�Auntie Tara?� Joshua, having got bored of tiring his father out, ran up to the wiccan and jumped into her lap energetically.
�Yes Joshie?�
�Time for num nums and presents?�
It was the eighth time in the past half an hour that the small boy had asked the question. He didn�t understand why they were waiting when the food and presents were just sitting in the house doing nothing.
�Not yet baby boy, we have to wait for Buffy and Dawn to get home.� Tara patiently explained yet again.
�No fair, Josh hungry.�
A pet lip and defiantly crossed arms accompanied this statement, a forewarning of a possible tantrum. Thankfully though, Tara knew just how to handle the troublesome tot.
�Well I�m sure if you�re very sneaky, auntie Willow wouldn�t notice you go and pinch a few cheese crackers.�
Tara�s voice was softer than usual and, as Josh listened to the plan, his defensive posture was lost and replaced with a mischievous grin.
�But remember, you have to be very sneaky.�
�Okay, I be sneaky.� The toddler promised as he slipped off his favourite auntie�s knee before tiptoeing towards the house.
�Where are you going young man?� Anya�s mock stern voice called after her son.
�Pinching some crackers.� The boy announced as he walked through the back door.
�So much for being sneaky.� Giggled Willow. �I thought you�d have taught him better than that Anya.�
�I tried, but he�s a very slow learner, and Xander insisted that we teach him to be honest. Honesty and sneaky just don�t mix. He�ll never make a decent demon.�
�Honey, our son is not a demon.�
�That�s debatable.� The slayer�s voice argued from the porch where she stood with the boy�s wriggling and screaming form slung over her shoulders. �Is he supposed to be eating already?�
�Yes, auntie Tara said. Put me down, put me down.�
Buffy received several kicks and punches from her captive before Tara jumped to his defence. After hearing the blonde witch back her nephew up, Buffy finally set him down and attempted an apology. Josh however, was having none of it and ran crying to his mother.
�Auntie Buffy�s mean. She said I lied, Joshua not lie mommy.� The very red-faced child screamed, whilst aggressively kicking Anya�s chair.
�I know you don't lie. Auntie Buffy is very sorry, right Buffy?�
�Oh, yes, absolutely.� The petite blonde agreed with Anya desperate to drag the little boy out of his bad mood before he got really bad.
Unfortunately, it wasn't working, and Josh had now thrown himself on the floor, screaming and crying. Once again it was up to Tara to come to the rescue, kneeling next to the worked up little boy she gently rubbed his back until he quietened down. Then in the softest tone she could manage she spoke to her nephew.
�Auntie Buffy's sorry Josh. It's just, you were doing such a good job of being sneaky that she didn�t know you were being honest. She knows now and she is really, really sorry. Tell you what, why don�t we get the picnic started? Now that everyone's here. Then you can eat all you want Joshie. And after that, we�ll do the presents.�
Once again, Tara had succeeded in calming the toddler down. She even talked him into helping Willow carry all the food out by telling him he�d be �a very helpful little soldier� for doing so.
�How do you do it Tara? He just changes instantly for you.� Xander asked in wonderment, desperate to learn the secret of keeping his son under control.
�I�m not sure, I don�t think it�s anything, really, just, umh p-patience and, erm�� The blonde turned a light shade of pink as her innate shyness kicked in.
�Magic?� Dawn suggested, seeing how much Tara was struggling.
�Oh definitely, my girl�s got the magic touch. Plus, Josh absolutely adores her, and I personally can�t blame him, she�s very adorable. Also, it�s absolutely impossible to stay in a bad mood when you see that gorgeous half-smile, or, oh, when she uses that really sweet, gentle voice.�
Everyone rolled their eyes as Willow launched into a babble-fest about her most favourite topic. Noticing the stares she was receiving the redhead muttered a quick apology then retreated back to the house for the last plate of food.
The rest of the picnic went smoothly with only a minor tantrum when Josh was told that there was no jelly left. He soon cheered up when Willow asked him to help her bring the presents out and he was even allowed to help open them, although most of them were rather boring (to a two year old anyway).
There was a new magic book from Giles, brought back from one of his trips to England.
Anya and Xander gave her �a custom made Harris original wiccans� handy storage system thingy� (in Xander�s words) or, �a spice rack that you keep spell ingredients in instead of cooking ingredients� (as Anya described it).
Dawn, being the sentimental but poor college student that she was, had filled a scrapbook with carefully selected photos of the whole gang and spelled out the words �Tara�s Family� on the front in green, red and gold glitter. At the sight of the first photo (her and Willow slow dancing at the Bronze�s last Valentines party) Tara had choked up and decided it was the most thoughtful gift she�d ever received.
From Buffy was a collection of smellies including; a bottle of Tara�s favourite bath oil; some vanilla scented shampoo; body lotion; several colourful soaps and four scented candles.
Finally, wrapped in blue and purple tissue paper, was a small plastic key fob in the shape of a witch�s broom.
�I sawed it when Daddy and Buffy were getting the yucky smelly stuff...� Joshua started to explain
�And he stood in the middle of the shop screaming until I agreed to buy it for you.� Xander jumped in, completing the story for his son.
�Well it was definitely worth screaming for. It�s great Joshie, thank you.� Tara chuckled as her nephew beamed proudly at her.
