Creation (Updated 10/16)

[vix84]

"Hey, honey." Tara strides into the room, placing her briefcase on the living room table and undoing the buttons on her coat.

Willow watches her wife collapse onto the sofa and shut her eyes. "Tare?" She walks over to the sofa.

The blonde opens her eyes to see Willow leaning over her. "Yes? What did..." The words are cut off with a moist, slow kiss. "Wow, you..." The kiss deepened. "Thanks, Wi..." She feels her partner search for her tongue and gives up on speech.

"How was your day?" Willow asks. She licks her lips with satisfaction.

Tara stretches her arms out behind her. "Tiring." She gestures for Willow to lie beside her, and snuggles against her wife's shoulder. "I had a bit of a weird phone call today."

Willow raises her eyebrows. "Weird in what sort of way?" She frowns. "Like that Senator that once called you to ask you out? Because I don't like that variety of weird."

"No, not like that." Tara sits up and covers them with their mohair blanket. She hesitates, not sure exactly how to proceed.

"Tara?" Willow looks curiously at the blonde.

"Remember how I told you I was interviewing a teenager for that feature I had to write about California?"

"Sure."

"She called today and asked me not to publish her name or any reference to her in the article. I thought that was strange, especially since she'd seemed so excited about seeing her name in our paper."

"Baby, maybe she changed her mind. She could be shy or something." Willow smiles. "Or maybe she doesn't want her feminist past to come back and haunt her in her later years."

"No." Tara shakes her head slowly. Her eyes travel the ceiling, exploring the patterns of peeling paint, and she wonders why she never noticed it before. "She's not like that."

Willow strokes Tara's arm lightly. "I'm sure she has a good reason. Why don't you give her a call tomorrow and ask? Otherwise you're going to worry about it."

Tara nods. "You're right. I was going to ask her on the phone today but I thought it was out of place."

"The worst she can say is that it's none of your business. I think she might be flattered that you care enough to find out what's happening." Willow kisses her wife on the cheek. "Don't stress too much about it."

"Okay. How was your day, sweetie?"

Willow smiles. "Just great."

Tara studies her wife suspiciously. "What did you get up to?" She looks around the living room expecting to see polished floorboards, dusted shelves and freshly painted walls.

The house seems to be the same. She furrows her brow and walks into the kitchen. The dishes haven't been dried, the box of cereal from breakfast is still on the counter and the floor is decidedly unwashed.

She looks curiously at her wife.

Willow starts to laugh. "Oy! You assumed that I cleaned for you?"

Tara shrugs, looking sheepish. "Well, what else is there to do here?" She sees Willow glance guiltily at her laptop. "Ohh, I see." She reaches down and picks up the laptop. "Let's see what Mrs Rosenberg did today when she was unaccompanied."

"Taraaaa," Willow pleads.

Tara opens the laptop, moves the cursor so the screen saver disappears, and peers at the screen. A deep chuckle rises from her throat as she reads the website.

"The joy of sex during pregnancy." She notices that Willow has a word document open where she's pasted tips and 'unusual ideas' to make sex with a pregnant woman safe and fun.

Willow wraps her arms around her wife and grins. "I thought it could be useful."

***

Tara

It took me a week to work up the courage to call Lisa.

Willow and I met for lunch in a trendy cafe near my work. We chose window seats and gazed at the water as we ate.

Willow surprised me by ordering an exotic sounding salad, and rye-bread with avocado. Usually she goes for the most typical, traditional dishes, like chicken and potatoes.

She noticed that I was examining her lunch and stared defiantly at me. "I'm eating for two," she explained.

When we were done, I stood up. "Will, it was my idea to meet you for lunch so I'm going to pay."

"Okay, you pay," Willow said easily, handing over her wallet.

After I'd driven her home I returned to work. I didn't have much to do that afternoon and everyone was getting ready to go home for the weekend.

Stuck to my desk was a post-it note on which I had written Lisa's contact details. My lips felt dry, no matter how much I licked them or drank water.

My co-worker, Nancy, smiled at me as she left. "Have a good one, Tara."

I waved at her and the others and promised to leave soon after, then picked up the phone and dialled Lisa's home phone number.

The number rang out. I tried again a couple of times; altogether it must have been about 30 rings.

Finally I called her cell. She picked up after a few rings. My number must have been programmed into her phone because she answered with "oh, hey Tara."

"Lisa, hi... I've been trying to get through to you." I regretted my words immediately and wished I had been more low-key. I didn't want to freak the girl out.

"What's up?" She sounded surprised to hear from me, and I didn't blame her.

"Oh, I just wanted to know more about your decision not to be in the article after all. I mean, it's your choice, of course, but I was confused. You were a really interesting person to interview."

There was a long pause. "Tara, do you mind if we talk about it another time? I can't really talk right now."

"That's fine. When do you want to talk?"

The girl calculated in her mind. "How about we meet at your office on Monday, before school? Would 7am be okay?"

I shrugged. My job had me waking up all around the clock, so the early start didn't faze me. "Not a problem. I'll see you then. Have a good weekend, Lisa."

"Thank you. Oh, and Tara? Thanks for calling."

[sam]

Ooh sounds all mysterious.. Great update. Can't wait to see what happens. Love sam xx

[watty]

Willow starts to laugh. "Oy! You assumed that I cleaned for you?"

Tara knows how hyper Willow can get, but expecting Will to suddenly become all houswife-y? Bad Tara !

"The joy of sex during pregnancy."

that is probably the one most important research they need to be doing! And I'll have you know, that my research (for a story I wrote) indicates that not only is sex safe, it produces nice feelings in the mother that the baby can share (the nice feelings, not the orgasms, sheesh!).

The mystery with Lisa , I'll wait for you to reveal. Great update, thanks.

[Urn of Osiris]

A mystery ? Who doesn't like a good mystery?

Another great chapter. Your eye for detail is so keen. I love the way you share their subtlties. It really brings the characters to life. Researching sex, what an excellent use of internet time.

Her eyes travel the ceiling, exploring the patterns of peeling paint, and she wonders why she never noticed it before.

That just cracked me up.

Thanks for the very frequent updates. I think it is extremely good use of time. Although it makes us slower writers look really bad.

Mwa!!!!!!

[Tonto]

Hellooooooooo

I absolutely love this fic. Its refreshing to see Willow and Tara conceive through artificial insemination instead of magic. I have never read a fic like it. You portray their characters brilliantly! You are also making Willow the pregnant one which is not often done. I love it. I wonder how Tara will deal with the late night cravings. I can't wait to see that.

Okay, this thing with Lisa is making me very nervous! I'm so scared. You added the cliffhanger to make us more nervous, right? I bet you did.

