was drooling, her lips were slightly parted, her slumber too deep to notice the moisture spilling onto Willow's chest.

‘This really is true love,’ Willow thought with a smirk. After more than a decade of being Tara’s wife, her love hadn't faded, but had instead grown deeper each day. Nothing else could explain Willow's amusement. Tara was basically passed out on top of Willow, and yet the drool that would have annoyed anyone else only brought smile to Willow's lips. She wasn't disgusted or even bothered by it. In fact, Willow's only reaction was amusement, mingled with a bit of concern. She knew Tara only drooled when she was overly tired.

"Ugh…" Tara stirred, or rather, she grunted and nuzzled her cheek against Willow's painfully full breast. She was still sleeping, but the discomfort evident in her grunt let Willow know Tara was also feeling the effect of breasts in need of emptying.

Willow carefully slipped out from under Tara and rolled toward the night stand. ‘I love Brent,’ she thought when she saw the breast pump sitting beside the bed ready for use. Willow took the pump and started to press it to her breast. Both sides were beginning to weep milk, and she wanted to relieve the pressure, but then Tara whimpered in her sleep.

The blonde witch rolled onto her back and groaned. She was naked, and the sheets had slid down to her hips. Her breasts were full and a bead of milk had formed on each of her nipples.

Willow sighed and made the ultimate sacrifice for love. She reached over and gently cupped Tara’s breast and pressed the pump over the nipple.

As soon as the pump activated, Tara moaned happily. She wasn't awake, but the smile that covered her face made it obvious she was relieved to have her breast emptied.

By the time Willow finished with one side, the small pump reserve was full, so she had to change the plastic bag that held the milk. When she turned back to attend to Tara’s other breast, she couldn't help but smile.

Tara had rolled toward Willow, positioning herself so Willow could work, yet the blonde was still asleep.

‘Sure, let me do all the work,’ Willow thought with a smirk. She put the pump to Tara’s flesh and held it in place with one hand. She ran her other hand through Tara’s hair, smoothing it behind one ear. The blonde strands looked like Tara had been through a hurricane, or possibly been trapped in a blender. ‘Yep, this is true love,’ Willow thought. ‘Even with hurricane hair, and drooly lips, she's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen.’ She caressed Tara's cheek. Tara’s skin was flushed from sleep, and Willow enjoyed the warm smoothness.

"That feels so good," Tara said without opening her eyes. "Oh, goddess, that's better than sex." She groaned as her breast finally stopped aching.

"Then maybe you need a refresher," Willow said playfully. The pump hummed to a stop and Willow put it on the night stand. She rolled back over and kissed Tara’s temple. "I mean, that's good, but not as good as us."

"Well, no, but now that I don't feel like a dairy cow, I can actually think about getting that refresher course." Tara pulled Willow down and gave her a slow, sensual, good morning kiss, all without having even opened her eyes yet. "Oh, yeah. Willow kisses are much better than the breast pump." She moved her hand and cupped Willows breast, planning to start her refresher course.

"Ouch." Willow pulled away and cringed.

"Honey?" Tara opened her eyes and sat up.

"Still feeling like a dairy cow here," Willow explained.

Tara chuckled and sat up. "Well, guess that makes me Farmer Brown." She yawned and looked past Willow. "Pump?"

Willow turned and put a new milk container on the pump. She quickly began expressing her milk. "Great, we used to wake up and have wild sex, and now we talk about dairies and pumps." She sighed.

"Trust me, we have plenty of wild sex left in us," Tara promised. "After the milking." She giggled, even as Willow switched sides with the pump. Tara was finally able to relax after weeks of being on edge.

"Guess we're officially an old married couple." Willow pouted and looked like she had just been grounded for a week. She put the pump on the night stand and turned back to Tara.

"Married is nice." Tara kissed Willow's cheek. "And it doesn't rule out wild bedroom activities, sweetie."

Willow turned toward Tara and gave her a suggestive leer. "I was kinda’ hoping we'd take advantage of this time to ourselves."

"Hmm…" Tara leaned back into the pillows and let her eyes roam the contours of Willow's naked body. "And here I thought I could use the time to take advantage of you."

"I like your idea much better." She leaned over Tara and pressed her breasts to Tara’s exposed skin. "Lucky me."

"Well, it does have a lot to do with you getting lucky." Tara ran both hands along Willow's sides, stopping at her slightly flared hips.

"I make my own luck." Willow arched her back, pressing Tara against the bed. "And I take what's mine." She kissed Tara with a passion that bordered on a starving need.

After a few smoldering minutes, Tara broke the kiss. "Wait…" She was taking in gulps of air. "Milk… in … fridge…" She grabbed Willow and yanked her back down, deciding they could afford to lose a few containers of milk if it meant she could have another scorching kiss. She whimpered when Willow pulled away and sat up.

