TITLE: Destiny's Child
AUTHOR: sugarwater
E-MAIL: DISCLAIMER: I own nothing except Breanna, all bow down to the mighty Joss
TIMELINE: Begins mid Season 2
SPOILERS: Probably just about everything
SYNOPSIS: B/A! The Powers That Be have a surprise in store for Buffy and Angel. Btvs re-write – Angel doesn't leave. Whole lot of Fluff and little bit of Angst.
DISTRIBUTION: Anywhere, if you want it, take it, just let me know!
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Very very long epic type story, Chapter 11 takes place around the time of "Faith, Hope & Trick".
FEEDBACK: Craved, oh please, please, please, REVIEW! Constructive crit very welcome
RATING: T
"Oh! And have you seen that cute little thing she does with her mouth when she yawns?" Willow gushed as she held Breanna.
Buffy looked over and smiled at her friend while folding some of her baby's newly washed clothes. It had been a few days since she had got Breanna back and she was enjoying being at home looking after her.
"You're just too cute! I could eat you all up!" Willow cooed.
"So have you spoken to Xander yet?" Buffy cautiously enquired.
Willow's face fell as she turned her attention to her friend. "No. He won't answer my calls. So he hasn't spoken to you either?"
Buffy sadly shook her head "He's ignoring me. I get it though, why he felt left out. I just wish he would talk to us, give me a chance to explain."
"He's totally avoiding me in school too. And Giles! He hasn't been in the library all week. We've never fallen out for this long before. It's starting to really bother me. What if he never talks to us again?" Willow worriedly yelped.
"I'm sure he will. He'll come round eventually. He has to." Buffy reasoned.
"I guess. So how's your mom been taking it all?" Willow asked.
Buffy sighed and sat down on the bed with Willow. "She's coping. To be fair she didn't really have much time to get used to the idea, but she's been great. For the first two days she was really disappointed, but I think she's falling in love with Bree and now she's starting to enjoy being a grandma." Buffy told her smiling.
Joyce knocked on Buffy's door and walked in. "Did I hear that awful word again?" she joked.
"Sorry" Buffy said smiling and rolling her eyes.
"Hi, Mrs. Summers!" Willow said as she handed the baby back to Buffy.
"Hey Willow, Uh, Buffy if you can spare me some time we need to go pick out the wallpaper for the nursery. Oh and they're delivering the cot today." She said smiling.
"Sure. Will, you wanna come?" Buffy asked her.
"Yeah why not, I've got time" Willow said as she helped Buffy put Breanna in her car seat.
Joyce grabbed her jacket and keys and led the way down the stairs. "Oh and the gallery just called me back, they think they can manage without me for two weeks while we get into a new routine and after that I can work out some hours that allow me to stay at home during the day while you're at school." She told her daughter.
"Thank you. I really appreciate it." Buffy said sincerely.
"Well it was either that or we hire a babysitter, you have to go back to school eventually." Joyce replied.
Buffy whined and reached for the door holding the baby carrier in one arm. When she opened it she was surprised to see Xander standing on the other side with a stuffed animal in his hand.
"Hey, check it out. It's the Buffster. And the mini Buffster." Xander stammered uneasily.
"Xander!" Willow exclaimed in shock.
"I just thought I'd stop by and check out the newest member of the Scooby gang. Make sure she's kosher." He joked smiling at Buffy.
Buffy smiled at her friend before putting down the baby carrier and hugging him tightly.
Willow looked on happily at the two reconciling friends before her. "Are you cool with me too?" she tentatively asked.
"How could I resist your Willowy charms?" Xander said, struggling for breath as he extended one arm to include Willow in the hug.
"Ok, oww" Xander eventually said and Buffy immediately pulled back.
"Oh! Sorry! I'm just so glad we're all ok again" she said.
Joyce smiled at the three friends and took her jacket off. "Why don't we put the wallpaper shopping on hold. You guys need time to catch up." She said before heading upstairs.
Willow, Xander and Buffy made their way through to the front room and sat down. Xander handed the stuffed animal to Buffy and smiled. "Aren't you gonna introduce us?" he joked.
Buffy smiled wryly and unfastened the baby seat, picking Breanna up. "Xander, meet Breanna, Breanna, meet your crazy Uncle Xander" she joked, holding out the baby to Xander. Xander immediately backed away, throwing up his arms. "Oh no, I don't do babies" he said worriedly.
"After everything we've been through you're scared of a baby?" Buffy asked incredulously.
"I'm not scared, they're just so fragile…ok yes, I'm scared" Xander admitted, ashamed.
Willow started to giggle at her friend. "It's ok Xander, I understand. I mean what if she drooled on you, or worse, hurt your finger by clenching it with her mighty grip!" she mocked.
