Three days later

Three days later……

"She's been here three days straight Willow!" Buffy whispers harshly, hoping Sam won't hear, but knowing she will. "It isn't good for her or the baby, and you know that. You should get back to Tara too. I'll call as soon as I get word." Buffy sighs seeing the defiant look on Willow's face.

Willow rolls her eyes, "Just because I can make myself stronger and could force her to leave does not mean I have the right nor that I am going to. Buffy, Faith is the love of Sam's life. If it were Tara I wouldn't leave her side either. And yes she needs to sleep, but at least Kennedy is making sure she eats. And Cordelia is here, she's making sure that she does lay down.

"Angel rented a room at the hotel upstairs, which makes no since. Why is there a hotel in the hospital? I mean it's not like you're going to come on vacation here. Although it does make since on one hand, 'cause you don't want to leave when there's a family member sick. But still, a hotel in a hospital?" Buffy holds her hand up to stop Willow. "Right sorry not on topic."

Buffy lets out a long sigh and glances inside Faith's room. She's still in a coma, and the doctors are getting worried. Sam leaves only for an hour and half at a time, and she only goes upstairs to sleep. She hasn't spoken to Buffy she will barely look at her. Of course she hasn't exactly spoken to anybody besides Kennedy. She'll answer Will and Cordelia, but she won't even answer Buffy.

Vi and Rona are back at the school. They didn't want to leave, but Buffy insisted. With the demon dead, there's no real reason to keep them here, and they are needed at the school. Angel's been in a couple times, Gunn, Fred, and Wes have come once. But they have some sort of situation. Buffy didn't ask questions.

Cordelia refuses to leave though. She told Angel to 'handle the damn thing on your own, I'm needed here'. Conner is stalking the halls as well. He stands guard upstairs when Sam goes up. Nobody is sure why he's standing guard, but if that's what he needs to do then nobody is arguing. Buffy suspects the guarding is simply busy work, but she didn't ask.

"Come on sis, you need to go lay down," Cordelia says moving to Sam's side. "You didn't sleep at all last night, so you need to sleep a little."

Sam sighs looking up at Cordelia. She would fight, but she knows that Kennedy will just force her if she does. Kennedy had done that last night, she forced Sam to go upstairs, and Sam is really in no shape to fight.

"Fine, just don't call Kennedy."

Cordelia looks satisfied, "I won't, just come on. Buffy will stay with Faith."

Sam tries not to snort at the name Buffy. She kisses Faith on the forehead and tells her that she'll be back. She then follows Cordelia out of the room, and upstairs. Sam is exhausted, she hasn't slept in day and this pregnancy is simply exhausting as it is. She sighs as she lays down on the bed. Slowly her eyes close.

Faith is setting on the counter in the kitchen Buffy's old house in Sunnydale. She smiles when she sees Sam walk in, "I was wondering when you would show up."

Sam laughs, "You were huh?"

"Yeah figured you'd been here before now, how ya holding up?" Faith asks looking her over "You look like you ain't slept in days."

"I ain't, you know the whole you being in a coma thing…" Sam says sighing deeply. "So what is this?"

"Well, if I had to guess I'd say it's a slayer dream." Faith frowns. "Look just 'cause I'm taking a break from reality don't mean you don't have to take care of yourself. Because you do."

"Faith, you're fighting for your life. How the hell am I supposed to just sleep through that?" Sam asks putting her hands on her hips. "And why are we here?"

Faith shrugs, "Guess good old Sunnydale was my home place after all." She looks around. "I miss it sometimes ya know? I mean yeah we were fighting for our lives, but at least I got you outta the deal."

Sam laughs a little, "Yeah well LA is my home." She sighs again. "Are you dying?"

Faith shakes her head, "Nope, not my time yet. Couldn't leave you just yet, gotta make sure my girls are taken care of." Faith tilts her head slightly. "You're so beautiful."

