Disclaimer: I don't own Buffy, but I do own Sophie, baby Lily, and Echo the puppy :)

"Oh, come on B" Faith complained to her girlfriend later that day. "Why can't I wish for a mansion made of pudding?"

"Because that would be stupid and immature" said Buffy. "What could you possibly do with a mansion made of pudding?"

"Well I don't know.. eat it, maybe?" said Faith sarcastically.

"Yes, but then what?" said Buffy. "You should wish for something meaningful."

"Okay. How about world peace then?"

"No."

"What's wrong with that?" Faith cried.

"It would be a waste of a wish" said Buffy. "Sure, it'd be all sunshine and rainbows for awhile, but sooner or later there'll be an idiot or two who'll do something to screw it all up. It's human nature."

"Guess you've got a point there B" Faith sighed. "I'm gonna go take Echo for a walk, clear my head a little. Maybe then I'll think of somethin'."

"Do you want me to come with you?" Buffy asked. Faith shook her head.

"Nah, can't clear my head with you around B" she smiled, kissing her girlfriend's cheek. "Gets too filled up with you. See ya."

--

A little while later, a very pissed off looking Dark Slayer marched through the front door, carrying a frightened, whimpering Echo in her arms.

"Can you believe the freakin' nerve of some people?" she asked Willow, who was feeding Lily from a bottle of Tara's pumped breastmilk. "This damn pit bull took a snap at Echo in the park and the owner wouldn't apologise for it! He tried to blame Echo!" Listening to Faith's continuing rant, Willow couldn't help but agree with Tara's theory that the Dark Slayer used her puppy as a way of exercising the maternal instincts she wasn't ready to admit she had. After all, it was a mother's natural instinct to defend their child from bullies, and shift any blame away from them whenever possible. That said, Willow agreed with Faith, and didn't believe that Echo could have caused any trouble with the other dog. She'd never seen the pup be anything but friendly to anyone, human or animal. "And then while me and the guy were arguin', the damn dog had another go! Poor Echo got the shi-"

"Faith!" Willow cried, hugging Lily closer to her chest. "Innocent baby ears here! We don't want her little mind being corrupted before she's even a year old!"

"Sorry Red.. How is the little rugrat today anyway?"

"She's good" Willow smiled, gazing down at the baby. "Hey, there's something I've been meaning to ask you about."

"Ask away Red."

"Have you decided what you're gonna do with your slayversary wish yet?"

"No" Faith sighed. "I've had a couple of ideas but Buffy's gone and cra-" she paused at Willow's glare, "I mean pooped on all of 'em. And I really don't see why wishin' for a mansion made of pudding would be so bad. Little Red thought it was a good idea."

"Sophie's four years old, of course she thought it was a good idea!"

"Not my strongest argument I admit, but Little Red is pretty mature for her age."

"Yeah" Willow agreed, putting the bottle down and placing Lily over her shoulder to burp her. "Well anyway, I've got a suggestion for you.." And so, Willow explained the events that transpired on the night of Anya's visit, Cordelia's following visit to Sophie a few nights later, and the idea that she and Tara had come up with.

"Damn, why didn't I think of that? Nice idea Red, I always got on alright with Anya. And if what Queen C says to Little Red means what we all think it means, we'd have another one of these runnin' around here soon" The Dark Slayer smiled, gesturing to Lily. "I'd be savin' two lives for the price of one! Yeah, that's a great idea! I'm gonna go tell Buffy." The Dark Slayer ran upstairs, and Willow smiled down at Lily.

"Here that Lil? Auntie Faith's going to bring Auntie Anya back to life. Isn't that good?" The baby's only answer was to smile and gurgle happily. Willow's own smile widened. "Yeah, that's good."

AN: Updates on this may be less frequent while I work on my Christmas stories, a collection of Christmas one shots set in this universe titled "Scooby Family Christmas Tales", and "A Fuffy Christmas Carol", starring Faith in the Scrooge role. That's probably one for fans of "The Watcher Of Sunnyhell". However, I will still try to update this as often as possible.