Story Notes: Buffy gets a cryptic call from Faith that gets her on the first plane back to the States. My own- cause every BtVS author's got one-littletake onthe Shanshu.

A/N: It just always bugged me that most people seem to think getting the Shanshu would mean the 'vampire with a soul' would become human and stay exactly the same. We all know Joss doesn't do happily ever after. (shrug) Anyway, it was fun. Apologies to all for any grammatical errors or just plain wrongness. Unbeta-ed so the fault is all my own. Feedback is always appreciated.

A/N #2: RL has been busting my butt for the last few months, but I hope all that's behind me and I canstart postinga little more often.

Disclaimer: Not mine. Never gonna be mine. Not making a profit here either.


She followed Faith into the house and saw, playing on the living room floor, a cherubic baby with a cotton-like tuft of light brown hair. The little jumper the baby was wearing had cars and trucks printed all over the front so Buffy felt it safe to assume she was looking at a boy. Of course, knowing Faith, the child could very well be a girl. A woman dressed all in leather with strange eyes and blue-streaked hair was crouched next to the child, apparently showing him or her the most effective way to destroy a city made of Lincoln Logs.

"This is what you couldn't tell me over the phone? He's at least six months old, Faith. He is a he, isn't he?" Faith nodded in response but seemed more interested in watching the child. At the sound ofBuffy's voice the little head came up and blue eyes twinkled as the child laughed, a sweet sound full of joy. Buffy couldn't help but smile back in response. "Why wait this long to let anyone know, why all the secrecy? And just how is your having a baby a situation that necessitated me flying to Cleveland?"

"Mine?" Faith gave what Buffy thought of as her 'cat that ate the canary' smile- just a few too many teeth showing. "Oh no, B. He's not mine. If he's anyone's, then he's yours."

"What? Faith, I think I'd know if I had a child." The woman with the blue hair tilted her head as if she was listening, but didn't take her eyes off the baby as he started to crawl across the floor. "I would've had nine months to notice I was blowing up like a whale, for one and two, I'm sure I would've had to have been there for the birth. I just got off a plane from Rome, not from stupid."

Faith's smile grew wider as the baby reached Buffy's shoes and the other slayer laughed outright when he sat up and threw his arms around Buffy's leg. "I didn't say he was your baby, just that he was yours. It's all in the fine details."