Update soon please....pretty please!

[vix84]

Feedback:

Irene: Hola! (I wish I could say something more original in your language but I’m afraid I’ll mess it up). I think it’s great that you had a Sam in your life. That’s way cute that she knew before you did. I wish I had a relative that understood things like that. Sorry to channel your mom! I agree that children easily pick up such things and it damages relationships. I’m impressed with the way you managed to cut yourself off before you took the Too-Much-Info route. Good one! Thank you for being such a loyal reader. I must tell you, I love your feedback!

Sam: Thanks again for reading. Go you, you got the first feedback spot. I feel like I should hand out a prize or something.

Fleiss: Thanks! Although just after you complimented my speedy updates I took a while to update (well, a week, lol).

Mary: Now listen up dearie, stop picking up on my (very obvious) forshadowing. Now about throwing potato salad, I don’t think that’s petty at all. Sometimes people like that need a simple ingredient like mayonnaise to teach them a lesson. Thanks for reading.

Urnie: Heh, quit trying to figure me out, you shrink. Don’t worry, I’ll find time to keep you all updated – while you are out to play and I’m stuck here at work. Perfecto!

watson: Ooh thanks for sharing your research about the nice feelings and orgasms. It’s always good to hear about the nicer side of pregnancy and not just the blood and placenta and pushing.

Tonto: Of course I added the cliffhanger to make you more nervous. Actually, I wanted to reveal all in this update but I asked my girlfriend “should I cut it off at a cliffhanger or keep going?” and she said to cut it off, and hey, thou must obey the girlfriend, so there we are. Thank you for reading and leaving feedback, I appreciate it!

I’ll post the update either today or tomorrow.

[Belli Bear]

oh! oh! i REALLY like this!!

it's awesome! i'm not usually one for stories that focus on the girls pregnancies but this is soo cooooooool! I love your style of writing, the way you choose to include little details that end up helping alot with the way you view a character in your head.

awesomeness!

update! im really curious about this girl and her mysteriousness and early meeting times.. yeeerhk!

- Belli XxX


PS: oh! im from South Aus by the way lol, u asked before liiike aaages ago lol, where in aus r u from?

[vix84]

Belli: Hey! Welcome to the thread. Thanks for your feedback; I'm glad to hear that you like the story. I'm from Sydney... lol, yes, it was ages ago.

Disclaimer: These characters are not mine. This chapter takes on the edge of angst. I hope you excuse me.

Tara

I locked the car and took the elevator up to my office on level four. I was early; according to the clock it was 6:30am and there was no one in sight. I unlocked the doors, turned on the lights and made a cup of coffee from the machine we'd received as a Christmas gift.

I had an hour before the other staff members were due to arrive. Lisa had arrived pretty early last time and I wondered if this would be a repeat performance. I hoped so; I preferred talking with few people around.

Sure enough, at 6:40 I heard a knock on the glass doors out the front. I walked over to open them and there was Lisa, smiling shyly. "Sorry that I got here so early. I thought the bus would take longer getting into the city."

"It’s not a problem." I smiled and ushered her in, hoping to make her feel at ease. "Would you like a coffee or tea? Something to wake you up?"

"I'd love a tea. Could I make it?" She looked hopeful.

"Sure."

We made small talk as she waited for the kettle to boil. I found myself giving her a once over; it's a habit that I've picked up from interviewing and forming quick impressions of people. Her sweatshirt and jeans were clean, her hair was pulled back into a braid, and her skin was immaculate and that of someone who takes the time to know beauty products.

I waited as she mixed sugar and milk into the amber water and carried the mug over to my desk.

She sat down and looked up at me expectantly.

"Lisa," I said, "this isn't an interview, sweetie. Tell me what's on your mind."

"I don't know." She picked up the mug and took a sip, and I winced as I watched her burn her lip. "Damn, too hot."

I tried to help her out. "Something must have changed since I spoke to you last. You seemed pretty enthusiastic about the article."

She bit her lower lip and suddenly seemed so young. "I'm sorry to waste your time. I'm not so good at explaining things like this."

If I'd gotten the impression that pushing would have helped, I would have pushed. But I was struck with the realization that I needed to retreat.

"It doesn't matter, Lisa." I took a sip of coffee and stretched. "So, how have things been going at school?"

She seemed to relax a little. "Great. One of my friends and I are taking surfing lessons. It's so cool. And best of all? It counts toward our gym requirement." She feigned awe. "No more gym this year!"

I laughed. "You're a lucky girl. Gym nearly ruined my grades. What makes them consider gym to be an educational class, anyway?"

"I know. The only thing it encourages is perspiration."

At that moment one of my co-workers arrived. “Good morning.” He seemed taken aback to see me. "I assume you're putting in the hours while you still can, before your infant's cries force you to take regular leave?"

I laughed and rolled my eyes.

"Infant?" Lisa's eyes dropped to my stomach and then returned to my face, confused.

"Yeah, my partner is pregnant." The funny thing about that line coming from a woman's lips is that it is coming out without intending to do so. There’s just no way to make it gender neutral.

"Congratulations!" She seemed genuinely pleased by the news, which is always nice. It's a nuisance taking the time to explain it, only to have the person end up looking revolted.

She looked like she was going to say something but then changed her mind and reached for her tea.

**

Willow is rousing from a deep sleep. “I love you,” she murmurs, stretching her legs luxuriously in the queen-sized bed.

The only response is the sound of wind battling against the window panes.

“Tara?”

She opens her eyes slowly, the stitches of sleep narrowing her lids, and searches the room for her wife.

“Where are you, lover of mine?” She pats the bedside table until her hand lands on her cell phone. She lifts it with effort, and notices a note stuck to the keys.

Baby,

I had a meeting at 7am that I forgot to tell you about. I hope you slept well. I’ll call you when I’m done.

I love you!

Your absentminded blonde

Willow shrugs and crumples the note.

“So, what are we doing today?” she asks her stomach. She grins, realizing how long it’s been since she last talked to herself aloud, although she isn’t strictly talking to herself but to a fetus. “I think we’re going to clean the kitchen and then…” she glances at the computer, “I think we’re going to download a chat program.” She pats her stomach, pleased with the itinerary.

She dawdles into the kitchen and is surprised to find a tray on the counter. There is a plate of rapidly cooling eggs, a cream cheese bagel and orange juice in a glass patterned with condensation.

“You are too cute, Tara Maclay,” she says, carrying the food to be eaten in bed.

***

Tara

“Let me know when you have to get going,” I said, checking the time.

The brunette stood immediately. “Okay.”

“I didn’t mean now,” I clarified, encouraging her to sit down.

