DISCLAIMER AND AUTHOR'S NOTE: All Buffy The Vampire Slayer stuff belongs to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and Warner Brothers. No copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fiction. All other characters that appear belong to me. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies may be made for private use only and must include this copyright notice and disclaimer. There is some subtext in this story. If this kind of stuff is not legal where you live, if you're under 18 or if you don't like the notion of two women being in love, then you should find something else to read.

For the Baby
By Kristjan Brezovnik

"Buffy."

Buffy turned around, ready to fight.

"Faith. What do you want?" she asked, glancing around, when she saw that Faith apparently wasn't going to fight.

Faith gulped hesitantly.

"I… I need… your help," she then said.

Buffy stared at her, surprised.

"I gave you all the help I could, Faith, but you chose the Mayor. You need help, go to him," she said and backed off.

Faith hesitated. A part of her wanted her to run, again, but another part was telling her to keep begging, because this wasn't just about her anymore.

"I'm pregnant," she said quietly, staring down.

Buffy stopped, surprised.

"What?"

"I'm pregnant," Faith repeated.

Buffy stared at her for a while, wondering why she felt betrayed again.

"How long?" she finally asked.

"Three months."

"And who's the father?"

Faith shrugged.

"I don't know."

Buffy stared at her with mixed emotions.

"And what does this have to do with me? Is the Mayor unwilling to support you any longer?"

Faith shook her head.

"He doesn't know."

Buffy raised an eyebrow, surprised.

"Why not?"

Faith sighed.

"Before, I didn't care about anything anymore, except pleasing the Boss. He… He treated me like… like a… dad, with respect. But now, it's not just me anymore. I don't want my baby to grow up in a world where demons would rule." She paused a moment. "I don't want her to become like me."

Buffy stared at her, thinking.

"Why should I trust you?"

Faith shrugged.

"I can spy for you," she offered.

Buffy snorted.

"First you betray me and now you're betraying the Mayor. Your trustworthiness factor is less than zero."

Faith winced. She wanted to run, but she decided to beg on.

"I could've ran away and hoped you somehow killed the Mayor." She sighed. "Look, I can help you."

"Can you get me the Box of Gavroc?"

"No."

"Then there's nothing you can do."

"The Box of Gavroc doesn't matter. You take it again, he's gonna kidnap one of your friends and you know you're gonna give it back."

Buffy stared at Faith, realizing that Faith was right. She hated it. She sighed.

"You're right," she agreed.

"Look, maybe I can get him to allow me to read the Books of Ascension, maybe I can find out what he's gonna turn into."

Buffy raised an eyebrow.

"You think you can do that?"

Faith shrugged.

"I can try."

Buffy frowned.

"But how will I know you won't conspire with the Mayor and give us false information?"

Faith sighed. This was harder than she had expected.

"There's another thing," she said. "He wants me to kill a professor."

That got Buffy's attention.

"Why?"

Faith shrugged.

"I don't know."

"Which one?"

"Wirth. Lester, I think.""

"When?"

"Now."

"Now?"

"Yes."

"But you're not."

"No. I was hoping you'd question him and then hide him until this is over."

Buffy thought about it.

"Let's go get Angel first," she then said and Faith looked down. "We might need his help to persuade the professor."

Faith looked up again and nodded.

"We should go separately, in case I'm being followed," she said.

"You're being followed?"

Faith shrugged.

"I don't know, but all vamps are eager to please the Boss and they'll betray one another, and me, to get an award. Or something."

Buffy thought about it and then nodded.

"Okay. You go first. And slow. And slow down at the mansion.

Faith nodded and they moved.

After getting Angel, Buffy explained everything to him and then he went on to make sure it wasn't a trap.

It wasn't.

When they were all there, Buffy knocked. A few moments later and old man opened the door.

"Yes?"

"Professor Wirth?" Buffy asked.

"Yes."

"Hi. We need to talk to you. Urgently. May we come in?"

"Yes, yes, of course, come in."

They entered and Angel closed the door.

"Now, what can I do for you?"

Buffy looked at Faith.

"Why don't you explain it to him, Faith?"

Faith gulped and then looked at Wirth.

"I… I was sent to… to kill you."

Wirth looked at her, surprised.

"What? Why?"

Faith shrugged.

"I don't know."

"But who would want me dead? I'm just a professor."

"The Mayor."