"Ill be right back." Willow gave Tara a quick kiss and then jumped up and grabbed the breast milk and the pump. "I’ll put these away and rinse this, and then, I want to enjoy our new feminism." She spun and sprinted from the room.

Tara bit her lip. She was already frustrated beyond belief, but they had to think of Megan's needs. She sighed and climbed from the bed and decided to go freshen up while Willow was gone. They had all day to make love and she had every intention of putting each second to good use, very good use.

*****

Sheila found Buffy and Brent and of course took over the care of her newest grandchild. She held Megan and smiled down at her. "She looks so much like Willow." She rocked Megan, remembering Willow at the same age. Sheila loved babies. It was only when Willow had gotten older and asserted her own will that Sheila had difficulties with parenting. She noticed Megan's pout and then and looked over to Brent. "When did she eat last?"

"She ate at twelve," Brent said. "She'll be ready to eat again in about 30 minutes."

"We should see if she's hungry." Sheila kissed Megan's forehead. "Babies need food to grow."

"And Miss Megan eats every two hours, like clockwork," Brent said. "If you try to feed her early, it makes her grouchy."

"My grandchild does not get grouchy." Sheila rocked Megan protectively. "She's been an angel since I got here."

Across the lawn, Buffy was chasing Brianna around the rocks near the water. "You little rat!" Buffy lost sight of her niece. Buffy decided that Brianna was more agile than a vampire, and certainly harder to hear. She rested behind a tall stone and waited for Brianna to move.

A happy squeal announced Brianna’s presence. The future mantle of Brigit sprinted for the water and splashed across the shallow pool. She was stark naked.

"Well, I guess we're done playing hide and seek," Buffy said with a snort. "I'm not coming in there, you little naked jay-bird," she said as she stood at the edge of the water. "I just bought these boots."

"Brianna!" Sheila yelled and then looked at Brent in horror. "She's naked!"

Brent turned and smiled as she watched Brianna jumping up and down and sending splashes high into the air. "Why, yes, she is naked."

"Do something!" Sheila ordered.

Brent sighed and climbed up from the grass. She took off her jacket and tossed it onto the blanket, revealing the sheath that held her sword. She walked into the water and over to where Brianna was sending up showers of splashes. "Having fun?" Brent asked.

"Yep." Brianna’s expression was quite serious as she continued jumping.

"I think you made Buffy sad. She was enjoying playing with you."

Brianna stopped and looked over at Buffy.

"Not sad, just disappointed." Buffy smiled. "I never got to catch you."

"Perhaps you could put your clothes back on and then let Buffy catch you," Brent whispered in Brianna’s ear. "Just don't make it too easy."

Brianna nodded and ran to Buffy’s side. "Be right back," she said as she squeezed past Buffy.

"Don't make it too easy?" Buffy asked Brent. "What? I need a five-year-old to ‘let’ me catch her?"

"Well, you didn't seem to be having much luck," Brent pointed out.

"Okay, catch me, aunt Fluffy!" Brianna yelled from her hiding place.

"Just do your best, dear," Brent told Buffy. She waded to the edge of the water and patted Buffy’s shoulder.

"Stupid Sheila," Buffy whispered. "If she wasn’t here, I could use Slayer strength and jump up on those rocks and see the little rat."

Brent chuckled. "Yes, now you have to catch the defenseless five-year-old using just your adult brain and superior speed. It's just not fair."

"Shut up." Buffy gave Brent a playful shove.

Ten minutes later, and Buffy still hadn't caught Brianna.

"Okay, so maybe my ego could use a boost," Buffy admitted. She crept around another stone and saw no sign of Brianna. "Oh, come on!" She let out a growl and wondered how it could be so hard to find a little girl, a little girl who always had at least two sets of eyes keeping her safe. Buffy smiled and went back out to the edge of the pool and slowly scanned the area until she saw Brigh. The guardian was sitting against a rock, relaxing in the shade, but her eyes were locked on something in the distance. "Got ya’," Buffy whispered.

Brent watched as Buffy made a stealthy approach. She wondered why it took the Slayer so long to realize the guardians’ watchful eyes would give away Brianna’s position.

"I think she's hungry," Sheila said quietly. "Should I go get a bottle?" She watched as Brianna snuck behind a rock and flanked Buffy.

"I have several in the ice chest," Brent said. "I’m sure Miss Megan would love it if you'd feed her."

"Id like that." Sheila shifted Megan in her arms and had to smile when she watched Brianna sneak within a few feet of Buffy’s back. "Buffy really does love her, doesn’t she?"

"Yes, we all do." Brent noticed that Sheila actually could say Buffy’s name correctly. "Buffy and Willow have been best friends for a long time. Willow loves her like a sister."

