Family Matters by Frau Hunter Ash

Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: The characters and show all belong to Joss Whedon, Fox, Mutant Enemy, Kuzui, and God only knows who else. The X-files characters and show all belong to Chris Carter, Fox and possibly others. No copyright infringement was intended and suing me will not make you any money! The storyline, however, is the sole property of the author. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies of this story may be made for private use only and must include all disclaimers and copyright notices.
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Grouping: Buffy/Willow/Tara

Willow hesitated outside the door to her parent's home. The young woman really didn't consider it her home any longer; it had been too long since she had even slept under the roof of the place that had been home.

The red haired witch knew her parents were anxious to see her but she wasn't so sure she wanted to see them. They were mortified to have learned that Willow had dropped out of the University for the semester and wanted answers why their straight A, Honor Roll student daughter had missed so much school that she felt the only answer was to withdraw.

Truthfully, Willow had no idea what she was going to tell her parents. She couldn't tell them the truth, that was for sure. Her ex-boyfriend Daniel Osbourne, the musician werewolf, had returned and was totally evil but became a good guy and again and died saving her? The mess that followed that led to Willow being a werewolf and in love with two women at the same time and part of a triad relationship.

The truth that she was also a witch and wanted to marry both Buffy and Tara. Her parents couldn't ever remember Buffy's name and had never met Tara. Neither of her mates were Jewish, they were female, and they couldn't legally marry her.

Sheila Rosenberg opened the door immediately, as if she had been watching for her wayward daughter. Willow thought she probably had.

The young woman accepted a hug but dropped her eyes from her mother's worried and questioning eyes.

"Okay," Willow said with a smile. It never failed, whenever they were home, Sheila Rosenberg reverted to a stereotype. She became the cardboard cutout of a Jewish mother. Cooking, cleaning, talking with relatives on the phone for hours, bitching about family matters, and worrying.

Willow had always found it amazing. Her parents were professors and respected around the world for their intelligence and insights into modern issues and, yet, when they were home, it felt like something out of 1950's Brooklyn.

When they were on the road, the Rosenbergs were the perfect modern couple; intelligent, liberal, and very yuppie. At home, total opposite.

Willow sat down at the breakfast bar and accepted the glass of milk her mother offered. Never a soda or coffee, she knew. Soda was bad for teenagers and coffee was for adults.

"Do you want to tell me before your father gets here or over dinner?" Sheila asked.

"You're…you're not in trouble are you?" Sheila asked, avoiding her daughter's eyes.

Sheila blushed but nodded gratefully. She began telling Willow about the latest lecture tour and all the interesting places she and Willow's father had been to. Willow listened politely. The hacker interjected comments where appropriate and helped set the table.

A quick hug from her father after he arrived home and dinner was on the table. Once again Willow marveled at the perfect timing her mother had.

Willow shifted uncomfortably in her chair, barely able to touch her food during dinner. Mr. Ira Rosenberg talked about his latest theories and colleagues and Willow knew they were killing time until they felt they could approach their daughter.

"Only for the semester, Dad," Willow clarified. "I missed so much school that I withdrew last semester and skipped this semester."

"Willow, you've only missed school twice in your life," her mother protested. "You had a fever of 104 degrees and then that accident in the library at school."

"There was a good reason this time as well," Willow said calmly while inside she was shaking very badly. She wished she had brought Tara or Buffy but knew that would only make her parents even more uncomfortable. "I wrote and told you I was attacked by my stalker ex-boyfriend and badly hurt and in danger."

"Your hand seems fine now," Sheila frowned. "When you first called us, you said it would take a year or longer to heal and then there would be permanent damage."

Willow sighed. "I can't explain it. I was terrified and Oz wanted to kill me and my friends if he couldn't have me. It wasn't just the physical that was affected."

"Well, we can understand a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, honey," Sheila said gently. "You couldn't catch up in school though?"