I noticed that Lisa was wrapping the straps of her purse around her fingers, pulling them tight. When she released, the skin underneath was red and wrinkled. “Lisa, what is it?” I reached out a hand to touch her and she flinched.

Much to Lisa’s chagrin she felt tears sting at her eyelids. “Is there somewhere we can talk that isn’t here?”

I nodded, already getting out of my chair. I put my arm around the troubled teen and led her out of the office, into the elevator and inside the car. When I turned on the engine a loud, angry song started to play. It seemed to shake Lisa out of her reverie and at one point she even attempted making conversation.

Pulling out of the parking lot, I drove quickly until reaching the ocean.

We walked along the beach, the wind blowing our hair about until we could barely see. We walked for over an hour in utter silence, enjoying only the sound of the sand crunching beneath our feet.

When we reached the rocks at the end of the beach, Lisa sat down and held her knees to her body. She turned to face me. “Whenever I come to this beach, I look over at those rocks in the distance and wonder who actually walks all the way down to reach them.” She smiled faintly. “Now I know.”

I leaned against a rock. “I always imagined that it would be a good place to talk. You know, being surrounded only by water, salt and sand. You can’t help having a clear mind out here.”

“But sometimes having a clear mind makes thinking even harder. You can hear all your thoughts at once and it’s hard to make sense of them.” Lisa began to dig through the sand, pushing against the grains with her nails. She seemed to be looking for something but I wasn’t sure what it was.

My eyes were focused on the ocean. “If that happens, you pick the thought that is loudest in your head and deal with it first.” I wiped sand off my legs and ended up with granules stuck to my moist hands. “I find that if I voice the loudest, it’s usually a whole lot quieter in there afterwards.”

Lisa nodded absently, and I wondered if she’d even heard me. “Can you do me a favour?”

“What is it?”

“I think you know which thought is the loudest in my head.” Her breathing was fast and her words spilled out in a rush.

I looked at her. “What do you mean?”

“I mean that when you touched me and I jumped, I felt that you figured it out.”

I realized what she was trying to do. “Lisa, I know you don’t want to say it, but neither do I, really.”

The brunette nodded. “I know. I’m sorry.” She closed her eyes and breathed in the rich, salty air. “He hurts me.”

My chest constricted. It had been hard enough going through it myself, but somehow hearing Lisa admit to the same thing made it ache harder.

“Who does?”

“My father. It’s not sexual. He just,” Lisa paused, “takes out his anger on me.”

“Have you spoken to anyone about it?”

Lisa shook her head. “Well, my mom knows because she hears it. But I’ve never talked to someone about it.”

The sole benefit of my past was that I knew what she needed. I wrapped my arms around her like she was a precious object. “Lisa,” I murmured, “you’re not alone. I promise to help you through this.”

A wave crashed right by us, soaking our feet in foam. I felt the heaviness of a promise hit me and hoped that this time I could get it right.

[GayNow]

Wow. Nice update. Such pain though. Poor Lisa. Fortunately she was able to open up to Tara...and unfortunately Tara knows all too well what Lisa is going through. I'm sure they will be able to help each other.

And .... Willow cleaning?

Looking forward to the next.

Carleen

[meretricious]

ok, a pregnant woman eating rapidly cooling eggs? sounds like a bad idea, hope they were at least well done. like willow's itenerary for the day, wonder what kind of chat she's going to look for? hopefully she'll find some other newly pregnant first timers and they can talk about bladder issues and stretch marks together.
thought tara handled things with lisa very well. though it reads like the violence has been going on for a while? suprised lisa was so together when tara first interviewed her in that case, wonder if things have escalated and that's when she changed her mind
so, no more commenting on the forshadowy stuff? like how taking in a responsible but troubled teen would make for awesome built- in baby sitter? ( and maybe you could eventually intro cary and lisa and they could get each other thru all that teen bs? k, actually becoming a whole different fic now isn't it)~mary

[watty]

Oh Roz, that was a nice update. well, not that learning about Lisa's dad is nice, just that I'm sure Tara is the right person to help her out.

Like Mary I wonder what chat program Willow is looking for, though I'd expect her to have all sorts of chat program and IRC on her computers. Probably logged onto all pregnancy channels I bet.

You're doing a good job, no direct W/T interaction except the note and breakfast, but still warm .

[Tonto]

Oh my! Poor Lisa.......luckily she has Tara to help her out.

Your absentminded blonde

This kept me laughing for a while!

Excellent update.....can't wait to read more.

Your very eager scorpio

[Foof]

I must admit that I was hooked from the moment Willow picked up the donor profile. I've ready many of these profiles lately (as my partner and I are preparing to begin this journey ourselves) and really enjoy the fact that Willow and Tara are going about this the "new old-fashioned way." It adds a level of realism that allows us to really relate to the characters, quite as we did on with the relationship as shown on the series (minus the demons, brain-sucking, et al).

It was surprising to read that Willow was going to carry the baby - perhaps because I can't recall any fic I've read in which she does (or does before Tara does). I like it because it's fresh and went against the predictable "Tara, the mother hen, has the baby while Willow, the hard worker, brings home the bacon" thought that has, so far, been the bulk of the baby fics. It's nice to keep us on our toes and to switch it up.

It's also interesting (in an extremely good way) that you have given both characters focus. While Willow has the pregnancy to focus on, Tara has Lisa to focus on as well. This really conveys the full life that Willow and Tara have and that it's not all about one thing or another but about all of the things that go into making their lives (and life together) complete.

[sam]

Aww such a sweet update. Poor Lisa..awww..it makes me feel like I want to do something . Love sam xx[/i]

[vix84]

Hello dear readers of mine,

After all your praise for my quick updates, I managed to take almost two weeks *gasp* to update the next part. But my holiday is now over and, fortunately, I am back to being bored at work and plan to update today or tomorrow.

Thanks for the feedback! Here are some replies.

Carleen: Thanks for being my first. Heh, first feedbacker. I agree that as much as Tara will help Lisa, Lisa will do the same for Tara.

Mary: *sighs* Look, I'm sure Willow is the obsessive type... to the extent that she probably checked the temperature of the eggs with a thermometer before consuming them. About the forshadowy stuff: please continue! I complain with a smile, I promise. I love the predictions!

watson: Can I say something? The chat program idea was supposed to be a passing comment. I wasn't intending to explore it in much depth. But I should have expected technosavvy kittens to pick up on it and forecast which chat programs and channels Willow would choose. Silly me. Thanks for reading and responding.

Irene: Hey! It's always a pleasure to read your feedback. Thanks for getting so worked up about things, I think it's the best way to live life. Some say you have to walk in another's shoes... I think I live my life walking on a soapbox. Awww that line about thanking the mom for playing is just adorable. Discipline is such a complex thing and I am so thankful that there are parents who take the time to teach their kids the gentle way.