"Fluffy!" Brianna squealed.

The brave Slayer squealed and leapt into the pool, landing in the knee-deep water. "Oh, you little rat!" She spun and faced Brianna.

Brianna’s smile disappeared. "Oh, no." She stared at Buffy’s feet.

"Hey, Embrianna, I don't care about the damn boots." Buffy held out her arms. "You caught me, so get in here and claim your prize."

Brianna smiled brightly and jumped toward Buffy.

"There, one aunt Fluffy hug." She caught Brianna and held her in her arms. "Can't beat that prize, now can you?" She waded out of the pool and toward the blanket. "Okay, miss-sneaky-pants here out smarted me. I need food to console me."

"Your stomach has perfect timing," Brent said. "Mrs. Rosenberg was just about to feed the little Miss." She stood and looked toward the main hall at the bottom of the hill. "I’ll have Cook heat the milk."

Sheila looked up toward the Imbolc house. She didn’t understand why they couldn't just use the microwave in Willow’s kitchen.

"Grandma, can I help you feed Megan?" Brianna asked. Her heart was the product of Willow and Tara’s, and like her mothers, she was able to forgive. She was opening up to her grandmother, though she did seem to tense when Sheila held Megan. Still, Brianna was full of love. She was clinging to Buffy, bouncing excitedly at the thought of feeding her sister. Her tiny, spindly legs were wrapped around Buffy like twin boa constrictors as she wiggled.

"Of course, dear." Sheila smiled and stood slowly, balancing Megan. She looked down the hill again and then turned to Brent. "I'm a bit tired from the walk up here." She held out Megan. "Would you mind taking Megan. I’m going to go up the stairs and use Willow's car and drive down to the main hall."

"The keys are in the ignition," Brent said. "Ever since Megan's birth, Tara’s been afraid she’ll lose them." She smiled remembering Tara the day she brought Willow home. The entire Imbolc guard had searched for the keys and when they finally found them, they were in Tara’s pocket.

"Would you like me to drive you?" Brigh offered. She wasn’t sure if Willow would like her mother driving the SUV.

"I'm perfectly capable," Sheila said as she rolled her eyes.

"Of course you are." Brent smiled and rocked Megan in her arms. "Well meet you at the main hall. Brianna loves racing across the lawns, and with Buffy along, she’ll have someone she can actually outrun."

"Hey!" Buffy glared indignantly.

"Be careful, princess," Sheila told Brianna. She leaned over and kissed Brianna.

"I will." Brianna squirmed and then smiled when Buffy put her onto the ground.

As Sheila walked up the stairs toward the front of the Imbolc house, Brigh moved closer to Brent.

"Is that such a good idea?" Brigh knew Tara’s temper was getting short when it came to unexpected guests.

"I locked the door on my way out this morning," Brent said with a chuckle. "If she thinks she's getting inside, she is sadly mistaken."

"Don't ever try to outsmart Brent," Buffy told Brianna and as she took the young girl’s hand. "She’s ten steps ahead of everyone else."

Brianna nodded solemnly as the group walked down the grassy hill. She already knew that from trying to sneak into the kitchen to get cookies. Brent sometimes baby-sat while Willow and Tara went out, and even though Tara kept the cookie jar fully stocked, Brianna was only allowed a cookie after each meal. Any time Brianna would try to sneak one from the jar, Brent always caught her the instant before she bit into her stolen treat. Brianna was convinced Brent had a mystical cookie sensor. She sighed and looked up at Brent and then saw a small butterfly flit past. "Oh!" She ran off after the tiny creature.

"So how is Will doing?" Buffy asked as she studied Megan. "I mean, wow, big huge baby, coming out. That’s gotta’ hurt."

"Willow's recovering well." Brent’s voice held a tone Buffy recognized as concern, concern for Tara.

"Are Will’s parents really driving Tara wacky?" Buffy asked.

Brent let out a sigh and waited for Brianna run further ahead where she could study the butterfly. "Buffy, I've never seen Lady Tara like this."

"Like what?" Buffy asked.

"She keeps losing her patience," Brent said quietly. "This isn’t like her."

"Well, come on," Buffy said. "If you had Sheila breathing down your neck, wouldn't you be on edge?"

"I have Sheila breathing down my neck," Brent reminded Buffy. "And this isn't just about Willow’s parents." She paused and looked into Buffy’s eyes. "I know her. Something is wrong."

"Well, what the hell are you doing about it?" Buffy demanded in a harsh whisper.

"For starters I made sure she and Willow had some alone time today." Brent allowed a hint of a smile. "Perhaps she’s just feeling rather frustrated." The elder glanced toward the Imbolc house. "I think making time for each other is quite difficult with two children."

