Title:Happily Ever After
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon.
Notes: Just a short comment about time frame. This story begins a year after The Outing ended.
Part One
Tara hurried around the kitchen putting the finishing touches on Willow's breakfast. She removed the last two pancakes from the pan, and dropped two eggs in. She straightened the table cloth, set the table, and placed a vase with a single red rose in the center. Tara then took a pitcher of orange juice and the stack of pancakes to the table. She went back to the stove and took the eggs off the burner and put them on a plate, carrying the plate to the table. 'There everything looks perfect,' Tara thought.
"What's all this?" Willow asked coming into the kitchen and dropping her bag by the back door.
"A special breakfast for your first day of school," Tara said.
"Is that the reason I woke up to no morning snuggles?" Willow asked.
"You don't like your special breakfast?" Tara asked, her smile fading.
"No, baby, I love my breakfast," Willow said wrapping her arms around Tara. "I just love my Tara snuggles too. We'll just have to make up for the lost morning snuggles tonight."
"You should eat, you don't have that long before you have to leave," Tara said leading Willow to the table and pulling out a chair for her, before sitting down herself.
"I can't believe classes start today. It seems like they just ended," Willow said sipping her juice.
"I'm going to miss you all day," Tara said.
"It's weird not having you go to school with me," Willow said. "Plus I feel like it's all my fault that you have to miss this year."
"Will, it took both of us to do this," Tara said patting her rather large belly. "So what if I miss a year of school. I'll just graduate a year later."
"I know, but you know I don't like alterations to my plans. I wanted to be out of school before we had kids. We just had our first anniversary."
"These things happen," Tara said smiling, "and I couldn't be happier."
"Me too. I mean I'm worried and scared, but I'm thrilled beyond belief," Willow said.
"I'm glad, and stop worrying so much. Everything's gonna be fine," Tara said. "Finish up, you're gonna be late."
"Do I hafta go?" Willow asked pouting.
"You could always stay here and hang out with me and Anya."
"Okay I'm going to class," Willow said taking her dishes to the sink. "I'll be home around one. Have a good day. I'll miss you. I'll miss you too," Willow said leaning down and planting a kiss on Tara's belly.
"Bye sweetie, we'll see you later," Tara said. She could't help but smile as she watched Willow back down the driveway. The fairy tale just kept getting better. She finished cleaning up the breakfast dishes, and then headed upstairs to what was quickly becoming the nursery. They had finished the painting a couple days ago, and Tara was in the process of painting a mural with flowers, trees, and fairies on one of the walls. The furniture was in boxes, still unassembled, but at least it was there. They had yet to by any clothes or toys, mostly because Willow hadn't wanted to jinx anything, but now that Tara was in her final month she was having a hard time restraining herself. She rather enjoyed this role of wife and mother, and though she hadn't told Willow yet, she wasn't sure she wanted to go back to school. She just couldn't picture herself leaving her baby while she attended classes for two more years. She enjoyed the special time she spent with her mother, while her father was at work, and she wanted to have those special times with her own children.
"Tara."
"I'm upstairs in the baby's room, Anya," Tara called down to her friend.
"Well come down, I can't make it up the stairs," Anya said sinking into the sofa.
Tara just shook her head and laughed, and started back down the stairs.
"Anya if I can climb the stairs, you can climb the stairs. I'm bigger than you," Tara said sitting next to Anya.
"Yes, but you were clearly made for this, I was not."
"All women were made to be able to do this," Tara said.
"Well not me," Anya huffed.
"Have you and Xander moved everything into the new apartment yet?" Tara asked not wanting Anya to get into another one of her how much pregnancy sucks speeches.
"Yes, he finally got all of his stuff out of the basement. I wanted to use the second bedroom as my closet, but he insists that the baby has a room," Anya said. "How selfish is that? I carry this thing for nine months, it pops out and gets its own room, while I'm stuck sharing closet space with Xander."
"The baby does need somewhere to sleep," Tara said gently, not wanting to upset Anya any further.
"But an entire room for such a tiny human?"
"They do grow," Tara said trying to hide her amusement.
"I'm happy you can mock me. You're lucky you know. You have this large house, and a husband who takes care of you. Willow is the husband right?"
"It doesn't really work that way," Tara said, "but if what you're getting at is that Willow is the one with the job, then yes. Xander has a job, a good job, and isn't he the one who pays the rent?"
"Yes, but he didn't buy me a pretty house, or an engagement ring," Anya protested.
"Xander proposed?"
"No."
"Then why would he get you a ring?" Tara asked.
"Because I am carrying his child," Anya said. "Is it not traditional to marry the woman you've knocked up? I've eviscerated men for doing that."
"It's not mandatory anymore. I think he'll propose after the baby is born. Does it even really matter if he never marries you as long as he loves you, and takes care of you and the baby?" Tara asked.
"Yes it matters. Do you know how much money you can save on your taxes by being married? Of course you don't it doesn't work that way for you and Willow."
"You can save money on your taxes for that?"
"After we have these kids I'm going to teach you all about the fine art of accounting. That way you'll be better at maintaining your household budget, and I won't have to do your taxes for free every year," Anya said. "Isn't it time for lunch yet? I'm starving."
"It's ten thirty."
"Close enough," Anya said. "Let's dock this pregnancy ship in the kitchen."
Willow walked through the back door into the kitchen and dropped her bag. She grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and padded through the house looking for Tara. Today had been way too long. She wasn't used to having lunch without her, or not being able to grab some afternoon smoochies, but part of her kind of liked coming home and knowing Tara was waiting there for her. Even though currently she couldn't find her. Willow thought she heard the television coming from the family room and headed that direction. She peeked into the room and saw Tara laying on the sofa sound asleep. Willow tip toed over quietly to where Tara lay sleeping. She knelt down next to the sofa and just watched her sleep for a few minutes. She gently brushed away some stray hair that had fallen across Tara's face.
"Willow," Tara said smiling.
"Hi, baby. Did you have a good nap?"
"Yeah, I missed you," Tara answered groggily.
"I missed you too. You still look sleepy, why don't you go back to bed," Willow said.
"No, I promised Dawn I would have cookies for her when she got here. It must be almost time for school to get out. I have to make them. I must have fallen asleep after Anya left."
"You can make cookies for Dawn another time," Willow said. "She'll probably be coming here getting baby sat until she's eighteen."
"No, I'm awake now," Tara said. "Plus I kinda have to use the bathroom. You know baby sitting on bladder. Help me up," Tara said sitting and reaching her hands toward Willow. "It's a good thing you're home or I might never have got off the sofa."
"I'm glad I could help," Willow said.
"Are you gonna call Xander and have him put togther the baby furniture?" Tara asked gathering the ingredients for the cookies. "We really should get that stuff put together soon."
"I'm gonna do it this weekend," Willow said popping some chocolate chips into her mouth.
"You're gonna do it?"
"It can't be that hard," Willow said. "If I can build a computer, I should be able to assemble a few pieces of baby furniture, right?"
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~Spencer~
"Oh, Buffy. You really need to have every square inch of your ass kicked."
-DMW- Two To Go
Wow, Tara is pregnant, and Anya too! *sigh* I can't wait for more!
Thank you! 
How sweet is that!
and Willow trying to make the baby furniture? 
That should be interesting.