Boston mass.

No pov.

A beautiful woman walked into a courtroom. Everyone rises as they would for a judge or someone equally as important.

"Mrs. Lehane, how are you?" a young man asks.

"I'm fine Michael How are you?" Mrs. Lehane asks.

"I'm fine ma'am." Michael answers.

"Where is my husband?" Mrs. Lehane asks admiring her manicure.

"Well Mrs. le-" he starts only to be cut off.

"Call me Diane." she says.

"Well Diane, they are going to get him from his cell right now." he replies.

"Wonderful. Derek and I have missed our baby girl. Are the papers ready?" she asks him.

"Just about ma'am. In about two hours you'll have custody of your daughter again." he says.

"Great. I just know Faith is home sick."

Sunnydale, ca.

Buffy pov.

Faith has a game tonight. The first game she'll start in. we're all downstairs waiting on her and Gunn to finish up. She's taking all this time and she's just going to get all sweaty again. Mmm Faith sweaty. Buffy likey. Very nice image.

"OW!" I wonder what she did to poor Gunn this time.

"Sorry! It was a reflex." I hear her say as they come down the stairs. When I finally see them Gunn is holding his head.

"S'cool." he says with a shrug. "Hey everybody check out our little player!" he says pointing towards Faith. She looks so cute in her blue and yellow jersey.(i don't remember their real school colors.). Her name across the back. awww Just too adorable. Kendall seems to think so too.

"awww aren't you just the cutest!" she gushes. Faith starts to pout. She hates being called cute.

"Faith you're just makin it worse by pouting. It makes you even cuter!" Maggie says squeezing Faith's cheeks. Faith tries to glare at Maggie but it just makes everyone gush more.

"Ok! That is enough! Grandma wants pictures!" Erica says. We haven't been able to pry the camera from her lately. She's always catching them at Kodak moments. Like when Faith and Chris were playing with their new puppy. He's such a cute little black ball of fur. Yeah she caught those two being adorable and she has it on camera. Its going to be on the Kane Christmas cards. Then she caught Gunn and Kennedy when they were covered in flour from when they attempted to cook breakfast. They had the happiest smiles on their face so she snapped it. Those are the thanks giving cards. Oh yeah. All of us are on a card. Even my family and Giles. After Erica has her share of pictures she calls for 'her crew.'

"Alright everyone riding with me and our star lets go!" she says. Its me, her, Jack, Faith, Cordy, and Willow. Everyone else is riding with Maggie or Kendall. We realize when we get to the car that all of us wont fit in it.

"I'll catch a ride with one of the others." I say. Faith shakes her head.

"Nope. C'mere." she says as she gets in. she pulls me onto her lap and closes the door. Willow and Cordelia crawl in on the other side.

"Faith! I'm sure this is illegal." I say. She shrugs.

"Can you see where ya goin gramps?" she asks almost ignoring me.

"Yes. Hold on to Buffy since she cant use a seatbelt." jackson says.

"Will do." she says and jackson actually drives all the way to the school stadium with me on Faith's lap. Although I must admit I could get used to it. It felt comfortable. And I wish Willow and Cordelia would just admit they like each other so they can go out. We get to the school and Erica and jackson go for seats. Willow goes with Cordelia to the field and I walk out with Faith. We're standing outside the tunnel. Not saying anything but just being comfortable. After a few minutes the coach comes over.

"Lehane, how are ya?" he asks.

"Great, nervous, anxious. A hole lotta other stuff." she says.

"What no 5x5?" he asks in shock. She gives him a dry laugh.

"Not now coach Daniels." she says exhaling a deep breath.

"Don't worry kid you'll be fine. Your parents here yet?" he asks. She looks up.

"Nah they're on their way. My grandparents are here though." she says.

"Mind goin to get em so I can have a word?" he ask.

"Sure thing coach. Hey B, hold my helmet?" she asks. I smile and nod. She runs up the bleachers.

"So you're the girlfriend?" the coach asks.

"No, just a friend." I say. May not like the title but it's what I am.

"Ah give her time. She'll come round. She's just been worryin bout the game." he says. How does he know?

"Alright, I'll take your word." I tell him. He gives me a smile then Erica and co appear.

"Coach Daniels, these are my grandparents Erica Kane and Jackson Montgomery, grandma and gramps, this is my coach Vincent Daniels." she says introducing them. They exchange pleasantries and start to walk and talk. Erica no doubtly doing her protective grandparent thing. After a few minutes and good luck hugs from everyone its time for the coin toss. I'm not going to my seat until its time for Faith to be on the field.

"And Jackson high won the toss. They will be receiving. I guess now would be the time to welcome sunnydale highs first female player and newest cornerback Faith Lehane number 24!!" the announcer says and the crowd goes crazy. She gets a nervous smile.

"You'll be fine. See you after the game." I say giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. She nods and puts her helmet on. Running onto the field with the team waving at her new fans.

Maggie pov.

Wow this other school is good. Really good. Its one minute into the game and they're already on the opposite 48. the snap was just made and the quarterback throws what I know is a touchdown throw. I look away for a moment but the announcer pulls me back.