"Well, it's only been three weeks. So they put off naughty time." Buffy stopped and waited as Brianna chased her butterfly to the edge of the path.

"I doubt they've ever put off … naughty time," Brent said as she blushed. "But, after three weeks with two in-laws dropping in, they do need some alone time."

Buffy let out a disgusted sigh. "I so need to get a wife." She stomped down the path. "Well, not a wife, but damn it, I need someone to have alone time with." She kicked a rock down the hillside. "Stupid Slayer duties."

Brent followed Buffy and Brianna. She hoped Tara’s mood was only frustration. Something was nagging at the back of the elder’s mind, but she couldn't put a name to her fears. She let out a sigh and continued down the trail.
 
 

At the front of the Imbolc house, Sheila was not happy to find the door locked; however, Willow's mother shared a stubborn persistence with her daughter. She did not give up easily. She remembered that the door at the pool was always kept locked for safety, but she also remembered seeing Willow lock herself on the patio once. Willow had calmly retrieved a key from a planter next to the door. Sheila smiled as she headed to the back of the building. She wanted to talk to her daughter, and no nap was going to interfere with that goal.

*******

Willow had her own goal, and she was quickly reaching that pleasant objective with Tara’s skilled assistance. "Oh… goddess. Right there!" She was on her back, and enjoying every touch of Tara’s skin against hers.

"I love this new feminism," Tara whispered as she kissed Willow's ear. Her hand was enjoying all the warmth Willow had to offer, and that warmth was clutching Tara’s fingers. "I like taking what's mine." She laughed sensually as she moved her fingers deeper, slowly staking her claim.

"Keep taking…" Willow's head flopped over the side of the bed. She was sprawled sideways, with her legs covering most of the bed.

"What should I take?" Tara asked innocently. She was between Willows legs and already taking Willow quite thoroughly. She moved her lips down and lovingly kissed Willow’s nipple.

"Take what's yours," Willow said between pants. She tangled her hands in Tara’s hair. Both witches were shining with a thin sheen of sweat, and their bodies moved together in a familiar, sensual dance. Willow arched her neck, making her head slide further off the side of the bed, but that was fine with her. The stretched position lifted her breasts into the air, which proved too tempting for Tara.

"These are mine," Tara said with a possessive growl. She moved from one breast to the other, claiming both with passionate abandon, all the while, never losing the rhythm with her fingers between Willow's legs. She could feel Willow’s body beginning to peak. This was her favorite time. She lifted her head and watched Willow's face as the moment of bliss neared.

"Tar—" Willow's eyes opened and she looked into Tara’s face. She smiled even as the flash of fire began burning through her body. "Oh, god!" She grabbed Tara with both hands as she rode out the intense climax. "Ta-ra!" She arched her back, almost pulling them both off the bed as she bucked wildly.

Tara pressed her weight onto Willow and she went back to her lover’s neglected breasts. As soon as her mouth engulfed Willow’s flesh, another climax hit.

Willow closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath, managing to somehow making a keening sound as she inhaled. She was in ecstasy, and nothing could ruin the moment. Well, almost nothing.

Sheila came in the door while Willow was still coming on the bed.

Up until that moment, Sheila had convinced herself that Willow and Tara were basically asexual. She couldn't even imagine what two women might do together sexually, and had she taken the time to wonder, she would have assumed that Willow and Tara perhaps shared an occasional kiss. Sheila didn't need to wonder anymore.

Sheila's jaw dropped and she was too stunned to make a sound or even back out of the room.

Willow was naked, but only visible from the waist up. Of course, her upper body wasn't completely on display, Tara’s mouth covered some parts, and one hand covered others. Willow was arched off the side of the bed with only Tara’s weight holding her from falling.

Tara was naked as well. Her face was pressed to Willow’s chest, and her body was between Willows legs. One hand was squeezing Willow's breast while the other was well occupied between Willow's legs.

"Got in Himmel!" Sheila screamed. The Yiddish expression for ‘God in Heaven’ came to her lips before she could say it in English.

Willow's eyes popped open. She was still dangling off the side of the bed, so her view was upside down. Even upside down, she recognized the shocked woman in the doorway. "Mother!" she squeaked.

Tara lifted her head and her eyes opened like an owl at a surprise party.

Sheila's mouth hung open and she pointed at her daughter on the bed. "A shandeh un a charpeh!"

"Get out!" Willow yelled.

"This isn't a shame or a disgrace," Tara said angrily. She understood Sheila's words and didn’t appreciate them.

"Oh, geez…" Willow squirmed to one side, then winced as she rather abruptly caused Tara’s hand to leave its warm home. "Mother, get the hell out!"

Tara yanked the blankets up and covered them both as she hastily pulled Willow back onto the bed. "Get out!" she yelled when Sheila failed to move.

