Two weeks later….
Willow wakes up fairly early, it's Saturday and she has the house to herself. Lazily she wonders into the kitchen noting the note on the coffee maker. Grabbing a cup she wonders over, picking it up.
Wills,
Buffy called she can't make lunch. Bethany has the flu. I took the kids shopping with Sam, Jay and Alex. Don't worry about the housework, just relax. Love you, Tara.
Smiling Willow pours herself a cup of coffee. She's just set the pot back in place when she feels a tap on her shoulder.
"Excuse me."
Willow wheels around grabbing the counter looking for the source of the voice.
A shimmering figure smile slightly, "Didn't mean to scare you," she says.
"You're a…But we don't have….what do you want? Why are you here?" the wicca asks her voice shaking slightly.
The shimmery figure sighs a little. She's an older lady. Grey hair, an old but grandmothery face, and deep chocolate eyes.
"I'm not here to hurt you."
Willow relaxes a little, "Then what do you want."
"I need your help. I want to cross back over." The woman answers promptly.
"What?!" Willow laughs, "The dead can't cross back over!"
"But they can where I am," the shimmery woman insists.
Willow thanks it over. There are Heavenly demotions where with enough power they can crossover. But they are so happy there that it rarely happens.
"Why would you want to cross back over?"
"To see my granddaughter's wife give birth to their third child." The woman smiles as if thinking about it were the happiest thing ever.
"Who is your granddaughter?"
"Gabriella Faith Lehane."
Willow stares at her several seconds before clearing her throat.
"I….well, I'll have to talk to Faith." Willow finally manages her mind going a hundred miles her hour.
Two hours later…
Faith sets on the couch staring at the figure in the chair her lips parted ever so slightly.
"It's really not polite to stare Gabriella." The shimmering figure says.
"It's really not polite to give someone a heart attack either." Faith returns.
Willow hides her smile. "I'm sorry it was a shock Faith. You can imagine me!"
Faith turns to Willow, "So what's the deal Red?"
"Well, your grandmother wants to cross back over." Willow starts but is interrupted by the shimmery woman.
"Gabriella, please." She says shaking her head, "I want to cross over from the Heavenly demotion that I'm in so that I can see your third child, a girl, born. I've been watching from a far for way to long. Besides, you and Sam will need the help."
Faith frowns, "If you've been watching then why didn't you just…ya know…do this sooner Gamma?"
"Because I didn't have the strength. Besides it wouldn't have been polite to just drop in."
Faith laughs running a hand threw her hair, "You said it."
"Gabriella, don't get an attitude with me."
"Most people call me Faith, Gamma." Faith answers, "I changed it when…. after you died."
The woman sighs, "I know, old habits are just hard to break."
Faith smiles at the woman, "I've really missed you."
"As have I child, as have I."
For the next hour Faith and Gamma reminisce about old, happy times. Before finally Willow must step in. She really wanted to let them get to know each other again, but well, Gamma was still Shimmery.
"I think we should do the spell." Willow says.
"How long would you stay?" Faith asks.
"For as long as you need me child." Gamma answers smiling.
"So it's not like a few hours and then your have to go back?"
"Nope, she can stay as long as she needs," Willow answers, "See it's really cool, when she wants to go back all she has to do is think really hard about the place that she was and then she's there. But in order to get here I have to open a portal. But it's really easy. Or well for me it is, it wouldn't be for the common wicca. Although, I'm not saying I'm all that. Or anything."
"Wow, Red." Faith says with a laugh, "I get whatcha saying."
With a nod Willow turns to the shimmering figure of Gamma. "You need to go back and wait for us to open the portal. It won't take long."
With that the shimmering figure of Gamma disappears and Faith turns her attention to Willow. Willow smiles and takes Faith's hand gently squeezing it.
"Don't worry you'll be hugging her in no time."
With that Willow gets off the couch, and moves to the middle of the room. Opening her arms wide she closes her eyes looking up to the ceiling, "Gods of transportation, hear my cry. Allow the crossing over the great divide, It is our loved one that we beckon to."
