This little girl

Wow, I have so much to do today that I don't think I'll get another chapter in. but don't fret. I hope this can hold you guys over until then.

I don't just wanna keep thanking everyone for review, but thanks. Also, I appreciate the constructive criticism. Sometimes an idea helps. Unfortunately, if I tried to please everyone, well this story would never get finished. Still, I can't live without the feedback.

I hope you like this. Drama, Drama, Drama. i'm thinking about going to work for "All My Children"

Let me know. ***Kisses Faithie***

Disclaimer - see whatever part I put it in. I don't remember.

Chapter 14

Faith’s POV

I couldn’t eat if I had wanted to. I didn’t. I don’t know when it happened, but I think it was like being hit with a truck. Everything came crashing down, all at once. And when she said that we didn’t love her. I don’t think I’ve ever loved anyone so much. Not even B. Truth is, I realized in that instance, no one would ever be as special to me. Here’s hoping I don’t have any more kids, cause boy would they be left out. God, listen to me spewing all this sentimental crap out. I can’t help it. I’d gladly have died right there. Nothing has ever felt as good as those little hands on my face. Wiping my tears. That smile. She’s mine. Oh, and don’t forget the eyes. I love the eyes. B’s eyes. They’re perfect.

Ok, I’m turning into a sap but I so don’t care. What the hell is wrong with me?

“Carry me,” Annie said, tugging on my shirt. Umm, ok. I picked her up.

I looked to Buffy, “Coming B?”

She shook her head. She seems to be zoning out a lot lately, “You can walk, Anna, you are not a baby.” Whoa, where did that come from?

I quirked an eyebrow at her, and picked Annie up. I’d carry her the rest of her life if she’d let me. I don’t want to think about everything I missed. It was too much.

“Everything ok, Buff?” I asked.

She nodded slowly, like she was thinking of something else. She seemed to be staring passed me. I have to admit, the whole thing was kinda heavy. Maybe it upset her. “Are you sure?”

She nodded again. “Yep,” she said, seeming to snap out of it. “Let’s go eat.”

We walked out of the kitchen only to bump into the others. All of them. Literally.

Annie giggled, “Hey sillies, were you easy dropping?”

Kennedy voiced what I was thinking, “Huh?”

“You know, when you listen when you’re not supposed to. Cause ‘member when you said that was wrong Aunt Cordy?”

Queen C blushed. Imagine that. “Nope don’t recall,” she said. “Want me to fix you some pancakes or do you wanna go out?” Way to change the subject. Do as I say, not as I do, I guess.

Annie clapped her hands, “Can we all go?”

Everyone shrugged. Dawn nodded, “I don’t see why not.”

Willow piped in, “ Except Angel. Sorry,” she said rubbing his arm.

“S’okay. Don’t feel like burning to a crisp this early in the day.” Well I have to say, that is a-ok with me big dude. Hate to say it, but you can stay here.

“Where’s Poppa Giles?” Annie suddenly asked. What the fuck? Poppa Giles? That is too much.

I chuckled. Everyone looked at me strangely. Jesus people, lighten up. “Sorry,” I said, twisting Annie from one side to the other, “that’s just…” I couldn’t help it. Poppa Giles. Hah. “Sorry.” I mumbled, still smiling.

Annie hugged me, “It’s ok. You’re too funny.”

Buffy cleared her throat beside me. “Still in London.” She turned to us, “You guys go ahead. I’ve got a few things I need to do this morning.”

I turned to look at her. Was she fucking joking? Obviously not.

Everyone else was looking at her the same way. Dawn spoke first. “Come on Buffy, we never all go out for breakfast. It’s like a celebration or something.”

Buff was totally freakin me out. She seemed to zone out again. Looking passed all of us. “No really. Go on. I have to…it’s nothing big. There are just some things I’ve got to take care of. I’ll see you all in a bit.” She came up and kissed Annie on the cheek, “Promise, pumpkin.”

Annie seemed to accept her excuse. Glad someone was buying it. I cocked an eyebrow at her. She gave me a weak smile back.

“It’s nothing. Really.” Whatever B. Play the drama queen if you want.

“Whatever,” I heard myself say. I turned to the others, “Everybody ready?”

We all filed out of the room. I saw Willow stay behind. I slowed down to listen. I can easy drop too. Hehe.

“It’s nothing Wills. Really. Please go. Please.” God she sounded like she was pleading with her.