"What? Why would the Mayor want me dead? He's a respectable man."

"He's an evil son of a bitch who's gonna eat this town alive," Faith snapped and Wirth looked at her, surprised.

"She's right," Buffy said, also surprised by Faith's outburst. "We need to know why he wants you dead. What projects are you working on at the moment?"

Wirth's face brightened.

"Oh, it's wonderful. We were doing some research in Hawaii when we came across this huge skeleton of a dinosaur. We believe it's a previously undiscovered species."

"Dinosaur?" Buffy said, suddenly having a bad feeling. "Do you have a photo?"

"Yes, yes, of course." He rummaged through his papers. "Here. You can see it's very well preserved," he said, giving her the photo.

Angel tensed when he saw the skeleton.

"This is no dinosaur."

"Of course it is," Wirth said. "What else could it be."

"A demon."

"A demon?" Wirth said, surprised. "Nonsense. There are no demons."

Angel morphed into his game face.

"I beg to differ," he said and Wirth jumped back, surprised and scared.

"What… What are you?"

"He's a vampire," Buffy said. "A species of demon. But unlike other vampires, he has a soul, which makes him a good guy. This thing here," she said and pointed at the photo, which Faith was now holding, "is his way bigger and way more evil cousin. The Mayor knows that and he wants you dead, because he doesn't want us to find out about it and then screw up his plan. Unfortunately for you, you either have to end up dead or missing. And I don't think you want to die."

Wirth stared at the strange trio, especially at the man who claimed to be a vampire. Angel morphed back to his human face and Wirth jerked, startled.

"But my research," he finally said.

"It's gonna wait," Buffy said. "Do you have a family?"

"I have two sons."

"Married?"

"Yes."

"Kids?"

"Yes."

"How old?"

"John's are ten and fifteen and Jim's are three and five."

Buffy sighed.

"Go to the one that's the farthest away from Sunnydale."

"But I will be missed."

"Call your superior and tell him you'll be away for a while because you got a private sponsor in, say, Alaska. And sound nervous, like someone's threatening your life. And be short. After that, Angel's gonna take you to LA and get you on the first plane out. And when you get to your son, make sure you stay in the house all the time and that your son's family doesn't tell anyone your there. We'll call you when danger's over."

Wirth wasn't very happy, but he wasn't slow either. He sighed.

"I suppose it's safer that way," he said. "I'll go make the call."

"Okay," Buffy said. "And we'll check your notes."

Wirth nodded and went to the phone. Faith followed him.

"You know what this means?" Buffy said when they were gone. "It means that once he's a demon, he can be killed. And it's making him nervous enough to want Wirth dead."

"Unfortunately, we don't have a volcano to drop on his head," Angel pointed out.

"Unfortunately," Buffy agreed. "We'll need some heavy fire power."

"That may be a problem," Angel said. "There will be a lot of people there when the Ascension takes place."

Buffy frowned.

"Damn," Buffy said and thought.

"I have notified my superior," Wirth said when he got off the phone.

"He did," Faith confirmed.

"Good. Angel, you go ahead and clear the way. We're going to my house. I hope Mom will let you use her car so you can take him to LA."

Angel nodded and was out the door.

"Faith, you're next. We'll be right behind you."

Faith nodded and went out.

"Come on, Professor."

"My wallet."

"Take it, quickly," Buffy said and Wirth got his wallet. "Whatever you do, don't use your credit cards."

Wirth nodded and they left.

"Buffy," Joyce said when they all got to Buffy's house. "Hello," she said to Wirth.

"Hello, Ma'am," Wirth said.

"Did Angel explain things?" Buffy asked.

"Yes."

"Can he use your car?"

"Yes. I gave him the keys."

"Okay, Angel, you two better go right away."

Angel nodded.

"Come on, Professor," he said and nearly dragged the nervous Wirth to the car.

"Goodbye, Professor," Joyce said.

"Goodbye, Ma'am," Wirth said.

Joyce then looked at Faith, who was standing near the door, nervous.

"Faith?" she said and looked at Buffy.

"Wait outside, Faith," Buffy said and Faith left without a word.

"I thought you said she was working for…"

"I'll explain later, Mom," Buffy interrupted her. "I need to talk to her first."

Joyce nodded.

"Be careful."

"I will, Mom," Buffy said. "I'll see you later."

"Okay," Joyce said and Buffy went out.

