Two Days Later ...

Buffy stood over Phoebe's crib, watching as her daughter's eyes fluttered open and shut. Buffy was thankful that she had re-united with her daughter, she felt like she had hardly seen her since she was born. Buffy was amazed at how much Phoebe had grown, she was crawling now and her hair was growing longer by the day. She now had little ringlets shooting up, however Buffy didn't know where they had come from because her and Angel had straight hair. The one thing that stood out about Phoebe was her eyes. They were dark, in a non-evil way, and sparkled, they were like brown orbs that looked so much like her Father's.

"Sleep tight," whispered Buffy.

She leant over and kissed Phoebe on the forehead. Buffy leant back and smiled; Phoebe was her whole life. Buffy shuffled over to the bed and lay down on her back, resting her hands upon her stomach. She began to wonder again, like she usually did when she was alone, what the Master had meant when he wondered if she could cope with two. The thought hadn't left her mind, and even though she really wanted an answer, she hadn't told anyone else about it.

Luckily, everyone was slowly making progress. Oz had taken Willow somewhere, probably the place which had helped him, and was helping her to get through the grief. Buffy knew how scared Willow had been to see her friends, guilt rushed through her veins whenever she saw someone; Buffy could see it in her eyes. Although, hopefully, when she returned with Oz, she would be much better and back to the same old Willow. Gile was now shaped up, his cuts were healing from the torture he had suffered and he seemed to be back in his own apartment in no time. Anya and Xander had returned to normal, although Anya had been a bit shaken at first but Xander had helped her. Faith didn't act like she had been shook, but Buffy knew she was bottling up her emotions and playing the tough girl role. Angel never changed, he had been through enough torture to get back on track after. Dawn seemed quite shaken, even now, and Buffy had been rather concerned about her. She wouldn't tell no one, not even Giles, where she had been and what had happened to her; even though she had cleary been in danger, the cut across her cheek proved it. Now, for the time being, Cordelia was staying in Willow's room until she found a place for herself. Buffy had an intresting conversation with her the other day ...

---

Cordelia leaned against the door frame, watching as Buffy tucked in Phoebe. Buffy kissed her on the forehead, whispered a good night, and turned around. Buffy didn't even jump when she saw Cordelia, years of slaying taught her to never be surprised.

"Hey Cordelia, what's up ?" smiled Buffy, sitting down on her bed.

"Buffy, I'm moving back down here," replied Cordelia, smiling slightly.

"Well, I guessed you didn't bring about four suitcases and ten duffel bags for nothing," said Buffy.

"Listen, I know we didn't get on in High School. But, yanno, you were a loser then -"

"Oh gee, thanks," interuppted Buffy, a smile sliding across her face.

"It's true! But, now I've seen you and Angel with Phoebe; a family. And I want that," finished Cordelia.

"Wow! Cordelia, you're growing up," grinned Buffy, rolling her eyes.

"I was wondering, you know, until Willow comes back if I could stay in her room," said Cordelia, flashing a huge smile.

Buffy knew Willow wouldn't be around for a while, not until she had got better. She looked up at Cordelia; on the outside she hadn't changed at all since High School, but on the inside she was a grown woman now.

"Course you can," answered Buffy, nodding her head.

"Thank youuu!" grinned Cordelia, spinning around on her heel.

"Cordy! Why else did you want to come back ?" questioned Buffy.

"I dunno. I guess this place has just always been home to me," replied Cordelia, shrugging her shoulders.

Buffy nodded. For some strange reason, she felt like she could relate to what Cordelia had said. Maybe it was when she had left Sunnydale, after she killed Angel, and moved to LA. Even though she wanted a clean start, she couldn't shake the feeling that she didn't belong there. She returned home, knowing that this was the only place where she could fit in and where she could call home.

----

Buffy was pulled out of her thoughts by a knock at the door. She looked up and smiled when Angel walked in, a cup of coffee in his hand. He sat down besides her, kissed her on the forehead, and passed her the cup.

"Thanks," smiled Buffy, taking a sip.

"Is Pheebs asleep ?" asked Angel, looking in the direction of the cot.

Buffy nodded and took another sip of coffee. She noticed her daughters new nickname that Angel called her, it was rather cute. Buffy had imagined this moment since she met Angel, which was over six years ago, and she never imagined that one day it could come true. If someone had said to her six years ago that her and Angel would have a daughter, she would of laughed and thought they belonged in a mental asylum. It seemed like a fairytale, proving that happily ever afters do exist.

"What happened to you ? When I found you in the Magic Box," said Angel, turning his attention to Buffy.

Buffy looked down at her feet, she knew this was going to come up sometime. She felt Angel place his thumb under her chin and push up her head, facing her towards him.

"You can tell me, Buffy," he whispered.

"He just reminded me of when I died," said Buffy, still not meeting his eyes. "But it's fine, his mojo didn't work!"

"The Master," growled Angel, his hands turning into balls of fists.

"Angel, I'm fine!" Buffy chuckled.

She loved it when Angel got all protective, although it could be slightly annoying. Buffy's smile suddenly vanished and she looked serious, she wondered whether to tell Angel about what the Master had said.

"What else ? I know by that look, Buffy, that there is something you're not telling me," said Angel.

"He said he wonders how I could cope with two," replied Buffy, looking up at the ceiling.

"Two what ?" asked Angel, a look of confusement spread across his features.

"I have no idea," answered Buffy.