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: To Darklight – Yes, Lilah already got Courtney clothes and stuff, as well as what she brought with her, but the idea of a baby in a pink business suit is so darling and has given me an idea I want to use in a future chapter. Thanks. And yes, Lilah knows that Harmony is a vampire.

Author's Note II: To Gigi13 – Yes, that's Delia from 'The Happiest Place On Earth' and the late Mrs Murray, about a year and a half before that story takes place.


Chapter 6.

Saturday morning.

The park seemed to have been adopted as Courtney's new favourite place.

Hoping to tire out the eleven month old, Lilah had brought her to the baby and toddler play area in the park opposite her apartment and left her in the sandpit, armed with a red plastic bucket and spade, to wreak what havoc she would.

Approximately three seconds after Lilah had sat her down in the sandpit, Courtney was very messy and very happy.

Lilah breathed a sigh of relief and settled back on one of the picnic benches provided to read through her depositions while her tiny ward scooped the sand into a pile.

"Oh, my!"

Lilah glared up at the thirty-something suburban mom, whose exclamation had broken her concentration. "Is something wrong?"

"Is that your baby?" The woman held her own baby protectively close.

"Is she always so destructive?" Another woman asked delicately, cradling her child in her lap.

Lilah glanced down at Courtney, who was cheerfully battering her sand mound with her spade, chortling in delight.

"You should really be concerned about these violent tendencies." The first mother recommended in an affected tone. "Who knows what will become of her if she carries on like this." She hugged her own child tightly, kissing the top of his head. "My little Mark is such a gentle child. He doesn't have an aggressive bone in his body."

Lilah snorted in derision. "Your little Mark looks stoned." She retorted bluntly. Although she cursed little Courtney frequently, she was not about to let anyone else bad mouth a relative of hers. "Besides," She smiled sweetly, emulating their sugary tones. "Modern psychologists agree that children who are aggressive as infants tend to be more successful in business and relationships."

Both women's eyes widened in astonishment and Lilah knew that they had fallen for her bluff and that their unfortunate offspring would be signed up for kickboxing classes as soon as they could toddle a step.

She felt a certain amount of satisfaction as the two women sped away to the other side of the playground, their infants in tow.

"Well this is something I never thought that I'd see." A dry, familiar voice commented behind her.

Lilah whirled around, a thin smirk on her face. "Lindsey." Her greeting was cool. "Since when do you have a death wish? You know as well as I do what happens to anyone who walks out on the firm."

"Evil hand, remember?" Lindsey waved at her. "Besides, I've got protection. Don't bother to tell them you've seen me, they won't be able to trace me. I've learned a few tricks since we last met."

"Impressive." Lilah conceded grudgingly. "What are you doing here?"

"Same as you." Without waiting for an invitation, Lindsey flopped down on the bench next to her. "Enjoying a beautiful sunny day."

Courtney beamed up at the stranger, displaying her incomplete collection of teeth. "Hi-hi."

"Hello." Lindsey's expression softened as he looked down at the baby. He looked up at Lilah. "Don't remember you having one of these. Looks just like you."

"It's not my baby!" Lilah protested, unable to help herself.

"I should hope not." Lindsey teased. "If only for her sake. The last thing the world needs is another you. I don't think it could survive a second time."

Tiring of her sand activities, Courtney crawled over to Lilah, still dragging the spade behind her, and held up her arms to be lifted.

Moving as if on autopilot, Lilah scooped the child into her lap.

"What's your name, sweetheart?" Lindsey tickled the baby under the chin. "And what did you do to end up with this lady?"

"Her name is Courtney." Lilah's voice was chilly. "And, not that it's any of your business, but she's my cousin's child."

"And you're babysitting?" Lindsey raised a sceptical eyebrow.

"On a permanent basis." Lilah muttered gruffly.

"Oh," Linsdey gave Courtney, who was chewing on the handle of her spade, a sympathetic smile. "I see."

"You don't happen to want a kid do you?" Lilah asked, only half joking, a trace of hope in her voice. "I remember you have a soft spot for them."

"Sorry." Lindsey allowed Courtney to take his hand – the not evil one – in her chubby one to examine it. "I've got some business, then it's back on the run."

"No rest for the wicked." Lilah quipped.

"You must be exhausted." Lindsey countered smoothly.

Lilah grinned wryly. "At least you can hold your own." She commented.

"Is my replacement not challenging your rapier wit?" Lindsey assumed a pathetic facial expression. "You poor thing."

Courtney, tiring of Lindsey's hand, squinted up at his face. "Who he?" She demanded of Lilah.

"This is Lindsey." Lilah gave her former co-vice president a malicious smile. "Yucky Lindsey."

The word 'yucky' coming from Lilah's lips was enough to make Lindsey laugh out loud.

Courtney studied the new arrival solemnly for a few minutes before making her verdict.

"No." Her voice was surprisingly resolute. "No yucky." She wriggled out of Lilah's lap to plant a wet kiss on Lindsey's cheek. "No yucky." She reiterated yet again, settling in his lap.

Lilah scowled at her. "Traitor."

Lindsey grinned. "The little lady has spoken." He passed Courtney over to her guardian. "And, much as I hate to chat and run, I really have some business I have to attend to."

Courtney whimpered a little as the former lawyer left.

Lilah looked down at the infant with a stern expression. "Whatever you do when you're older," She told her firmly. "Do not fall in love with a man like that. They're nothing but trouble."

Courtney nodded solemnly, as if she understood every word.

/Look at me. / Lilah thought, both amused and a little disgusted with herself. /I'm talking to a baby. What's happening to me? /

TBC.