"Okay, he's safe," Buffy said outside. "Now what?"

Faith shrugged.

"I'll spy for you. We can meet in the park every day and I can tell you what he's up to."

Buffy considered the idea and then nodded.

"Okay."

"And Buffy, please don't tell anyone I'm on your side. I don't want him to find out."

Buffy stared at her for a few moments and she noticed that Faith was scared. She nodded.

"Okay."

Faith nodded back.

"Thanks. I'll see you tomorrow," she said and left.

Buffy stared after her until she disappeared and then went on patrol.

"Hi, Mom," Buffy said when she got home.

"Hello, Buffy. How was patrol?"

Buffy shrugged.

"Nothing special. Seven vamps, three of which were newbies."

"I see." Joyce sat on the sofa. "And Faith?"

Buffy sighed and sat as well.

"She said she wants to help."

"That's good. Isn't it?"

"I don't know." She hesitated for a moment. "I hope so."

"How come she changed her mind?"

"She said she was pregnant."

"What?" Joyce said, surprised. "How long?"

"Three months."

"And who's the father?"

"She doesn't know."

"I see," Joyce said and thought. "Where does she live?"

Buffy shrugged.

"I think the Mayor got her an apartment or something."

"Oh." She thought for a moment. "And what will happen with Faith when this is over?"

Buffy shrugged again.

"That's up to Faith."

A couple of weeks later.

"Buffy?" Xander said as he, Oz, Willow and Cordelia came to Buffy, Giles and Faith after the school blew up.

Buffy gave them a tired smile.

"Hey."

"What's she doing here?" Cordelia asked and gave Faith a look full of hate.

"Helping us out."

"Her? Has somebody left the lunch meat out of your brain sandwich? She worked for the Mayor, nearly killed Xander. Need I go on?"

Buffy glanced at Faith, who was staring at the ground.

"No," she said slowly, "she was helping us." She hesitated for a moment. "From the beginning."

Faith looked up, surprised. She wanted to object, but Buffy silenced her with a look.

"What?"

"How do you think I got all the information? Beating the vamps? Asking Santa? I got it from her. She was the one who thought of a way to kill the Mayor and it was because of her that he followed us into the school."

"How come we didn't know?" Willow asked and Buffy felt guilty for lying to them.

"We didn't want the Mayor to find out by chance. You had to hate her for real."

"You don't trust us?"

Buffy winced at that.

"I do. But if the Mayor had found out about Faith, he would probably have killed her. I was just trying to make sure that didn't happen."

"Oh." Willow thought about it for a few moments and then looked at Faith, smiling. "Good to know you're not nuthouse material."

Faith wanted to say something, but a look from Buffy silenced her again.

"I will need a complete report, Faith," Giles said.

"Next week, Giles," Buffy said. "Like I said, 'fire bad, tree pretty', remember?"

"Yes."

"Faith is probably worse. We'll talk when we wake up. Next week."

"Oh. Okay."

"Good. Come on, Faith, let's go home," Buffy said and took Faith's hand.

Faith quickly followed her, confused.

"Why?" she asked when they were out of the Slayerettes' earshot.

Buffy sighed.

"In short, you helped us, so I'm willing to give you another chance."

Faith thought about it.

"You lied to them."

Buffy sighed again, feeling guilty about it.

"Yeah. If I told them the truth, there'd be complications and I don't need more problems in my life right now. And neither do you."

"But if they find out…"

"They will, we'll tell them. Later. And they'll understand."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes." She thought for a moment. "But for now we'll have to make something up for the time when you weren't on our side." She sighed. "Tomorrow."

They were quiet for a while.

"Where are you taking me?" Faith finally asked.

"Home."

"Home?" Faith said, surprised. "Your home?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

Buffy shrugged.

"Because you don't have anywhere else to stay."

"The Mayor got me an apartment."

"And who knows what will happen to it now that he's dead. We'll go there tomorrow and get your stuff. You're moving in with me."

"But your mom…"

"Already approved."

"She did?" Faith asked, surprised.

"Yes. And besides, you're pregnant, you're gonna need help when the time comes."

Faith thought about it.

"What about Finch?" she then asked.

"What about him?"

Faith gulped.

"I killed him."

Buffy sighed.

"Yes. And you'll punish yourself for it." She looked at Faith. "The Mayor destroyed all the evidence, right?"