Cordy smacked me on the arm. “Don’t fret. She’s just being Buffy.” She took Annie from me. Wait she’s mine. Give her back. Course I couldn’t say that so I just smiled. “Oh, now you get all possessive with the kid, Faith.” She snuggled Annie to her. “Well you can’t. She’s a community child.”

“What does that mean?”

Annie answered, “Means everybody loves me.”

Good answer. And true. I still couldn’t shake the feeling that B was up to something. It left me feeling all wiggy.

Cordy whispered in my ear, “Who is Buffy if not a drama queen?” I shook my head like I didn’t understand her. “Oh, come on. We know it’s true, don’t we Ann?”

Annie nodded, “Mommy’s ok. She just needs to think sometimes.” Cordy nodded agreeing, skipping off with my child in her hands. “Dip me. Dip me.” She cried.

Cordelia swung her to the ground only to pull her up at the last minute. What’s she trying to do, kill her? “Again! Again!”

Oh, how cute is that? Lord, I’m turning into a sucker.

“Hey guys, hold on a minute, would ya?”

Kennedy nodded, “Yeah. I’ll pull the car around.” The rest of them went outside to wait.

I walked back into the kitchen.

And there was Buffy. Crying into Angel’s chest. He was holding her.

I couldn’t breathe.

“Faith,” he jumped back when he saw me.

“Fang,” I said.

And B, what did she do? Not a goddamn thing. She stayed with her back to me. She didn’t even acknowledge me.

Was she fucking serious? Fuck it. “Forgot my jacket,” I said grabbing it off the chair. It was like eighty-five degrees outside. “See ya later.”

Stop me B, please, I thought. No such luck. Well fuck you too, I thought, and turned to leave.

Fuck it. She was not bringing me down. She was not.

Oh, who the hell am I kidding?

FLASHBACK
POV NONE

Buffy knew what they were doing. Slayer hearing comes in handy for a lot of things. She rolled over and looked at the door.

“This is never going to work,” Cordy was whispering.

Xander answered, “Hey Cordy, have a little faith.”

Buffy could sense her smirk before she heard it, “If I’d had a little Faith instead of Buffy, we wouldn’t be in this mess to start with.”

“Cordy I’m thinking about doing a spell to bind your lips together.” Willow said.

“Please. You wouldn’t be able to lust after me if you did that.”

“Hey,” Kennedy spoke up, “She lusts after me.”

“Yeah,” Willow agreed, with surprised indignation.

“Whatever you need to tell yourselves.” The baby had cried, “Oh, I know sweetheart. They are crazy. But I’ll be right here. Promise.”

Buffy raised an eyebrow, still staring at the door.

Just then it opened slowly. All of them were standing there staring at her. She decided not to pretend like she was asleep.

“What do you want?” She evened her tone, looking at Dawn.

“Buffy,” Willow said, “We think it’s time you spent a little time with your daughter.” She looked to Cordelia, who was holding the baby. “Cordy?” Cordy shook her head, “Cordy!” She yelled. Cordy handed the baby to Willow and grumbled something about damn witches. “Good.” Annie cooed in her arms, “Here’s your Mommy, sweetie.” She said, handing the baby to Buffy.

Buffy recoiled on instinct. “No,” she said, backing up, and off the bed.

Dawn moved to stand by Willow, “Buffy, we are not going to take no for an answer here.”

Everyone but Cordy nodded.

“So you are going to have to do this. I’m sorry if you don’t like it.” Willow said. She turned to Angel, “Get her carrier and her things.” She was in scary mode. They all jumped at her voice. Angel bolted from the room to fulfill her request. He brought the things in and sat them on Buffy’s bed. He wouldn’t look at her. “Thanks,” Willow smiled brightly. Her face changed when she turned to Buffy, “I’m leaving her here. I’m not going to pretend that we are all going to leave, cause frankly Buff, we don’t trust you.”

Buffy made a move to say something but changed her mind.

Willow continued, “And we know that you can feel when we leave anyway. But we are not coming into this room until I say we can.”

Cordy piped up, “What!?! When was that part of the fucking deal?”

Willow snapped at her. “I know you people forget that I’m an all powerful witch and stuff, but you need to focus. I can sense when Annie’s in trouble.” She softened her voice when she looked to Buffy, “which I know she won’t be.” She put Annie in the carrier and strapped her in. “She’s been fed, right?” She asked, looking to Cordelia. Cordy nodded, a look of pure murderous rage crossing her face. Willow smiled brightly. “Right. So she will need changing in a few. She’ll let you know when she’s hungry. You’ll have to bring her down and heat the bottle. Not too hot or she’ll get burned, but not cold. Let me think…ok, she’ll be fine otherwise. I trust you.”

