For Kicks

by JustSkipIt

Copyright © 2005

Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I own none of these characters. I'm making no money from this fiction and intend no copyright infringement.
Distribution: The Mystic Muse    /mysticmuse.net
Spoilers: None.
Author's Notes: This fic was completed as an entry in a challenge posted over at the Kitten Board. The requirements were:
1. Smut is optional – any rating will be fine.
2. You must use the titles from at least FOUR of JustSkipIt's fics – any 4 of your choice (completed or WIP are up for grabs). Please make sure that the titles are bold in your text so that they stand out. If you use Please: The Series you need to use the full title (that's why it's called a "challenge" people ).
3. Willow and Tara must switch places for at least one day. This can be from magical means (ala Buffy and Faith's switch in "Who Are You?") or intentional. NOTE: If you choose to include smut in your fic, and you choose to have W and T switch places by magical means, the smut may NOT happen while they are switched. Smut in their own bodies, please.
4. Willow and Tara must use cell phones to have a conference call with another Scooby.
5. Willow and Tara must have a conflict that only Buffy can resolve. This conflict can be between themselves (W & T) or come from an outside source.
6. The fic must be completed in one posting – it can be as long as you wish/need it to be, but you must have it done with one posting.
Note 2 – Yes, there are links to things you can buy. Why? I believe in them so I linked them.
Note 3 – Iby is short for Itsy bitsy teeny tiney baaaaaby.
Note 4 – Have I said thanks to Carleen? If not, thanks, Carleen.
Pairing: Willow/Tara

Willow woke with a groan and attempted to roll over. No go. No rolling. She attempted to roll the other way, flinging her hand out but not only failing to roll over but finding the bed empty, a rumpled and warm space on the bed the only proof of her wife's existence. "Hi, sweetie." Tara walked in the door with a tray in front of her.

Willow started at the sight of herself coming through the door and the sound of her own voice calling her sweetie. "That's very strange. I mean I know we planned this and I wanted to feel what this was like and it was my idea but now I'm not so sure. I mean you're standing there with a tray with what I'm sure is a truly sumptuous repast while I lay here unable to even sit up by myself. I'm not sure I got the best part of this deal at all."

The redhead set down the tray on the nightstand and reached over to offer her hand to her lover. "Grab my hand and roll this way," she instructed. Willow did as told and then gently swung her legs over the side of the bed as she'd seen Tara do for the past few months.

"God, I really need to pee." Willow groaned as the intense realization of her need hit her.

"You don't say?"

"Getting up from the toilet has never been such an adventure." Willow sat against the pillows Tara had piled against the headboard and scowled at her plate upon her return. "Where are my pancakes?"

"No pancakes in this tummy." Tara winked as she patted her lover's round belly.

Willow grumbled but took a bite of her cereal and fruit looking covetously at Tara's stack of blueberry pancakes. "Please tell me this coffee has caffeine."

"Ok. This coffee has caffeine." Tara handed her the cup.

"Liar." She took a sip from her favorite mug. "This is going to be the longest Two Days of my life." She had barely set down the mug when she shouted in surprise. "What the…?" A smile immediately spread across her face and she grabbed Tara's hand, not caring that it was halfway to the redhead's mouth and loaded with a huge bite of pancakes and syrup. Nonetheless she grabbed the hand and placed it on her stomach. "Do you feel that?"

Tara smiled and suddenly Willow realized that she wouldn't be seeing the half-smile she was so used to all day. "That's Iby kicking. She/he is especially active in the morning and around mid- afternoon." She smiled at the redhead. "Also, I'm not sure calling it Two Days is accurate."

"It feels really funny." Willow took another bite of her cereal and drank the coffee, missing the sugar and caffeine a little less as the intermittent kicks continued. "Sunset last night to sunset tonight. That's two days." Tara smiled and shrugged at her lover's unique logic.

"Are these pancakes always this good? I mean because this may be the best pancake I've ever had. And this syrup. Goddess it's wonderful. And this coffee. Wow. I mean wow. No wonder you fell in love with me." Tara stopped only to plow another bite into her mouth.

"Amazing," Willow said with a smile. "First off, you take over my body for a day and right away you're babbling like me. Second don't rub it in about the sugar and the caffeine." She leaned over as gracefully as she could and nibbled at her lover's neck. "And third, we didn't even have a kitchen so I definitely did not fall in love with your pancakes." She smiled a half-smile and teased. "I would say what I fell in love with but I don't want the baby to hear."

