Graduation Presents
Lexi watches in amusement as Faith attempts to put the cribs together, "I'm sure Angel could help when he gets here."
"I can put my damn kids crib together!" Faith look annoyed at her, but soften when she sees Lexi smiling gently down at her.
"You're excited about them coming huh?" she asks.
"Yeah, it'll be good to see them. Maybe we could coax those kids out while they're here?" Faith says smiling.
Lexi snorts, "I've been attempting to coax them out for two weeks. I think they've taken up permeate residence."
Faith laughs, "I'm sure they're waiting for the right moment." Lexi rolls her eyes. Faith stands, "You know there are ways to induce labor…"
"We've tried it," Lexi laughs.
"Yeah, but maybe we weren't doing something right." Faith kisses Lexi's neck. Hearing her moan in pleasure.
"Oh I'm sure we were doing everything right," Lexi says tilting her head, "But maybe we should practice for after they're here…." Faith smiles capturing Lexi's lips but feeling the girl tense, "OH!" she leans into Faith.
"What? Babies?" Faith asks urgent.
"Braxton Hicks," Lexi says breathing deeply in and out.
Faith frowns, "That's happened a lot the last couple days."
"I'm fine," Lexi sighs, standing up straight ounce more. She reaches up kissing Faith, "Don't you have a couple cribs to put together before tonight?"
"Right," Faith nods, hearing the doorbell, "B's here!"
And sure enough Buffy, Willow, Tara, Megan and Becky are soon filling their living room, Giles and Xander had not been able to make the trip. "Look at you!" Buffy says hugging Lexi.
"Yeah yeah, I'm the size of a house, I get it." Lexi says laughing gently.
"You aren't!" Willow says, "You're all glowy and stuff."
Lexi rolls her eyes, "You guys are just too much," she shakes her head rubbing her over expanded belly.
"Where's Angel?" Tara asks, "Did he make it?"
"Yeah, called this morning, checked into a hotel, he's gonna meet us at the graduation. Still can't believe it…" Faith says smile contently.
"Well I can!" Willow smiles broadly.
Megan nods, "We new you could!"
"I'm proud of her," Lexi says moving and wrapping an arm around Faith's waste.
Faith kisses her, "Kinda proud of myself." She says.
"You should be," Tara smiles.
"Yo B, know anything about putting cribs together?" Faith asks raising an eye brow.
"Can't say that I do," Buffy says, "But I can try."
Lexi laughs, "I want them together by the time we leave for graduation."
"Oh she gives orders!" Buffy says laughing, "Guess we should get right on that one."
As Faith and Buffy get to work on the cribs, Willow, Tara, Megan, Becky and Lexi visit. Willow notices that Lexi is rubbing her side, and looking at her watching. She smiles to herself knowing that Lexi is contracting a little. As promised the cribs are together, decked out with Monkey sheets and blankets to match the walls Faith had surprised Lexi with. Graduation was at seven, so about five thirty everybody cleared out to get ready. Faith watches Lexi move around, frowning as Lexi seems to slow down. Faith dawns her gown, (although it wasn't a big graduation they had decided gowns would be fun) and sets down to email Giles as she did everyday. Lexi meanwhile is in the bedroom, clutching her side leaning over the bed. "Oh shit," she breathes out feeling the pain subside, "of all nights you choice, tonight?" she stands looking down at her stomach, "No not tonight, just give it a couple hours at least." The babies give a huge kick causing her to chuckle. So far she was sure nobody new she was in labor.
An hour and half later, she sets between Willow and Angel in chairs that had been set out for the guests at the graduation, fidgeting slightly as she got even more uncomfortable. Graduation was about to start, Faith stood with her classmates, beaming, at the front of the class. After the teacher gave her speech, it was time for handing out diplomas. Lexi practiced her breathing hoping to stave off the mounting pain and pressure she was feeling. The teacher calls, "Faith Lehane," and half the people at the graduation stand up cheering. Lexi included, but Lexi's cheer slowly turns into a moan of pain.
"OH Shit," Lexi bends double in pain, attempting breathing but it's not working. She screams in pain.
Angel holds her up, "FAITH!"
Faith doesn't have to be yelled at she's already at the end of the isle. Willow smiles, "I think we're having babies!"
With Angel's help Lexi makes her way to Faith, "I'm sorry, I tried, ohhhh, not to…" Lexi's voice is strained.
"How long have you been in labor?" Faith asks her eyes running over Lexi's strained face.
"Most of the day I think, I just didn't realize it." Lexi says, recovering only to be recaptured by the pain. "I think they're coming…"
"Okay we'll get you to the hospital," Faith says moving them toward the door.
Lexi stops shaking her head ounce they've left the classroom, "You don't understand Faith, they're coming, NOW!"
Faith goes pale her eyes growing big, "You mean…."
"I mean it feels like I'm fucking being ripped apart!" Lexi yells bent double in pain.
"Oh shit!" Faith says panicking slightly, "Call somebody!"
"Lets lay her down," Willow says, helping to find an empty class room with a table to lay Lexi on.
"Oh God, I think…" Lexi doesn't finish.
Faith positions herself behind Lexi, "Yo Red, you know what the hell you're doing?" she asks.
"Um….I…." Willow says gently moving Lexi's legs, "I don't think we have time to worry!"
"Oh, get them out!" Lexi yells, pushing with all her might.
"Oh no! No don't push!" Willow says.
"I can't help it!" Lexi cries, in pain.
Tara place a hand on Willow's back, "You can do this Baby."