Faith nodded.

"There wasn't much."

"Good."

"But…"

"Faith, tomorrow. My brain is shutting down and if I don't get to bed soon, I'll just fall asleep walking. All I can see right now is a quick shower and bed. And a large breakfast when I wake up. You probably as well, though not necessarily in that order. Mom and I already got a room ready for you, so you'll be able to sleep in your own bed."

Faith stared at Buffy, surprised.

"Thank you," she finally said, feeling strange.

"Buffy!" Joyce said, relieved, when Buffy and Faith came home. "Faith." She looked back at Buffy. "Everything alright?"

"Yeah, Mom, we won." Buffy hesitated for a moment. "But we had to blow up the school."

Joyce's eyes went wide.

"Not again!" she said, remembering Hemery High.

"Don't worry, Mom, I'm not gonna get blamed this time."

"Oh. Good."

"I'm just gonna take a shower and then go to bed. Faith?"

"Me too," Faith said quietly.

"And you better prepare a lot of food, because when we wake up, we'll be hungry."

"Okay, honey," Joyce said with a smile.

Buffy went upstairs and Faith followed her.

"This is your room," Buffy said when they go to the room.

"Are you sure?" Faith asked, surprised, as she looked around it.

"Yes. Why don't you take a shower first, I need to talk to Mom. And leave your clothes in the bathroom, I'll get you something to sleep in and something to wear tomorrow."

"Okay," Faith said and Buffy went downstairs.

Five months later.

"Em, Mrs S," Faith said and stopped eating.

"Yes, Faith?"

"I think my water just broke."

"What? Buffy! Faith's water broke!"

Buffy was down in no time.

"Is it time?"

"Yes. Get her to the car."

Buffy helped Faith to the car and Joyce took care of the doors.

After a wild ride through Sunnydale, Joyce got them to the hospital. She got out of the car and ran ahead to get a nurse. By the time Buffy got Faith out of the car, Joyce already got a couple of nurses and a stretcher. Buffy helped Faith lay on it and then Faith was taken to the maternity ward.

"Where's the father?" the doctor asked when they arrived.

"We don't know who the father is," Joyce said.

"I see. Well, wait outside…"

"No," Faith protested. "I want her with me," she said and reached towards Buffy.

"Miss…"

"I want her with me," Faith insisted and moaned, obviously in pain.

"Very well," the doctor gave in.

Buffy was immediately by Faith's side and she took her hand.

"Relax," she said.

Faith snorted.

"Relax. You try… giving birth and relaxing… at the same time."

Buffy smiled.

"Sorry."

"Just… be here."

The doctor soon started giving Faith instructions, but Faith just stared into Buffy's eyes and let her body do the listening. Buffy stared back and those several hours of labor passed in no time.

"It's a girl," the doctor finally announced and the two Slayers looked at him and then at the baby, whom a nurse was cleaning.

"Our baby," Faith whispered and a tear came to her eyes.

Buffy looked at her, surprised.

"Faith…"

"Our baby," Faith repeated and smiled.

Buffy smiled back

"Here you go," the nurse said and gave Faith the baby.

Faith's eyes brightened as she took the baby.

"Hey," she said as she awkwardly held her. "I'm gonna name her Hope," she said and looked at Buffy. "Because that's what she gave me. If that's okay with you."

Buffy smiled.

"Of course," she said and caressed Faith.

Faith smiled back and Buffy then looked at the baby.

"I think it's the first Slayer baby," Faith said.

"Yes," Buffy agreed. "She's so cute."

Faith beamed.

"Yes."

"Okay, miss, we'll have to take her now," the doctor said.

Faith nodded and let the nurse take the baby.

"Go with her," she then told Buffy.

"What?" Buffy said, surprised.

"Go with her. I don't want the you-know-who to take her."

"Oh," Buffy said and nodded. "I'll send Mom in for company."

Faith nodded and Buffy left after the nurse.

A few moments later, Joyce entered, smiling.

"Faith. How do you feel?"

"Like I've just lost a lot of weight," Faith said and smiled back. "I named her Hope."

"A nice name."

"Yeah."

"Where did Buffy go? She said something about protecting Hope?"

"Yes. Just in case some vamp decided it would make him famous if he kidnapped a Slayer's baby."

"Oh." Joyce frowned. "You think they would?"

"Oh yeah."

"Oh."

