Mother's Day

The knock came at the door one evening. Buffy was home alone with Liam, who was just getting down to a nap. It didn't matter how many times she'd been told what babies were supposed to do, she knew in her soul that Liam was doing everything to extremes. Which was okay, of course. He was a Summers, which meant he was going to be a handful.

"I'll be there in a minute," she said from the kitchen as she walked through the house. Willow wasn't back from the store yet, and Dawn & Xander wouldn't be back from the Slayer's Council for a few more days. She hoped that she wouldn't wake Liam again. He liked to sleep, and once he was down he usually stayed down.

"Usually" being a nice way of saying that only when something else didn't have to be done. But, there was no cry from upstairs. Buffy smiled and opened the door.

Standing on her doorstep was three people who she hadn't seen in over a year - two men, one with brilliant orange hair and the other with messy black hair and black glasses. The third of their group, a woman, was wearing her bushy brown hair pulled back into a ponytail. All three were wearing normal clothing, and there was nothing exceptional about them.

Except for the fact that they were three of the most famous wizards and witch in the world.

"'ello," said the red head, "would you be interested in a vacuum?"

"Sorry," said Buffy, "I don't need anything else in my life that sucks, but thanks anyway." She reached out and grabbed the redhead into a hug.

"Oy, Buffy," said the redhead, "watch the ribs. I don't heal as quickly as Slayers."

"No, Weasley," said Buffy, "you can just wave your stick around and fix anything that you break."

"And if he waves his stick around to anyone else," said the brunette, "there will be plenty to fix."

Buffy released Ron and hugged Hermione. "How you doing?"

"Busy with wedding plans and saving the world," replied Hermione. They let go and Buffy turned to Harry.

"Hey there," she said in something that was borderline flirty.

"Hey Buffy," said Harry Potter, as he wrapped his arms around her. "How you feeling?"

"Well," Buffy said, returning the hug, "my back aches, my tits are sore, and my child is possessed with the spirit of a Teamster. Other than that, pretty good. How you doing, Harry?"

"Aside from the lack of sore back, tits, and child, pretty good," he said.

"Come on in guys," she said as they made there way into the living room. "What are you doing here, anyway?"

"We came to wish you a happy mother's day," said Ron.

"Uh guys, Mother's Day isn't until May, unless you celebrate it at a different time in England."

"What he means is," began Hermione, "we weren't able be here for the birth, so we decided to come along and see how mom was doing and offer our help."

"Plus," said Harry, "we bring gifts from the Wizarding world." He took out his wand, but before he could do anything the front door opened. "Hey Buffy," shouted Willow before anyone could stop her.

"Right here, Will," said Buffy.

"Oh," replied Willow, looking at the three people whom she'd never seen before sitting in the living room. "Uh, hi and stuff."

"'Ello," said Ron, "you must be Willow."

"Yep, that's me. And you must be a redheaded English guy who I've never seen in my life."

"A lot of us wish he'd just stay that way," said Harry.

"Piss off," said Ron over his shoulder. "You could have sent me off to another train car. You didn't, so now you're stuck with me."

"Just like herpes," Harry said under his breath.

Hermione stood and approached Willow. "Hello Willow, I'm Hermione Granger. The redheaded is Ron Weasley, my future husband. The chap over there is Harry Potter."

"Hi," said Willow, waving to everyone. "Buffy, who are these people?"

"These are some of the people I met when I was in England last year."

"Ah," said Willow, looking at everyone. "The mysterious trip to England that no one talks about."

"The one and the same," said Buffy. "Harry, Ron, and Hermione were my Scoobies while over there."

"Well then," said Willow, "from one Scoobie to three, welcome to America."

"Thank you," said Hermione. "I've always wanted to visit, but I've never had the opportunity. Plus, there is so much I want to see, but I'm afraid-"

"Ron," said Harry. At this, Ron grabbed Hermione's face and began to kiss her. "Never mind them," said Harry, "we've discovered the only way to shut her up at times is to shove your tongue down her throat. And since Ron's her fiancé, he gets the job." Ron pulled away from Hermione, but wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a hug. "It's a dirty job, but I love to do it." Hermione grinned as Ron put another kiss on her forehead.

Willow was astounded by what was going on in the living room. "Need a hand with those?" asked Buffy.

"Oh, no," said Willow noticing the groceries in her hands. "I'll put these up. You guys just visit." Willow quickly ran into the kitchen.