Willow gritted her teeth and unbuttoned her shirt and pulled it aside. She heard her mother gasp in shock and her father drop his fork as they took in the healing scars from the emergency surgery to repair the damage done by having a knife stuck through her heart.

"It took longer than we thought after Oz attacked me the second time," she said softly.

"He put a knife through my heart," Willow answered. "Buffy and my friends found me and saved me with quick reactions."

"Yes, they helped protect me from Oz," Willow answered truthfully. The rest of it had been the truth, sort of. Enough truth in the statements that Willow didn't have a major attack of the "guilts" about it.

"What happened to the little bastard?" Ira demanded and Willow was shocked. She had never heard such language from her father before nor had she ever seen him that angry either.

"Really?" Sheila said, enthusiastically, she could tell Willow was holding back some good news after showing them those horrible scars.

"Yes, I've been accepted at Oxford for one or more school years, starting this term," Willow said with a smile.

"Yes," Willow smiled. "It's a special program. I'll be learning a lot of what Mr. Giles was taught. Setting up computers, working with museums and libraries and stuff like that."

"Full scholarship, housing, stipend, transportation and special training," Willow answered proudly, knowing her parents would be astounded by the lengths Oxford was going to for Willow.

"I thought you didn't want to leave your friends," Ira complained. "That's why you didn't go to a better school in the first place."

"I, uh, well, I, uh, Buffy and Tara are going with me," Willow said softly, her eyes on her plate.

"I don't understand," Sheila Rosenberg admitted. "How can they go with you? All three of you were accepted? That's impossible!"

"The group sponsoring me is making an exception for Buffy and Tara," Willow said slowly.

"Their grades are good enough and they are…they…" Willow stammered. "Buffy and Tara are considered my domestic partners and the group wants me bad enough."

"Yes, Dad," Willow nodded, still looking at her plate, her food suddenly feeling like a brick in her stomach.

Ira and Sheila Rosenberg both fell quiet for several moments as Willow began to shake.

Finally they seemed to exchange telepathic communication and turned to Willow with stern expressions.

"Willow," her father began slowly. "This is not the future we would wish for our only child."

"You're telling us that you are a lesbian or bisexual with two different women?" Ira demanded.

"We know the name Buffy," Sheila said slowly. "We don't know her though or the other girl."

"Tell us about them, are you happy? Can you be happy with two…two girlfriends?" Ira asked.

"Yes, Papa," Willow tried to smile. "I never knew love could be like this. It happened while Oz was stalking me. We've been together several months now."

"Are all three of you…I mean, two separate girlfriends or is…." Sheila stammered.

"We're all together, Mama," Willow said softly. "It's like a magical connection. I think they are my Zivuks, my soul mates."

Ira frowned, watching his daughter. "We must insist on meeting both these girls, Willow. You know we are very progressive people but I admit that this is pushing those boundaries."

"I know, Papa," Willow nodded. "I love them both, more than anything. It was because of them that Oz attacked me."

"I suppose it's too much to hope that at least one of them is Jewish?" Sheila asked hopefully.

"Uh," Willow hesitated. "Buffy was raised non-denominational Christian and Tara is pagan."

"We all want children eventually, after school," Willow said slowly. "We haven't discussed who would carry the child or children or who would be father material."

"All three of you would go to Oxford?" Sheila asked, still puzzling over everything.

"We're having a bonding ceremony, a kinda marriage," Willow said slowly. "We can't get married legally so this is a ritual where we affirm our love and commitment to each other in front of our friends and family. I'd really like you to be there."

"A commitment, this is not an experiment or a passing fling then?" Ira demanded.

"Then we will be there," he said just as firmly. "After you introduce them properly!"

"Yes, sir," Willow smiled and jumped out of her chair to hug her parents. "I was scared."

"Tara's family rejected her but Buffy's Mom is okay with us," Willow said shyly.

"How can someone reject their daughter because she found happiness?" Sheila demanded.

"I think that's exactly why they rejected her," Willow said bitterly. "They preferred her unhappy."

"That is not true, Ira Rosenberg!" Sheila snapped. "My sister Ruth just worries for Sarah."