Buffy tried hard not to laugh while Xander glared at Willow and took a deep breath. "OK, fine, hand her over" he said feigning confidence and bravado.
Xander held his arms out as Buffy carefully handed Breanna to him. "See? It's not scary at all." She said smiling.
Breanna opened her eyes and looked at the new face above her as Xander warily held her. "I think she likes me!" he said giddily.
"Of course she does! You're her crazy Uncle Xander!" Willow said grinning.
"I'm just irresistible that way" he retorted coolly. "And how has her gorgeous mommy been doing?" Xander cautiously asked.
"She's good. She's just not really looking forward to starting back at school." Buffy sighed as she sat back into the sofa.
"Do you even know if you're gonna be allowed back into Sunnydale?" Xander queried.
"Well Giles seems to think I will. Mom and I have an appointment with Snyder tomorrow." Buffy replied.
"And if you do get back in, what happens then? You really think you can cope with school, slaying and a baby?" Xander questioned.
Buffy frowned "Well it won't be easy, but I'll figure something out. Besides, I have my mom to help me, she's gonna be here during the day." She replied.
"Yeah but your mom can't protect her like you can, aren't there gonna be demons after her?" Xander concernedly asked.
"Well that's what Giles seemed to think, but according to Whistler everything will work out. Whatever that means." Buffy shrugged.
Breanna began to cry and Xander quickly stared at her, petrified. "I didn't do anything! I swear!" he ranted.
"Don't worry, she's probably just hungry." Buffy said, reaching for the baby.
"Oh right, I get it. So you should probably um, feed her now" Xander stammered.
Willow and Buffy both glared at Xander who was staring at Buffy. He didn't get the hint until Buffy cleared her throat loudly. "Oh, of course, sorry, so I should um, turn around" he once again stammered, laughing nervously at the same time.
With Xander facing the other way Buffy carefully hooked her baby on and began to breastfeed her. "Ok, I'm good, you can turn around now" she told him.
"Anyway, hopefully pretty soon my life will be back to normal. Or as normal as it usually gets." Buffy said.
"Well I for one can't wait to have you back at school. I can even help you get caught up!" Willow said, smiling brightly at the thought of playing teacher again.
"Yup, It'll be great to have the Buffster back" Xander said, fixated on Buffy's chest.
Willow and Buffy exchanged an exasperated look and rolled their eyes.
Buffy ran around the front room frantically gathering her school things together. She was going to be late for her first day back. Thankfully the meeting with Snyder had gone to plan and she was now officially a Sunnydale student once again.
"Buffy, you're going to be late!" Joyce called as she rushed through from the kitchen. "Here, you forgot your lunch" she said, handing her daughter a brown paper bag.
"Thanks mom. OK, I've just fed Bree and she's asleep but she'll probably wake up in about an hour or so." Buffy gushed anxiously.
"It's OK Buffy, I got it" Joyce said trying to calm her daughter down.
"I've put a bottle of milk in the fridge and her diapers are in the nursery, oh and there's some spare pacifiers in the top drawer, is that everything?" she ranted.
"Buffy, I can do this you know. Stop worrying. We'll be fine" Joyce said smiling at her daughter.
Buffy smiled back hesitantly. "OK, sorry, and if anyone comes to the door, even if they look human…"
"Don't answer it unless I know who it is, I know the drill" Joyce replied, exhausted. She reached out and took Buffy by the arm, leading her over to the door. "Now I want you to go to school, stop worrying about your daughter and pay attention in all your classes. Go!" she said encouragingly as she pushed Buffy out of the front door.
"Bye Mom" Buffy called as she rushed down the path, not wanting to get a tardy on her first day back.
Buffy, Willow and Xander entered the library and Buffy looked around smiling. "It's good to be back." she sighed as she sat down on the table with her friends.
Giles made his way out of the office when he heard them walk in. "Ahh, Buffy, good afternoon. How are you today?" he asked.
"I'm good" she replied.
"And how is Breanna?" Giles enquired.
"She's good also. But it was so weird leaving her with my mom this morning." Buffy told him honestly.
"Ahh, yes, well I trust she's in good hands." He responded sarcastically with a forced smile, showing his dislike of Joyce. Willow and Xander both exchanged humorous glances at his display.
The library doors swung open as Cordelia entered the room. "Well if it isn't little Miss. Talk-of-the-School." She said as she approached the gang.
Xander stood up to greet his girlfriend. "Since that's a role you aspire to I'm guessing you're jealous." He said and kissed her.
"Well yeah, but in a good way, like with good things to say" she replied.
"People are talking about Buffy in a bad way?" Willow asked worriedly.