Before Tara could respond the phone rang. She picked it up and answered. "Hey Wills," Xander said quickly.

"Hi Xander," Tara said back. She nodded as Willow motioned that she was going to take a shower and watched the girl slowly get up from the bed and walk flat-footed across the floor.

"Are you sure it's ok for me to come this afternoon? Because if you think it's more a woman thing or you'll be talking about I don't know like birthing or the placenta or water breaking maybe I should go have a beer with Spike?"

"Xander, you are my best friend and I definitely want you here."

"Ok, Willow. Say hi to Anya and tell her I'll bring the present when I get there."

"Ok," Tara said with a sudden panic. She set down the phone and Turned to look at the clock. 9:07. Christ on a popsickle stick. I've been Willow for 9 hours and I'm swearing like a sailor in my head. Anya will be here in 23 minutes. She stood up from the bed and cleared away the breakfast dishes. Then thinking about how easily she had done that she twirled a few times in the room enjoying her own gracefulness.

In the meantime Willow was in the shower soaping her large stomach over and over. She tried to shave and found it nearly impossible to do without falling over, cutting off a leg, or screaming for help so she gave up. If Tara wanted her legs shaved, she could do it tomorrow. She was conscientious enough to be using the prenatal oil, said to reduce stretch marks, on her stomach when the shower stall door opened. "Mmm. A shower with my honey." She said looking at her own body and feeling somewhat less turned on that she would have been by Tara's.

"9:10, Baby," Tara said as she stepped into the shower. "Thanks for remembering to use the oil."

"No problem. I didn't shave though. Maybe I can just wear those yoga pants you have?"

"That's fine. Anya will be here in like 18 minutes."

"Do you think she'll notice?" Willow asked as she stepped out of the shower and wrapped herself in Tara's towel. She dried off and stood in front of the mirror. "I never noticed your hair being so thick before."

"It's not usually that thick. And I don't know if she'll notice. If anyone will it will be her but this was the only full moon before the due date."

"Oh," the blonde quickly said, "I wasn't doubting our decision. This is great. I'm getting to feel what our baby feels like. It's great. Wonderful." She stopped for a minute. "I think I need to sit down." Tara giggled as Willow left the bathroom.

"Are you ok?"

"Fine!" A few seconds later the blonde dashed into the room and pulled open the door to the water closet. A rather green gilled Willow emerged from the small room a few minutes later and immediately brushed her teeth. "Didn't any one ever tell you and Iby that you're only supposed to have morning sickness the first trimester?"

"We didn't get the memo, lover. You may want to eat some crackers." Tara started pulling on an old pair of Willow's jeans and a stained T-shirt. The doorbell rang and she walked over to kiss Willow before going downstairs and answering the door.

"I've been standing out here for 47 seconds, Willow," the ex-demon said as she stepped into the house.

Tara looked down and saw a milk crate with paint brushes and paints and leaned over to pick them up and carry them inside.

"What are you so happy about? You look like you've never carried paint stuff before."
"I'm just really excited about the day," Tara said with a smile. "I just wish Dawnie was coming home."

"Well she's all Miss these are my School Days and I'm studying so hard and I'll never be an engineer if I don't make the best grades." Anya took the steps easily and Tara continued appreciating her ability to do the same. They were met at the top of the stairs by a pregnant Tara.

"You look like hell," Anya said. "And you shouldn't be any where around the paint. You don't want a baby with two heads."

"Definitely not," Willow agreed sardonically.

"Really. I've seen two-headed babies and it never works out well."

"I'm sure it doesn't." Tara and Willow kissed before Willow went slowly and carefully down the stairs.

"This is a real challenge."

"You've been saying that for months."

Once in the nursery to be, Anya closed the door behind herself and Tara. And began pulling the supplies from the box. "I'm surprised that you decided to do this. What with the whole Jewish heritage thing and it being bad luck."

Tara picked up a pencil from the box and turned toward the wall to begin a sketch. "Well we decided we wanted to have it ready when the baby arrives."

"When is that again?" Anya started her own series of sketches on the opposite wall. "Are these ok?"