Sheila blinked rapidly, not believing what she had seen, and then she spun and hurried down the hall leaving the door wide open.

"I swear by the goddess, I'm turning her into a toad." Tara scrambled to get out of the bed, climbing right over the top of her naked lover, but Willow stopped her.

"Honey, don't kill her." Willow grabbed Tara with both arms and both legs and then rolled so she was pinning Tara down. The swift maneuver surprised her, and in the back of her mind she made a note to try it sometime when they weren’t in the middle of a maternal colitis-interruptis.

"She'll wish I killed her." Tara growled and bucked her hips trying to escape her lover's grip. "Damn it, Willow. Let me up!"

"I’ll talk to her," Willow said. She was on top of Tara, and she was rather surprised at how fiercely her wife was struggling. She wasn't so much holding Tara down as being tossed into the air as Tara struggled angrily.

"Get off me!" Tara pivoted to the side and rolled Willow onto the bed. "How dare you pin me down!" Tara’s anger at Sheila was making any rational thought impossible. She leapt to her feet and glared at Willow indignantly.

"Tara, baby, please give me ten seconds," Willow pleaded as she rolled off the bed and jumped to her feet. Her belly throbbed, and she realized she shouldn't make quick movements while nursing an abdominal injury. "Please …ten seconds?"

Tara’s eyes narrowed and then she sighed and closed her eyes. Whenever she and Willow had a disagreement, they had promised each other an ‘out.’ The out was that either could ask the other take ten seconds and calm down. Tara counted to ten in her mind. She took a deep breath and let it out in a huff.

Tara was not calm. "You're gonna’ need at least twenty," she said grouchily. She continued counting.

"Thank you," Willow said with a tiny smirk. If Tara was making jokes, there was a chance Willow could keep her wife and her mother from reaching blows. She moved to Tara’s side. "I didn't mean to pin you down, baby. I was trying to get your attention and kinda’ ended up riding you like one of those horses of yours."

"I didn't like it!" Tara opened her eyes. Her blue irises were dark and stormy.

"Tara?" Willow's concern doubled.

"You t-tried to overpower me." Tara took a few steps away from Willow. "I donut like it," she whispered. She wrapped her arms over her bare chest and seemed to shrink inside herself.

Suddenly Willow understood. She recognized the lost look in Tara’s eyes. The blonde got that look any time she talked about her own childhood. "Tara, baby, I am so sorry I scared you." She edged closer, her mother's interruption forgotten as she focused on calming Tara’s frazzled nerves.

Tara looked down at the ground and took a step away.

"Please don't pull away," Willow whispered. "Tara, what's going on? Talk to me."

Tara swallowed and then lifted her head and met Willow’s gaze. "I don't know what's happening with me." Her voice was a frightened whisper. She spun and went to the dresser and grabbed a robe and hastily covered herself. She felt exposed and she was afraid Sheila would come back at any moment. She sat on the bed and pulled her knees up to her chest.

Willow got a robe and quietly dressed. She waited for Tara to continue, patiently standing a few feet away.

"Will, I feel like I'm going nuts," Tara whispered. "It's like my nerves are shot and anything sets me off." She looked over at Willow and smiled wryly. "On the bright side, I also feel like I need you every second, like I’ll die without you. Remember that Stonehenge rock Giles gave us?"

Willow nodded. The stone had been a gift from Giles when they had been reconciling years earlier, but they had only kept it one night. It heightened primal emotions, making Tara lust for Willow, but it also made Tara afraid to trust her soulmate as they rebuilt their relationship.

"Well, this is way stronger." Tara let out a disgusted sigh.

"Well, that's not all bad," Willow said playfully, trying to cheer Tara up. She sat next to her and slowly picked up her hand. "As for the dying without me, that won't happen." She kissed Tara’s fingers. "I’m yours for the taking."

Tara closed her eyes and took a calming breath. "Willow, I haven't felt this unsettled since I first got pregnant with Brianna." She opened her eyes and looked at Willow. "Half the time I feel like crying, and the other half I want to rip your clothes off … and half the time I feel like turning in-laws into toads." She raised one eyebrow. "Three halves. That's way too many for me to stay sane."

"I’ll ask them to leave today," Willow said. "I won't have you hurting over this."

"No." Tara shook her head. "I want you to spend time with your parents." She sighed. "It's just, damn it. What the hell is wrong with me?"

"Could you be pregnant?" Willow asked delicately. "I mean, we didn't do any spells, but with your extra flamey mage eyes … maybe you have other new powers." Willow had been shocked to hear that Tara’s full mage abilities had been awakened, and she was more than a little curious as to what those powers might include. "Maybe you have baby making powers…" Willow furrowed her brow, torn between thinking it was much too soon for another child and being excited by the prospect.

