TITLE: The Curse (X) 1/1
AUTHOR: Don Bentley
E-MAIL: dbentley@albedo.net
SUMMARY:  Xander's little girl is growing up.
RATING: PG 13
TIMELINE:   The future.
DISTRIBUTION: Just ask first.
My archive site is at www.oocities.org/mycatpangurban
SPOILERS:  None.
DISCLAIMER: The characters and situations of "Buffy: The Vampire Slayer" are the property of Joss Whedon, et al.  This is non-profit fun.

NOTE:  Another 'Casa Harris' story that follows 'The Wedding Party', but is completely independent.  Well, you'll see.

*****

The Curse

Don Bentley

"Daddy?"

Xander turned from watching the toaster to find his twelve-year-old daughter standing in their kitchen.  She was still wearing her usual pj's, an over large nightshirt, and purple fuzzy slippers, her copper red hair falling over her shoulders.

"Hey, kiddo, what's up?  Why aren't you dressed?  You're gonna be late again."

"I won't be.  Promise.  When's Aunt Tara getting back?"

"This aft'.  I'm picking her up at the airport at... two, I think.  Why?"

"Nothin'."

He was about to turn back to his toast when something in her tone of voice sent his 'father-senses' a tingling.

"Sweetheart, is there anything wrong?"

"No!  God, Daddy!  Why does something always have to be wrong?"

"Doesn't have to be, Buffy.  Just better safe than sorry sometimes, that's all.  Tara will be here when you get home from school.  Okay?"

"Okay."

"Buffy?" he asked before she could leave the kitchen.

"Daddy?"

"You alright, sweetheart?"

"Uh huh."

"'Cause if you can't wait until Tara gets home, I make a fair substitute, you know."

"I know Daddy.  It's just...." she trailed off as she stood there staring at her feet.

"Personal?"

"Kinda.  Yeah." she looked up tentatively, as if trying to make up her mind, or work up her nerve.

"Okay," said Xander in what he hoped was a reassuring tone of voice.  "Just remember, you can tell me anything-"

"I'm-having-my-period," she said, the words gushing out in a torrent.

"?" said Xander in the way people do when their carefully constructed world collapses about them in ruins.

He had been planning for this moment, this milestone, in his daughter's life for some time now.  He had read the pamphlets, the articles, and the books.  Had talked with experts ranging from Tara, to their family doctor, and from that nice Thompson woman across the street, to his mother-in-law.  He had been prepared for this day, had thought he was prepared for this day, for more than a year now.  He had thought himself ready to offer a father's understanding and support, and had girded himself to provide the guidance usually expected of a mother.  Though, truth be known, he had never been more grateful for Tara's presence in his life than when he had been thinking about this moment.

"Way to go," he said in that first heart beat before he had formed anything too terribly appropriate to say.

"'Way to go'?" repeated Buffy in disbelief.

"NO!  Buffy, please, PLEASE, pretend I didn't say that.  Congratulations, sweetheart," he pulled her into his arms, hugging her tight as he kissed the top of her head.  "Really, this is wonderful news."

"Thank you, Daddy," Buffy returned the hug.  "It feels a little weird."

"I don't doubt it.  Uh, okay... umm, listen... sweetheart, do you... need me to... get... you know... stuff?" he winced as he heard the words tumble out of his mouth.  Good start, dick head.

"No.  Aunt Tara got everything for me awhile back.  I'm good to go that way.  It's just... different, you know?"

"Sure- No, not really.  No sisters, and well, this is kinda my first time, too," he said fighting off a mental catalogue of all the other 'firsts' he had to look forward to in his daughter's life.

"But you knew Mom when she was my age."

"Not exactly the sort of thing we'd of talked about back then."

"Oh."

"Hey!" he exclaimed brightly.  Thankful that he had finally came up with something he could do for his little girl- should probably stop calling her that now.  "How about a family dinner out tonight?  To celebrate.  Some place nice.  Just the three of us?"

"Great!  Thanks Daddy, you're the bestest!"  Buffy gushed as she kissed her father's cheek before rushing out of the kitchen to change.

"Breathe, that's it, nice and slow," whispered Xander to himself as he turned back to discard the neglected and burnt toast.

*****

"Buffy!"

"What?"

"Something here for you."

Buffy Anya Harris threw herself down the stairs in response to her Aunt Tara's call to find her standing at the front door holding an armful of red roses.

"For me?"

"When has your father sent me flowers out of the blue?" asked Tara rhetorically.  "Read the card."

Buffy pulled the small card out from the flowers, smiling at her dad's painstaking handwriting.

"Buffy," it read.  "Don't think that this changes anything.  You will always be my little girl.  I love you, Dad."

"Aww, Daddy," sighed Buffy.  She grabbed the flowers from Tara and skipped into the kitchen in search of a vase.

Tara followed her to find her pouring some water into a large crystal vase.

"Your Dad will pick us up at six.  You going to be ready by then?"  That gave her about two hours.

"If I hurry," answered Buffy as she arranged the roses in a vase.  "Can I borrow some make up?"

"Let's not give your father a stroke, shall we?  He's going to be dealing with this for a while yet."

"No!  Though I'm totally old enough for a little lipstick and eye shadow.  No, I got a zit or something on my neck, and I wanted to wear that pink blouse you gave me for my birthday.  It would go..." Buffy looked up to find her aunt staring at her.  "Aunt Tara?"

"Zit?"  Tara asked, while telling herself to relax, that it was probably just a zit.

"Or something.  Mary Ellen Carter pointed it out to everyone at lunch.  I coulda killed her.  She's such a pain in the ass-  behind.  A pain in the behind," Buffy recovered smoothly.

"Let's see it, sweetheart," said Tara, her reassuring inner voice now but a whisper.

"Right here," Buffy fanned her long red hair back from her neck.  "Lizabet says that it might be a-"

"Mole," confirmed Tara, her voice preternaturally calm and level.

"Yeah, her big sister had a ginormous one on her shoulder, but they can take them right off.  Never know she had one-"

"Listen, Buffy," said Tara as she draped Buffy's hair back over her shoulder, concealing the mole.  Buffy didn't notice the slight tremour in her hand.  "How about that red turtle neck, with the skirt and sweater?  Your dad likes that outfit, doesn't he?"

"Oh yeah!  He says I look just like Mom in that one.  Good one, Aunt Tara.  Can I use the big bath?  I want to use the bath oils Uncle Daniel sent me, and the other tub is too small to really relax in.  Can I?"

"Sure, sweetheart.  Just don't fall asleep like last time.  Your dad will be here at six.  Okay?"

"Okay," Buffy skipped out of the kitchen and up the stairs.

Alone in the kitchen Tara hugged herself tight against the chill that seemed to have descended about her.  She huddled against the fear that filled her heart for her stepdaughter and her husband, and fanned her rage at this latest capricious whim of the Fates.

I'll tell you tomorrow, she thought.  You will have tonight at least, Xander.  I promise.

end
 

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