Tara glanced over to note the fairies the ex-demon was currently sketching. Both witches had lobbied for letters or normal animals or even trains but Anya had insisted that as nursery coordinator (a self-appointed and unpaid position) she could determine the theme. So the theme was protection for the baby. Neither Tara nor Willow had the heart to tell the blonde that they didn't intend for the baby to sleep in the nursery—that it was just for toys, clothes, and books. Finishing the figures, Tara pulled over a chair and painted a hand of G-d or hand of Lilith over the space where the crib would be placed.

"May 3," Tara said answering Anya's earlier question about the baby's due date. "I think we can start painting." She pulled out a paintbrush and tested the bristles before shaking and opening a can of paint. Anya mirrored her action and the two women began filling in the bright decorations.

"Is she still barfing every morning? Because I think that would get very very tiring. I actually got called once by a woman who wanted vengeance on her baby for her morning sickness. I wouldn't grant it but I did get her to make a wish against her husband." She sighed as if remembering the good old days. "Of course he wasn't the father anyway but a job is a job."

"Evisceration?"

"Construction accident: castration." The ex-demon looked quite pleased with herself as she assessed the fairy she had just finished painting and Tara couldn't tell if the look was from her painting or vengeance. "Very nice painting, Willow."

"Thanks."

Anya set down the paintbrush and announced she was going to the bathroom. "I'll just close the door so no fumes get near your wife and child." Although Anya's tone was a bit strange, Tara appreciated the ex-demon's use of the term wife. She seemed to be the only Scooby who really got the entire wedding=marriage=wife equation. The rest of them were still talking about Willow or Tara's girlfriend or perhaps partner if they were particularly enlightened.

By the time the ex-demon returned to the room she found Willow inside putting the finishing touches on the last figure. "Willow is ordering pizza."

"Is it lunch time already?" Tara asked. She crinkled up her brow and looked at the ex- demon.

Anya helped close up the paint cans and waved her hand at the nursery walls. "First, you called Dawn Dawnie which Willow never does. Second, Willow could never paint this well. Third, Tara is sitting downstairs swiveling back and forth between two computers typing gibberish on both of them."

"She wanted to see what it was like," Tara explained. She finished the paint cans and stacked them in the crate. "You know. Our baby inside her."

"I was pregnant once."

Tara was shocked at Anya's announcement. "Really?"

"Well not really. I mean I thought I was pregnant but really I just had food poisoning. But it's nearly the same thing." She looked at the crate and took it from Tara. "I'll carry this since you are pregnant."

Tara laughed and thanked Anya before they went downstairs to eat the pizza and salad for lunch. After lunch, Anya departed with the promise that she would see them in a few hours.

"How are you feeling?" Tara wrapped her arms around her wife's body, caressing her stomach.

"Tired mostly," Willow explained. "And very excited. I mean I keep feeling Iby move inside me. So that's way cool."

"We could go lay down." Tara extended her hand and smiled in a way that hinted she might not be thinking just of sleep. Willow smiled back and took her wife's hand.

A few hours later the two women had managed to sleep and shower and enjoy some other activities although not in that order. Tara was straightening the house slightly when the doorbell rang. As soon as Tara pulled the door open, Joyce walked in. "I'm so sorry girls. I should have been here a half hour ago. Actually this should have been at our house but with the construction..."

"We understand, completely," Tara assured the Scooby Gang's surrogate mother.

Buffy pushed through the doorway a moment later carrying a huge platter of food. "Turns out a Chaos demon is accurately named."

"So we've heard," Willow replied drolly.

"Shouldn't you be sitting down." Buffy took the round blonde by the elbow and led her over to the sofa. It was all Willow could do to keep the Slayer from pushing her onto the soft surface, a surface which Willow had observed Tara fighting for a month and knew she wouldn't be able to get up from. Through her determination, she managed to make it to a chair instead.

With Giles in England, Faith in LA helping Angel prevent another apocalypse, and Dawn at UCLA, the crowd was rather light. Joyce had planned the shower early so that Buffy could patrol without having to leave early so by 4:30 nearly everyone had arrived. Upon her arrival, Anya opened the door and strode inside. "I was already here once today so I don't have to knock when I return."

"Do you usually knock?" Joyce seemed shocked that the ex-demon ever knocked as it seemed she never did at the Summers home.

"Sometimes," Xander puffed from the porch where he was struggling with a huge wrapped present on a dolly. The second time he banged into the doorjamb, this time cursing a storm as he hit his hand on the solid wood, Buffy jumped up and helped him get the present into the room. "Thank you," he told the slayer before turning to Joyce. "Do we have a bottle of water?" He took it and drank deeply.

