"Ahh Miss Summers good to see your attitude towards my class hasn't changed in the time since you've been graduated," Buffy flinched as the history teacher Ms. Bergman took the slip of paper from her hand. This lady had seen her sleep through or arrive late at most of her history lessons back whilst she had been attending Sunnydale High.
"You could have warned me it was the Bergman," she hissed to Dawn as they found their seats, "that woman has hated me ever since I slayed one of her text books in sophomore year."
"You slayed a text book?" Dawn whispered back screwing up her nose.
"Well not so much slayed as drooled on a bit when I fell asleep during the lesson on the Crusades," Buffy shrugged and Dawn rolled her eyes dropping her books quietly on her desk and taking seat. The rest of the class was listening intently to what Ms. Bergman was explaining as Buffy sat herself down in her own seat and settled Faith on her lap. The baby was quiet and taking in the classroom and Buffy was content to let Faith take hold of one of her hands although the infant didn't seem to want to do anything with it just holding onto it with her own as a reminder that Buffy was there.
The class was just as boring as she had remembered and Buffy let her mind drift away only pulling herself from her thoughts when Faith began to twist in her hold. Realising that Faith just wanted to get a better look of the room she turned her sideways and sat her so she was facing the side of the room. Faith bounced a little excitedly on her leg and looked up at Buffy with an excited smile, once which the blonde Slayer returned even though she had no idea what had made the baby so excited.
"Bob bob," Faith squealed excitedly reaching her hands out. If the classroom had been set up as normal that would not have been a problem but as it was the desks were much closer than they usually would be so the infant's small arms could more than reach the desk next to where they sat. As it was the girl sitting next to Buffy had a Spongebob pencil case which was now flying through the air as Faith's hands had pushed down on the edge of it and the contents were scattered all over the floor. Dawn simply groaned and buried her face in her arms as Mrs. Bergman looked up sharply from her lesson to see what the distraction was.
Faith giggles as the pencil case somehow manages to form a perfect arc in the air and land right in her lap her small fingers letting go of Buffy's hand and concentrating on trying to work out how the zipper works.
"Beebee Bob bob," she squealed waving the pencil case in the air.
"I'm so sorry," Buffy said to the girl who was already collecting her various stationary items from the floor.
"'Nie Bob bob," Faith said trying to twist in Buffy's grasp so she could see Dawn who was still hiding her face in her desk.
"Dawnie could you take her while I help," Buffy said passing the happy baby to a reluctant Dawn.
"It's really okay," the girl smiled when Buffy pushed her desk aside so she could kneel down at help.
"It's been a bit of theme with us today, she destroys things and I get the cleanup, ask Brendon he's already been a victim of a vicious chocolate pudding attack," Buffy said.
"Miss Summers how did I know you would be involved in this," Ms. Bergman admonished looking down on them her hands placed firmly on her hips.
"Lucky guess," Buffy shrugged standing up.
"I see you haven't changed much," Ms. Bergman said her judgement clearly evident in her tone, "Or perhaps you have," she said as Buffy took the baby from Dawn, "And no ring, well can't say I'm surprised with the way you used to parade around these halls.
"Excuse me," Buffy ground out, "How dare you judge me, you don't know me, you know nothing about my situation so I would suggest that you keep your mouth shut about things that you don't understand," Buffy finished the rest of the class going quiet as they watched the interaction, "Oh and Ms. Bergman I don't see a ring on your finger either maybe you should think about why that is instead of passing judgement on other people."
The students in the class erupted in cheers as their teacher's face flamed with embarrassment and anger and many of the parents were trying in vain to hide the smiles that wanted to spread themselves across their faces, a couple of them even joining in with the students applause. Looking around Faith's face split into a grin and she too joined in clapping her hands together more proud that she could do it then actually knowing what she was clapping for. Buffy sat back down with Faith in her lap and wrestled the pencil case out of the baby's grasp. The infant immediately started to tear up her little hands reaching desperately for the pencil case Buffy handed back to it's owner.
"Here," the girl said rummaging through her bag and coming out with a fist sized plastic Spongebob figurine, "It came with the stationary set and I've never had a use for it and it's just taking up room in my bag," she said offering it to Faith whose eyes went wide in excitement as she took it.
"She's probably going to drool all over it are you sure you want to do that?" Buffy asked making sure Faith kept it away from her mouth until the girl was sure.
"It's okay she can keep it," she smiled reaching over and tickling Faith's belly.
"Thanks so much you're a lifesaver," Buffy smiled.