"Don't worry, Buffy's there to protect her."

Joyce smiled.

"Yes."

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"Em, aren't there papers, you know…"

"Yes. I'll go fill them in, if you want."

Faith nodded.

"Yes, please." She hesitated for a moment. "Em, you think you could get Buffy named as the second parent?"

Joyce looked at her, surprised.

"I don't… You want that?"

Faith nodded.

"Yes. It's because of her that Hope and I have a future and, you know, since we're together now…"

Joyce nodded.

"Yes, I understand. I'll see what I can do."

Faith smiled.

"Thanks."

Joyce smiled back.

"Mr Giles and your friends are outside, if you want to talk to them. Or do you want to rest?"

"I'll talk to them."

"Okay. I'll send them in."

Faith nodded and Joyce left. A few moments later, Willow, Tara, Xander and Anya came in.

"Hey," Willow said, her eyes bright. "How do you feel?"

"Like I just lost a lot of weight," Faith repeated with a grin.

"You have," Anya said.

Faith chuckled.

"Yeah. Where's Giles?"

"Talking with Buffy's mom," Xander said.

"Oh."

"How did it feel?" Anya asked.

"What?"

"Giving birth."

"Oh." Faith thought for a moment. "It hurt. I mean, getting stretched like that hurts, but then the baby starts kicking and it gets worse. Good thing I'm a Slayer or it would've hurt a whole lot more."

"Oh."

Faith smiled.

"But then I held her in my arms and it didn't matter anymore how much it hurt giving birth to her."

"Did Buffy pass out?" Xander asked.

Faith grinned.

"No, she stood bravely by my side."

"Why would Buffy pass out?" Anya asked.

"Well, it's a well known fact that dads who stand by usually pass out."

Anya frowned.

"Why would they pass out? I mean, it's not like they're the ones giving birth."

Xander shrugged.

"I'll let you know when you give birth and I pass out."

Anya frowned at him.

"You want children?"

"Eventually," Xander said.

"Oh," Anya said and was lost in thought.

"Wh-What did you n-name her?" Tara asked.

"Hope."

"That's a nice name," Willow said.

"Yeah."

"When do we get to see her?" Anya asked.

"When they're done examining her."

"And when's that?"

"I don't know. You're gonna have to ask Buffy."

"Come on, let's go relieve her," Willow said.

"Okay," Xander agreed. "See you later, Faith."

"G-Good-bye," Tara said.

"Hey, Buff," Xander said when they got to Buffy, who was busy staring at baby Hope through the window.

Buffy jerked and looked at him.

"Hey."

"I thought you were supposed to be a bodyguard."

Buffy smiled sheepishly.

"I recover quickly. And besides, I just couldn't help admiring my baby."

"Your baby?" Xander asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Our baby," Buffy corrected herself. "Faith said so."

"So you're a mommy now?" Willow asked, her eyes wide.

Buffy smiled.

"Yeah, I'm a mommy." She frowned. "Which means Mom's a grandma now. She's not gonna like that."

Xander grinned.

"Look on the bright side, you have four trustworthy babysitters, six, if you count Giles and your mom, and what's most important, we're all free."

Buffy smiled.

"Thanks, guys."

"Now go to Faith," Willow said, "we'll watch Hope."

Buffy smiled again.

"Okay. See you later," she said.

"Wait!" Xander said. "Which one is it?"

"That one," Buffy said. "First row, third from the left."

"Oh."

"I'll see you later, guys," Buffy said and left.

"They're so small," Anya said, staring at the babies.

Xander looked at her.

"That's because they're babies, Anya, they're supposed to be small."

"And they're supposed to fit in here?" Anya asked, touching her belly. "They look too big for that."

"They fit," Xander assured her.

"I need to talk to Faith about this."

"Later," Xander said and stopped her from going to Faith. "She's resting right now."

"But Buffy…"

"Is her girlfriend and she's entitled."

"Oh."

"Hey," Buffy said as she entered Faith's room.

Faith opened her eyes and smiled.

"Hey."

"How do you feel?" Buffy asked and sat on the bed, taking Faith's hand into her own.

"Better. I'm hungry."

Buffy chuckled.

"And horny?"

Faith grinned.

"No, I just feel all maternal."

Buffy smiled.

"I'll see what I can smuggle you in."

Faith grinned.

"How's Hope?" she then asked.

