Hey everyone I'm back! It's been absolutely ages since I last updated for which I apologise. I had a great holiday and wrote a little, but unfortunately I really don't like this chapter. I've been back just over a week and trying to work on it since then but it just doesn't work for me. Still, now I'm past this, I can finally get round to wrapping up this way too long fic! Hope you like despite my reservations, let me know!

Oh, and my baby stuff may totally suck since, being 17, I've never had one! My cousin just had a baby so I've been sort of researching and trying to work out when babies do what but you'll just have to go with me.

Thanks to:

Panther28

Sabia

Dreamer Child

Silver Warrior

Anastasia Monroe

CelticHeiressFiona

Erak

Clcountry

Captinuv

Anne-Marie

Miz

Mika – I've still got about 5 chapters to go I think, maybe more. Too long!

Nobody

Lostangel92

Queen of the Caribbean

Lolly6

Lightdemondarkangel

Hellmouthprincess – lol that's kind of my own attitude to babies, they scare me!

Thorn of Blood – as usual, a rally great review where you helped me see stuff I missed. I agree about Firenze, I just reread OotP and there's no way they would have him back but it was the best way for him to see Buffy. And thanks so much for the dedication, I really like your fic and I think you just need to write more things to get the recognition you truly deserve

WaterNaiad13

Saphrine

Wllw979

Kyra2 – unfortunately although the demons are annoying, they are no match for Voldemort

Becks89 – you have to update TYE! It's getting so good and interesting and just update okay?

SiriusEarendil

Charmedfanatic3000

Chapter 37 – New Arrival

They landed in the road outside Grimmauld Place and Buffy felt another contraction coursing through her.
"I don't think there's much time," she said, wincing. "You've got to take me now." Sirius nodded and ran round the side of the house, when he came back, he was astride his motorbike. Quickly, he helped Buffy on, got on in front of her and started the engine. They roared down the London Street, weaving their way through traffic, heading for the muggle hospital that Buffy had insisted on using.
Within ten minutes they were there and Sirius helped Buffy off of the bike outside the accident and emergency centre.
"I can't stay," he said dejectedly. "I have to go back to Grimmauld Place, make that potion Giles found. Someone might recognise me; I was in all the muggle papers." Buffy nodded, clutching her stomach.

"I love you," Sirius said, cupping her face in her hands and kissing her. "I'll be back as soon as I can. Good luck."

It was over forty minutes before Sirius was able to return. He had driven back to Grimmauld Place and set to work making a potion that would make his face unrecognisable to all that didn't know him. He made it deftly, sent an owl to Giles to tell them what had happened, picked up Buffy's overnight bag and was back on his bike after about twenty minutes. He left the bike outside the ward and ran inside to the reception desk.
"Buffy Summers," he panted urgently at the receptionist. "She's having a baby." The receptionist smiled at him politely and tapped a few keys on the computer.
"Ah yes I see," she said pleasantly. "Room 105, up the stairs, down the hall and on the left. Are you family?" Sirius nodded and without waiting for her reply sped towards the stairwell. He took the stairs two at a time, nearly knocking over a woman in the process. He ran down the pale coloured corridor and began to count off rooms on his left.
"One oh one…..one oh three……one oh five!" he muttered to himself as he found the right room. Just as he was about to push open the door a nurse came out and nearly walked into him.
"Oh I'm sorry," she said brightly. "Are you looking for Buffy?" Sirius nodded urgently.
"We've just finished cleaning her up," the nurse told him. Sirius frowned.
"I missed it?" he asked disappointedly and the nurse nodded.
"Buffy said you were coming from work," she added. "But everything went well, it was very quick and both Buffy and the baby are doing well. You can go in." Sirius nodded, thanked her and then pushed the door open.

Buffy was lying with her eyes closed in a white sheeted bed being tucked in by a nurse but she opened them and smiled when he came in. She looked exhausted but happy.

"You missed all the excitement," she said wearily. "I told her to hang on but she wouldn't wait. She was eager to see the world." Sirius came forward and kissed her. Buffy's arm was stretched out, her arm holding the edge of a plastic cot. Sirius moved round to the other side of the bed and beheld his daughter for the first time. She was scrunched up, sleeping, her tiny hand to her mouth. A tuft of the palest blonde hair sat atop her head and pink blankets were wrapped around her.