Tara pulled Willow's hand into her lap. "I’m not pregnant. I checked." She bit her lip and sighed. "I took a home pregnancy test last week. It was negative."

Willow had to fight the urge to ask Tara how she could keep a possible pregnancy from her, but she managed to stay focused on Tara’s needs. "If my parents are upsetting you that much, I think they should—"

"No," Tara insisted. "I just need to relax." She looked toward the open door. "Without an audience."

"Well, let me go evict that audience, and I can get back to the relaxing." Willow stood and waggled her eyebrows.

"I think the mood left, sweetie," Tara admitted. "And it ain’t coming back."

"Still, let me make sure mom knows she needs to respect our alone time." Willow gave Tara’s hand a quick squeeze and then hurried from the room.

"Goddess, what's wrong with me?" Tara asked the empty room. She scooted onto the bed and hugged her knees to her chest.

After a few minutes, Willow came into the room and carefully closed the door. "Well, no sign of mom." She smirked. "Though the front door was wide open and I can just picture her running down the driveway screaming to get away." Willow went to the bed and crawled next to Tara. "I don’t think she'll show up here again before Megan’s 30."

"I should be so lucky," Tara muttered.

"Okay, you with the frowny face, off with the robe and onto your belly." Willow was on her knees, waving both hands at Tara. "Come on."

Tara gave Willow a single raised eyebrow. "Honey, I am so not in the mood."

"I'm gonna’ give you a back rub, you dork." Willow rolled her eyes. "And how am I supposed to rub your back and give you my wifely advice when your skin is buried beneath that incredibly thick layer of silk?"

"Yes, silk is so thick." Tara allowed a tiny smile.

"Anything that keeps me from seeing your skin has got to go," Willow explained. She waved her hand at Tara to playfully hurry the other witch.

"If your mom comes in and sees me naked again, you’re in big trouble," Tara warned. She slid out of the warm silk and tossed it over the side of the bed and stretched out on top of the covers.

"She won't." Willow kissed Tara’s shoulder blade. "Brent must have left the front door unlocked, which I just dealt with. It's locked up tight." She straddled Tara’s hips and began massaging her shoulders. "Now, tell me what's going on with you."

Tara groaned as Willow found a particularly tight muscle.

"Come on, spill." Willow leaned over Tara and rummaged through a drawer in the night stand and then sat back up with a bottle of oil in her hand. "What are you feeling right now?" Willow asked as she settled into place on top of Tara.

Tara smirked as she felt the damp warmth of Willow’s naked flesh against her body. That sensation never failed to awaken a spark of desire, no matter how many mother-in-laws were lurking.

"Talk to me, baby," Willow pleaded. "I don’t like you hurting, especially when you don't talk to me." She covered her hands with oil and went back to massaging Tara’s shoulders.

"Oh…" Tara drew out the word into a sensual moan. "That definitely does not hurt."

"Honey?" Willow prompted, then waited patiently, knowing that sometimes Tara needed to collect her thoughts before speaking.

Tara was silent as Willow continued her soothing touch. She didn’t speak until Willow had finished giving each arm a thorough massage and was starting on her lower back.

"I can't seem to control my temper," Tara said quietly.

Willow didn't speak; she silently continued her devoted massage. She had noticed Tara snapping at her a few times, but she certainly hadn't thought Tara was out of control.

"I've been drilling more with the guardians, trying to burn off my anger." Tara turned her head to the opposite side and sighed as Willow loosened a tight muscle in her lower back. "I thought it was because your folks are so …into our business, but goddess, Will, it's making me nuts." She sighed and then clarified. "The feelings, not your folks."

"When did this start?" Willow shifted her weight and moved beside Tara and went to work on one of Tara’s strong thighs.

"Right after your mom decided she was my best friend and ‘Queen mother’ to the royal daughters." Tara rolled her eyes and chuckled. "I really miss the good old days when she wanted me gone."

"She didn't want you gone," Willow said sadly. "She just didn't understand."

"It pisses me off, damn it." Tara felt a wave of emotion wash through her. Her muscles rippled as the power of the reaction traveled through her body. "You and I are blessed, but how many couples can't both be the parents? It shouldn’t matter whether or not Brianna and Megan have my DNA. Your mother should accept me as their mom."

"Hey, I know." Willow rested a palm on Tara’s lower back. She could feel the change in Tara’s body as well as hear the emotion in her lover's voice. "Baby, it’s not right, but she won't change." Willow focused her massage on Tara’s lower back again. The muscles were like stone, and power was leaking from Tara, making Willow’s fingers itch. "Wow, I can feel that," she whispered. Willow felt slightly lightheaded as a wave of Tara’s emotion filled her. She let out a breath of air and sat back onto her heels. "Whoa." She swayed to one side.