Before the carpenter could sit down there was a knock at the door. Xander answered the door to find Clem standing on the porch. "Hi all!"

"Hi, Clem," Willow said warmly to the demon.

"Spike sent me to bring a present," he explained as he handed over a wad of bills.

"Really went all out didn't he?" Buffy said with a roll of her eyes.

"He said he didn't know what to get but that kids cost a lot. Also that he didn't think this was the place for him."

"See," Xander argued, "not for men. Showers should just be for girly girls."

"Oh. Not because of the women and men. Because it's daylight." Clem came inside and took a seat reaching his hand into a bowl of Cheetos and taking a large handful. "Where should I put my present?" Joyce took the present and added it to the pile in the corner.

After a while spent eating the sandwiches and listening to Anya regale how finger sandwiches got their name, a story to which Clem agreed, the group got down to playing games. Much to Xander's horror, the games involved tasting different baby foods and diapering a doll as quickly as possible. Clem pleaded his floppy disability and that his species' young never wore diapers so it was hardly a skill he needed.

Finally it was time to open presents. Willow pulled out her cell phone to Buffy's surprise. "Tara, you are setting up the call? I thought Willow was the one who understood how to do the conference call?"

"Oh. Well she explained how to do it to me so I'm going to set it up," Willow lamely explained. She hooked her phone into the speaker and then hit a speed dial button.

"Hello!" Dawn's voice came through the speaker clearly and she was greeted by a chorus of hellos.

"Ok, Dawn," Tara's voice said, "Hold on while I try to get Giles too."

"Why is Tara setting up the call?" Dawnie could be heard asking. Ignoring the question, Willow hit another series of buttons and moments later Giles's sleepy voice could be heard through the speaker.

"Is sleep all you ever do there?" Buffy teased.

"It's gone 2:00 in the morning." Giles considered for a moment before adding, "But I wouldn't want to miss your shower entirely. How are you feeling, Tara?"

"Fine. Fine. Finey McFine," Willow answered. "Of course you have to be used to a constantly full bladder and nausea and feeling like a beached whale and the kicking all day long which is actually the best part."

"Oh well, yes, I'm quite sure."

"Which presents should we um open first?" Tara answered before her lover could continue babbling about constipation or hemorrhoids.

"Mine, mine, mine," the voice from the speaker cheered.

"Ok, Dawnie," Willow answered smiling smugly at Tara. Someone handed them a box with pink wrapping and a pink large bow. The witches tore the wrapping from the package and opened it.

"Oh, how cute!"

"Thanks for the adorable dresses, Dawn," Tara said. "But what if it's a boy?"

"Yeah. You know we're not dressing a boy in pink frilly dresses right?"

"Look in the envelope," Dawn said.

"Oh look." Tara held up the picture of a sailor suit complete with hat and sailboat.

"I put the receipt in there so you can trade it in if it's a boy."

"Thanks." Willow set the box aside and picked up the next box.

She shook it and expressed her surprise at how heavy whatever was inside was. "Who is this from?"

Joyce looked over Tara's shoulder to see which present she was opening. "Oh that's from Faith. She said sorry she missed the party."

"I think another apocalypse takes precedence," Willow assured the group. She tore the wrapping and pulled out a present that made her gasp in surprise. "It's a…"

"Yeah," Tara said with a puzzled look on her face.

"It's leather pants and a vest," Buffy said as the witches passed the box around.

"For a baby?" Giles asked. "Where ever did she get it?"

"She had it specially made," Anya contributed. "She told me about it. Do you know how hard it is to find leather clothes for a newborn?"

"I wonder why?" Joyce said drolly.

Tara and Willow looked at each other with a mixture of shock, surprise, and horror on their faces. "It's really um unique."

"Here's mine. It's worth quite a bit of money so you should open it next." Anya handed the girls an envelope.

"A gift certificate for the Magic Box," Willow explained as she opened the envelope.

Giles's voice could again be heard. "How generous of you."

"I paid for it Mr. Silent partner," Anya called at the speaker. "Surely any child from the two of you will be a witch and be born on the hell mouth. It's going to need it."

"Here's Giles's present." Joyce handed them another box.

Willow opened the next box and reached inside to look at the contents. "Thanks, Giles." Having gotten them an assortment of cloth diapering supplies it was quite obvious that he had shopped off their online registry.

