Angel slips into Alex's room, she's sleeping. Willow had woken her from Faith's room and insisted she and the baby return to their room. He glances at the baby in the cradle beside the bed, Jaden has her mother's red hair, and bright green eyes. He smiles down seeing that the baby, who should be sleeping peacefully like her mother is wide awake, "Don't wanna miss a thing do ya?" Angel strokes the baby's cheek. "You wanna see the whole world huh? I'm not gonna be able to show you much, but I'll show you what I can okay?" Jaden kicks her legs taking his finger. "You're a strong little girl."

"Keep it up and I'll think you're going soft on me." Alex says smiling at him.

"Hey, I thought you were sleeping." Angel looks over pulling back.

"Somebody was talking to my baby." Alex smirks setting up. She's still sore and it hurts a little.

"You okay?" Angel moves beside her.

"Yeah just sore. Apparently it's not easy having a baby." Alex laughs.

"So they say." Angel sets down, "How are you?"

"Tired, but happy." Alex says, "How about you?"

"Hey, I'm not the one who just had a baby," Angel laughs.

"How about Cordy?" Alex asks.

"She's good." Angel says. He sets there for a minute, "Have I told you that I'm proud of you?"

Alex looks at Angel, "I'm sure you have."

"Well did I tell you that, she's beautiful?" Angel asks.

"I kinda new that one Bro." Alex smirks.

"I'm trying for a moment here." Angel laughs.

"I get it Angel." Alex says, "You don't have to say it."

"But I want to. And I want you to know that I won't let anything happen to you or Jaden." Angel says.

Alex takes Angel's hand, "I know you wouldn't." She says softly, "And for the record, there's a lot of things you can teach her. She's incredibly lucky."

"She's got a great Mom." Angel says, "And you're so totally grounded kid."

Alex laughs shaking her head, "Why am I grounded know?"

"You scared the hell out of all of us." Angel says.

"So Faith told me." Alex looks down at her hands on her lap. "I was so scared. If it hadn't been for Will and Tara, I'm not sure what would have happened."

"But she's here and she's perfect, and you're good too." Angel moves a piece of hair out of Alex's face, remembering the broken teenager who had showed up on his doorstep only months before. He pulled something out of his pocket, "I found this in you Mom's stuff. I wanted to give you something that meant something to you, and so I saved it out." He hands the locket to Alex.

Alex takes it and fingers it, "It's the locket my mother wore all the time, I thought the demon had taken it." She wipes tears from her eyes, "I wish she were here." She looks up at Angel, "But for the record, I'm really glad you guys are here."

Angel nods, as the baby starts crying. "I'll get her." he says turning and lifting the child, "You're okay Jaden." he says softly rocking.

Alex watches as Angel gently rocks Jaden, he seems so mesmerized by the baby. Softly talking to her, with words Alex can't quiet make out. Her eyes feel heavy again, and the last thing she sees before they close is Angel rocking Jaden gently, telling her the secrets of his world...

Buffy finally got Faith to agree to allow Spike to see Addison, so she made her way down to the office with the baby. "Ten minutes, that's it." Buffy says.

Spike looks down at the tiny pink bundle cradled in Buffy's arms, "Tiny isn't she?" he says softly.

"Yeah, she's tiny." Buffy agrees watching Spike. "Wanna hold her?"

"No," Spike backs up, "I'll break her for sure."

"You won't break her, just watch her head." Buffy says handing Addison over to Spike.

Spike feels the baby in his arms, "Well then." he says blinking back sudden tears and turning his back om Buffy. He surveys the tiny being in his arms. She has her mother's soft curly black hair, and her deep hazel eyes. But she has his mouth, and noise. She's beautiful, but Spike felt no need to share that observation with Buffy at the moment. His mind was to full of everything that was going on. He could remember what he done, and it pained him to think of it. But just look at what had come of it. This beautiful little being wrapped in this pink blanket. She whimpers slightly and instinctively he rocks her gently. The ten minutes are passed way to quickly, just looking into the eyes of this tiny being. Spike felt the pride swell inside him, but again felt no need to share it. He vowed secretly that nothing would ever hurt this beautiful baby. Faith's baby...His baby...His daughter...His beautiful daughter. The one he reluctantly handed back to Buffy...