Willow nods, Buffy and them are standing guard while others wait for EMTs. "Okay, there's a head," Willow says looking up at Lexi's pained face, "Push."
Lexi gladly obliges putting all her focus on pushing. Faith holds her hands supporting her head. Lexi breathes deeply, leaning back against Faith, moaning. "I can't, I changed my mind."
"Shhh, You can, come on, just a little more." Faith says.
Lexi takes a deep breath, pushing down ounce more. She screams in pain, "The heads out!" Willow says, "One more push like that and it'll be here!"
Lexi shakes her head, "No don't make me, please!"
"You gotta, know come on," Faith says.
Lexi closes her eyes, gathering her strength. She pushes down with all her might, eyes still closed tightly. Suddenly there's a release of pain, still breathing deeply she leans back against Faith. Still she hasn't opened her eyes, until a cry fills the air, and she hears Willow says softly, "Open your eyes and meet your son."
Lexi opens her eyes, looking down at the baby Willow is wrapping in a jacket, and handing to her. "He's….perfect…" she says.
Faith kisses her temple, "Just like you."
At this the paramedics show up, quickly cutting his cord, and wrapping him in another blanket, while assessing Lexi. They allow her to deliver the placenta and are about to put her onto the gurney, when she moans, "I think…oh shit…his sister's on the way…"
The paramedic looks down, "You're right!"
Lexi moans, "OH shit, No I can't do this again!"
"You can!" Faith says.
"I'm not strong enough!" Lexi cries.
"Then borrow some of mine," Faith says squeezing Lexi's hands.
Lexi arches her back, before pushing down hard. "You're doing great!" the paramedic says, "Almost there!"
"If you don't shut the fuck up, I'm gonna kick you!" Lexi screams.
Faith knowing that with one kick Lexi would knock out the paramedic attempting to deliver their daughter, she motions for Willow and Tara to hold down her legs. Lexi's body is stiff and Faith feels her pushing. "Come on Babe, you can do it."
With one big scream and a push matching Lexi feels their daughter slide out. She attempts to catch her breath, looking down to the paramedic, hearing a cry. "She okay?" she asks, "Are my babies okay?"
The paramedic smiles up at her, "You tell me," he says laying the tiny baby on her stomach.
Tears fill Lexi's eyes, as she cradles both babies in her arms. "You did it," Faith says kissing her temple.
Lexi shakes her head, "No, we did."
Two hours later everybody files into Lexi's hospital room to meet the new additions. Faith cradles their son, while Lexi holds their daughter. "Everybody," Faith says softly, looking down at the sleeping child in her arms, "I'd like you to meet Joshua Nathaniel Lehane Scott." She moves so that everybody can see him.
"He so tiny, and pink," Buffy says gently stroking the baby's cheek.
Faith smiles, "Lexi," looking over at her.
"And this is Jaden Nicole Lehane Scott." Lexi says watches at Jaden yawns.
"She's sleepy baby," Willow coos.
"Do we get to hold them?" Buffy asks.
Faith looks at Lexi who laughs, "Yes you have to let them hold them."
Faith laughs, "Fine, five minutes" she says handing Joshua to Buffy, while Willow gently takes Jaden. Faith moves beside Lexi kissing her and setting down gently on edge on her bed and putting her arm around her, "I'm so very proud of you."
Lexi smiles up, "Happy graduation."
Faith laughs, "You gave me the best gift I coulda asked for."
"Better be, I worked hard on it." Lexi laughs leaning against Faith.
A week later Buffy and them have left for Scotland ounce more. Willow and Tara making Faith and Lexi promise profusely to send picture, even buying them a new digital camera. Angel had hung around a few days extra, secretly he wanted more time with the babies. But if asked it was because Lexi and Faith were under protected. Finally the day, well night, came that he had to leave. Before she had left, Buffy had been asked to be Joshua and Jaden's godmother. Which she gladly accepted. Angel makes his way into the nursery, where Lexi and Faith are with the babies.
"I should be going, don't want to miss my flight." Angel says softly.
"Yeah you can't stay here forever," Faith says smiling, "And you've already missed like three flights."
Lexi smiles, "Leave him alone Faith." She looks down at Joshua sleeping in her arms. "We need to talk to you before you go Angel."
"Something wrong?" Angel asks.
Lexi stands turning to face Angel, "No, nothing's wrong. But Faith and I were talking."
Faith stands as well, causing Jaden to stir, "We thought maybe you'd be their godfather."
Angel blinks, "Me?"
"Who else would we ask?" Faith says.
"I would…I mean it'd be….an honor." Angel smiles broadly.
Lexi smiles looking down at Joshua, "You here that Josh? You meet your godfather yet?" she gently hands Joshua to Angel, who thus far had opted not to hold the babies, saying he would drop them.
Joshua snuggles into the big chest, "Is he okay?" Angel asks.
"Looks content," Lexi says smiling.
"Yeah Fang, makes you look all soft and shit," Faith smirks.
"Watch the language," Lexi says glances over at Faith.
Faith laughs, "I don't they can pick it up at this age."
"They're your kids, they're born with that language." Lexi laughs, taking Joshua who's fussing slightly, from Angel.
"I gotta go," Angel says kissing Lexi on the forehead.
Faith lays Jaden in her bassinet and walks Angel to the door. Coming back she finds Lexi standing over the babies looking down. Gently she wraps her arms around Lexi's waste looking over her shoulder. Lexi smiles contently leaning into Faith. "We made it." She says softly.
"I love you." Faith says kissing Lexi neck as they watch the babies sleep.
"I love you too." Lexi says feeling Faith's grip tighten around her.