"She's beautiful," he murmured softly, his eyes filling with tears.
"Would you like to hold her?" the nurse who had been straightening Buffy's sheets said. Sirius nodded, not taking his eyes off of his daughter. The nurse reached into the cot and lifted out the baby, carefully placing her in Sirius' arms.

He held her gingerly, her small weight warm in his arms. She slowly opened her dark lashed eyes and looked up at him with pale blue grey eyes.
"She's awake," he murmured to Buffy.

"She has your eyes," Buffy said fondly. Sirius rocked his daughter gently who just watched him silently. Then her tiny red face screwed up and she began to cry.
"She's hungry," the nurse said. Sirius handed his daughter to Buffy who began to feed her.

"She's perfect," he said, watching them both tenderly. "You two are so beautiful." Buffy looked up at him with smiling eyes. He watched as the baby finished eating and then went back to sleep in her mothers arms.
"When can we take her home?" Sirius asked the nurse, keeping his voice low so as not to disturb the baby.

"The Doctor says she should be all set to go home tomorrow," the Nurse answered. "We like to keep them in one night to check every things okay. You can stay here with her if you like." Sirius nodded and the Nurse left the room.

"How do you feel?" Sirius asked, sitting down on the side of the bed and putting his arm round Buffy so he could be close to her and his daughter.

"I've been better," Buffy admitted with a rueful smile. "But I'm okay. I can't wait to be up and about again." Sirius stroked the top of his daughter's head lightly.
"She's got your hair," he said affectionately. "Now what are we going to call her?" Buffy looked up at him thoughtfully.

"Well we know the middle names, Joyce Lily," she said contemplatively. "It's between Abigail, Elizabeth and Stephanie. Which one's your favourite?" Sirius thought for a moment.

"I think I like Abigail," he said pensively. "She can be Abby for short." Buffy grinned.

"That was my favourite too," she said delightedly. "Abigail Joyce Lily Black. Abby. It works." Sirius kissed Buffy's forehead.
The door opened slowly, revealing Giles.
"Is she here?" he asked eagerly. Sirius nodded and Giles opened the door fully and entered the room, followed Xander, Willow, Anya and Oz.
"Where's Faith?" Buffy asked anxiously.
"She's still in the battle," Giles explained. "She said one of us had to stay with the Order to finish off the demons. She'll be okay."
"I hope so," Buffy said uneasily. The she added unnecessarily: "Oh and the baby came. Look." Giles smiled and nodded.
"We see that," he said warmly, looking at the baby in Buffy's arms. "Are you both well?"

"We are," Buffy said succinctly, with a smile. "We named her, Abigail Joyce Lily Black. Abby. You want to hold her?"

Giles came forward, looking apprehensive and Buffy placed the baby in his arms. She nestled in them, sleeping peacefully.
"Buffy, Sirius, she's beautiful," he said, looking down at her. The Scoobies gathered around to look at her.
"She looks like you Buffy," Willow aid softly.
"Yes, I look like a baby," Buffy said deadpan but she smiled all the same. "She's a cutie isn't she?"

"A definite cutie," Xander agreed. "Can Uncle Xander hold her?" Giles passed her over to Xander who held her securely in his arms.
"Hey sweetie, I'm cool Uncle Xander," he said gently to the baby. "I'll be the one you can come to when your mom's being a bitch, okay?" Buffy stuck her tongue out at him and nestled back into her pillows.
"I'm getting broody An," Xander said, looking at Anya. She rolled her eyes.
"Okay my turn," Willow said eagerly, taking the baby from Xander. "She's so tiny. Look at her little hands!" Abby was passed to Oz and then to Anya before being set down in her cot to sleep.
"We can't stay much longer," Giles said apologetically. "We've got to get back to Grimmauld Place, that's where everyone's meeting after the battle. We need to be there to help out."
"I hope everyone's okay," Buffy said worriedly. "Tell them thanks…..god that sounds lame. Thanks for saving my life and that of my child's and risking your own. But still tell them please?"

"I will," Giles said smiling. "Come on you lot."

"We'll be home tomorrow," Buffy called after them. "Sometime in the afternoon, before the potion wears off."

They were released from the hospital the next afternoon, Buffy feeling better after a night's sleep and a shower and the baby dressed in a yellow babygro. They caught a taxi back to Grimmauld Place, Sirius holding Abby tenderly. Buffy was so proud of him, he was the perfect doting father, taking care of her and Abby.