Sam laughs, "Okay I want to know what they got you on and if I can have some. Because I know I look horrible. I haven't slept in days, I've been worried sick, and I mean that literally."

Faith jumps off the counter and wraps her arms around Sam, "I'm sorry babe. The demon was wicked pissed. He was trying to kill B, and you know me Good Samaritan and all that shit. Couldn't let him kill her."

"So this is her fault?" Sam asks her arms around Faith's waist and her head resting on Faith's shoulder.

"Tell me you didn't say that to her?" Faith asks kissing Sam's head.

"I did, and said a few other things too." Sam says.

Faith sighs, "Samantha, this is not B's fault, it's nobody's fault." She pulls back to look at Sam. "I'm sorry this happened, but you know it always could. I mean our jobs are dangerous."

"You always seem to pay for her mistakes. For her misunderstandings. She's treated you like shit from day one!" Sam yells.

"Sam, B and me are finally working things out. I know you don't like the way she treated me in the past, but that's it, it's in the past. We gotta get past this ok babe? B ain't going anywhere, and I think if you two get along then it'll be a lot easier." Faith reaches out and cups Sam's cheek gently. "God I miss kissing you. And holding you, and planning things out. I just want to wake up and go back to the way things were."

"Then why aren't you? Waking up I mean?" Sam asks leaning into Faith's hand.

"I don't know, I've been trying, but I can't seem to. Maybe it's just a matter of time thing." Faith says. "But I'm for sure not dying."

"Doctors seem to think you are." Sam says not looking Faith in the eyes.

Faith chuckles, "They also said I wouldn't wake up from my last coma. But I did, and now I got a beautiful girlfriend and a baby girl on the way and I can't wait to see what comes next."

Sam smiles, "She's kicking, but it's soft, not like when she's upset."

Faith pulls Sam back close to her, "I love you."

"I love you too." Sam says. "Cordelia's trying to wake me up."

"She always had bad timing, I should tell her that when I wake up." Faith says, Sam giggles. "Listen to me, you take care of yourself." Faith pulls back from Sam smiling. "I think I'm about to wake up….."

Sam is startled awake, Cordelia is setting on the bed gently shaking her, "You okay?" Cordelia asks, "You were talking in your sleep."

"I'm fine, but we need to get downstairs," Sam says getting up off the bed and not waiting for Cordelia. She ignores Cordelia's questions as they make their way down to the Faith's room.

"Hey beautiful," Faith says quietly when she sees Sam. "Took you long enough." Sam lets out a half sob, half laugh and moves to Faith's beside.

"Scare me like that again and I'll bring you back just so I can kill you again," she says tears in her eyes as she reaches down and kisses Faith.

Faith laughs when Sam pulls back, "Babe, I'm okay. I'm sorry I scared you."

Sam takes Faith's hand placing it on her stomach, "You didn't just scare me, Momma."

"God I'm sorry," Faith says watching her hand gently stroke Sam's stomach. Her finger tips ever so gently running over it. "I'm okay though."

"You tryin to convince me or you?" Sam asks smiling slightly as she runs a hand through Faith's matted hair, "'Cause I'm already convinced. I just want to take you home."

Faith looks up to meet Sam's eyes, "I want to go too."

Sam reaches down once more and kisses Faith, "As soon as they release you. Willow will teleport us, I'll ask her to okay?"

Faith laughs, "Oh no, I'll be flying back thank you. I've done the teleport thing, and I puked for thirty minutes."

Sam laughs, "Fine have it your way, but I'm not letting you out of my sight."

"Is that a promise?" Faith asks a seductive smile playing on her lips.

"It most certainly is," Sam leans down and places gently kisses on Faith's lips and cheek, until she hears a 'uh hum' behind her. She stands and looks back, Buffy is standing there arms folded across her chest. "Um, I guess you want me to say something huh?"