"And the ball is picked off just at the ten by Lehane! She's running it back! The 50...40...30...20...10...5...touchdown sunnydale! Ladies and gentleman Faith Lehane just ran a interception for 85 yards.! Her first ever!" oh my god. Me and the family are up in an instant.

"Woooo!! way to go Faith!" is all you hear among other things. Mostly Erica yelling 'that's my grand baby!' she is fantastic! She rocks! I see her drinking some water while the field goal team is out. All her team mates high fiving her. She has a genuine smile on her face and it is good to see.

Faith pov.

Throughout the game I got 5 interceptions! 5! three of which I returned successfully for touchdowns! And we won! Dude I feel so hyped! But its not even the game that's got me this way. Well partly it is but not completely. The part that has me feelin like I'm floatin is the reactions. From the fans. I know we aint NFL or nothin but we still got fans. I got fans. It feels good. Like people acknowledging me for a talent instead of bein a pretty face and nice body. Sure I get that from the fam but it feels good to hear a girl come up to ya and say 'hey Faith, your really making a statement by joining the team.' or 'hey your proving something for every girl in this school.' cus I'm not gone lie there are some small minded people in this town. Guys that think girls shouldn't play sports like football and shit. I'm doin what I want. I love the sport but watchin is nothin compared to playin with the crowd cheerin for ya. And I made my family proud. That's somethin big. Outta all the shit between my biological mother and father tryin'a get custody of me, while Derek is in jail mind you, and typical high school stuff I've been stressin. I got people who will listen but not too many people I'm ready to open up to. I'm workin on it though. I may not open up to Kendall, Greenlee, or Jackson but I do open up. Behind closed doors. Mostly to Maggie or Cordelia. Occasionally somebody different but mostly them. I tell them what ever, rant, yell, cry and I never worry bout them judging me. Tonight everybody is stayin at mine. I do mean everybody. Even Giles and joyce. We're just pairing up people in rooms. Giles decided to take the couch while joyce took the spare room. Buffy is stayin with me. I don't mind at all. I'll have somebody to talk to. Like face to face. I'm thinkin bout askin her the big question tonight. Ya know will she be my... the big G word. Yeah big step. But I want her to be. Hopefully she'll feel the same.

Buffy pov.

I'm so glad tonight is Friday. No patrol in honor of the game. Angel took over. He was late because he wouldn't miss the game but he took over. And if it weren't I'm sure Faith and I would be in trouble by now. We're talking and laughing and its like 2 am. But its all cool because the house is sorta buzzing with scattered conversations and laughter.

"So," I say laying on my side looking at her. "Tell me something about you that nobody knows." I say. She thinks for a moments.

"my favorite song is by Madonna." she whispers. Whoa. Who would've thought?

"Really what song?" I ask. She looks sort of shy.

"Take a bow." she says.

"Whys that?" I ask. I want to know everything she's willing to tell.

"Cos I've been able to relate. The song is like a representation of an under-appreciated lover. He treats her like what he wants. He says things to her but only when they're alone but he don't mean them. I've been in that situation." she says. Wow. That gives the song a whole new much deeper meaning. I never though about that point.

"You like me right?" I ask.

"Yeah. Thought it was pretty obvious. I actually like you a lot." she says with a smile. Good.

"Me too." I say with a smile. She nods and smiles a little wider. Well here goes. "Soooo... will you be my girlfriend?" there I asked her. She looks shocked. It did sorta come out of nowhere. She blushes, aww that's just so adorable, but her look turns serious.

"Before I answer that, would we have to keep us a secret?" she asks. She seems a little guarded and unsure.

"Well I wouldn't want to, but if you weren't ready to tell everyone then we could. But only if you wanted too. Other than that no, we wouldn't be a secret. I wouldn't want us to be." I say. She smiles at this guess I said something right.

"In that case...yeah." she says. She shouldn't trail off leaving me in suspense. I let out a relieved breath and lean in to kiss her quickly. Oh yeah over the past few weeks we've been sneaking little kisses.

"Good. Has that happened before?" she looks a little confused. "Someone asked you to keep your relationship a secret?" I ask. I see hurt pass over her face and I automatically hate whoever it was.

"Yeah. Twice. I was dumb enough to go for it twice. My first girlfriend, Emily, she didn't want to have to tell her parents. The second time was this girl named Mellisa. She said she could deal with bein a social outcast but she wanted to be with me. But I cared about em. Didn't love em but I cared a lot. both of em left me for the first guy with a pretty face. Since then I've refused to be a secret. Some think its selfish but...i'm not as tough as people think." she says with a sigh.

"I think your decision to refuse to be a secret is a good respectable one. You shouldn't have to be and I am more than proud to tell everyone we're together." I tell her and we share a smile.

"Thanks." she says.

"For what?"

"makin me feel good bout bein me." is her reply. I just hope she still feels as good tomorrow.

They are officially a couple. Yay fuffy! Hope ya liked the chapter.