A/N: It appears that yes I will likely be working on Sundays for the foreseeable future so updates will probably come now around Tuesdays or Wednesdays.

Chap. 8: Don't Break the Bubble- February 05

Startled from sleep, Buffy stretched the kinks out of her body, before trying to figure out what had woke her up. The clock showed it was just barely after six, too early for her to wake up naturally. That didn't happen until usually after seven, so there had to be another reason.

A movement to her side caught her attention, and she turned to watch as her wife moved restlessly on the bed, still sound asleep. "No, no, please," Faith cried out, turning herself onto her side, facing Buffy, pulling herself into a fetal position. "Buffy, B, where are you?" she cried in almost a whisper, as if she'd given up hope. The sound nearly tore at Buffy's heart.

Tentatively reaching out, the blonde ran her hand lightly through Faith's hair, scooting down so she was lying face to face in front of her wife. "Shh, it's okay, baby. I'm right here." Placing a kiss on the other woman's forehead, she pulled her into her body, holding her close. "It's just a dream, Faith, wake up."

"Buffy?" Faith whispered, pulling herself slowly from her nightmare.

"Right here, baby."

That was all it took for Faith to lose it and tears began to flow, as she held tightly to the woman she loved more than anything. "It was so awful, B," she tearfully started.

"Shh, calm down. Everything is alright, just give yourself a minute and then tell me. Okay?" Buffy wasn't sure what Faith had been dreaming, but whatever it was, wasn't good. She had never seen Faith like this before, and they'd been through a lot together so that was saying something.

Whatever it was, she just hoped it was a regular dream and not one of the Slayer variety, afraid of what it could mean.

Finally calm, Faith took a deep breath. "I was going to tell you today anyway, but that dream just made it even more real. Last night we came across some vamps spouting off about a new evil comin' to town. Leader told me that when Tarzar, shitty name by the way, comes that I'll be dead. That it's been prophesized or some shit."

"He was probably just blowing smoke, trying to throw you off your game."

"I wish I could believe that, B," Faith sighed, trying not to let it get to her.

Buffy kept her hands running through the brunette's locks, studying the eyes in front of her own. "Talk to me, Faith," she pleaded, when she was sure there was still something that her wife hadn't told her. "Don't shut me out. We've come so far."

"I'm not trying to shut you out. I just… I dunno," Faith sighed again, turning onto her back, staring at the ceiling. "I've been feeling like something isn't right for a couple weeks now. I just thought it was stupid. Now I'm not so sure."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Talking about it would mean there was a problem," she told Buffy honestly. Turning back to face her wife, she curled back into the strong arms that so easily accepted her. "I don't wanna die. There was a time I would have welcomed it, but not now. Not when I have so much in my life. You and Nevaeh." She reached out and ran her hand on Buffy's smooth stomach, tracing the skin lightly. "Maybe another baby."

"It's okay, we'll figure this out. I don't want to lose you either. We haven't had nearly enough time together. And Nevaeh needs her Mama. We'll figure this out," Buffy repeated. They'd talk to Giles TODAY. Get every Slayer on this if they had to. She couldn't lose another person in her life, she wasn't sure she'd survive it.

~BF~

"Buffy, I understand what you're saying. We'll do everything we can." Giles tried to calm the girl down. She'd burst into his office more than ten minutes ago.

"That isn't good enough. I want EVERYONE on this, no exceptions. I am NOT losing Faith," she yelled, not caring that she could be heard clear down the hallway.

"I just," she started, plopping down into a chair in front of his desk, trying to calm herself down. "I just can't lose her, Giles. It took me too long to find her. I can't even think about not having her around."

Giles sighed, walking around the desk and sitting down next to her, placing an arm around her shoulders in a fatherly gesture. "I know, Buffy. Through all the crap, you both managed to find something special."

Buffy sobbed, turning her face into his chest. "Her and Nevaeh are my life, I just, I can't."

