One trip to the gift shop saw Faith changed out of her shirt and into a onesie that read 'Cheeky Monkey' and Xander in a shirt that read 'I Went Wild at the Zoo' and then they were ready for the rest of the day. They were currently sitting on the grass having some lunch and watching as Dawn held onto Faith's hands and helped her walk. The infant took shaky steps but was smiling proudly as they all watched and lead Dawn over to where a bunch of pigeons were eating.
"You don't want to turn her back do you," Anya commented watching as Buffy looked over at her sister and Faith with a huge smile on her face.
"Huh," Buffy replied not taking her eyes off the pair, Dawn now kneeling with one arm around Faith to keep the baby standing and pointing something out to her.
"You don't want to turn her back. They way you're watching her it's so obvious you don't want to turn her back, you like squishy baby Faith better than leather wearing older Faith," Anya said smiling at her observation.
"Wha-that's not true," Buffy said throwing Anya a look.
"It is so true, you want to keep her all pudgy and babylike I can see it in your eyes," Anya said staring deep into Buffy's eyes.
"I don't, stop it," Buffy said swatting Anya's hand away as the ex demon pointed at her face.
"It's okay Buff no one is judging, it's hard not to love tiny Faith because look at those little toes," Xander said his voice going high at the end as Dawn brought Faith back over and the baby plunked down next to where the carpenter was sprawled out on the grass.
"Well we don't even know how to turn her back yet so there's no point arguing over it now," Willow interjected.
"Exactly," Xander said tickling Faith.
"Well at least she's seems to have forgiven you for making her puke," Willow laughed as Faith used Xander's jeans to pull herself up and climbed all over him.
"Yeah well she got her own by getting it all over me," Xander said rolling over onto his back and lifting the baby so she was in the air above him.
"Playing with fire Xand," Buffy smirked as Faith kicked her arms and legs out reaching for him.
"Nah me and Faith have made our peace, she got me once she won't do it again," Xander said sitting Faith back down on the ground.
"Well what do you say we pack this up and hit the elephants, Dumbo is definitely calling my name," Willow said.
"Deal, but there must be promises made that we stay far away from the monkey enclosure," Dawn said helping Tara pack up their picnic basket.
"Okay Faithy let's go and see the elephants," Buffy said bending over to pick up the baby.
"No," Faith said rolling out of the way.
"No," Buffy said incredulously looking down at the baby.
"That's a new one," Willow smirked.
"Come on Faithy," Buffy said lifting the infant up. Faith instantly began crying and struggling in Buffy's arms leaning forward to try and get down.
"Nononononono," Faith cried twisting and trying to pull Buffy's arms off her.
"I think she wants to walk Buffy," Dawn commented watching the way the baby tried to pull away. Faith's tears stopped as soon as Buffy put her down and the infant used Buffy's jean clad leg to pull herself up to stand on wobbly legs. Buffy took one of her small hands in her own and Dawn the other and together they walked, slowly, towards the enclosure they were headed towards.
"Look at you so clever," Willow said to the baby who giggled at the flash of the camera that the witch was using to take photos.
"Can she do it on her own?" Xander asked.
"No, we tried it at home but she just sorta stands there and then plonks herself back on the floor," Buffy told him.
It was just their luck that the live feeding was happening when they reached the enclosure and they eagerly got in the line. Faith was content then to be held on Buffy's hip as Buffy spoke to the zoo keeper enquiring whether or not it would be safe for the infant to go near the creatures. After assuring her that she would be find the zoo keeper handed them so fruit to give to the animals and they waited patiently for their turn.
"Ew Faith no don't eat that it's for the elephants," Buffy said pulling the soggy half chewed banana from the baby's mouth.
"No no no," Faith said trying to reach for the banana.
"You know I don't think I'm liking this new word," Buffy mused, "Look at the elephants Faithy," she pointed trying to distract the disgruntled baby. It seemed to work as the baby watched in delight as the elephant used it's trunk to take a piece of fruit that someone offered to it. Faith babbled excitedly bouncing on Buffy's hip as they got closer and the other people in the line smiled kindly at the happy baby.
"Is she yours?" a middle aged woman in front of them asked Buffy as Faith giggled at the faces the woman was making at her.
Xander snorted behind her as Buffy struggled to find an answer, "Oh no no no, she's my uh, she's from, she's my sister, yeah my sister, um a mistake you know my parents had her, definitely not planned," Buffy stumbled her face flushing.
The woman gave Buffy a strange look but Faith interrupted the awkwardness with a disgruntled cry that the attention had been taken away from her. Buffy busied herself with keeping Faith happy giving her one of her hands to play with making sure she looked anywhere but at her friends who were quietly mocking her from behind in the line.
"Make sure you get a picture of this," Buffy told Willow as she and Faith stood up to take their turn.
"Watch me Faithy. You put the banana in your hand like this and then hold it out to the elephant," Buffy said doing as she said and giggling at the tickling sensation when the elephant took the fruit from her. She handed the piece of banana to the baby who looked at her expectantly.
"Go on, it's alright," Buffy encouraged.
Faith looked at the elephant and Buffy and then back down at the banana in her hand before mashing the banana into her mouth. Everyone who was watching burst into peals of laughter as the infant munched happily on the banana while most of it was smeared all around her mouth.
"Maybe we should set up a feed the Faith line," Xander laughed.
Buffy used the tissue Tara handed her to wipe around Faith's mouth as the infant yawned and rested her head on her shoulder.
"You sleepy again Faithy?" Buffy asked kissing the top of the baby's head. Faith snuggled her head under Buffy's chin and went to take some of the long blonde hair in her hands.
"Oh no," Buffy said pulling the chubby hand away from her head, "Tara can you please pass me a pacifier from the bag," Buffy said reaching her hand out and taking the aforementioned item and placing in the infant's mouth.
Willow and Buffy teased Xander as they walked past the hyena enclosure the carpenter making sure he was well clear of the entrance as they passed by. Faith was fast asleep by the time they reached their next destination, the lion display, when the cell phone in Buffy's pocket began to ring. Readjusting her hold on the sleeping baby she managed to jimmy the phone from her pocket and passed it over to Willow who answered.
"Buffy," the witch said when she hung up, "that was Giles, he said he's found something."