They arrived at Grimmauld place, paid the cab driver and waited for him to pull away before furtively looking around and going up the stone steps into Grimmauld Place.

Buffy shut the door behind her and Sirius and looked around the shadowy hallway which was empty.

"Oh I thought there'd be someone to welcome us home," she said dejectedly. "Oh well." She dropped the overnight bag in the hallway and pushed the door open to go into the living room and collapse on a sofa.
"CONGRATULATIONS!" the room yelled at her and Sirius who was just behind her. Buffy nearly fell over in shock to see the entire Weasley family, Tonks, Moody, Remus, Kingsley, Harry and all the Scoobies standing before them beaming, a banner above their heads bearing the word they'd just shouted in changing colour letters.

Behind Buffy, Abby woke up and began to cry, a plaintive cry that showed how unimpressed she was with the party. Sirius laughed and rocked her gently.

"You guys did all this?" Buffy asked in amazement. "I thought there was a war going on?"

"That finished ages ago," Faith said casually coming forward. "Get with the times B." To her surprise, Buffy came forward and enveloped her in a hug.

"What's that for?" Faith asked a trace of surprise in her voice.

"For what you did," Buffy said, releasing her. "You saved us. I thought you were dead."

"Still alive and kicking," Faith said, tossing her hair back with a grin.

"What took you so long?" Buffy asked confusedly. "Everyone else was done way before you." Faith smirked knowingly.
"I had something to take care of," she said mysteriously. "You'll soon see. Tomorrow probably." Buffy regarded her curiously but didn't pursue it.
"Did everyone else get through okay?" Buffy asked worriedly. "No one was seriously hurt?"

"A couple of people were injured but no one was killed," Moody told her. Buffy nodded thoughtfully.
"They really came through," she said absently. She looked at her friends. "And so did you guys! Thank you."

She and Sirius dumped their bags and moved into the living room which was decorated with streamers and had a big table full of food. Buffy found Harry.

"Hey you," she said delightedly. "How did you get away from Hogwarts?" Harry grinned.
"Dumbledore said I could go," he replied. "He came back right after the fight and found me."
"But how did you get away from Hogwarts?" Buffy persisted. "Surely it was a bit risky with Professor Scrimgeour sniffing around." Harry smiled knowingly.

"He's not anymore," he told her. "When you were kidnapped, Dumbledore decided it was time Hogwarts was safe again. He convinced Fudge that Scrimgeour would be better used within the Ministry, and that Percy would be a better choice. And since Fudge thinks Percy is loyal to him, he agreed!" Buffy grinned.
"Good move," she said thoughtfully. "But I wonder why Dumbledore suddenly decided to do that…..?" She was spared further wondering when she spotted a pile of gifts.

"Babies are so great," she remarked moving over to them.

It was much later when Buffy had finally finished opening the presents for Abby, mostly baby clothes and toys. Abby had been passed around from person to person and was currently residing in Giles' arms, sleeping peacefully. Buffy was sitting next to Harry who was talking to her about Hogwarts.
"How are Ron and Hermione?" Buffy asked, watching Giles kiss Abby's forehead gently. Harry rolled his eyes.
"Ron is so in love with Hermione," he said irritably. "Everyone sees that but him. And Hermione really likes him, but she's waiting for him to make the first move. Which means all they do now is argue because they're both so frustrated." Buffy laughed. "It means I'm always in the middle, I was glad to get away!"

"They'll figure it out," she said fondly. "But what about you, how's your love life?" Harry grimaced and didn't respond so Buffy pursued it.

"Weren't you with that girl, what was her name….Cho?" she asked and harry grimaced again. "Didn't work out huh?"

"You can say that again," Harry said with a sigh. "All she did was cry. I really don't understand girls. Besides, I don't really want to make many more friendships right now….not with…." He trailed off, not needing to express what he felt since they both knew.
"I thought I'd never find love," Buffy admitted. "I mean my track record wasn't exactly impressive and being the slayer pushes you into solitude. But I found Sirius, in Azkaban of all places. Don't give up on it just yet."
"How did you know that Sirius was the one?" Harry asked curiously. Buffy's eyes found Sirius, just taking his daughter from Giles and looking at her fondly.

"You just know," she said lightly.

The next morning Buffy and Sirius were eating breakfast when the owl post came. They had had a relatively peaceful night, Abby waking up once in the night for feeding, something they knew wouldn't last much longer. They were waiting for the sleepless nights.