Buffy spoke, “You said a minute ago you didn’t.”

Willow giggled, “just trying to get your attention.”

Buffy looked to Dawn, an obvious plea crossing her face. Dawn just shook her head and followed Kennedy and Xander out of the room.

Cordy wasn’t as intent on leaving. “Listen here slayer,” she said, walking over to the baby. She was rubbing her face with her fingertips. “If you do anything to fuck this up. I’m finished with you. You better think long and hard about that. I take care of her. And I don’t,” she looked to “I will not…you are not gonna just,” Cordy composed herself. “All right, listen. I don’t care how fucking sad you are. I don’t care how bad everything ‘feels’ to you. I don’t give a fuck about you right now Buffy Summers.”

Buffy rolled her eyes, “that’s not really surprising, is it Cor? When have you ever cared about me?”

“Please,” Cordy said, “Don’t try that shit with me. Whining, ‘oh nobody loves me,’ may work with the rest of these people, but not me. You have saved my life more time than is feasible. It endears a girl.”

Buffy scoffed, “Whatever.”

Cordy raised her voice, “Goddamn it Buffy,” She looked at the baby and lowered it, “Fuck. Get the hell over yourself. I care about you. We all do. Why the fuck do you think we take care of your baby? Why do you think I haven’t forced Angel to kick you to the curb?” She did a small swagger, “Cause let me tell you, I do have that kind of power.” She stepped closer to her, “They wanted to leave Annie with you. I’m against it. Not that I think you’ll hurt her. I just think you are so wrapped up in your fucking lesbo drama that you will do what you have done the whole time, ignore her.”

Buffy’s eyes were flaming, “Fuck you sweetie.”

Cordy taunted her, “Please. You wish.” She sneered at her, “Like I said, get a clue and get over yourself.” She bent down and kissed Annie. Standing up, she walked to the door, “Oh, and Buffy,” Buffy looked to her, “Prove me wrong.” She said, and walked out.

Angel followed.

Willow hesitated for a moment. Turning back from the door, she looked to Buffy, “Don’t make us regret this. I know you are pissed, but that may be of the good. Anything is better than nothing.”

Buffy wanted to say something, but the words wouldn’t exactly come. She just watched Willow walk out instead.

She looked down at the baby they had left. She was staring up at her. She caught her breath. She looked so much like Faith it scared her. As if on cue, she started crying.

“Let go of me witch,” she heard Cordy outside the door.

“No, you’ve go to let her do this,” Willow shouted.

Buffy tuned them out. She looked at the baby. Could she tune her out as well? “What’s wrong?” Ok, she thought. That was stupid, she’s not going to answer me. She made no move to get closer.

The baby continued to cry. Fuck, she thought. She could still hear Cordy and Willow scuffling outside.

“Babies don’t cry unless they need something,” Willow was saying to the door.

“She’s not fucking retarded Willow. She knows that.” Cordy’s voice could be heard on the other side. “Just pick her up Buffy. She stops crying when you snuggle her. I kinda spoiled her.”

Buffy couldn’t help herself, she smiled. How weird was all of this, she thought.

She answered them meakly, “Ok,” she said.

She walked over to the carrier and looked down at Annie. She tried the harness. It took her a moment to open it. “Wow, they kinda strap you in tight, don’t they?”

The baby stopped crying when she heard Buffy’s voice. It startled Buffy for a moment and she backed away. Instantly the crying was back. Ok, I can do this, she repeated to herself again.

She picked her up slowly. She could feel how strong she was. Or more importantly how strong she was going to be.

She nuzzled into Buffy’s neck with her face. And fell instantly asleep. Buffy sat on the bed, stunned. She didn’t move, afraid she would wake her. Afraid she would do something, anything wrong. Finally, she scooted to the headboard, holding the baby. She laid her own her knees. She was still sleeping. Buffy propped her legs up so she could look at her, and Annie woke. “Hey there.”

Annie opened her eyes and looked at her mother. She saw a small smile on her face.

She knew they were still outside the door. “Hey Wills,” she called softly, “I think she just smiled at me.”

“No Doofus,” Cordy answered, “that’s just gas.” She heard a smack, “ow, that hurt.”

“Good,” she heard Willow say to Cordy. “I’m glad Buffy,” she heard. “We’ll be downstairs.”

Buffy looked back to the baby, who was busy studying her with her eyes. “What are we gonna do now? Huh?”

TBC