A/N: I know this is short but I wanted to get something posted. I have been so incredibly busy working long hours and I'm going away tomorrow for the weekend so I thought I should get something up, it's not much but I hope you enjoy.
It was funny how you could distinguish between those that had children and those that didn't just by a simple facial expression. Those that smiled sympathetically whilst another person's child screamed, cried or threw a tantrum knew what it was like and could relate. Those that didn't would scowl and throw insults towards the poor parent who was doing everything in their power to make their child happy. Buffy was currently on the receiving end of several of those not so nice looks. She and Willow were at the mall with an extremely irritable Faith who was screaming and crying at the top of her lungs. Their late night research session really had been late night and the baby's schedule had been interrupted and she wasn't happy about it or about letting everybody know that she wasn't.
She had calmed somewhat when Buffy had taken her from the stroller that Willow was currently pushing but she was still making quite a bit of noise and her face had turned red from the tears that were cascading down her cheeks.
"Come on Faithy I know you're tired," Buffy said bouncing the infant on her hip.
"Why don't we just take her home?" Willow said as one passerby threw her a dirty look.
"If we want to eat for the next week then we have to get this grocery shopping done," Buffy reasoned, "Did I remember to pack Mr. Gordo?"
"Uhh yeah here he is," Willow said pulling the toy from the baby bag and handing it to Buffy. The toy seemed to calm the infant down and both the frazzled witch and Slayer visibly relaxed. Faith hiccupped as she buried her face in the crook of Buffy's neck the stuffed pig held firmly in her grasp.
They finished their grocery shopping fairly quickly after that with Faith sitting quite happily in the seat of the trolley.
"So what's Tara up to today?" Buffy asked as they exited the food store.
"She's on the job hunt. She feels bad that Giles already has to pay Anya and feels like she's cheating if she just relies on him for a job. She really wants to work at the bookshop up the road, she's close with the owner and goes in there all the time so I think she would be really happy if she got one there," Willow said.
"I don't think Giles minds having her on his payroll; in fact I think he probably enjoys having her there to balance out Anya's craziness and Giles," Buffy stopped short.
"Buff for that to be a thought you have to actually finish it," Willow said looking at her friend quizzically.
"No look it's Giles," Buffy said pointing to the older man who was indeed at the counter of the bookstore they were walking past.
"Is it odd that after all these years that I think seeing him out in the real world is kinda weird," Willow asked as they made their way over.
"The fact that he might even have a life still wigs me out," Buffy replied.
"Hey Giles," Willow said tapping the older man on the shoulder.
"Oh hello girls," he said giving them a friendly smile and running his hand over Faith's head.
"Just doing some shopping are we?" Buffy asked.
"Oh yes, just picking up some books I had on order," he said.
"Are they new spell books because the ones you have are getting severely out of date and I really think you should look into updating them so you don't get all embarrassed when you go to use them and some evil guy laughs at you because you're all behind the timesy," Willow gushed.
"Yes God forbid I would be so terribly embarrassed," Giles said sarcastically, "No, when I was a young boy my grandfather would always read to me from this wonderful book of fairytales. My grandfather's copy was lost but I managed to procure a copy of the exact same volume and I-I thought Faith might enjoy them," he continued blushing a little bit as he pulled a large leather bound book from his bag.
"Giles that's so sweet, who knew underneath all that tweed lived a big old softie," Buffy smiled warmly at him.
"Tell no one," he smiled.
"Gee," Faith said kicking her legs happily and reaching her arms out to him.
"Hello love," he said picking her up, "Willow, how have you and Tara gone with finding the spell to determine if Faith still carries the essence of the Slayer."
"Pretty good, we were going to see if you wanted to come over and help us do it this afternoon," the redhead replied.
"Of course and Buffy I have been in contact with the Council and they believe they have made a breakthrough unfortunately they feel they must deliver it in person and are sending a few Council members here to deliver it," Giles said.
"What! Giles no they can't come here. What about Faith? I mean I know they know she's all baby sized but what's going to happen when they actually see her all baby sized? Aren't they going to want to take her away and do all sorts of experiments on her? I won't lose her to them Giles, I won't," Buffy said grabbing one of Faith's hands in her own.
"Buffy they are well aware of the situation here and as far as I know have no intention in intervening only to deliver this information," Giles said reassuringly.
"No offense Giles but they have never been really forthcoming with the information, how do we know they're not going to pull something totally Council like and take her away," Buffy said in a panicked voice. Faith seemed to pick up the tone in Buffy's voice and began to whimper so Giles shushed her and bounced her on his hip.
"They cannot take her away, you have full guardianship of her and the papers to prove it and I am more than certain that you would not simply sit by and let them take her and neither would the rest of us," Giles said.
"There's no way we would let them," Willow nodded.
"Okay, forget about my momentary panic and move straight onto what information do they have for us?" Buffy asked.
"They wouldn't tell me over the phone, seems they are not exactly willing to share that with me as I'm no longer employed by them," Giles said scowling.
"Well I guess we'll find out soon enough," Buffy said staring deep into the big brown eyes that looked back at her.
"It's probably not going to be good is it?" Willow asked.
"Well judging on our previous dealings with them I think it would probably be prudent of us to assume that."
"Giles a simple no would have been fine."