There's a strange wind picking up in the room and Faith stands up, watching Willow hair turn shimmery white.
"Allow her to cross over!"
More wind picks up.
"I DEMAND YOU ALLOW HER TO CROSSOVER!"
There's a bolt of lightening in the living room and a portal opens. Willow throws her head back, obviously taking all her energy to hold open the portal. Out steps Gamma.
Faith squeals, yes she squeals, and grabs her around the neck. Willow puts her arms down and falls onto her knees.
Faith untangles her self from Gamma and kneels before Willow hugging her as well. Willow weakly hugs Faith back.
"Thank you," Faith says pulling back tears in her eyes, "Thank you sooo much."
Later that afternoon….
Faith POV….
So I'm setting on the couch with my feet propped up, when Sam comes home. She's looking pretty damn tired, and at five an half months I don't blame her. She sees me and frowns, but doesn't tell me to get my feet off the coffee table like usual.
She sniffs the air, and I can't help but smile. "What smells so good, are you cooking?"
I shake my head, "Not exactly, there's uh, a guest here." I say.
"MOM!" Alex bellows, "There's some strange woman cooking in our kitchen!"
I laugh a little, and smile at Sam. Sam just looks really confused.
"My Gamma's showed up," I say standing up, "She uh, she's cooking." Okay so maybe I should have thought about what I was going to tell her cause she's looking really confused. Although she's really sexy when she's confused. Her eye brows kind a knit together and there's these really cute frown lines on her forehead, and she's sticks her bottom lip out a little. She just looks so damn sexy I want to take her right there, whenever she does it, which is not good when we're in public. Apparently, she has a think about quickies in the bathroom stall at the mall. I mean, I'm all for the danger, but she kinda had a panic attack. And then she wouldn't tell me why.
How is it you can live with somebody as long as I have Sam, nearly ten years, and she still has secrets? I mean sure I have some, but I keep them mostly to protect her. Is that why she keeps hers? Does she think she has to protect me? Because she doesn't. I'm a big girl I'm sure I could take it.
Ouch! What the fuck? Alex just threw a toy at me! "What the hell?" I turn around and glare at him.
He looks sheepishly at me, "I wasn't tryin ta hit you Momma, I was tryin to hit the toy box."
I look down at the toy, it's a toy truck. No wonder it fuckin hurt. But he probably was tryin to hit the toy box beside the couch, so I guess I can't be really really mad.
"You shouldn't be throwing things Alex." I say. And he shouldn't, mostly because he has the slayer arm and hit hurts like hell when he clocks you in the back of the head.
"Sorry Momma," Alex says, and my heart melts. My head still hurts but my heart melt. I love that little boy.
"It's okay, just don't throw it again." I say, glancing around. When did Sam leave?
I step around the couch and make my way to the kitchen. I stop at the door. Gamma is chatting happily with Sam, who is snacking on a fresh baked cookie. Mmmm, oat meal rasin my favorite. I sniff the air happily, and listen as Sam giggles.
"Gabriella," Gamma says, "Don't just stand there, pour some milk for Sam, and get the kids in here, they need a snack, and I need to get to know my great grandchildren."
I smile and do as asked. Ounce the milk is poured and the kids, including Allison and Amy are seated around the table, a plate of cookies in the middle, and Gamma at the head, I turn my attention to Sam.
"When did she get here?" Sam asks, looking sideways at me.
"This morning," I say, "She was a surprise for sure."
Sam nods, "I didn't think you had any living family." She doesn't sound mad or sad just factual. And I frown.
"I don't. Well, not exactly." I say. Okay how do I explain that my dead grandmother is setting at our table munching on cookies with the kids? I mean that's not something that happens everyday. It's like…well it never happens. But I'm really glad it did. My Gamma was the one person that truly cared before I was called. She tried ounce to get custody but it was denied. She's my Dad's mom.