Tonto: Hey eager scorpio! I'm glad the line cracked you up. Thanks for reading and there will definitely be more soon.

Foof: Thanks for your comments, I appreciate the feedback especially from someone who is living what I am trying to write. I thought it was important to give both characters individual focus, be it careers or family, etc., rather than making every update be about buying strollers or socks. I'm glad that you find it realistic; that was one of my main aims when I started writing this story.

sam: It makes me want to do something too. Sadly it's probably not legal. Thanks for the feedback.

[vix84]

Update

The dream wasn't in color. She was aware of that even as she slept. She looked down, holding out her hands and arms, and saw the absence of color in her limbs.

Muffled speech and heavy feet moved around her. She was trying to find her parents in the crowded fair. Every time she thought she'd spotted her father's mud-drizzled boots or her mother's sneakers she would grab at their legs, only to be faced with an angry adult who wasn't Mom or Dad.

Panic spread quickly - seven was too young to be wandering around alone, her Mom always said - and she started to cry. She wasn't the type of child to let noisy sobs escape. She knew that this bothered the adults. Her sobs were like whispers; you had to get close to hear them, and even then you doubted what you were hearing.

"Lisa."

She jumped at her mother's voice and the dream slipped away from her grasp. It felt like it had been a long, difficult dream, and missing out on the resolution seemed unfair.

"What is it, Mom?"

Her mother was sitting beside her. Her hair was loose and it tickled Lisa's arm. She moved towards the wall, away from her mother.

"You were murmuring. I was walking past your room and thought there was something wrong."

Briefly, just long enough for a thought to be invented and banished, Lisa clenched her fists. Usually there is something wrong, but you keep on walking past.

"I'm fine. Just having a dream. I've already forgotten what it was about."

Her mother paused. "You were asking for something. I'm not sure what it was. But you seemed so desperate. You kept saying 'please'."

"I guess I have good manners even while I'm sleeping," Lisa joked, but inside something stirred. The thought of her mother having open access to her dreams, even in fragments, scared her. She liked to store away whatever she remembered of her dreams, to keep them locked in her mind like a score hidden by a paranoid composer. She would rather lose pieces or entire episodes of her dreams than have them restored by an observer.

Her mother nodded. She stared at her, her sharp eyes tracing Lisa's face. "Well, goodnight then, honey," she said gently, "I hope you got what you wanted in the dream."

***

what are you so nervous about, anyway?

She's my Mom. Erratic. Illogical. I don't know how she's going to take it.

How did she take the news that you two were trying?

Let's just say she wasn't begging me to set up a Baby Wish List. She didn't freak, but I think it unnerved her.

I think you should do it now. Call her up with the big news. We'll be here in case things go wrong.

Wrong? Uh oh. Now you're freaking me out. I don't want to screw things up between us.

lol, good one, tru...

Relax. I meant that if she doesn't take it well, we'll talk you through Dealing With Mom Issues 101. We're experts.

any gay person is

Okay. Fine. I'll call her now.

Willow groans, wondering how she got herself into this. She wishes that the women were there with her so they could hold hands, massage each other, eat choc-chip cookies and engage in other comforting female behaviors.

With a sigh she takes the portable phone off the charger and dials her mother. She peers at the computer screen as she waits for her mother to answer.

Good luck! You'll be fine.

"Hello, you've reached the answering machine of Sheila and Ira Rosenberg. We are currently out of the house. If you need us urgently, please call my cellular telephone... or call the golf club if you need to speak to Ira. Otherwise, leave a message after the tone." There was a loud beep.

"Nice message, Mom. I want to tell you something and I'm not sure how to say it. I mean, I could be poetic and overly emotional, but I figure you're already tapping your foot impatiently. So here it is. We're pregnant! Tara and I. Well, technically, I'm pregnant. We found out a while ago but I wanted to be sure before telling people. Uh, yeah, just wanted to let you know." Willow wonders how to continue the message; she figures she's covered everything. "So, um, if you have any questions, just call me. I'll be at home. Bye, Mom."

I did it!

That was quick. Well done, you're a pro.

dude, maybe we should get lessons from you. how did you get her to stop talking so quickly? mine never stops...

Oh, I didn't actually speak to her. I left a message on her answering machine.

Wtf?

Gerb: are you joking?

No! Should I be?

It's just, how do I say this, not very typical answering machine material.

Let me get this straight. A phone call is an appropriate medium for sharing such news, but not its recorded counterpart?

Yes, lol. Exactly.

I can't exactly go over there and delete it.

haha, I would.

Don't worry. Maybe you have a different type of relationship with your Mom than the rest of us do with ours.

Hopefully.

Several hours later, when Willow logs out of #QueerMoms and is enjoying a bowl of icecream, she finds out how wrong she was.

As she front door swings open, she wonders why she didn't fight her mother harder about giving her a key to the house. She remembers her Mom promising never to come over without warning.

Sheila stands in the hallway, chest heaving. "Willow, what the hell was that?" She glares at her daughter but her eyes fall to Willow's stomach. Her face softens but she is silent and resolute.

Willow looks ashamed. "I didn't think it was such a bad way to tell you. Hey, you have to admit it was better than telling you in an email." She gives her toothiest smile but it does nothing to help her.

Her mother quivers - whether it is from rage or excitement is unclear. "Actually, I think both are just as disrespectful." She approaches Willow and lays a hand on her belly. "I hope Mister or Missy in there isn't learning all your bad tricks." She sits on the sofa beside Willow and a smile spreads across her face. "Congratulations, baby. I'm so, so happy for you."

"Congratulations to you, Mom. You're going to be Grandma."

Sheila straightens her shoulders proudly. "I'll be one of those trendy Grannys. I hope she's a girl. I'll teach her everything I tried to teach you about fashion." She smirks at the expression on Willow's face.

"I had wonderful fashion sense," Willow retorts.

"Honey, it's wrong to lie to your mother." Tara saunters through the front door, hanging up her umbrella and removing her leather jacket.

"Hello, Tara," Sheila says, eyeing the jacket. "So, I hear you're going to be a..." She trails off, her cheeks reddening.

Willow is enjoying herself. Her mother is a society woman, highly educated in polite conversation, yet she always seems stumped around them.

"A Double-Mom? She-Daddy? Homosexual Parent?" Willow supplies helpfully. "Plain old Momma?"

Sheila rolls her eyes. "Whatever you call it, I wish you the best of luck."

Tara smiles. "Thanks. I was actually planning to be called Mathair. 'Tis Irish."

"You girls." Sheila clucks. "Your child will be a character, that's for sure."

