Disclaimer: I don't own Buffy, but I do own Sophie, baby Lily, and Echo the puppy :)
The ring was silver, and had two small rubies set either side of the diamond. Faith stared at it for a moment, before a smile spread over her face.
"This was my Grammy's ring" she said, taking it from Sophie's hand. "Once when I was really little she said it was gonna be mine one day. But because I was only five when she died my Mom took all her stuff and sold most of it to get money for.. I don't remember exactly." The truth was, Faith did remember, exactly, but wouldn't say in front of Sophie. "Anyway, I tried to argue with her over it but all that got me was a good b.. you know, that doesn't matter either. I just never thought I'd see this again." Faith's smile widened. "B, give me your hand."
"Faith, you don't have to give me that" said Buffy, shaking her head. "It's special.."
"That's why I want you to wear it" said Faith. "Now, give me your hand."
"Okay.." Buffy held out her hand, slightly reluctantly, letting Faith slip the ring, which fit perfectly, onto her wedding finger. "But if you want me to wear something that belonged to somebody special to you, then you have to wear something that belonged to somebody special to me." The blonde disappeared back into the bedroom, returning a few minutes later. "Okay, now give me your hand." Faith shifted the position of her other arm so that she could still hold Sophie comfortably, then held the appropriate hand out to Buffy, who slipped a gold diamond ring onto Faith's own wedding finger. "This was my Mom's engagement ring. She took it off when she went into hospital and just never put it back on.."
"B.."
"I wear your ring, you wear mine" said Buffy seriously. "That's the deal."
"Well, alright then" Faith grinned. "Let's go give the other Scoobs the good news." They headed for the stairs, but Sophie began to wriggle, indicating she wanted to be let down.
"I should stays up here."
"Why do you say that Little Red?" Faith frowned.
"I don't want anybody to fight about me" Sophie sighed. When both Slayers gave her confused looks, she elaborated, describing the earlier events of the day that neither of them had witnessed. "Riley doesn't like me very much. When Mommy Willow telled him that demons maked me he.."
"Oh, that's it!" Faith growled, not needing to hear anymore. She handed Sophie to Buffy and marched down the hallway, stomping down the stairs.
"Faith, wait!" Buffy called after her.
"Don't try to stop me, B!" Faith called back. "Soldier boy can say whatever the hell he wants about me, but the kid is off limits!"
Downstairs, the others were waiting anxiously to see if the Vervain tea had worked. They were expecting, or at least hoping, for Buffy to bounce into the room and declare that she was cured. What they definitely were not expecting was for Faith to march into the room and punch Riley in the face, and, accidentally of course, knock him unconcious, as well as leave him with what was quite obviously going to become a black eye, and a nasty looking cut due the fact that she had happened to punch with her newly christened ring hand. Everybody stared in silence for a moment, until Spike began to clap and cheer.
"Nice shot, Faith!" He laughed. "Knocked the bloody wanker for six, you did!" The vamp stood, moving to inspect the unconscious soldier closer. "Bloody hell, how'd you make him bleed like that?" The cut was gushing blood, but not enough to really worry anyone.
"It's obviously because of that ring she's wearing" said Anya matter of factly, before continuing to flip through one of the baby books that Tara had leant her.
"Ring?" asked Dawn, confused.
"What ring?" said Angel, frowning.
"Faith doesn't wear a ring" said Willow, puzzled.
"About that.." Faith began with a nervous chuckle. At that moment, Buffy entered the room, carrying Sophie in one arm and wrapping the other around Faith's waist.
"Guess we have a lot of explaining to do, huh?" she grinned.