"Will?" Tara turned her head and saw that Willow was about to fall over. "Willow!" She sat up and helped Willow lie on the bed next to her.

"Whew, that's some powerful mojo you got goin’ on there, missy," Willow joked. She pulled Tara closer and tossed an arm over her, her expression growing serious. "Tara, you can't bottle up your emotions. It's not healthy for a normal person, and for a witch, well, it’s worse." She caressed Tara’s cheek. "Your emotions are mixed with your powers. I guess now that you have more power, these emotions feel stronger."

Willow was more right than she knew.

"Yeah." Tara nodded and scooted closer to Willow. She had meant to merely hug Willow, take comfort from her wife, but when her skin pressed against Willow's breasts, that all changed. Her eyes fluttered closed as everything shifted. The change in Tara’s mood was dramatic. "Oh, they’re stronger." Tara’s mouth went dry and her body hummed with need. It was like flipping a light switch. Her libido had been gone one second, and fully turned on in the next. She sighed and moved her palm over Willow's breast, then growled when she felt the nipple harden instantly to greet her.

"Wow," Willow whispered. She felt a hot flash ignite her passion.

"Can you feel that, baby?" Tara leaned closer and left quick kisses at the edge of Willow's mouth.

Willow nodded. "Yeah." She bit her lip and whimpered. "Honey, is the mood back?" she asked plaintively. "Cuz, it's really back for me."

"It's back." Tara closed her eyes and tried to calm her body. She opened her eyes and gave Willow a pitiful pout. "But your mom could be back, too."

"She's gone. I swear." Willow leaned over and kissed Tara’s collarbone. "Just us." She nipped Tara’s throat. "Just naked us."

"I want to," Tara said hesitantly. "But, damn it, Willow, I am not going to have her walk in on us again." Frustration mixed with a little leftover anger and made her voice shake.

"She won't." Willow was now fully aroused and she wanted to take Tara.

"Willow, we can't…" Tara groaned, torn between a painful need and the fear of another interruption.

"Come on," Willow pleaded. "It'll be fun." She waggled her eyebrows roguishly.

"Oh, sure. It's always fun ‘til someone puts an eye out," Tara joked. She was actually beginning to come around to Willow's way of thinking.

"Puts an eye out?" Willow smirked and then a very naughty smile covered her features. "What kind of wild kinkiness were you planning?" She leaned closer and nibbled Tara’s ear. "Cuz other than the putting the eye out, that sounds mighty interesting." She eased back and they gazed into each other's eyes … and promptly burst intoa fit of giggles.

"Well, eyes could be poked." Tara reached over and used her fingertip to tease Willow's nipple. "See? That’s a dangerously sharp object."

"I’ll get you some goggles," Willow offered with a whimper. "Safety first, I always say."

"The front door is locked?" Tara rolled Willow onto her back and straddled her in one quick move. She was breathing in quick gulps and her eyes were full of raw desire. Her hands covered both of Willow's breasts. "You’re sure?"

Willow nodded. "No interruptions."

Tara fell forward and took possession of Willow's mouth with a kiss that could only be described as asserting ownership.

Willow accepted the kiss, and the implied claim. She belonged to Tara, and Tara to her. It never lessened either woman’si ndependence and was instead a source of strength to draw upon in times of need. And at the moment, Willow needed. She needed to take her wife and give Tara a perfect moment of blissful release.

Their bodies moved together as their passions rose. Willow wanted to make love to Tara, but the blonde didn't seem willing to give up her position on top. That suited Willow just fine. She slid her hand between their bodies and found Tara ready for her.

"Oh, goddess!" Tara sat up, arching as she accepted Willow. She rocked her hips, letting Willow know she wanted even more.

This was perfection for Willow. She was always satisfied when Tara touched her, but there was something so powerful in the act of making love to Tara, her wife. Willow was in awe of Tara’s beauty. She was raw, primal, and the epitome of fulfilled desire. Tara never held back. Willow cherished making love to Tara in this position. She could feel the warm velvety softness of being with Tara, and she could watch as Tara lost herself to the passion.

"Willow … oh, goddess, Willow…" Tara was adrift, but Willow was her anchor. She edged closer to that perfect moment, when all that she was would shatter and drift back to the earth to be made whole again in Willow's loving arms. There was no room in the perfect place for doubts or anger. It was filled to overflowing with the love she had for Willow, and nothing else could squeeze into that haven. Or so she thought.

*****

Sheila paced outside the Imbolc house. She felt horrible for interrupting Willow and Tara. At first, she made a hasty retreat and went to the main hall and fed Megan, but she couldn’t escape her own guilt. She knew she'd been awful to Tara for many years, constantly bring up Brianna’s ‘father,’ but she felt justified. Willow and Tara had lied to her, so she had no way of knowing Tara was Brianna’s mother. Interrupting in the bedroom was completely different, and Sheila decided if she was going to turn over a new leaf with Tara, she'd have to swallow her pride and apologize. She’d given Willow and Tara over an hour to get dressed and ready for visitors, so she decided there was no time like the present.