"Healthy. The guys are watching her."

"Good."

"Where are Mom and Giles?"

"Taking care of the paperwork."

"Oh." She smiled. "You wanna rest or do you want food?"

"Food," Faith said quickly and Buffy chuckled.

"What do you want?"

"Pizza. Big one, with everything. Except anchovies. I hate anchovies."

"One big pizza coming up," Buffy said and got up. "I'll be back as soon as I can."

Faith smiled.

"Okay."

They kissed and Buffy left.

"Faith?" Joyce said quietly when she and Giles came back.

Faith opened her eyes and smiled.

"I'm awake," she said and Joyce and Giles entered.

"Where is everyone?" Giles asked.

"The guys are watching Hope and Buffy's getting me a pizza."

"A pizza?" Joyce said. "I don't think…"

"I'm starving. Giving birth is as exhausting as slaying. And even more exciting," Faith said. "So, how'd it go with the paperwork?"

Joyce and Giles glanced at one another.

"It went well," Joyce said. "I knew Mr Giles could be… charming, but I didn't know he could be so intimidating."

"Ooh, bad Ripper," Faith said with a grin and Giles blushed.

"Ripper?" Joyce asked.

"A relic of my youth," Giles said and fixed his glasses.

"Oh."

"So you got Buffy named as the second parent?"

"Yes," Joyce said with a smile.

"Yes," Faith said, happy. Then she frowned. "I just hope the poor nurse won't be in trouble because of it."

"I doubt it," Giles said. "She can always point at me." He frowned. "I will ask Willow to help me look through law books though. Just in case."

Faith grinned.

"Better safe than sorry, ha?"

"Exactly," Giles said.

"I'm back. Oh, hi, Mom, Giles," Buffy said as she came back with a pizza. She grinned. "How do you feel, being grandparents now?"

"What?" Joyce said, surprised.

"Well, Faith's my girlfriend and she said the baby is ours, not just hers. And you're also like a mom to her and you're my mom, which makes you Hope's grandmother. And Giles, you're more than just a Watcher, to both of us, you're more like… like a dad, which makes you Hope's grandfather." She looked at Faith. "Right, Faith?"

Faith grinned, nodding.

"Right. Now hand over the pizza."

Buffy laughed and gave Faith the pizza, which Faith immediately started to devour.

"I think we'll go see the baby now," Giles said, trying not to show that he was moved.

"Yes," Joyce agreed.

"Okay," Buffy said. "See you later."

"Later," Faith mumbled between bites.

Joyce and Giles left and Buffy sat beside Faith and watched her eat.

"Want some?" Faith asked and offered the pizza to Buffy, but Buffy shook her head, smiling.

"No, thank you, I'm not hungry."

"Okay," Faith said and continued to stuff the pizza down her throat while Buffy lovingly watched her.

"Want another?" Buffy asked when Faith was done.

Faith considered the idea for a moment.

"Nah, not right now. I think I'm gonna take a nap."

"Okay. I'll dispose of the evidence then," Buffy said and took the pizza box.

"And tell them I'm getting out of here when I wake up."

"You're so not."

"But…" Faith started, surprised.

"You're staying here till tomorrow. The baby, you know."

"Oh." Faith sighed, resigned. "Okay."

"Don't worry," Buffy said, caressing her, "I'll stay around tonight."

Faith smiled.

"Good."

"And I'll tell Mom to get everything ready for your release tomorrow."

"Okay."

"Good. You take a nap and I'll take care of things."

Faith smiled again and Buffy kissed her. Then Buffy left.

"How's Faith?" Willow asked when Buffy came to them.

"She ate a pizza and now she's napping."

"Like a baby," Xander said with a grin.

Buffy mock glared at him.

"You try giving birth."

"No, thank you, I leave that to the more capable people."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Anya asked.

"Come on, we men pass out while watching women give birth."

"Oh."

Buffy chuckled and turned to Joyce.

"Mom, Faith wants to go home. I convinced her to stay till tomorrow, because of the baby, but she's not staying longer. At least not as a patient."

Joyce smiled.

"I'll see what I can do."

"Good."

"So, what do you think?" Giles asked.

Buffy frowned.

"About what?"

"Didn't Faith tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

Giles looked at Joyce.

"Well, this is Faith's surprise, so we'll let her tell you," Joyce said.

"Tell me what? Come on, Mom."