"Sarah is twenty three years old!" Ira growled. "She can buy her own groceries and do her own laundry!"

Willow smiled as she sat back down to her desert. She had actually missed the kibitzing. She felt a sense of amazement at what had happened, Willow had never expected her parents to suddenly want to meet Tara and Buffy. They hadn't even consulted their schedules about possible wedding dates and conflicts.

Buffy spun, kicking a vampire in the chest and backhanding another one who was closing in for an attack. The Slayer grinned as she staked the one she had kicked. A quick flip and she had her stake in the second one.

All the time it took to take down four vampires, Buffy kept her a close eye on Tara as the witch watched from the cemetery wall.

Buffy grinned and held out her arms as Tara jumped down. The Slayer took advantage to quickly kiss Tara passionately.

"You're still not off the hook for thinking we'd reject you," Buffy growled playfully. "We accept Anya as a former demon."

"That's not the s-same, Buff," Tara said softly as they began walking towards the gate. "Former demon, not part demon now. I grew up being told it was evil and no one would love me except my family."

"Twisted bastard," Buffy grumbled as she thought about Mr. MacKelvey, Tara's father.

Buffy held her mate's hand tightly. "You've got family now, Tara. Nothing is going to come between us again."

"Not even the Council?" Tara teased, knowing how Buffy felt about the Watcher's Council.

"Especially not them," Buffy growled. "We haven't heard from Willow so I'm hoping it went alright. Shall we swing by and walk her home?"

"Sounds good," Tara agreed with a smile. "I hope it went well. What are her parents like? I get the sense they weren't around a lot."

"Nope, always off on some lecture tour or something," Buffy nodded. "She loves them but they just weren't around. Didn't even come home when she was in the hospital."

"Probably," Buffy said wearily. "How do you explain to traditional Jewish parents that you're gay and with two female lovers? They're very progressive except when at home and they expect Willow to be perfect. They nearly wigged when she was dating Oz because he was in a band."

The next two weeks were busy for everyone as three different weddings were planned. The Summers' home became Wedding central as Joyce rushed between getting the gallery ready for Xander and Anya to take over and planning her own wedding. Everyone was also helping everyone else plan.

Willow smiled as Xander squirmed while she tried to adjust his tie. The bandages had come off his face but he was still wearing an eye patch as his eye healed. The cast on his arm had also come off, finally.

"Oh God, Will," Xander stammered. "Why am I so nervous? I'm already married to her!"

"Yeah, that's probably it," he nodded as Willow slapped Xander's hand away from his cummerbund and then turned her attention to Giles as he tugged on his tux jacket.

Willow grinned when the door opened and Buffy stuck her head in the door. "How goes with the groom types?" the Slayer asked.

"The brides are about to drive Tara and me crazy!" Buffy smirked. "They're ready though."

"Ring check?" Willow prompted and Buffy laughed at the matching panicked expressions and desperate probing in pockets. Both Giles and Xander sighed at the same time and produced ring boxes.

"Let's go, guys!" Buffy smiled and opened the door wide. "The guests are waiting, including your annoyingly British boss. Brad is anxious as the best man and Fox looks absolutely stunning in a tux."

"I can admire a good looking guy, even if he is FBI," Buffy protested. "Angel's in under the canopy and I'm sure Spike is sulking somewhere in a sewer nearby."

"Along with Theresa and Dana," Buffy nodded. "They talk shop in between taking care of everyone. "A police detective's wife and an FBI agent, you know."

"Wesley, and a bunch of your scholar types. Xander's construction crew also made it," Buffy smiled.

"You made an impression this last week, Xan," Willow said gently. "They like you and your skills."

The bridesmaids, Willow, Tara, and Buffy met in the hallway among giggles as they lifted their dresses and dashed down the stairs.

"At least neither Anya nor my Mom picked lime green for our dresses," Buffy giggled.