Buffy sets down next to the bed, handing Addison back to Faith. There's a long silence in which neither girl spoke. "You should be resting." Buffy finally says.

"Sea Monkey here has other ideas." Faith says looking down at the infant.

Buffy looks down at her hands, thinking how best to put what she wants to say. "You know as Slayers we see a lot of stuff. I mean demons, death, anger, fighting, it all just kinda goes with the territory. But I don't think I've ever seen anything like I seen today."

"Come on B, I wasn't that bad was I?" Faith chuckles softly causing Addison to stir in her sleep.

"That's not...I mean..." Buffy sighs, "You aren't going to make this easy on me are you?" Faith looks up at Buffy, "I'm trying to say that, I saw a musicale today. I mean, I've seen everything but birth, and well, aside from the blood and guts and stuff, it was something..."

"Magical?" Faith supplies.

"Exactly, and I'm really proud of the way you're handling this. I mean I was a total freak out trying to keep myself calm, and I wasn't even the one having the kid." Buffy says.

"You seemed to have it together to me." Faith says.

Buffy bites her lip, "She couldn't ask for a better mother. She's beautiful Faith. And, although the prospects of what she will do slightly scare me, I can't wait." Buffy swallows hard, there was a time when she would never have imagined this. There was a time when her anger at the girl, cuddling the tiny infant, had been an enemy. "Faith, I'm trying to say I'm proud of you. I'm proud of the person you've become. I would trust my life with you, or better yet, I would trust Dawn's life to you. Addison is a lucky baby, because I know how much you love her. I just...I feel more like your my sister then just another Slayer, and the past is in the past."

Faith blinks back the tears, "Thanks Buffy. I wanted to ask you something, would you be Addison's Godmother? I trust you to take care of her if..." Faith's voice fads off.

Buffy nods, unable to speak. There's nothing more to say, they've said it all.

Buffy left about a week after the babies were born, to return and protect the Hellmouth, taking Xander with her. Willow and Tara however stayed for another five weeks. Mostly because Alex had insisted. Finally the day came for them to pack themselves, Faith and Addison in the car and head back to Sunnydale.

"Faith, we have to go." Willow says.

"I know Red, just give me a second." Faith turns around to shoot her a look before turning back to Alex. "You remember that I'll be up for three am feeding too, call if you need anything."

Alex laughs gently, "Faith, you're not MY mother. Know let me see Addy before you go."

Faith sighs handing Addison over to Alex and turning her attention to Cordelia, "You know you can call too."

"Right, I'll do that." Cordelia says, smiling. Faith takes Cassey, gently rocking her.

Finally, Addy is passed to Willow who puts her into her car seat. Faith takes Jaden, saying goodbye to the child. Slowly all the others trickle out, Noah with Jaden and Angel with Cassey. Cordelia hugs Faith, and they say a quick goodbye. Then only Faith and Alex are left in the lobby. "So we made it kid." Faith says.

"Yeah, I guess so. But it's not like we're saying goodbye, I mean...we're not saying goodbye right?" Alex looks questioningly at Faith.

"Course not, gotta have somebody to cause trouble with." Faith smirks, but turns serious, "This is just the way things go. We'll see each other all the time, and talk all the time on the phone. Send lots of picture and all that junk new mom's are supposed to do."

Alex laughs, "Of course we will." Alex hugs Faith, "I just want you to know I'm here for you and for Addy, whatever you need."

"Same here Trouble." Faith says into her ear. "I guess I should be going, don't really do the goodbye thing to well."

Alex nods, following her to the door. Faith promised herself she wouldn't look back. But just as she climbs in the car, she looks back to see Alex wiping silent tears away. Faith's heart breaks, she knows that there will always be a connection, but it had been safe here. Faith, Alex, and Cordy had formed a bond, one that only mother's understood. Mother's, the word replayed it's self in her mind over and over again. Faith was sure it hadn't set in, that the tiny being in the car seat beside her, was truly, honestly hers. Addison was perhaps the best part of herself, come to life. A part she never really expected. If Addison was anything, she was Faith's saving grace. Her hope for a better tomorrow. Yes, that's what Addison Hope Lehane was, she was her mother's hope for a better tomorrow.