But because she was so old, they said it wouldn't be good, that she wouldn't be able to care for a child. But I still spent weekends with her, and like when Mom got really really bad, then she'd let me hide out. She doted on me, and it was really cool. Then right after I was called she got sick. Three days before Katios, you remember him right? Big mother fuckin demon who killed my watcher? Me and B killed him right after I got to Sunnydale.
Anyways, three days before all that started back in Boston, I went to see my Gamma. When she didn't come to the door, I went inside. When I found her, she was in her chair, looked like she was sleeping. But she was gone. It always amazed me, that of all the death I have seen, that is the one that sticks out perhaps most. I mean, sure I think about the murders, there's always a reminder. But it's just different with finding her. Because she was the one thing that made sense, and that loved me.
I feel Sam put her hand on my arm and look over. She looks worried, as she reaches out a hand to wipe my face.
"What's wrong Baby?" She asks softly.
I blink against the tears, "It's just…."
"I'm not really mad you didn't tell me, disappointed maybe."
"She's not technically of the living. I mean," I frown and look back toward her, "She died. But like she went to this Heavenly demotion and well she decided she wanted to like pop in for a visit of whatever."
Sam laughs a little, "Why do I think there's more to it then that?"
I smile, "Because nothing is as easy as that."
"But she's not like…..evil, I mean it's really your Gamma?"
"It's really her," I nod.
"Then I don't care how she got here."
I wrap my arms around her waste, feeling her stomach nestled safely between us. I laugh when I feel the baby kick a little. It loves kicking me when I'm this close to her. And kicks like hell after sex.
"So your name is Gabriella Faith Lehane huh?" Sam asks nuzzling my neck, "I never new you had a fist name."
"I don't use it often, she's the only one who called me that." I answer, looking toward the table again.
"I like it," Sam says nodding against my chest, "I think it's a beautiful name."
Third Person POV Later that night….
Gamma is perhaps five one, not a large woman. Sam can tell where Faith gets her chocolate colored eyes, and soft touch. Gamma must have been beautiful in her prime. Not to say that she wasn't beautiful. She was, in a way, very grandmotherly.
And right know, she's tucking Jay and Alex in bed. That's right ladies and gently she even read to them! Her laughter filter through the whole apartment and Sam can't help but smile. Her and Faith are in the kitchen doing the dishes and cleaning up.
Faith looks sideways seeing the smile on Sam's face, she leans against the counter as Sam wipes the counter for about the tenth time. "You look happy tonight."
Sam laughs and cuts her eyes over at Faith, "Am I usually not?"
"Of course you are, I just meant you look extra happy tonight." Faith says with a smile.
"You look pretty happy yourself." Sam says putting the rag away and wrapping her arms around Faith.
"I am, I like having her here." Faith wraps her arms around Sam gently rubbing her back. "It feels nice to talk to her again, and stuff." To be honest it was better then nice. Gamma had a very calming effect on Faith.
Sam nods, "Yeah, and the kids love her."
"I know, I guess they've never had any real family, I mean outside 'the family'." Faith frowns wondering if that seriously made since.
Sam laughs, "I get what you're saying." She says not looking up, "And I agree. I love our family, but it's nice to have somebody from your past here. Other then…" She laughs a little snuggling closer to Faith, "You know what I mean."
"Yeah, I know what you mean." Faith lays her chin on Sam's head, "How ya feeling?"
"Mmmm," Sam lets out a content sound, "I'm okay. Baby's been active today."
"We really need to think about naming her." Faith says turning the head and laying her chin on the top of Sam's head, rubbing it against her soft brown hair.
"Any ideas?"
"Alyssa?" Faith says, but Sam shakes her head.
"Nothing with an A, we have enough." She laughs causing Faith to laugh as well.
"Brooklyn?" Faith asks.
"Maybe, Brooklyn Elizabeth?"
"No, I new an Elizabeth she was a big bully." Faith says shaking her head.
"Could we go set on the couch?" Sam asks pulling back, "My feet are starting to swell."
Faith looks down concerned, "Are you okay?" She reaches down and softly moves the hair out of Sam's eyes.
"I'm fine," Sam says leaning into her hand, "I just want to set down and cuddle, since we can."