The bridesmaids waited at the bottom of the stairs as the grooms rushed past them and out the back door to assume their places near the preacher. The music started and the girls began the walk down the aisle with flowers in hand, followed by the radiant brides, Anya and Joyce.

Buffy really didn't hear the words from the preacher, she was too busy marveling at how happy Giles and her Mom looked. Having lived with Xander and Anya in an RV for two months, she had gotten used to Anya's beaming every time she looked at her wedding ring.

Willow felt Tara's hand slip into hers and smiled. Willow's parents were among the guests and Tara felt her throat tighten with emotion. The red-haired witch's parents had been very open and more receptive than Willow had thought possible.

Between Willow's parents, Giles and Joyce, Tara was beginning to really believe deep in her soul that she was accepted and loved.

In moments Giles and Xander were kissing their brides and everyone was cheering.

"We got them through a wedding without giant snakes, zombies or something jumping out of the punch," Buffy grinned.

"Bite that tongue!" Willow admonished with a grin and a wiggle of her eyebrows. "Or I will."

Buffy rounded the corner into the kitchen and playfully squeaked when she caught Giles and her mom kissing passionately against the fridge. "Whoa! Married couple alert!" she shouted.

"Isn't there something you should be doing for the reception?" Giles growled playfully.

"I came on a mission," Buffy declared with an impish grin. "I came in search of those cheese things everybody likes so much."

"In the refrigerator," Joyce said softly, her arms still locked around Giles' neck.

"Which the mature adults are standing in front of, grossing me out by public displays of affection," Buffy countered.

"I think they want you to open gifts soon," Buffy informed them as she grabbed another tray of snacks for the reception guests for the caterers.

A week later, Buffy was pacing restlessly in the Summers' home as Giles and her mother tried to keep her calm. The Slayer was dressed in a white lace top, dark blue long skirt and matching vest.

"How did I get chosen as the butch?" she grumbled as Joyce brushed her hair and Giles smirked.

"And why did I agree not to see my girlfriends for an entire week?" Buffy demanded.

"Because Willow's parents are working very hard at accepting the relationships," Joyce reminded her. "I'm glad Willow is doing this as a compromise."

"I know, the wedding showers for each of us were fun," Buffy smiled. "Now what do I do again?"

"You and Tara meet at Willow's house and make nice with the parents, pull her veil down and then get back here for the ceremony," Giles recited. "And no snacking!"

"I know, I know," Buffy nodded. "Fasting until after the ceremony, got it. B'deken, the veiling of the bride to symbolize that we're not marrying Willow for her looks, check."

"Xander is already there," Joyce commented. "I'll pick up Tara and Anya and Giles will drive you."

"Yes," Giles nodded. "The rabbi and priestess are ready, Brad and Theresa are ready to seat the guests and the food arrived safe and sound."

Joyce found Tara just as nervous as Buffy and stuttering as Anya chatted on and on as she helped the blonde witch get ready. Tara was dressed in a more traditional white wedding dress with a complicated and beautiful lace front, highlighted with pearls and small beads of sapphires.

"You're beautiful, Tara," Joyce said softly as Anya beamed, pleased with having helped with the hair and makeup.

"Nervous as hell!" Joyce laughed. "Sheila said that Willow has been a bundle of nerves all night and day."

"Let's go, I want the opportunity to tease Buffy about being nervous!" Anya urged.

Willow squirmed in her chair as several relatives recited Bracha, blessings on her upcoming marriage. Sheila and Ira Rosenberg had fought long and hard with several of the relatives on both sides and had stood up for their daughter and her choice in mates. One uncle shouting that the entire matter was Aggada, non-legal and even perverted beyond belief, especially since Buffy and Tara were Apikoros, non-believers and Tara a heathen.

Only a few relatives refused to attend the ceremony and reception and both parents calmly wrote those relatives off their Chanukah lists and moved on with the Kabbalat Panim, the separate receptions for each young woman.

Now they stood ready to let their daughter marry two different women, neither of who were Jewish nor male.