A tawny owl came to the window at nine and Buffy paid him, taking the Daily Prophet from him. She took it to her seat and opened it, looking at it absently while she reached for her coffee. Suddenly, her eyes widened and she flattened it on the table top frantically, eyes scanning the words intently.

MINISTRY IN UPROAR AS WIZARD 'RETURNS FROM THE DEAD'

Yet more problems arose at the Ministry of Magic headquarters last night when an unnamed witch brought in Peter Pettigrew, a wizard assumed dead for 15 years.

Pettigrew was supposed to have been killed by Sirius Black, after Black joined Voldemort and betrayed the location of the Potters. However, events last night call into question the whole tale.

Pettigrew was immediately taken into the custody of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, apart from any other matters, he has been acting as an illegal animagus for many years. However, the more pressing matter of the truth will be determined in a trial held in the near future. The Ministry are calling for any witnesses to come forward.

'It is essential that we discover the truth,' Madame Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement said last night in a statement. 'It appears that a cover up has occurred – one that could have cost an innocent man twelve years in Azkaban.'

Albus Dumbledore, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot and headmaster of Hogwarts, also spoke out last night. His statement spoke in favour of Sirius Black, declaring his innocence and claiming he was sent to Azkaban for Pettigrew's crimes. 'I'm sure it is the business of the Ministry that the truth is uncovered and set right.'

Sirius Black, notorious for the supposed murder of thirteen muggles, spent twelve years in Azkaban before his infamous escape four years ago. It was originally thought that Black had rallied to He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named in the wake of his return, but now an investigation is underway into what happened fifteen years ago. Ministry insiders have said that Black can expect significant compensation if acquitted.

"I don't believe it!" Buffy muttered hoarsely. "I can't believe she did it!" Sirius looked up concernedly.

"What is it?" he asked. Buffy wordlessly passed him the newspaper which he read rapidly. He looked up at her and a huge grin spread over his face.

"Faith!" he exclaimed. "It must have been!" The door opened and the girl in question strolled in absently.
Sirius leapt up and grabbed her in a bear hug.

"You saw the papers?" she asked, a tiny smile creeping onto her face. "I didn't get you a baby present, I hope that'll do."

"You hope that'll do?" Buffy repeated, getting up to hug Faith herself. "It was the best present of all." Faith shrugged.

"I may not say it, but I want people to be happy," she said guardedly. "Especially you two. Besides it was the least I could do, he was standing right there shaking like a big girl. All I had to do was crack him over the head and pick him up. Easy." Buffy kissed her cheek in delight. Sirius just stared out the window in amazement.

"I can't believe this," he murmured. "After all these years…." Faith grinned.

"I told rat boy that if he lied I'd come after him," she said smirking.
The fireplace crackled and they all turned to see Dumbledore appear whirling in the flames. He stepped into the kitchen, his eyes falling on the paper.

"I see you have heard the news," he asked, eyes twinkling. They all nodded, grinning broadly.

"What's gonna happen?" Sirius asked eagerly. "When will the trial be?" Dumbledore regarded him thoughtfully.
"Soon I hope," he said pensively. "Fudge is eager to show he has a firm line regarding death eaters. After everything, this has really thrown him."
"Do I have to go?" Sirius asked breathlessly. "To the trial I mean." Dumbledore shook his head, the lenses of his glasses catching the light.
"It's too dangerous," he said firmly. "If by some wild chance Pettigrew gets away, we can't have you carted back to Azkaban. No, if you write your testimony, send it to the ministry that will be enough for the jury. I will speak on your behalf, of course."

"Thanks," Sirius said absent mindedly. He sat down at the kitchen table, staring into space. "I never thought I'd be acquitted; not now….it's been so long….to long." He looked up at Dumbledore again. "Does Harry know?" Dumbledore nodded.

"He too will have read it in the paper," he informed them. "It was only Faith, Kingsley and myself that were aware of Pettigrew's capture before this morning." Sirius nodded blankly, lapsing into silence again.
"Will I get to see him?" he asked suddenly. "After the trial and everything, if it goes right. Will I get to speak to Peter?" Dumbledore said nothing for a short time.

"Would you want to?" he asked carefully. Sirius stared up at him, stared through him. Slowly he nodded.

"I think I've earned that right," he said frowning distractedly.