"She's a bit off," said Ron, resulting in a dirty look from Buffy. "But I mean that in the nicest way possible."

"This from a guy who wears orange boxers with flying snatches on them," commented Buffy.

"They're 'Snitches' thank you very much," said Ron. "And you shouldn't be looking at my skivvies."

"You ran through the school wearing nothing but them," commented Buffy. "Hermione had the good sense to put a robe on, at least."

"Yeah," said Ron, "mine!"

"Hey guys," said Harry, "let's keep the racket down. There is a sleeping baby somewhere in this house."

"And if anyone wakes that baby up," threatened Buffy in a mock tone, "no amount of magic will fix you. Got me, Weasley?"

"Yes, mum," he said sarcastically. "So when do we get to meet the little munchkin?"

"When he gets up from his nap. But what about the 'm' word around Willow?"

"Got it covered," said Hermione. "If she hears anything she shouldn't, we will do a memory charm on her so she won't remember the specifics of any conversation, or even that she's met us."

"Isn't that wrong?" asked Buffy.

"Wrong is relative," said Harry.

"Ignore him," said Ron. "He's had his knickers in a twist about right and wrong since running into that three-headed dog."

"It's simply a question of morals," began Harry. "Is something right because it's the opposite of a wrong or is it right simply because it is?"

"Sounds deep," says Willow.

"Don't let him fool you," said Ron. "Sure he sounds all noble and thought provoking, but he's just trying to impress Buffy."

"Do shut up the fuck up Weasley," said Harry.

Willow giggled. "It's like Giles, only younger & with swearing."

"You should see them when they're really upset at each other," said Hermione. "They're both stubborn as all can be & neither has the sense to realize their being a total prat."

"Which is why one of us had to marry you," said Ron. "Someone in this relationship needs to be responsible. Certainly won't be me."

"I'm the heroic type," said Harry. "Can't be me."

Willow giggled some more. "How long have you three known each other?"

"Too long," they said almost simultaneously. "We went to school together," continued Hermione. "Going on ten years now. These two were stuck on the train together & then they decided to rescue me from a... uh... great big bully."

"Too right... size of a troll," said Ron grinning. Hermione elbowed him in the ribs.

"The only troll I've ever seen-" began Willow, who realized she might be saying something out of line, "-not in the literal sense of seeing, but in more of a 'kinda imagined I saw' one time kinda way... and I'm babbling again-"

"Go on, love," said Ron, "you're her type. Shut her up." Ron winked at Hermione as Willow turned a few different shades of red.

"You wish," said Hermione.

"If you only knew," said Ron.

"Oh enough with the sexual innuendos and thinly veiled cover-ups," said Harry. He looked at Willow. "Willow, we know about Buffy being the Slayer & you being a witch. The three of us are fully trained wizards and a witch, which is why we were around to help Buffy."

"Subtle, Potter," said Ron, rolling his eyes.

Willow was taken a back. "Y-you mean, like real witches & wizards?"

Harry nodded & pulled out his wand. He pointed it at the coffee table, which he transfigured into a llama, then back into a coffee table.

"W-whoa," said Willow. "Can you do other things?"

"Loads," said Harry, "but I don't want to show you too much. We're all good. Well, Hermione & I are - Ron's a bit daft."

"Fuck off," said Ron. "Saved your arse a time or two."

"Oh," said Harry, "we keeping score now? How many times have I saved your arse?"

Ron looked thoughtful for a moment. "Seventy eight or there abouts," he said deadpan. "But most of those were dumb luck!"

"Guys," said Buffy, "not wanting to interrupt your little testosterone driven tift, but maybe we should tell Will a little more before she passes out."

"Sorry," said Ron & Harry sheppily. Hermione took Willow by the hand & walked with her to the couch. "Let me tell you a bit about the Wizarding world," she said.

Willow nodded blankly.

The baby monitor on Buffy's hip let her know that Liam was awake. She said, "I'll bring the little tyke down."

As she walked upstairs, Harry followed. "I can do this on my own," said Buffy.

"Never implied you couldn't," said Harry. "Just wanted to see him before Hermione starts getting all girly on us - Ron's having a time keeping it together before a wedding. A baby will ensure that he's going to have his hands full."

"He's one of seven kids, right?" questioned Buffy. "Sounds like Hermione's going to have her hands full too."