Sheila squeaked when the doorbell sounded downstairs. "Your chevra, your friends and mates are here," she said softly as Ira went down to greet them.

"Mama, I know by being with Buffy and Tara, I'm breaking the din, the law," Willow said, almost in a whisper.

"Shhh, you'll bring a dybbuk, an evil spirit to the celebration!" Sheila scolded. "You are happy with them, your father and I can see this and we see the love in their eyes when they look at you. We are progressive enough to know that homosexuality has been around since the beginning of time and exists in nature everywhere. Therefore, we think the Judaic laws are dated in a lot of regards."

Sheila stood and placed herself between Willow and the door as footsteps sounded on the steps. Willow turned slightly pale.

"Wife and keeper of the house," Ira said formally. "The mates of our daughter have come for the veiling."

Since the marriage wasn't going to be binding legally or within the Jewish community, some of the formal ceremony was being left out or rewritten by Willow, her parents and the Rabbi.

"I welcome them with open arms and grant them Kol Tuv," Sheila said firmly, glancing back at her daughter with the beautiful white wedding dress and red hair and smiled. "Everything good to come to them."

Buffy and Tara entered the room, both looking as nervous as anyone had ever seen them. Behind them were Joyce and Giles.

"As the escorts of Buffy and Tara, we thank you for your welcome and your blessing," Giles said calmly. "The bride is beautiful and of the highest character and honor, she will be greatly welcomed into our family."

Buffy and Tara stepped forward as Sheila Rosenberg stepped aside. Together they approached the third person of their triad, holding hands.

"Willow Rosenberg," both began, their voices soft and shy. "As your mates, we place this veil upon your face to symbolize that we are marrying more than just your beauty and youth."

"As a Shomer, a Guardian called by the Higher Powers," Buffy continued. "I promise to protect you, provide for you, and keep you happy to the best of my ability."

"As part of your Neshoma, the soul," Tara followed, "I promise to protect you, provide for you, and keep you happy to the best of my ability."

Together Buffy and Tara pulled the veil over Willow as tears of joy escaped down the young woman's face.

Willow, speechless with emotion, nodded as family and friends applauded the completion of the ceremony.

Buffy watched as one of Tara and Willow's magickal friends, acting as High Priestess, cleansed the area with sage and then those already gathered in the circle.

The sun was just setting as the rest of the guests arrived. Buffy smiled as Angel, Cordelia, Wesley and Gunn entered the back yard. A moment later Spike stepped out of the shadows with a smirk.

Starbird, Willow and Tara's friend, formed the official circle by calling the Quarters and then summoned the deities to bless the event.

The Rabbi, a liberal man, smiled and read from the Talmud as the Priestess worked and blessed him.

Buffy glanced over at FBI Special Agents Dana Scully and Fox Mulder and smiled, then her breath caught in her throat as Willow and Tara walked out the back door. Anya and Xander, acting as best man and bridesmaid, followed Buffy's glance.

Willow reached down for Tara's hand as the Rosenbergs and Giles' walked in front of the brides. Tears sprang to Willow's eyes when she spotted Angel and Cordelia and then she grinned when she saw Tulsa, Rusty and Skates from her time in Los Angeles on the run. Tara smiled shyly as Leonard and Jerry, ex-Initiative computer techs, waved at them.

The two women approached Buffy under the canopy, the chupah, as fitting the Jewish tradition. The young women had worked very hard to combine paganism, non-specific Christianity and Judaism for all families and the women involved. Part of that was the Jewish tradition that the brides were wearing no jewelry for the ceremony, symbolizing that they were marrying each other for their souls and selves, not for material possessions.

"The chupah, the canopy, represents the home you will build together," the Rabbi explained to the guests and brides. "The sides are open as was Abraham and Sarah's tent was when they married, to welcome all guests and family to the wedding and home.

The three women circled each other as per tradition and turned to face the Rabbi and Pagan Elder.

The Elder stepped forward with a bundle of lit sage, pine, cedar, and lavender, smudging the three women. "May you be cleansed and protected, within and without. The blessings of the deities upon you all," she intoned.

