Disclaimer: I don't own Buffy, but I do own Sophie, baby Lily, and Echo the puppy :)
While the other Scoobies stared, slackjawed, Buffy recounted the events that had taken place upstairs. Once their slightly overloaded minds managed to process this information, Dawn squealed, and from there the congratulations came in thick and fast. Faith didn't think she'd ever been hugged so much before in her entire life. Scratch that, she knew that she'd never been hugged so much before in her life. In the past, she had been very vocal about the fact that she 'didn't do hugs'. However, since she had taken up permanent residence in Buffy's house she had begun allowing some exceptions to this rule. One of course, was Buffy, although that should have been obvious enough that it didn't have to be mentioned. Sophie had slipped through the Dark Slayer's carefully built emotional walls the second the little girl had blamed herself for Faith's beating at the hands of the demons who had held her captive. And a few week's before when baby Lily had wrapped her arms around Faith's leg and smiled up at her from her rug on the floor, she had decided that baby hugs were another exception. After all, babies didn't know any better. And, although the majority of hugs being forced upon her now were making her feel slightly uncomfortable (The fact that she was still wearing her motor biking teddy bear pyjamas probably didn't help), when Tara finally made it through the crowd and reached her, Faith couldn't help but think that there was another person she may need to add to her list of exceptions. They were sisters now after all. Well, that and the fact that Tara had made the tea that saved Buffy's life. No-one had actually told her that Tara had made it, but saving the day with a cup of magical tea seemed like such a Tara thing to do. And yes, Faith did feel like she knew the woman she called her sister well enough now to be able to say that.
"Hey, T" she grinned, noting the fact that there was no awkwardness when the other woman hugged her. "Guess I'm gonna owe ya double now huh?"
"Um.." Tara frowned, confused. She knew one thing that Faith thought she owed her for was Buffy's recovery. After a moment of thought, she could come up with only one possibility for what the other thing could be. Tara brushed her fingers over the scar she had recieved protecting the younger Faith from the shattering vodka bottle that her drunken mother had thrown at her. "If you mean this, I think you kinda repayed me already when you broke my Dad's nose."
"Not that T, but if you ask me, your Dad deserved way more than a broken nose. What I mean is, I need another favor from you."
"Okay.." said Tara, even more confused.
"Well, since B and I are gettin' married I'm gonna need a Maid of honour, or Best Man.. or woman, however the hell it works with two girls" said Faith. "And seein' as how you're my sister now and all, I was thinkin'.."
"Of course, Faith" Tara smiled. "I'll be your, uh.. whatever we call it." Faith smiled too, but before she could reply she heard a sound, familiar despite the fact that she had never heard it before, and turned to look for it's source. Riley was beginning to come to, and Echo had planted himself at the soldier's feet, growling. Faith had never heard her dog growl before, which is why it had taken her a moment to identify the sound.
"Echo, come here boy" she called. Echo continued to growl as Riley sat up. "Echo, leave him." The dog hesitated for a moment, then padded over to Faith's side, licking her hand. "Good boy."
"Thanks" Riley groaned, rubbing the back of his head.
"I wasn't protectin' you" Faith frowned, scratching Echo's head. "I was protectin' him. Them Animal Control guys don't take to kindly to dogs that go bitin' people, even if they do deserve it." Faith felt Buffy's hand slip into the one that was not resting on Echo, and the rest of the Scoobies standing around her.
"You hit me" Riley mumbled as his mind began to clear.
"Uh-huh" Faith nodded. "And unless your plannin' on apologisin' to Little Red I wouldn't bother gettin' up, 'cause I'll just knock ya right back down again." Riley's eyes drifted to Buffy, showing both surprise at her recovery and hope that she would offer him some help.
"Don't look at me" she frowned. "I'm not gonna stop her."
"Little Red, come here for a second" Faith called. Sophie stepped shyly forward. She was wearing her favourite 'Little Mermaid' pyjamas, and clutching Tara Bear close to her chest. "Look at that kid, Soldier boy. Really look at her. Do you seriously think she's evil?"
"No" said Riley after a moment, shaking his head. He realised that he really had been an idiot. He turned to Sophie. "I'm sorry for the mean things I said about you."
"It's okay" said Sophie quietly. Once upon a time, she had thought those things about herself too. After another few moments, Faith looked at Riley and nodded, then offered him her hand, pulling the soldier to his feet.
"Can somebody get this guy an ice-pack or somethin'? That eye's gettin' real nasty."
The gang spent a few hours celebrating Faith and Buffy's engagement, until the original Slayer informed them that she was tired, and was going to turn in. After all, she had been dying not too long ago. Faith followed her upstairs to make sure that she was okay, only to have her new fiance' pull her into a kiss, then pushed her to sit on the bed.
"Thought you were tired, B" she grinned, dimples in full display.
"White lie" Buffy grinned back, straddling Faith's lap. "I was proud of the way you handled the Riley thing, and thought you deserved a little reward." She kissed her again. "Besides, you've been taking care of me all day, so now it's my turn to take care of you. And I.." she began, starting a trail of kisses down Faith's neck, "Know exactly how to take care of you.."
AN: The next chapter is going to jump ahead six months, straight to the wedding :)