"No, I don't. Look you were right. I was the one that told Faith to go. But you have to understand that this is our destiny, you know that. It's not just ours, it's your as well. I don't want anything to happen to Faith, I would never wish that on anybody. Don't. " She holds her hand up to stop Sam from interrupting. "I'll agree that Faith and my past is haunted. We've had our differences, but I want to work past that, and I want to get to know you."

Sam looks down at Faith, steps away from her bed and moves toward Buffy. Buffy flinches, not sure what Sam is about to say or do, so she's more then shocked when Sam wraps her in a hug, after a couple seconds Buffy reciprocates.

"Tell anybody about this and I'll kick your ass ok?" Sam whispers in Buffy's ear causing her to laughs a little. Sam pulls back. "Look, I know this is our destiny, but it doesn't make it easy when this shit happens, and it's easier to blame somebody else. I know I've been a bitch, and I'm sorry okay?" Buffy nods a little, and looks over at Faith who's smiling slightly.

"She gets a little mushy when her hormones are all outta control and shit," Faith says. Sam picks up a piece of paper and throws it at Faith. "Hey! I'm injured!"

"You're fulla shit's what you are!" Sam says, she sets down on the edge of the bed, and Faith moves over Sam leans back and Faith wraps her arms around her. "I love you Faith."

Faith kisses the top of Sam's head, "I love you too Samantha." Faith feels Sam's breath even out, and knows she's dozing off. She tightens her hold on Sam, and whispers to Buffy. "Could you tell everybody we need to be alone? And keep the nurses outta here." Buffy smiles and rolls her eyes, but nods.

Five weeks later…..

Faith sets on the couch, feet resting on the coffee table crossed at the ankles, cold beer in her hand. Oh yeah she could get use to this. It had been five weeks since the accident and she'd thrown herself back into training the girls. But she had this weekend off. Sam had left half hour ago to shop with Tara, smiling ear to ear. Faith had planted herself on the couch. So naturally she groaned when somebody knocked on the door.

"IT'S OPEN!" she yells.

Kennedy laughs when she sees Faith, "Hope you ain't comfortable." She smiles.

"What's it to ya if I am?" Faith asks patting the couch beside her for Kennedy to set down.

"Aren't we supposed to be painting the nursery?" Kennedy asks setting down mimicking Faith's position.

"Shit I forgot about that!" Faith says, hearing another knock on the door. "That'll be B. Guess relaxing isn't on the plan today after all." Faith says.

"Come in!" Kennedy yells and watches as Buffy opens the door poking her head in.

"Am I too late?" Buffy asked walking in to where Kennedy and Faith are seated.

Faith laughs, "Nope, we were just waitin for ya," she smiles over at Kennedy to laughs and shakes her head.

"Genius here forgot we were gonna be painting today," Kennedy points toward Faith.

"What makes me think you ain't complimenting me when you call me genius?" Faith raises an eyebrow, and gives her a quirky smile.

"Well we better get to work. I really don't want to see Sam if she comes home and things aren't ready." Buffy stated. "So what colors did you guys decide on?"

Faith sighs and gets up, "Light baby pink. Told her I wanted somethin that wouldn't be too bright, 'cause they say babies won't sleep in a room with lots of bright colors and shit."

Kennedy tries not to laugh, "Been readin?"

"I think it's nice that Faith's been reading." Buffy said smacking Kennedy's arm. "One day you might be in this position, so you better be nice."

Kennedy laughs, "Yeah right there's no way I'm having kids!"

Faith shakes her head, "Aww to be stupid again." She smiles at Buffy and smacks Kennedy on the back of the head. "Seriously, I'm lookin forward to this kid. It's gonna be wicked teachin her all the shit my Mom never taught me. Course I'm gonna let Sam handle the discipline, and diapers."

Kennedy turns and smiles at Faith, "I do believe our good friend Faith has been whooped!"

Faith throws a paint roller at Kennedy, "I do believe I can still kick your ass."

"Never say never." Buffy smiled at Kennedy. "Just remember Faith and Sam didn't plan to have a baby...it just sort of happened."