She stopped her pacing, finding herself on the lawn, and marched onto the patio and got the key from the planter. She would make things right. She'd have to just push the images of the bedroom out of her mind and apologize. She sighed as she unlocked the door. At least she was safe. The girls had already indulged themselves, so certainly there wouldn't be anything else to interrupt.

She went into the house and the living room was empty, and she decided the girls must be resting after their … athletic encounter. She marched down the hall on a mission. She would apologize and then never mention the events of that morning ever again. She wanted that moment out of her head forever. She didn’t need the image of Tara doing that to Willow in her head. That simply wouldn't do. She pushed open the door to the bedroom and replaced that image with a much more carnal one.

Tara was completely naked, naked and straddling Willow. Her back was arched and her breasts were bouncing as Willow’s hand did … things … between Tara’s legs. The expression on Tara’s face made it abundantly clear that she liked those things … a great deal.

"Oui vey! Don't you two ever stop?" Sheila spun and staggered down the hall toward the living room. She was in shock, and much like her daughter, she babbled to herself when she was overwhelmed. "Even when we were newlyweds, Ira took a rest. What, they can't keep their hands off each other for five minutes? That can't be good for Willow. She just had surgery and now she's … with the … and the…" She leaned against the wall and prayed for the image to leave her mind.
 
 

Back in the bedroom, Tara was beyond livid. She'd have to spend a week with a Morphine IV to calm down enough to only be infuriated.

"She's so dead." Tara rolled off Willow and jumped to her feet.

"Tara, please, give me ten seconds. I’ll deal with her." Willow wrapped the sweat-dampened sheet around her body as she raced Tara to the door. She tried to take Tara by the arm, but Tara was not in the mood.

"No!" She backed away, her blue eyes flickering with orange flames. "I don't need ten-freakin’-seconds, and I don't need you to touch me right now."

"Okay…" Willow knew from Brent’s description that Tara could get flames in her eyes, but seeing it for the first time was still unsettling. "Honey, can you calm down just a bit?"

"Calm down?" Tara yelled. "Calm down!" Her voice was as loud as Willow had ever heard it. "Fuck calming down, and you know what? Fuck this." She spun and stomped naked toward the bathroom.

Tara’s words and the rage behind them shocked Willow. "What exactly do you mean by ‘this?’ What ‘this’ are you telling me to fuck?" She was getting angry as well. She put both hands on her hips and waited for an answer.

She got one.

Tara thrust out her right hand toward the bed and the headboard shattered with a thundering blast. A shower of splinters exploded, and they would have hit both Willow and Tara, but Tara glared at the flying debris and the splinters disappeared in a flash of fire. "Fuck everything." Tara spun and headed for the bathroom again. "I've had it, Willow."

"Does that include me?" Willow yelled.

"I need some time alone." Tara’s teeth were clinched so tightly that her jaw was shaking. She turned slowly, and her eyes were almost orange. The flame had completely replaced the blue of her irises.

Willow was about to blow her top as well, but as soon as she saw the intensity of the fire in Tara’s eyes, she realized Tara was completely out of control, something she'd never seen. Willow took a deep breath, never breaking eye contact with Tara. "Fine. You need time away from me. I’ll respect that. I’ll go out there, find my mother, and give her apiece of my mind."

Tara gave Willow a terse nod.

Willow was furious with her mother, but another emotion was even stronger than the rage. She was concerned for Tara. "And you will go talk to Brent," Willow said firmly. "Right now." She pointed at the shattered headboard and then folded her arms over her chest.

"I need a shower," Tara said angrily. She continued toward the master bathroom.

"And then you'll go see Brent?" Willow asked. She hoped Brent knew what to do, because Tara was not acting like herself.

Tara spun and glared at Willow. "And then I will do whatever I damn well feel like doing."

"So you feel like breaking my heart?" Willow’s voice cracked. Her words cut Tara, and she knew it. She saw Tara flinch. "Will you please go talk to Brent?"

Tara looked down at the floor. She was furious, but she would never hurt Willow intentionally. "Okay," she whispered.

"Thank you," Willow said. Her words felt hollow. She was terrified and needed Brent to figure out what was going on with Tara. As she rounded the corner to the living room she saw her mother sitting on the couch. "Well, you stuck around this time," Willow said as her anger returned.

Sheila looked like she'd just been caught with her hand in a cookie jar … or possibly like she'd just been caught finding Willow’ s hand in Tara’s cookie jar, which she had.

"We need to talk," Willow said as she stomped toward her mother.
 
 

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