***

"You told her." Tara says it simply, without surprise or accusation.

Sheila has left. They've locked the door carefully, to ensure she doesn't return, and are making their way to bed.

Willow pauses. "I figured she had the right to know," she says evenly, hoping she doesn't sound defensive.

"I wasn't criticizing. Actually, if anything, I was admiring." She takes Willow's hand. "Your courage impresses me." .

"She took it well," Willow says, the rush of relief starting to hit. "Woohoo - no more wondering about how to tell Mom. I'm glad the Queer Moms made me do it."

"Queer Moms?" Tara looks mystified.

"Oh! I didn't tell you." Willow leads Tara over to the computer and gestures at the screen.

Tara skims the chat conversation and laughs softly. "Looks like you've been busy."

"Yeah, it was a lot of fun. I forgot to tell you about it."

At that, Tara's body tenses. "I forgot to tell you something, too."

Willow closes the laptop and slides beneath the clean sheets. "You're making me curious."

It looks like Tara is struggling to speak, and she swallows before answering. "I met with Lisa today."

Willow's eyes widen. "And?" She wonders if that was the meeting Tara referred to in the note.

"Well, I had to force her to talk." Tara stops.

"I wonder how that feels," Willow jokes. "Come on, sweetie, what happened?"

"I discovered that we have more in common than feminism."

"She's gay?"

"No." Tara shakes her head. She wonders why sometimes soulmates barely need speech to communicate, and sometimes communication is impossible with or without speech. She runs her fingers through Willow's hair. "I meant... we have similar fathers."

Willow absorbs this. "How did it feel to talk to her about it?"

"It was hard. And surreal to hear what I feel coming from someone else's lips."

Willow nods. "If it helps any, you're probably making her life so much easier, just by existing. Just by being you."

"Yeah, it helps." Tara leans over to switch off the light at the same time that Willow reaches for her, and they collide.

The word 'sorry' is on Willow's lips when she realizes that Tara is crying. And she realizes that however strong Tara is going to be for Lisa will determine how strong Willow will need to be for Tara.

***

Her mother left and Lisa lay in the dark, wishing that her street was louder at night. The silence coagulated in the room, danced with the shadows on her walls, and prevented her from sleeping. Eventually, though, exhaustion kicked in.

"Come on, Lisa, sweetheart. We're leaving."

Lisa looked up, startled, and saw her Mom and Dad walking past. She'd found them, finally. They were smiling and her Mom was carrying a parcel.

"I'm coming," she replied, standing up and following them. She wiped dust off her skirt and walked as quickly as she could.

"Did you have fun at the fair?" Her father asked.

She was confused but replied, "Yes. Until I got lost."

Dad wasn't looking at her, she realized. She followed his eyes, past her mother and the cotton candy stand, over to the car. And she jumped, shocked, because standing by the car was an identical Lisa.

He walked over to the other Lisa and kissed her cheek, and her Mom handed her the parcel. "We got you a present, baby girl," she cooed.

The original Lisa, dusty and ignored, watched as they got into the car and drove away. She didn't wonder why they were treating this Lisa so much nicer than they usually treated her.

She wondered how she would fill the time until they came back for her. How long would it take them to realize they had the wrong daughter? Would they be angry and take back the present? It was getting late. She wondered where people without homes slept.

Lisa woke up. This time, she didn't forget the dream.

[Artemis]

I've just been catching up on this story, and it's really charmed me. There's humour and sincerity, and nervous tension and sweetness - you've got it all. It's bittersweet heartwarming to see Tara trying to help Lisa, even though it means bringing her own pain to the surface; Willow telling her mother about her child (via answerphone ) was funny in a cringe kind of way, and then the relief when her mother took it well was so touching; that part about no longer legally being married was a tearjerker. Grrr. Stupid closed-minded jerks

I'm really looking forward to more of this story, and all the milestones in Willow and Tara's simple - and momentous - decision to create a life.

And I agree completely with Sheila, the child is going to be a character

[eirnlove]

How come I never saw this story before?? It's wonderful!

I'm loving it! Pleaseeeeeeeeeeeee keep it coming! More updates please

[sam]

Awww this update was so cute and so great!! Yay for Sheila..hehe. Love sam xx

[GayNow]

Poor Tara and Lisa. So much pain. I have to believe that they will help each other...and, of course, that Willow will help Tara. I mean, that's a given. I'm interested to learn more about the Tara/Lisa dynamic. I really think that has the potential to be an incredibly strong bond. Perhaps Tara, and eventually Willow, will serve as surrogate parents for Lisa....so many possibilities.

Glad to see that Sheila took the news of Willow's pregnancy well. *shakes head* Telling her mom on an answering machine. That zany Willow!

Great stuff! Looking forward to more.

Carleen

[meretricious]

very nice update. lisa's dreams convey very well that feeling of not being able to trust the people you are supposed to be able to trust most, and the inner panic when they let you down. made me uncomfortable to read, so good job.
so your passing reference to willow and chat rooms has become a full plot point, cool. and queermoms.com, sounds perfect. loved their reaction to willow leaving sheila a message.
took me way too long to figure out willow's screen name, i can be dense sometimes, kept trying to tie it into gerber babyfood somehow. don't know if gerber even makes it to your side of the world, though
have to give sheila credit though, esp with the way willow told her, could've seen her reacting much worse. still love them locking the door after she left, though. good stuff! ~mary

[vix84]

Sorry - double post.

[vix84]

Note: Thanks to all who have left feedback! I'll reply soon, I promise.

Update

Willow thinks of the hundreds of different people who have predicted pain for her in the coming months. Book authors, magazine writers, relatives, website owners and friends. They spoke of nausea, the loss of control over your body and its impulses, and the ache brought on by growth.

Willow, however, feels better than ever before in her life. Lazier, yes, but her growing stomach brings her energy that she realizes was missing before.

When she tells this to her friend, Jim, he is jealous. "When we were pregnant with our first, Marie couldn't function. She complained endlessly, suffered every medical condition in the book, and was constantly depressed. Tara's lucky."

Willow's smile disappears. Tara hasn't been doing so well through all of this. She debates telling her friend but decides against it. It's their business and they can handle it.

"She sure is. My sex drive has gone through the roof."

"Okay, that was an overshare." He pauses. "Really? Why didn't Marie have that?"

Her smile returns; it seems she's having the dream pregnancy. "I guess the gods and goddesses are smiling upon lesbianity."

"Someone's got to, I guess."

They finish their conversation and Willow listens to Tara getting ready. She puts a pillow behind her back and leans against it, eyes closed. Her nose enjoys the scent of Tara's perfume. “Baby, I want to see you before you leave. I bet you look gorgeous.”