Faith laughs, "Yeah thanks to Red."

Kennedy frowns, "But that can't happen again, I mean...I sleep with girls..." She frowns.

Faith laughs, "What the hell do you think Samantha is!" Faith rolls her eyes. "Know who's a genius?" Faith looks at Buffy. "But I think B should have the next kid. Oh yeah have a mini B running around, teach her how to get in all kinda's trouble, that'd be wicked." Faith starts painting still laughs.

"I don't think I'm ready to have a baby right now." Buffy said while painting. "I don't have a very good record with relationships and I don't want to rush into something permanent, you know? Just remember you're gonna have the first baby...that means we all get to spoil her and send her back to you." Buffy smiled over at Faith.

Faith stops painting, "Huh?" She looks at Buffy. "You mean...oh that's not fair!" Faith turns putting one hand on her hip and the other holding a roller pointed at Buffy. "There's will no spoiling her and teaching her that damn little pout."

Kennedy laughs, "Oh there's a whole slayer school waiting for her to get here, the next slayer generation. She'll be all slayer, oh yeah this should be fun. I can't wait for her to get old enough to go out drinking!" Kennedy laughs at the death glare Faith gives her.

Faith frowns, "Figured you'd want to have more to do with Red and T's baby anyways." She tilts her head at Buffy.

Buffy stops painting and looks at Faith, "Why would you think that?"

Faith shrugs a little and looks away from Buffy, "Ya know history and shit...then you and Sam got into it while I was outta commission...figured you wouldn't want much to do with a kid that's half me..." Faith slowly goes back to painting not looking at Buffy.

Kennedy looks around. She quickly lays her roller down and leaves the room without a word. She figures they need to work this out. Buffy puts her hands on her hips.

"Faith we're both different now and I'm sorry to tell you this but..." Buffy paused for dramatic effect. "You're family now so get over yourself." With that said Buffy rolls paint on Faith's arm.

"Hey!" Faith looks over and rolls paint onto Buffy. "We're supposed to be painting my kid's room not me!" She laughs. "And for the record, I kinda like this family," Faith smiles broadly showing off her dimples. "You wanna play that way do ya?" She asks when Buffy rolls even more paint onto her, Faith dips her roller in the light pink paint again, and rolls her up and down Buffy's shirt.

"Oh you're gonna get it now." Buffy said as she rolled Faith's shirt. Faith laughs and grabs an actual brush dips it into the paint and slings in on Buffy.

"Oh come on, you gotta do better then that B!" she yells as she runs around the room avoiding Buffy. Buffy picked up the roller tray and ran after Faith dumping the paint over Faith's head.

"How's that F?" Buffy laughed.

Faith's jaw drops, "Oh my God, I can not believe you just did that!" she stars laughs and moves forward, she lightly taps Buffy on the cheek just to get paint on her. "Come on give me a big hug!" She chases Buffy around the room, both laughs, before they finally collapse. "I'm so glad I put plastic down." Faith laughs. "Sam would kill me." For a moment nobody says anything. "Hey B?" Faith says finally.

"Yeah" Buffy answered.

"You really mean what you said, 'bout me being part of the family?" Faith turns her head sideways to look at Buffy.

"Of course I did." Buffy said looking over at Faith. "You could ask anyone...you're stuck with us." Buffy smiled.

Faith bites her bottom lip, "Ya know, I'm sorry about all the shit right? And I want to do better. Sam makes me want to do better, and it's like I'm excited about this baby, but I'm scared too ya know?" Faith sets up. "I mean this is a whole new little person, and just look at how bad I fucked up in past. Who's to say I'm not gonna fuck up a baby?" Faith looks down at her finger nails and sighs deeply.

"Faith, don't think that. You're going to be great. You're even reading about baby do's and don'ts." Buffy said bending low so she could look at Faith. "Besides I think Sam's a very good judge in character and well she's crazy about you." Buffy smiled. "Don't worry so much about it...you'll have time to do that at feeding times and diaper changes."