The Rabbi came towards the altar with his own traditional blessing, the passing of the cup of wine to the brides after the blessing.

Both religious leaders returned behind the altar and the three brides moved forward to stand in front of them. The Elders invoked the "Higher Powers", each according to the mixture of beliefs and then blessed the rings in front of them.

The rings were an ancient Celtic design, based on a triple knot, representing the three lovers and their commitment to each other. They also had a simple gold band to represent the simple beauty of love.

"Above you are the stars, below you are the stones. As time does pass, remember, like a star should your love be constant," the priestess intoned.

"Like a stone should your love be firm. Be close, yet not too close. Possess one another, yet be understanding. Have patience each with the other, for storms will come, but they will go quickly," the Rabbi continued.

"Be free in giving of affection and warmth. Make love often, and be sensuous to one another. Have no fear, and let not the ways or words of the unenlightened give you unease. For the Goddess and the God are with you now and always," the Priestess said softly.

"Is it your wish, Willow Rosenberg, to become joined with these women?" the Rabbi continued.

"Is it your wish, Buffy Anne Summers, to become joined with these women?" the Rabbi asked.

"Is it your wish, Tara MacKelvey, to become joined with these women?" the Rabbi asked once more.

"To provide for each other financially, mentally, physically and emotionally," Willow said firmly. "We have a secure future, each of us."

The three women each took a ring and slowly slid them on the left ring fingers of each other. Then the gold bands were placed on the right hand, per Jewish tradition.

The Rabbi took the "contract" from the altar and began reading in Aramaic, detailing that each agreed to provide clothing, food, shelter, and to be attentive to each other's emotional needs throughout their union.

Xander and Brad stepped forward as witnesses and signed all three copies of the document.

Giles then stepped forward, holding up one of the goblets of wine and intoned a blessing over it for the young women, the first of seven.

Joyce, Xander, Anya, Brad, Mulder and Scully, and then Ira and Sheila Rosenberg followed.

The glass goblet was passed first to Willow, then Tara and Buffy last, each taking a small drink of the wine, taking the blessings into their marriage and themselves.

The Priestess took the goblet and poured the rest of the wine out in front of the altar. "Blessings to the Higher Ones," she intoned and handed the glass to the Rabbi. The male elder wrapped the goblet with a handkerchief and placed it at the foot of the altar.

"Lord and Lady, give these women your love and passion and your all consuming ardor," the priestess invoked. "Be with us here and tie closely the bonds between these three. Be with us here, give them the deepest of love and richness of body, of soul, and of spirit. Be with us here, let your strength and constancy be theirs for so long as they desire to remain together. Blessed Goddess and Laughing God, give to these before us, we do ask, your love and protection. Blessed be."

Buffy stepped forward and smashed part of the goblet, followed by Willow and then Tara.

The three brides kissed before they dashed through the crowd towards the house to spend a few minutes alone in their room, a Jewish tradition Buffy and Tara were very anxious to share with Willow.

A half hour later the women returned to what was now the reception, food, music, laughter and good natured teasing.

Ira Rosenberg stood with wine in his hand. "Willow, I was unsure about this union but seeing the love between the three of you, I have no doubts any longer. Willow, you are the Naches of our life, the pride and joy from a child. On this Simcha, this happy occasion, we say L'Chaim! To life!"

After hours of eating, dancing, and celebrating, the three women stood to head up to their room for their bags. Giles was treating them to three days at a resort hotel along the coast.

Willow frowned as she noticed a figure in the shadows and Buffy turned, alert. "Is that Spike?" Buffy asked softly and then pulled Willow behind her when she noticed Spike taking with Angel.

"I didn't invite another vampire besides Spike and Angel, how about you?" Buffy quipped, getting ready for a fight.

Willow, looking slightly stunned, stepped around Buffy and took two steps towards the shadows.

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Family Matters

by Frau Hunter Ash

Copyright © 2001

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