"We'll do everything we can. I promise you, Buffy."

Thanking him, she got up and made her way out of his office. Wandering through the halls, she didn't take notice of anyone or anything around her, just walked with a completely blank mind. A hand reached out and fingers gently glided along the wall, reminding her what was real and what was all in her mind. But it didn't matter, because ever since her talk with Faith this morning it was all she could think of.

She paused outside an open doorway, peeking in to watch as her wife went through a series of punches with a bunch of thirteen year olds. She watched as the group of ten girls watched Faith's every move, doing their best to follow it to the letter. When one of the girls would have trouble, Faith would walk over to them and guide their hands through, helping them to try again. She was such a good teacher.

She stood there, just observing for the rest of the class. She knew that Faith could feel her there so it didn't matter if she was out of sight or not.

When the girls all began to get tired, Faith immediately took notice and stopped her lesson. She had each of the girls come up and spar with her, using their skills, but she wanted them to have fun so she let them win, encouraging them all at the same time. Buffy watched with a smile on her face, loving how easily this all came for Faith.

How far they had truly come. No longer was Faith the angry scared girl she used to be. This woman was who she was meant to be all along. Fun, caring, full of life. She couldn't imagine her any other way. Certainly not cold and lifeless. The very idea stole the breath from her lungs, causing Faith to turn and look her in the eye, having felt the change in Buffy's emotions.

Wiping a tear from her eye, Buffy just gave Faith a weak smile, silently telling her lover she was okay. She didn't want Faith to end her class early for her. That wasn't fair to the girls she was trying to train.

When time was finally up, Buffy made her way through the throng of girls heading out towards where Faith was putting the mats back up. Not caring, she put her arms around Faith from behind, hugging her tightly.

Turning in her arms, Faith put her own arms around Buffy's middle, placing a kiss in the soft blonde hair. Words weren't needed as they both stood in the other's embrace.

"Maybe I shouldn't have told you," the younger Slayer finally whispered, rubbing her face in Buffy's hair.

"Don't you even think it," Buffy admonished. "You should have told me. We're married, we're supposed to share these things."

"I don't like seeing you upset," Faith told her honestly, knowing that Buffy was right and that they did need to share these things. It's what kept their relationship so strong.

Tilting her head up, she looked deeply into Faith's eyes, wanting to stare into them forever. "I love you so much. I don't think I could ever say it enough," she whispered, pulling her wife's mouth to her own, kissing her deeply. "Let's go home, I just want to spend time with you and Nevaeh."

"Okay. I'll meet you there in like fifteen," Faith agreed. She watched as Buffy walked out the door on her way to Willow's office where Vaeh was currently 'hanging out.' Their little girl had decided that she didn't like being baby-sat. They really needed to get her into another play group or a preschool. She spent far too much time hanging out with teenagers.

It wouldn't be too long before she was going off to kindergarten. Hopefully by then they'd have figured out what to do about her powers so that she didn't terrorize her school. If Faith was even around to see that day.

Shaking off the morose thoughts, Faith grabbed her phone from the bleachers and dialed the familiar number. "Hey, Ken, I need you to do me one. I need you to take over the rest of my classes for the day," she paused waiting for the other woman to agree. "Thanks, brat."

Kennedy always jumped at the chance to be the teacher. They hadn't given her, her own classes yet, but allowed her to help out from time to time. Giles had already decided they'd start giving her a few next semester, knowing she'd proven to be a good leader. They hadn't told her yet however, wanting it to be a surprise.

She beat Buffy and Nevaeh back to their home. Knowing Buffy she'd stop and chat with Willow for awhile, but she knew the blonde wouldn't make her wait long. This time together was her idea.

"Mama!" Nevaeh squealed as soon as they were through the door. She ran to Faith, jumping on her. Expecting it, Faith wrapped her arms around her daughter, throwing her in the air. Vaeh squealed in delight, laughing as her Mama twirled her around in circles, making her dizzy.