"Do not."

She listens to zips being pulled, buttons being clicked together, Tara singing softly as she brushes her hair, and finally footsteps in the hallway.

Tara steps into the room, looking coy. She waits for her wife's reaction.

“Very nice,” Willow breathes. Her wife’s hair is lightly curled and hangs low on her back. She’s wearing a long, fitted jacket and a pair of jeans, which - Willow can't help noticing - shapes her butt perfectly. She checks and yes, Tara’s nails are painted and she’s wearing her wedding ring.

“Like I wouldn’t wear it,” Tara laughs, watching her wife’s eyes take inventory of her body.

“Just checking,” Willow retorts. “You’re going to a concert, you look really sexy and I need to make sure you have your hands-off symbol on you. And you do,” she says, satisfied. “So you can go now. Just make sure you come back afterwards, because I have plans for you.”

Tara sees the look in Willow’s eyes and takes a step back. “You behave. I’ll be back at 11.”

***

Tara

"Tara, you look great!"

Lisa ran towards me. She was wearing glow-in-the-dark crucifix earrings, a 'Make Cookies Not War' t-shirt and flared corduroy jeans.

"So do you!" I grinned. One thing I admired about Lisa was that nothing took away her crazy streak. When I was growing up I always hid myself and tried to keep camouflaged as much as possible. I wore pastel clothing, my eyes were pale, my hair was such a faint shade of blonde it was almost white, and I tried not to speak whenever possible. Lisa, on the other hand, was loud and colourful, almost demanding attention. She was a breath of fresh air and made my once repressed inner teen stand up and applaud.

We were going to a concert held at a university campus, and we were both excited. It was a band Willow had no interest in, and Lisa needed a guardian in order to get in, so we were the perfect duo.

We arrived at the venue early and stood by the merchandise table drinking soda and watching people buy expensive t-shirts.

"This is cool," Lisa was saying, gazing at a jacket emblazoned with the band's name, when a group of teenagers approached us.

"Lisa! I didn't expect to see you here," said a girl with orange hair. She looked curiously at me. I waited for Lisa to cringe and make forced, polite conversation, the way I would have at her age, but she was excited to see them.

"Bec! Tam!" She gave each girl a hug. "This is my friend Tara. Tara, meet Bec and Tam from school. And Bec's sister and her friends.” She grinned at the older girls.

They smiled at me. "I saw the bass guitarist out the back," one of the girls whispered. "He is so hot."

"Totally," I agreed, feeling like I was ten years younger, an over-excited teen. "Musicians are always hot, though."

We stood around making conversation and when the concert started we went in together. Our tickets were for the standing area. After about half the play list was through I was flushed and tired from dancing and singing along. I went to get a drink and one of Lisa's friends followed me.

"So you were the one writing the article about Lisa," she said, waiting to pay for the bottles of water she'd ordered.

"Yeah, not any more," I replied.

"Because of her mom." She rolled her eyes. "She's such a bitch."

This caught my attention. "What did her mom do?"

She looked down. "I don't want to say anything if Lisa hasn't told you. It's kind of personal."

I tried to figure it out. "She did tell me about it. But she said it was her father who was the problem."

The girl sighed. "Yes, it is. But her mom is the one who found out about the interview and made her drop the article. She said it was unfair of Lisa and that it would be bad for the family."

"Why's that? I think Lisa's work is admirable." I frowned.

"Yes, you and I think that. But see it from her perspective. Lisa talks about women who are stuck in desperate situations; how they need to find the courage to get out. Her mom is one of those women." She opened her bottle of water and drank nearly the whole thing in one gulp. "So is Lisa, really."

"Except her mother has the ability to leave, and she doesn't," I finished, mostly speaking to myself. The girl was eager to get back to the concert.

As soon as we were inside, Lisa rushed over to me. "Oh, my god," she said dramatically. "The lead singer smiled at me."

"Bullshit, Lise, it was at me." Her friend pushed her, laughing.

The yellow lights lit Lisa's hair and face. She looked so happy and for some reason that upset me more than anything else.

She was a great dancer; her body seemed to predict the beats and it moved simultaneously with the bass. By the time we left she was panting.

There were many cars waiting to leave the parking lot, so we waited in a queue and listened to the CD of the band we had just seen.

"How's Willow doing?" she asked while we waited.

"Great, actually. She's really enjoying having a belly, I think, and likes to show it to people." We laughed.

"I'd like to meet her sometime."

"I'm sure she'd like to meet you. Why don't you come over for dinner one night? You can bring someone, if you want. I'll cook something with lots of iron for Willow and you."

"Great. I love spinach," she joked. "I'm free this Saturday."

I tried to remember if we were free and couldn't think of a reason why not. Besides, she looked so hopeful. "Sure."

When we reached her house, I noticed there were no lights on or sign of life inside. I was about to comment when she spoke.

"Thanks for coming with me, Tara. It was a great night."

I just smiled and kept quiet as she got out of the car. She reached the front steps, waved at me, took out her keys and pretended to unlock the door. I drove off slowly and saw her tiptoe around the side of the house. From experience I knew that she was climbing through the window.

***

"What would you say if I told you that Lisa didn't have permission to come with me tonight?"

"I'd say that you didn't know any better, she lied to you, and it isn't really your fault."

"Well," Tara says slowly, "what if I did know better? I figured her parents wouldn't have encouraged her to go, but I accepted anyway."

"Then," Willow answers, "I would remind you that you're Lisa's friend, not parent, and that you joined her tonight because you wanted to and because she asked you to."

Tara looks away. "I don't know if having another friend is what she needs. Don't we always say that kids today are messed up because their parents are more interested in being their friends than in parenting them?"

"Yes, but we're usually talking about ten-year-old slutbombs with streaked hair, thong and fuck-me stiletto boots. Or a bratty kid being given yet another toy because his parents can't say no." Willow changes tactic. "Anyway, Tare, listen to me: I repeat, you're not her parent. Maybe her parents are terrible but it isn't your job to discipline her and decide what she can and can't do. Okay, so maybe it was bad judgement to go tonight." Her voice softens. "But sweetie, you had fun. You needed it. And, even after reading the million parenting books I've been reading lately, I think you did the right thing. I bet Lisa had an amazing night. She likes you a lot. And she deserves one amazing night once in a while."

Tara nods. "Thanks, honey." She sits on the bed to take off her shoes. "It was a lot of fun. A guy asked me to dance."

Willow narrows her eyes in mock anger. "I hope you told him that you had a suffering, overly pregnant wife sitting alone at home waiting for you, so no, you couldn't dance."

Tara shakes her head. "Actually, I danced with him."

