Disclaimer:Since my name is not Joss Whedon, I don't own 'Angel' or any of the characters associated with the show. The challenge (details below) belongs to me and so does Courtney.

The Baby Boom Challenge.

Inspired by the movie of the same name. Lilah Morgan's life is going great until her cousin dies, leaving Lilah with an unwanted inheritance - her baby daughter. Now, Lilah must juggle her very demanding career at Wolfram and Hart with taking care of a mischievous baby.

Requirements.

- The story should take place during Season Three or Four of 'Angel'.
- The baby should be a girl, aged between ten and fifteen months, ie. old enough to crawl and make trouble, but small enough to have to be carried around and wear diapers.
- Lilah must bring the baby to work, preferably to a very important meeting.
- Lilah changes the baby's diaper - without actually knowing how.
- Lilah does NOT abandon the baby on the doorstep to the Hyperion, or sacrifice her to the Senior Partners. She's stuck with the baby. Whether she becomes Mother of the Year, or turns the kid into a mini-her or something between the two extremes is up to you.

Bonus.

- The baby calling Lilah 'mama' at some stage, and Lilah's reaction.
- The baby biting Gavin.
- Lilah hiring a nanny, preferably going through a string of them, either because she's not happy, or the baby is too much of a handful.
- The baby winning over a powerful, important demon client by being adorable.
- Lilah getting into a 'soccer mom' conversation with the mothers of other babies.

Note: Lilah may be involved with Wesley, or another person, during the story, but she should be the baby's principal carer.

Author's Note:I've never written a baby's thoughts before. This is just Courtney's point of view during a typical day in her new life. She's been with Lilah about a week at this point. 'Mr Maroo' is how she thinks of Linwood Murrow.


Chapter 5.

COURTNEY'S POV.

I don't know why big people don't like going to work.

Auntie Lilah's always cranky in the mornings before we go into the big funny shaped house where her office is.

Maybe she's cranky 'cause she never takes her nap.

I like 'work'.

Auntie Lilah's office is really big and there's lots of cool things to play with and chairs and shelves to climb on.

Sometimes I play with Auntie Lilah's friend. Her name is Harmony but whenever I try to say it, it never sounds right.

Harmony's hair is very long and it's yellow like my teddy. It's fun to pull, 'cept Harmony makes a funny squeaky noise whenever I do.

My mama's hair wasn't yellow. It was like the soil in the garden, or maybe a bit like chocolate.

Soil tastes weird. Not like chocolate.

My mama's not here now.

We were in the car going vroom-vroom and I fell asleep. When I woke up, Mama had gone bye-bye.

That's why I live with my Auntie Lilah. She's funny. She looks like Mama but she doesn't snuggle like her.

I miss my mama.

I'm crying so Harmony picks me up and cuddles me. She tries to sing but she's not very good at it. She asks me what's wrong, if she can do anything to help.

I want to say to bring my mama back but the words won't come out the way I want them to sound.

Harmony tickles my tummy and talks in a silly voice. She makes funny faces.

Auntie Lilah comes out of her office 'cause she wants to know why she can't get some quiet so she can work.

Auntie Lilah doesn't like to make funny faces.

There's only one thing I can do to get her to make a face.

"Mama."

This time her whole face turns red and she runs back into her office.

Harmony smiles and makes me her bestest face. Her face goes all bumpy and her teeth get extra long.

I don't have many teeth yet, but they're very sharp. They made Yucky Gavin scream.

Auntie Lilah always says that I'm 'evil in a little package'. I can't tell whether she's kidding or not.

I'm not sure what 'evil' means but people say that Auntie Lilah is evil so it must mean something nice.

Harmony lets me play with her make up.

She pretends that she doesn't want me to touch it, but why else would she leave it on her desk where I can reach it if I stretch really hard?

I like Harmony's lipstick. It tastes like strawberries.

Mr Maroo smiles at me before he goes into Auntie Lilah's office. I like Mr Maroo. He's nice. He gives me a lollipop. It's green. It gets stuck in Harmony's hair.

So he gives me another one.

Lollipops make me want to play extra hard and run around but I can't 'cause I can't walk yet. They taste way better than baby food. I spit that yucky stuff up but Auntie Lilah and Harmony can't take a hint.

When I'm big, I'll only eat lollipops . . .and maybe paper.

Me and Harmony play while Auntie Lilah and Mr Maroo have a meeting, whatever that is.

The meeting takes ages and Auntie Lilah is all tired and cranky when they're finished and she comes to pick me up.

I think it's because she doesn't eat enough lollipops.

"Bye-bye, munchkin."

I wonder why Harmony can't remember my name. She calls me lots of different things.

I like it when I'm with Auntie Lilah. She looks like my mama so I can make believe that I'm still with her.

It's not the same though.

Aunite Lilah says that she has to get a nanny 'cause she can't keep briniging me into work.

I don't know why not.

I like it here.

When I'm big, I'm going to be a lawyer, just like Auntie Lilah.

TBC