Faith nods her head, taking Sam by the hand and leads her to the couch. She sets down putting her back against the arm, and her left leg on it. Sam sets down with her back against Faith, who wraps her arms around her. It feels really good to be held like this.
"So back to names?" Faith asks laying her chin on Sam's shoulder.
"For sure, Christina?" Sam asks.
"Wasn't that the name of that demon who almost killed Buffy about two years ago?" Faith frowns.
"No that was Chrismart." Sam says with a laugh.
"Close enough." Faith says, and Sam nods a little, "Danielle?"
"I new a Danielle she was bratty." Sam snuggles closer to Faith, biting her bottom lip, "We want her name to mean something right? I mean Jay has Buffy's middle name, and Alex is named after Xander and Conner."
"Right," Faith nods, "So what do you have in mind."
"What's Gamma's full name?"
"Isabella Eliza Lehane." Faith says kissing Sam's neck as she intertwines their fingers.
Sam smiles, "Gabriella Eliza Lehane." She whispers as if testing the name.
Faith looks down at her slightly taken aback. "You want to name her after Gamma?"
Sam laughs, "I want to name her after you both. Gabriella Eliza Lehane."
Faith doesn't say anything for a long moment, and Sam tilts her head sideways to see her face. "What's wrong baby?"
"I just can't believe you'd want to name our child after me."
"Who else would I want to name her after?" Sam asks, gently reaching up to wipe Faith's tears.
"Are you sure?"
"Faith, I want our child's name to mean something, and to me, you mean the world. I want her to carry your name. And I want her to carry Gamma's name. So that a piece of her is always here, even when she has to go back." Sam says.
Faith turns her around and kisses her deeply, "God I love you. Sometimes I just feel like screaming it at the top of my lungs. I love this woman, I love her so much it hurts."
"I wouldn't go screaming, I just got the kids to sleep." Gamma says from the doorway, smiling when the young couple look up started.
Sam, know facing Faith, laughs a little, kissing her again. She whispers against her lip, "I love this woman, God I love this woman."
Gamma turns and heads for the kitchen. She was very glad she came. And she wasn't going back until she was ready. Quickly she busied herself in the kitchen with various things. Hearing giggles from the living. The demotion she lived in had been Heavenly, but this was her Heaven. And she intended to enjoy it as much as possible.
Ounce she's done all she can in the kitchen she moves to the dinning room, noting that the giggles have calmed down and there is know a quiet conversation. Although she can't hear what's being said. She's not a Slayer. Her mind wonders back to when she found out that Faith was a Slayer. She sighs remembering the fear that had gripped her.
Faith had been a source of great joy for her. She was the light of her life, when she was a child. Gamma smiles remembering a naked two year old Faith running through the house. She hadn't been a big fan of clothes. So instead she ran around shedding various articles of clothing until she was completely naked. Then she's scream, 'I'm ona get you!'.
But then one day she saw the bruises. It had broken her heart and made her so angry. Her daughter had NOT been raised that way. And it had outraged her that Faith was being raised that way. But she hadn't been allowed to get custody. So her daughter kept drinking and kept hitting and there wasn't jack shit she could do about it. Although she kept trying to make sure that at least Faith's time with her was happy.
The more she watched the more she saw Faith getting angrier and angrier. And when she was called as a Slayer something else changed. She moved in with her watcher for one. But her mother had died just a little previously and Faith was living mostly on the streets. Gamma new she was sleeping around, but she wasn't sure how to stop it. Then she was diagnosed with terminal Cancer and she just…she couldn't save her one grand daughter. Or at least the one that was around.
Absently she glances at the pictures hanging on the wall. She wondered where she was. Not her, but the child Faith's mother had hidden from her. Faith was so young she doubted very much she remembered. But in spring of 1987 her one and only daughter had given birth to her second child. Gamma herself had caught the baby. Her daughter told her to take it away. She wanted to keep it, but she couldn't. She was older by that point in her life and she couldn't raise a child. Therefore, with a heavy heart she had taken her second born grandchild and dropped her at the local Boston hospital. Faith had been five years old at the time.