Faith looks up and meets Buffy's eyes smiling, "I hope you're right. Sam's one of the best things that ever happened to me." She tilts her head to the side. "Anne." She smiles. "Jaden Anne Lehane."

"Huh?" Buffy asked looking at Faith.

Faith laughs a little, "Her name, my little girl's name. Sam picked out the first name, and said I should pick out the middle. I wanna name her Anne, if it's alright with you. Jaden Anne Lehane." Faith smiles gently at the name.

"After me? You want to name her after me?" Buffy asked.

Faith laughs, "Who else you know with a middle name Anne?" she pauses. "I want her name to stand for something. And I figure namin her after onna the best slayers ever born, kinda falls under the meaning category. Sides, you're like a sister to me."

Buffy's eyes begin to water and she pulls Faith into a hug.

Kennedy snorts from the doorway, "What is this hug fest?"

Faith pulls back and turns around to looks at Kennedy, who's holding a beer, "Don't recall sayin you could have onna those." She looks over at Buffy. "I say we get her." Both girls make a dive for Kennedy knocking her down.

"Get off me! Get the fuck off me! I'm getting paint in my hair!" Kennedy yells causing them to laugh harder.

Buffy laughed, "I didn't know you were the girly type." Buffy said to Kennedy rubbing paint on her face.

"I'm not! That shit don't come out easy though!" Kennedy says laughing.

Faith laughs looking around, "Sam's gonna be home in less then an hour, we gotta get this room painted or else I'm sleeping on the couch, and believe me when I say it ain't comfortable to sleep on."

Kennedy raises an eye brow, "Don't tell me you and the little misses have had a spat and you slept on the couch..."

Faith rolls her eyes, "One word: hormones."

"Well I don't want to be on Sam's bad side." Buffy said as she began painting again.

Faith laughs, "Yeah that wouldn't be good. Can you believe she got me up at three this morning, because she wanted tacos?" Faith begins painting again, "Course after the tacos she said thank you in a very nice way, so...I can't complain too much. Ten weeks and we'll have a baby."

It takes the better part of an hour to finish up the room, all three laughs and talks. Kennedy leaves once the room is done; she apparently had a big date. Buffy and Faith set to putting the crib together. Sam stands for a long moment watching them, Faith knows she's there, but isn't sure if Buffy knows or not.

Sam finally sighs, "Well at least you got the room painted." She smiles at Buffy. "How's it going? You look like Faith attacked you with paint, or actually you both look like you were attacked with paint..." She laughs a little. "I'm not even sure I want to ask."

Faith smiles at her, "We had a bit of a paint fight." She frowns at the look on Sam's face. "You okay babe? You look worn out." Sam just nods which causes Faith to worry even more, she gets up and moves to Sam's side. "What's wrong Sam?"

Sam waves her off, "Nothing, I just over done it today, don't worry so much." She looks at Buffy. "So how's Robin doing?"

"He's good." Buffy replied. "I could finish this if you want to go be with Sam." Buffy said to Faith.

Faith smiles at Buffy, "Are you sure you don't mind? She just over does it sometimes, and I'm worried about these weird cramps she's been having." Faith wraps on arm around Sam's lower back.

"Those aren't cramps, they're your daughter kicking me." Sam leans into Faith and yawns, "Maybe Buffy could finish...and we could take a nap...'cause the baby's actually sleeping. I think maybe I wore her out too."

Faith gently kisses Sam's temple, "It's alright, I gotcha now." she looks over at Buffy and smiles slightly. "Sure you don't mind B?"

"You go be with your girl." Buffy smiles. "I mean how hard can this be?"

Faith chuckles leading Sam toward the bedroom, "Just remember, you're name sakes gonna be sleepin in that crib." She calls behind her.

"Huh?" Sam asks.

"Got our girl's middle name," Faith says, "Anne, Jaden Anne Lehane."

Sam smiles, "Perfect." They say closing the bedroom door.