"Again, again!" The preschooler yelled, when Faith finally put her down, causing her to sway slightly.

Nevaeh was so dizzy and focused on trying to get her Mama to do it again, she didn't notice her Mommy advance on her until she squealed as Buffy began tickling her ribs. "Mommy, Mommy," she laughed, trying in vain to push her mom's hands off of her.

"Need some help there, munchkin?" Faith asked her, trying hard not to roll on the floor in laughter.

"Yes, help," Vaeh tried to tell her in a 'duh' way, but it didn't come out through all the laughter.

"Alright." Faith smiled, moving towards her girls.

Seeing the look in her wife's eyes, Buffy knew she was in trouble. "Oh, no you don't." The blonde moved away from the breathless little girl, walking backwards towards the dining room. When Faith tried to advance on her, she let out a small squeal, turning and running the other way.

Nevaeh sat on the coffee table, trying to catch her breath as she watched her Mama chase her Mommy through the house. You'd think her parents were big old children some days. She loved watching them play like this. The only thing that was better was when they played with her.

Buffy tore back through the dining room and headed for the stairs, taking them two at a time. Faith was only a second behind her. Buffy took a right into Nevaeh's room, through the connecting bathroom and out the guest bedroom, knowing Faith was right behind.

She was well ahead when she hit the stairs. What she wasn't expecting however was instead of going down the stairs, Faith jumped over the banister landing on the first floor ahead of her wife.

Buffy's feet didn't even have time to hit the landing, as she felt arms wrap around her from behind, swinging her around. Faith kept her in the air and twirled her as she made her way back into the living room. With little effort she tossed Buffy onto the couch, pouncing on top of her and began tickling her in the ribs.

"Faith, Faith, stop," she laughed, not really meaning it.

Not wanting to be left out, Nevaeh moved to the end of the couch and began to tickle her Mommy's socked feet, knowing from watching her Mama that she was really ticklish there.

Feeling her daughter play with her feet, Buffy knew she had to try her hardest not to kick while Faith tortured her, not wanting to accidently kick their little girl. It took a minute but eventually the brunette realized the woman beneath her wasn't moving nearly enough. Throwing a look over her shoulder, she realized why, and eased off her tickling.

Running hands along the willing body below her, she worked them up her sides and then up her arms, finally cupping her cheeks, she leaned down and placed a kiss on waiting lips. Then in silent agreement, Faith pulled Nevaeh between them before the curly-haired girl even realized what was going on. They sandwiched her in a hug, and just laid there together, all trying to catch their breath.

After a short nap for all of them, Nevaeh woke her parents up trying to work her way out between them. With a kiss to both their foreheads, Buffy moved to the kitchen to start dinner.

When the television had nothing to hold their attention, Nevaeh had an idea that had Faith pulling all the chairs out of the dining room, while Nevaeh headed upstairs to gather all the blankets she could find.

"Don't you dare!" Faith told Nevaeh with a pointed finger at her, when she noticed her daughter trying to climb the banister. "Mama shouldn't have done that, and neither should you," she finished in a serious tone so that Nevaeh would know she was serious.

Faith about had a heart attack when she realized what the girl was going to try and do. She knew Vaeh was a Slayer and could probably come out unscathed, but it was not something she wanted her daughter to get in the habit of doing. She was having so much fun chasing Buffy, she hadn't given a second thought that Vaeh had been watching from the sidelines.

With instructions only a four year old could keep up with, Faith slowly helped Vaeh turn half the living room into a giant tent made of blankets.

"Halt, who goes there?" Nevaeh asked in her most manly tone when Buffy tried to peek inside the 'door.'

"It is I, your Mother," Buffy answered back, matching Nevaeh's voice. "Please let me enter. I come baring nourishment."

That night, with only the light of a lamp, they ate seated around the coffee table, safe within their fortress. Faith smiled as she watched her wife and daughter devour their food. Life could never get better than this.