A noise gets her attention and she looks over to see Faith and Sam scurrying down the hall like two teenagers coming in late. She can't help but laugh a little. Slowly set moves toward her own bedroom, looking in on both children before heading to bed too.
Faith and Sam wake up the next morning to the smell of a wonderful breakfast. Sam is the first one out of bed, as the baby demands food, and now. Throwing on her robe she heads for the kitchen, finding the kids jabbering happily with Gamma.
"And then he said 'grr' and I said, 'I ant scared of you!'" Alex says.
Gamma laughs, "That was quiet some dream young man."
Alex grins proudly, "I wasn't scared at all Gamma!"
"I dreamed I was a princess and I lived in a mansion with Mom and Momma, and I didn't have to share my toys and stuff." Jay says stuffing her mouth with pancake.
Gamma nods, "That was a nice dream, but you're gonna have to share your toys eventually with your baby sister. She's gonna want to wear your clothes when she's big enough too."
"I don't mind, my clothes are gonna look good on her." Jay says, "I hope she's as pretty as I saw in my dream."
Sam finally manages to get her feet to move and go into the kitchen, where they're all setting at the counter. "Good morning."
"Morning Mom!" Both kids greet smiling broadly at her. They're hair is a mess and they're still in PJ's but they are the cutes kids in the world to her.
"Morning Sam," Gamma says, "How are you feeling?"
"Hungry," Sam says with a laugh.
"Good, you need to eat," Gamma says getting up, "Have a seat. I think you should stay off your feet today too, I noticed they were swelled pretty bad yesterday."
Sam shakes her head, "I just over did it yesterday, Gamma. I'm fine really."
Gamma sets a plate of blueberry pancakes in front of Sam, with syrup, raising an eye brow, "Samantha."
Sam raises her eye brow, then consents, "Oh fine, I'll take it easy."
"Good girl," Gamma says and Sam gives a small laugh. "You just tell me what you need done. Me and Faith will do it."
"Faith will do what?" Faith asks coming into the kitchen scratching her matted hair.
"The house work, I want Sam off her feet, they were swelled pretty bad yesterday." Gamma says fixing Faith a plate, "And don't steal food off her place Gabriella, you can wait thirty seconds for me to get yours fixed."
Faith chuckles, "I have a feeling I'm gonna have to be on my best behavior."
"Does that mean we can't get into trouble together?" Sam asks looking at Faith threw her eye lashes.
"You kids go get dressed and then you can play for a few minutes before cleaning up your rooms." Gamma says. Faith and Sam watch in amazement as both kids scurry off to do as they're asked. She turns back to Sam and Faith, "Have you went baby shopping yet?"
"Nope," Faith says shaking her head, "And I'm not going."
"And just why not? You helped create this baby," Gamma says.
"Shopping ant my thing." Faith says, "And yeah I helped create it, don't mean I need to go shopping."
"I thought you were, I thought you said you'd help me pick out the colors and stuff. I don't know what colors I want Faith, and we're gonna have to buy all new furniture and and clothes and stuff. We gave Buffy all Jay's hand me downs when Bethany was born." Sam says, getting slightly stressed.
"I said I'd think about going." Faith says sighing.
Gamma lays a hand on Sam's arm, "Don't worry about it Sammy, I'll help you. And weather she likes the idea or not, so with Faith."
"Thanks Gamma. I mean I have an idea, but it's just, there's so much we need. And on one hand it seems like forever before she'll be here, but then again, on the other, well it seems like no time. And then I think about all the things that's gonna change." Sam starts rattling off things.
"Babe, it'll be fine." Faith says kissing her temple, "You really need to eat."
"I tell you what, we'll take all next weekend and go shopping." Gamma says laying a gentle hand on Sam's arm. Sam smiles brightly.
"Oh geez," Faith says under her breath. She wasn't sure how many more shopping trips her checkbook could handle. But it makes it all worth while to see Sam so happy and have Gamma here.