"What?"

"Hey, you said I needed to relax. And I did." She stiffles a laugh at Willow's indignant facial expression. "Anyway, I thought you wanted me to rush home to satisfy your cravings." She arches an eyebrow. "Here I am. Quit interrogating and start making use of me."

"Oh, right," Willow banters, "so I'm supposed to pretend I'm pleased with tonight's events?"

"Nope. You're supposed to be pleasured by the next few hours' events."

"Is that a threat, Tara?"

"You betcha, Willow."

She undoes her shirt, removes her jeans, grins at the quick widening of her wife's eyes, and then shows Willow just how glad she is to be home.

[Tonto]

Wonderful update! I haven't been to a concert in a few years but I can imagine the atmosphere Tara and Lisa were enjoying with the 'hot musicians'!

"Just checking,” Willow retorts. “You’re going to a concert, you look really sexy and I need to make sure you have your hands-off symbol on you.

I loved that line!

Keep the updates coming please!

[eirnlove]

awesome update : D loved it..

Willow is perfectly written!

looking forward for the next update

[watty]

Roz, I missed one update, I can't believe it.

Still loving this. Willow still basking in the pregnancy glow.

gods and goddesses are smiling upon lesbianity

let's hope they continue to smile upon them.

And whoa! Checking out Tara. Who wouldn't? Hotness.

I should be grumpy cos I normally don't like OCs in fics, cos they take the attention from the MCs. But Lisa here has me intrigued. She needs a mature friend, not necessarily a parental figure, to help her. And I'm glad she has Tara.

Good job.

[Urn of Osiris]

*blows the dust cakes off her keyboard*

Great update!!

I sat here and wrote you some feedback, that I won't even try to duplicate, bacause it'll never all come back to me. You know about the shiza memory that I have. Then the board ate it. *curses*

This is what I could remember, and I know it's nowhere near as good.

I loved the update. Your story is refreshing and earthy good. You give us just enough of the W/T we know, while adding your new spin to them. I loved the ring conversation. That gave me a huge grin.

I'm not sure I like that Tara took a sneaky teen out to a concert. I hope that doesn't come back to bite her in the ass.

The pregnancy is going well, that's almost always a bad thing. *gets nervous*

Thanks for the update. I'm happy to see you continue this story.

[sam]

Aww great update. I'm glad Willow's pregnancy is going good . Love sam xx

[Tara22]

Hi dollface!

I finally sat down and read all these new updates and I was not disappointed! I only wish I had read them sooner so I could have written more detailed replies for each update. I debated doing as I did last time but decided that it would be a little too long. (shocking, I know.)

Anywho, as I read through this smorgasbord of fiction delight, I saved my favourite lines into a word document to comment on now. Your words are like silk. I find them so easy to read and so beautiful take in. You have created a wonderful world for Willow and Tara. Their relationship is stronger than ever and I really love that.

Now for the chosen commenty bits:

With regards to the lameassed cousin of Willows, I fail to see how the economy can be messed up by gay people getting married and starting families. But perhaps that is because I am gay, therefore evil or something *extremely evident eye rolling*

“Willow,” she whispers, “you ignore him, okay? He’s just jealous because his wife doesn’t touch him anymore. Don’t tell anyone that, by the way. He’s seeing a sex counselor.” Her cheeks redden with the excitement of sharing a secret with Willow.

LMAO, that was great! I have to agree with many of the previous commenters. I adore Sam and her relationship with Willow!

"Okay, you pay," Willow said easily, handing over her wallet.`

LOL!! That’s so funny! Very smoothly slipped in too

Willow in the chat room had me very amused! Good on her virtual cookie dough consuming buddies for talking her into calling Sheila.

"A Double-Mom? She-Daddy? Homosexual Parent?" Willow supplies helpfully. "Plain old Momma?"

LMAO, one of my favourite lines so far. That is just so Willow! Please please let the kid call Tara she-daddy!

Tara smiles. "Thanks. I was actually planning to be called Mathair. 'Tis Irish."

"You girls." Sheila clucks. "Your child will be a character, that's for sure."

Sigh, yes, they are so quirky and full of life that I imagine their child will be one heck of a personality! I can’t wait to see the way they handle parenthood!

Which leads me to Lisa. Gosh, so sad. I am glad that she found a friend and confidant in Tara. It’s horrible that she has to put up with abuse, both the physical from her father and the emotional from her mother.

"Well, I had to force her to talk." Tara stops.

"I wonder how that feels," Willow jokes. "Come on, sweetie, what happened?"

*smirks*

The word 'sorry' is on Willow's lips when she realizes that Tara is crying. And she realizes that however strong Tara is going to be for Lisa will determine how strong Willow will need to be for Tara.

That was another one of those beautiful moments where you can’t help but sigh after reading your words. You’re a poet, my love.

Her smile returns; it seems she's having the dream pregnancy. "I guess the gods and goddesses are smiling upon lesbianity."

LMAO, so funny! Good on them!

"Yes, but we're usually talking about ten-year-old slutbombs with streaked hair, thong and fuck-me stiletto boots. Or a bratty kid being given yet another toy because his parents can't say no."

Here here, Will!

I think that regardless of wether Tara is her parent or not, she was right to show her that happiness, even for one night. Although the parents are the closest thing in a child’s life, it does not always make them right. Sometimes the parent is too close to realise that they are smothering their children and sometimes they just don’t care.

I look forward to seeing what happens with Lisa in later updates and I hope that everything gets sorted out. I just know that Tara will become a mentor to her and they will establish a strong relationship.

As I said before, I am loving this fic and am excited to read your future updates. I will try to be punctual next time and review each update at length.

I love you, pumpkin!

[vix84]

Update

Note: This update, obviously, goes back in time to when they met. The next couple of updates will be set in this time. Please excuse the To Be Continued ending.

1999

"You're not from around here, are you?"

It was said as an observation, not as a question. I looked up to see who was being so direct. A girl was standing behind me, giving me a shrewd look. Her hair was strung with ribbons, body clasped by a corsette, legs clad in stockings and feet in pointed boots. She had a single-hand sword slung over one shoulder.

"Uh... I'm not from California originally, if that's what you mean." I stared at her, intrigued.

She was surprised and didn't hide it well. "You're American? I assumed you were from somewhere Scandinavian."

"I'm 100% Yank. It disappoints me, also." I smiled.

"I'm sorry. It's your hair, eyes and skin... I figured you had to come from a place where things are icy all year 'round. Your skin looks like it is accustomed to reflecting whiteness, not sunlight."

It is not in my nature to laugh in the face of an attractive lady, but it was impossible to refrain from chuckling.

Her cheeks darkened and she lifted her chin haughtily. "You mocked my imagery."