Faith was true to Buffy's word and as soon as the blonde let go of the toy it went straight into the infant's mouth. The rest of the class went by fairly uneventfully except for a small incident when Faith threw the plastic toy at the exact same moment Ms Bergman walked past and it hit her painfully in her shin. Buffy had to hide her sniggers when the older woman held back a gasp of pain and deposited the toy back on the desk in front of them.
"Ms Bergman is gonna make my life hell from now on," Dawn grumbled when they walked out of the room.
"If she gives you any grief you tell me and I'll come and speak to her," Buffy said hiking Faith further up on her hip.
"Was definitely cool to see her put in her place though that old witch has been asking for it," Dawn smirked giving Buffy a kiss on the cheek.
"Dawnie don't joke about witches in this place that's just asking for trouble, need I remind you about the killer cheerleader tryouts of 1996?" Buffy said.
"You done causing trouble for one day?" Dawn asked Faith rubbing her head affectionately.
"No," Faith said sticking her fingers in her mouth.
"At least she was honest," Buffy shrugged as they headed towards Dawn's locker, "And also way to jinx it."
The cafeteria was bustling when they entered and they had to squeeze in with a table that was already full with students and parents. Fixing a bib around Faith's neck Buffy sat her on her lap and proceeded to feed her the jars of baby food Willow had packed for them.
"Mmm," Faith said after she swallowed.
"You enjoying that baby," Buffy smiled using the bib to wipe off the infant's face.
"I don't know how she can eat that it look's disgusting," Dawn said returning with their trays of food.
"Gotta say this doesn't look much better," Buffy said scrunching up her nose at the food on her plate.
"I just wanted to tell you that your daughter is adorable and what Ms Bergman said in class was completely out of line," a woman seated to Buffy's left said to her.
"Thanks," Buffy said brushing back Faith's hair, "She's been a bit of a handful today, I swear she isn't usually this destructive but we're hoping that she's going to nap the afternoon away."
"Bababababa," Faith babbled trying to grab at the spoon Buffy held.
"I remember when mine were at that age they were absolute terrors so I don't think you've got anything to be worried about," the woman said and her daughter glared at her, "Do you want me to watch her while you eat your food?"
"Oh uh sure, thanks," Buffy said wiping Faith's face and unhooking the bib from around the infant's neck and handing her over to the woman. Faith looked at the lady uncertainly but relaxed when Buffy brushed her fingertips over the infant's cheek before turning back to her food.
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"I cannot believe that she's managed to charm the hottest guys in the grade," Dawn pouted her arms crossed firmly across her chest as she and Buffy sat on the grass watching as Faith crawled in amongst a group of boys who had been kicking a hacky sack to one another. Buffy and Dawn had decided to let Faith have a bit of a crawl so they had taken her outside and once on the floor the infant had immediately crawled over to where they had been playing. They boys whilst surprised to see the baby had assured Buffy that it was okay when she had raced over and were now rolling it to Faith and one another.
"I'd go out on a limb and say that you're going to have some competition for Brendon," Buffy smirked watching as Faith clambered up onto the teenager's lap.
"Oh god I can't believe she's doing that," Dawn groaned burying her face in her hands.
"Dawnie I'm going to say it again I think she's working in your advantage he really doesn't seem to mind," Buffy pointed out as Brendon tickled Faith's stomach and placed her back on the grass.
"Yeah well how am I going to explain it when suddenly baby Faith is no more and she's tight tank top wearing major cleavagey Faith?" Dawn asked, "Oh god he's going to want adult Faith when he sees her."
"Don't be ridiculous, he's a teenage boy of course he's going to want someone closer to his own age," Buffy said trying to sound reassuring even though she knew it was a complete lie. Everyone wanted adult Faith men and women alike, the brunette exuded sexuality and it was hard not to notice.
"I can't believe you fooled Mom for so many years you are the world's worst liar," Dawn said, "Except when it comes to pretending that Faith is your daughter, it's kinda weird Buffy."
"Yeah well that's so your fault you went and chucked in niece in your introductions it's too hard to change the story now," Buffy retorted. They were interrupted when Brendon walked over carrying a crying Faith.
"I think she wants her mom," he said handing the baby over to Buffy.
"What happened?" Dawn asked.
"She was crawling and then her arms and legs got all tangled and she face planted, there's no blood though I checked," he added hastily.
"Aww baby you're a bit unco," Buffy smirked giving the infant a kiss on the forehead.
"You ready for this afternoon?" Brendon asked Dawn reaching a hand down to help her up.
"Whatever craziness you get into this afternoon I think Dawn's going to owe you," Buffy whispered in Faith's ear as the two of them trailed after the two teenagers who were chatting away.