"Duh! She's a freakin' teenage parent! At gym, I heard Aura tell the girls that Buffy skipped town 'cos her mom found out about her drug taking, then became a prostitute to fund her habit and ended up pregnant." Cordelia explained.
Buffy stared at Cordy, wide eyed in horror. "People actually think that?" she asked in disbelief.
"'Fraid so" Cordy replied apologetically.
Xander put his arm around a distraught Buffy. "Look on the bright side. At least now people won't be so curious about why you roam the streets of Sunnydale at night" he joked.
Buffy punched him hard on the arm and frowned. "It's not funny!" she retorted. Xander gripped his arm in pain. "Oww" he complained.
"Don't worry Buffy, I'm sure it will be fine. I bet by next week everyone will have forgotten all about it" Willow reassured her.
"Yeah right!" laughed Cordelia. Xander and Willow both gave her icy stares while Buffy continued to look on in horror. Cordelia looked around at their faces and was puzzled. "What?" She yelled.
"Great, and I thought that passing my make up tests was my biggest problem." Buffy said distraughtly. "Which by the way, I have my English test soon."
"Do you think you'll pass?" Willow asked.
"If they give credit for speaking it I may be in with a chance" Buffy replied meekly. She reached into her bag to retrieve the novel she had to read and came across a photo envelope.
"Oh! I almost forgot, I got Breanna's first photos developed!" Buffy said, instantly cheering up.
"Ooooh, baby pictures!" Cordy said as she sat next to Buffy to look at the photos.
"Giles, I want you to take a look at this." Buffy said, handing her watcher a photo of the back of Breanna's neck.
"What is it?" Giles asked as he took it from her.
"I was kinda hoping you could tell me" she replied smiling. "It's the weirdest little birth mark, but it looks like it could mean something" she said in a concerned voice.
"How strange" Giles responded as he took off his glasses and examined the photo closely. "It certainly looks like it's a symbol of some sort. I shall have to consult my books. Probably nothing to worry about though" he assured her smiling.
"Yeah, you're probably right. Anyway, I gotta go sit this test." She said as she gathered her things and made her way to the door. "Wish me luck" she called glumly as she pushed open the door and went to face her first exam.
That night, Willow and Oz sat on a loveseat in a corner of the Bronze making out. Xander and Cordy approached them arm in arm and set a tray of drinks down on the table.
"Looks like it's just us four again then, huh" Xander eventually said, interrupting the kissing.
Willow looked up and reached for a drink. "Well I guess Buffy won't have as much time for a social life anymore. But she says she'll go on patrol later on tonight when she gets the chance. We can come with if we want to."
Oz looked up towards the entrance to the Bronze and nudged Willow on the arm. "Looks like we're gonna see her sooner than we think" he said, motioning towards Buffy who was making her way towards them. As the other kids in the Bronze noticed Buffy they all began to whisper to each other and stare.
"Buffy!" Xander called, surprised to see her. "What brings you here?" he said as she sat down beside him.
"Breanna was asleep and my mom figured I could use some kid time, besides, I deserve it!" she said smiling happily.
"Well it's good to see you so cheerful!" Willow said gladly.
"I have good reason to be. I passed my English makeup test and I'm hangin' with my friends. Hello my life, how I've missed you." She giddily replied.
Cordelia gazed at an energetically dancing couple in disgust. "Check out Slut-O-Rama and her Disco Dave" she said.
The gang followed her gaze and intently watched the spectacle in front of them.
"What was the last thing that guy danced to, K.C. and the Sunshine Band?"
Buffy watched suspiciously as the couple left the dance floor and exited the Bronze.
"I don't think that guy thrives on sunshine." She said as she hurriedly got up from her seat and followed them.
The gang rushed outside and Xander handed Buffy a stake. As they headed in the direction of the pair, they were shocked by what they saw. The girl roundhouse kicked the vamp and began to lay into him. As he tumbled backwards she casually walked towards Buffy. "It's okay, I got it. You're, uh, Buffy, right?" the new girl asked.
The vampire attacked her from behind and she head butted him before turning to face Buffy once more. "I'm Faith" she said, introducing herself and then continued to fight the vamp.
The gang simply stared at the scene before them and followed her every move. Oz leaned in closer to Willow. "I'm gonna go out on a limb and say there's a new Slayer in town." He guessed.
Faith dodged the vampire's next move and threw him into the fence. She quickly doubled back towards Buffy and grabbed the stake from her hand. "Can I borrow that?" she asked.
Before Buffy had a chance to respond Faith had dusted the vampire and walked towards her, handing her back the stake. "Thanks, B. Couldn't have done it without you." she said as she walked unceremoniously past the gang, ignoring their surprised and questioning looks.
Buffy stared in astonishment, unsure of what to say and watched the new slayer swiftly disappear back towards the Bronze.