"No." I hastened to explain. "I laughed at such flowery words coming from a swordsman. Most swordsmen can't stop talking about weapons and battles." I gestured at the proof; there was a man nearby who was waving his axe and calling out antagonistically to anyone passing by.

"Oh." There was a long gap in conversation.

As I watched her, she seemed to be fighting herself internally. I couldn't help noticing how attractive she was. "What is it? You look pained." I wiped the sweat from my brow in a clumsy motion.

With a sigh, she pulled the sword off her shoulder. "I was trying to figure out if correcting you by saying swordswoman would be out of character."

"Ah. Wait, help me out a little. Which character are you?"

"No one in particular." Her eyes searched mine as a pout formed on her lips. "I love the idea of Ren Faires. I came here by myself because my friends get annoyed at how long I want to stay. I hoped that this year I could fit in instead of wearing jeans like a party popper, so I hired the whole shebang." She gestured at her costume. "It failed, huh?"

"Oh, you didn't fail. You did well, really. And you managed to get yourself a free lunch." My words took me by surprise; I had never considered myself capable of bantering with a stranger, let alone inviting one to lunch. I took her by the arm and lead her over to the food court, which consisted of a series of counters selling unusual items, and bales of hay in place of chairs and tables. "You sit here. Do you eat meat?"

"Yes. How do you think I could have built up this brawn without eating meat?" She bunched her upper arm exaggeratedly to show off her muscle.

I raised an eyebrow. "Hey, I have plenty of brawn and I haven't eaten meat in years."

She didn't reply, but I saw her eyes flicker over my body assessingly.

I returned shortly and handed over her lunch wrapped in a napkin. She peeled back the corner of the napkin and eyed the food suspiciously.

"What is this?"

"A bratwurst, steamed in beer and grilled, in a bun. And fresh lemonade."

She grinned. "Perfect. Thanks. Hey, what's your name?"

"Call me Lady Tara." I smiled enigmatically.

"Nice name. I have to tell you I like your costume."

I snickered. She was talking about the flowing purple dress I was wearing, together with the bracelets and rings covering my hands and arms. And the rainbow halo perched high above my head. "This isn't costume. I usually dress like this."

"Y-you do?" For the first time since I'd met her 15 minutes earlier, she seemed uncertain. "Surely not the halo?"

"Darn, you saw right through me." I smiled. "I do wear this dress out in public. And I'm always wearing a lot of jewelry."

"But what about the halo?" She stopped eating her bratwurst and waited.

"Okay, okay. It's more of an accesory than a daily item of clothing. Though I wore it to Pride." I patted it fondly.

"Ah, you're gay? Bi?" She asked in a casual, matter-of-fact way.

"Completely straight. I have boyfriends, not partners. No need for euphemisms with me."

This time she was certain. "No way. Don't even try to lie to me, Lady Tara."

I touched her arm. "What's your name?"

"Willow Tree," she said grandly. "Well, to be honest, I was born Willow."

"What a gorgeous name."

"I-it is?" She stammered, to my amusement. Usually I was the one who stammered.

"Oh, yes," I breathed. "I had to research the willow tree, once. It represents spring. It's about life starting to blossom from within the womb of trees and animals, as they begin to create again."

She had put her bratwurst down entirely. "The womb? Trees have wombs?" Her green eyes were amused.

"Metaphorically speaking, they do." I smiled. "The willow tree is central to femininity."

She rolled her eyes, picked up her brat and took a bite. "I don't really subscribe to all that. Plus, I'm not very feminine."

It was my turn to be shocked. "What?" I didn't know how to argue without offending her, but it seemed crazy to me that she couldn't see how much female energy she radiated. "Well, you strike me as very feminine," I said.

"Thanks. I think. So, tell me more about my tree-sake."

We talked until night unfolded over the sky. The grounds were empty except for wandering fairies, elves and janitors, and for a woman wearing an outfit made entirely of chains.

Willow rubbed her bare arms. "Tara, would you like to come over to my place?" She froze. "Not, um, in a 'want to come in for coffee and sex' way. Just to hang out."

I had to decline. "I'm so sorry, Willow, I would love to keep talking, but I've just realized the time. I have an article due tomorrow that I need to finish."

She looked interested. "An article? Are you a journalist? Writer?"

I nodded. "I'm in the process of becoming one. I write freelance articles and one regular column."

"I hoped so." She seemed satisfied with my answer.

"You did? Why?"

"Well," she began, "the way you speak... the words you choose, they just fit together so perfectly. You're very expressive. So, I started to think that either you get a lot of practice piercing words together, or you're just naturally smart. Or both."

"Interesting perspective. I don't agree, but..." I smiled. "What do you do, Willow?"

"Um, I'm a..." She mumbled something inaudible.

"Come on."

"You guess," she instructed.

I didn't want to mess this up or be rude. "A teacher? Doctor? Dancer?"

She shook her head at each of my suggestions. "An acrobat?" I asked playfully.

"No. It's worse. Much worse."

I played with a piece of hay as I tried to figure it out. "What can be so embarassing? A drug dealer?"

She punched me playfully.

"Give me a clue."

"Okay." She thought for a minute. "We try to make the world better but often make things much worse."

"A radical environmentalist? A right-wing, fundamentalist Priest?"

She giggled. "Okay, I'll tell you. A lawyer." She looked bashfully at me.

"Ahh. Now I understand your hesitance to tell me," I joked. I calculated her age in my mind. "So, you're already practicing law? Finished grad school? How does that work?"

"I graduated from high school when I was 16," she explained, with the patience and shyness of someone who had explained this many times before.

"You know what, Willow?"

"What?"

"I think it's perfect for you. You're smart, argumentative and passionate. Just what lawyers should be."

She shook her head. "I'm not so sure. I could have been a scientist. I kind of miss getting to mix chemicals together."

"You could become a bartender."

"I'm serious. It's what I wanted to do but I got talked into a life of offices, paperwork and thick books."

"Willow," I said, "you're young. Don't look so worried. If you really decide this isn't for you, then you can go back to school. I bet there'd be schools clamoring to give you scholarships." I smiled at the thought of Willow engrossed in a science book.

She smiled back at me. "Anyway, Tara, what's your article on?"

"It's dumb," I said warningly. "It's for my column. The article is about the best place to meet someone in the modern world."

"So, where is the best place? I'd love to know."

"So far, this week, I've tried out an ice-rink, club, library, cafe, art gallery, gym and beach. And, obviously, a Rennaisance Faire."

"Yes, and which was the best place?" she asked impatiently.

I stood up to leave, after scribbling my phone number on a piece of paper. "The results aren't in yet," I said.