"Sorry, honey."

Buffy looked at her friends.

"Willow?"

Willow smiled sheepishly.

"Sorry, Buffy, but your mom's right."

"Please tell me, Willow," Buffy pleaded, batting her eyelashes. "Please, please, please."

"I… I…"

Tara saved her from answering by pulling her aside and kissing her.

Xander chuckled.

"Protective."

Buffy turned to him.

"Xander."

Xander gulped.

"Buffy…"

"You tell her and there'll be no sex all week," Anya threatened him, causing Joyce and Giles to blush.

Xander grinned.

"Sorry, Buffy."

Buffy grinned back and turned to Giles.

"Giles…"

Joyce took Giles by the arm.

"Mr Giles and I have paperwork to take care of, Buffy. And don't even think of waking Faith."

Buffy made a face.

"Don't worry, I know she needs rest."

"Good," Joyce said and left with Giles.

Buffy looked at her friends.

"Don't even think about it," Anya said.

Buffy grinned.

"Don't worry, I'll just go watch Faith."

"But you said…" Willow started.

"I won't wake her," Buffy promised.

"Oh. Good."

Buffy smiled and looked at the baby, who was sleeping at the moment. She touched the glass and then left.

"Morning, sleepyhead," Buffy greeted Faith in the morning and kissed her on the forehead.

Faith frowned.

"Morning?"

"Yep."

Faith sat up.

"I slept all night?"

"Yes."

"The baby?"

"Is fine. Mom said the doctor wanted to look at you first before releasing you."

"What about Hope?"

"Her too."

"Oh," Faith said and sighed. "Okay."

"So, what did you forget to tell me yesterday?"

"Huh?" Faith gave Buffy a puzzled look. "What do you mean?"

"Giles wanted to know what I thought about it and I had no idea what he was talking about."

"Oh!" Faith said and flashed a big smile. "I asked them to have you named as the second parent and they succeeded."

Buffy's eyes went wide.

"Really?"

"Yeah."

Buffy hugged Faith.

"I love you so much," she said and they kissed.

"I love you too," Faith said when they stopped kissing. "Now, how about calling a doctor so I can get out of here?"

Buffy smiled and got up.

"One doctor coming up."

"Oh, and don't forget the pizza."

"You'll get that when we come home."

Faith pouted.

"But I'm hungry."

"Me too, but the doctor will probably run some tests and it will probably be better if your stomach is empty."

"Oh."

Buffy smiled.

"I'll go get a doctor."

"Okay."

"About time," Faith grumbled as she got up after the last test was complete. "You'd think this being Sunnydale they'd be used to strange things."

Buffy smiled.

"They are. To bad strange things."

Faith rolled her eyes.

"Come on, I need to get dressed so I can be there when they examine Hope."

Buffy herded the nurses out and Faith dropped the hospital gown and quickly dressed. Then they went to Hope.

"Yes," Faith said when Hope was examined and the doctor reluctantly released the baby. She took her. "Time to go home, girl," she said and kissed her on the forehead. Then she looked at Buffy, who was smiling at them. "Wanna hold your daughter?"

Buffy's eyes brightened and she smiled.

"Yes."

Faith gave her Hope and Buffy carefully took her, afraid that she would squeeze her too strongly.

"Hey, girl," she said to the baby, who babbled. Buffy smiled. "Yes, Mama's here," she said and kissed her on the forehead. Then she looked at Faith. "Here," she said, wanting to give her the baby.

Faith smiled.

"You hold her."

"You sure?" Buffy asked, excited.

"Yes," Faith said and gave her a kiss. "I carried her for nine months and there'll be plenty more opportunities to hold her."

Buffy smiled.

"Thanks."

Faith turned to Joyce and smirked.

"So, Grandma, are you ready to take us home?"

Joyce smiled.

"Come."

Faith put her arm around Buffy.

"Come on, Mama, time to go home."

Buffy smiled.

"If I'm Mama, what are you?"

"Mommy?"

Buffy chuckled.

"Okay, Mommy, let's go."

They left the room and the Scoobs immediately surrounded them. Faith looked at Giles.

"Grandpa, you wanna call off the dogs?"

Buffy chuckled and Giles called the Scoobs off.

"We'll see you at home," Buffy said.

"Okay," Willow said.

Faith, Buffy, Hope and Joyce went ahead and the Scoobs followed them.

The End