Buffy handed them a small package. They opened it to find a mayawrap sling inside. "Thanks, Buffy. We really wanted the sling before we have the baby."

"Sure," the Slayer said. She reached over and picked up the sling and showed everyone the pocket near the end of the tail. "And look you keep stakes, a cross, holy water or whatever you need handy."

"Sure, that's how they publicize this one," Xander agreed.

"Thanks, Buffy."

"Mine next." Clem handed over his package.

"Lost, the DVD!" Willow expressed her excitement at finally seeing the episodes the Tivo had failed to record not to mention the lost footage and Easter eggs.

"I don't get what's so great about this show," Dawn offered.

"Please: The Series is the best thing to happen to prime time television since that vampire thing went off the air."

"It was good," Buffy agreed.

"Thank you," Tara told him.

"Why don't you open mine next and Xander's last?" Joyce handed over a heaver box ensuring that she handed it to Tara rather than Willow.

Tara enjoyed once again getting to hold the heavy box and opened it to find an assortment of books inside. "Oh these are great: The Sears Parenting Book, The Breastfeeding Book, and some books for the baby. Thank you Joyce." She leaned over and hugged the woman.

"My turn!" Xander stood up and walked over to the large item in the hallway. Tara helped Willow from the chair and the two witches tore the paper eagerly. Both girls quickly wrapped the carpenter in a tight hug. "Air! Air! Breathing getting to be an issue," he pleaded. As Willow started to back up he grabbed her arm. "Wait a minute. Your stomach kicked me. Can I feel it again?" Two witches looked at each other again before nodding. Willow took his hand and laid it on her stomach. His face lit up in a grin as he felt the baby kick again.

As the lifelong best friends bonded over the moment, Tara pulled open the doors of the piece of furniture. "Look. We can hang clothes on this side and this side has drawers. This is so wonderful, Xander."

The gang came over to look, hearing Dawn's voice through the speaker. "Sure you all get to open the drawers but I can't see a thing."

"Me neither," Giles yawned.

"I'll go cut them off," Buffy offered. Everyone shouted their goodbyes and Willow and Tara repeated their thank yous. After she hit the button the house was filled with only the sound of the doors and drawers on the armoire opening and closing over and over.

"Well, I think I'll get going," Clem said happily. After everyone had given him a hug, he waved and left.

Joyce went to clean up the kitchen and Anya announced that she was ready to leave. "Come on Buffster, let's put my creation in the nursery." Xander got on one side of the piece of furniture and Buffy on the other. They pushed and pulled and grunted their way until they reached the top.

"How are you doing?" Tara called up the stairs.

"Fine."

"You don't sound like you're doing fine."

"Well," Xander explained, "it's kind of a little stuck."

"Stuck how?" Willow questioned.

"Um… well it's kind of a tight fit around this corner. Buffy can't fit at that end at the same time I'm on this end."

"Are you ok, Buffy?"

"Yeah." Buffy's voice didn't sound so sure. "I need to get where Xander is though. Can I jump over the railing here?" Willow moved back to see Buffy as she was kind of crouched under the leaning furniture. Tara quickly moved the coffee table out of the way; she didn't want her living room to look like Joyce and Buffy's.

Buffy wiggled sideways to get out from under the armoire and jump down to the first story before running back up the stairs to relieve Xander. Once he was out of the way, she lifted the piece of furniture a few inches and easily maneuvered it onto the landing. Seeing that there was no way for Xander to get on the other side, she then carried it the rest of the way into the nursery. Xander and Tara then went upstairs, helping Willow who ascended more slowly.

"Right there," Willow directed Buffy who was now assisted by Xander. Neither Buffy nor Xander noticed the green glow appearing in the eyes of both witches and lasting a second or two. They shared a secret smile before kissing.

"We should leave them."

"Or we could stay if they are going to make out."

"Xander Harris." Anya shouted up the stairs. "You better not be ogling them."

"Maybe it is time to go." The foursome descended the stairs with Tara going carefully. At the door everyone hugged and the witches thanked Joyce for hosting the shower.

Once they had left Willow took her lover's hand. "I can't believe how that felt to have our baby in side me."

"Wonderful isn't it?" The kiss following the agreement was quite passionate and soon led to their ascent of the stairs and a quite busy evening and night.

The End

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