Chapter Six Doubts and Dr. Suess

The sultry voice of Fiona Apple crooned softly in the background. Half formed shadows flickered across the walls, as Willow Rosenberg, resident Witch, slayerette, and new mom rocked gently back and forth, cradling the small child in her arms.

"I meant what I said, and I said what I meant," Willow's rich voice rang out across the room. "An elephant's faithful, one hundred percent." Willow smiled as she looked up from her book and met the gaze of the Slayer.

"Horton the Elephant?" Buffy asked, one eyebrow cocked in amusement. "Isn't that a little advanced for her Will?"

Willow chuckled in amusement, as she set the book on the floor. "Well I've already read her One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish Blue Fish, and Go Dog Go, but she doesn't seem to want to go to sleep."

Buffy smiled as she walked over to the rocking chair and kissed the baby gently on the forehead, stopping for a moment to ruffle Willow's hair affectionately.

"Is Talia OK?"

"Gee, thanks Buffy." She said in mock anger, flipping her crimson hair out of her face.

"Yeah she's fine. I mean she's not fussing or anything, I don't think she wants to sleep, that's all. When I read to her, she just looks up at me with those big ole blue eyes of hers, like she's saying 'OK, what do you have for me next'." Willow chuckled softly, as kissed the little one on the forehead.=20 "It's like she doesn't want to miss anything. She keeps studying me with those eyes... I thought baby's were supposed to sleep a lot.?"

Buffy plopped down on the couch and began to unlace her boots.

"I was reading that book this afternoon, before I went on patrol "What To Expect The First Year" and it says that sometimes you just have to let them lay down in their crib. She will drift off eventually." Buffy smiled softly and ran her hands through her dust covered blond hair. "Why don't you go put princess in her crib, and gather up the stuff that we got at the bank today. I'm gonna jump in the shower and wash off this vamp dust. I'll meet you back down here in a few and we can go over this stuff together."

"Do you think that we should leave her alone? I mean this is a new place and all. I don't want her to get scared."

Buffy walked over to Willow and gently plucked the baby out of her arms. Shifting Talia to her hip, she extended her free arm and tugged Willow out of the rocker, chuckling softly.

"She'll be fine Will, besides we can set that baby monitor near the crib, that way we can hear if she needs anything." Buffy, smiled as Talia instinctively clutched her out stretched finger, then studied her friend.

"It'll be okay Will, I promise. Your taking this Mommy thing seriously aren't you?" She joked lightly.

Willow nodded

"I have to Buffy, we are all that she has left." Her chin trembled a little, missing the joking tone in her friend's voice. Willow's face scrunched up sadly as she voiced her insecurities for the first time.

Buffy quickly walked over to Willow and gave her a one armed hug. With her free hand, she gently took Willow's.

"Will, I know that you are scared, I am too. This whole situation is new to both of us and it is going to take a little time to get used to, but everything is going to work out." Buffy smiled sweetly at her friend, and kissed the baby on the top of her head.=20 "I know that we don't have exactly normal or even safe lives Will, but we will get through this the same way we have gotten through everything else we've had to deal with. Together. Heck Will's, we've vanquished countless demons, monsters and vampires, not to mention averted the apocalypse a few times, raising a baby should be a cake walk in comparison."

Talia chose that moment to make little baby fussy noises and burped loudly. The women looked at each other, and then down at the little princess. Within a moment they were giggling hysterically. After the laughter died down, and they wiped their eyes, Buffy handed Talia back to Willow.

"Okay, maybe it won't be a cake walk, but I know that we can handle it." Without thinking Buffy gently brushed back and errant strand of hair that was in Willow's eyes. "Besides," Buffy said softly, "You are going to be a great mom Will. Talia is a very lucky little girl.

"Yes she is", Willow thought to her self as she smiled up at Buffy. Impulsively, she jumped up and gave Buffy a quick one-sided hug to avoid smothering the baby.

"Thanks Buffy. You always know what to say to make me feel better, you're the best."

"Tis nothing little lady," Buffy drawled, imitating John Wayne. With a tip of her imaginary hat, and a quirky grin, Buffy headed for the stairs.

"I'm gonna grab a shower, I'll be back in a bit. " Buffy called over her shoulder as she disappeared into up the stairs.

Hugging the baby close, Willow smiled, as a feeling of contentment washed over her.

"Let's get you to bed little one," She murmured.

Willow hummed softly as she trotted upstairs, once again feeling strong and capable of dealing with anything that life had to throw at her.

END