While the adults were concentrating on investigating Sunnydale and trying to discover who all and what all was involved in the supernatural criminal enterprise, as Mason's boss had put it, the four teens had a different priority. Walking the gauntlet known as High School gossip.

Now that the School Board and Principal Flutie were aware of Faith's pregnancy, that meant informing the teachers and figuring out how to accommodate a pregnant teenager. And unfortunately, their efforts to be accommodating couldn't help but call attention to Faith's circumstances.

"Each of the classes you attend will have a table and chair moved into the back of the classroom beginning Monday, given the fixed position of the desk tops, they can't be adjusted to accommodate your growing pregnancy." Principal Flutie informed her and the group of people that accompanied her to this meeting, which surprised the Principal since only her Guardian, Diana Dormer, had been at the initial meeting to inform the School Board and himself. "Miss Lahaine, can you explain why these other students are at this meeting?"

"They all have a vested interest in making sure me and my baby are taken care of." She answered. "And it won't be long before the gossip starts churning about this anyway, so we figured being up front about it was the best way to handle it."

"I'm the baby's father." Xander informed Principal Flutie and went into the cover story they'd come up with. "Last Spring we both got spiked by someone and weren't really able to think about consequences for certain actions."

"Neither of them are at fault." Diana said with a mild glare at the Principal. "And they're both doing the best they can with a difficult situation, her friends, her true friends, refuse to abandon her."

"That would be Jesse and me." Cordelia added her own glare. "Xander and I weren't dating at the time but we are now. Faith and the baby are a package deal and she and I have become friends. If fact, I'm the baby's godmother."

"And I'm her godfather." Jesse informed him. "The circumstances aren't great, but none of it is their fault and it sure as heck isn't the baby's fault. So we want to make sure they're taken care of."

"And I'm Xander's foster father." Mason finished. "I'm proud of him for stepping up and working hard to be a good father and friend. And I want to make sure there's no backlash on any of the kids from the administration over an already difficult situation and that you're going to do what's necessary to keep any troublemakers on a leash. Faith's pregnancy is already difficult because she's having trouble gaining the necessary weight, she does not need unnecessary stress piled on her by staff and students. We get there's going to be bullying, some people seem to really enjoy causing problems, but Diana and I want to make sure you're addressing it and not letting anyone get away with it."

"I assure you, we have a zero policy tolerance for bullies." Principal Flutie tried to assure him.

Cordelia snorted. "Having been one of the worst bullies in this school for years, something not a single teacher ever told me not to do, I can tell you, you might claim that, but no one's ever bothered to enforce it." Cordelia smiled and it definitely wasn't a nice smile, it was the smile of an Amazon Queen who unhesitatingly led warriors into battle. And this was one battle she had no intention of loosing. "Remember who my father is, Principal Flutie? Charles Chase, one of the richest people in Southern California. He's proud of me for being willing to stand by the best friend I've ever had and support her in a very difficult time, even with the potential risk to my own reputation. I admit, I like being the Queen of Sunnydale High School. But you know what I like better? Being part of a group of people that I know won't stab me in the back. That will help and support me, just like I'm willing to help and support them. He says I'm growing up and is proud of my recent choices."

Principal Flutie floundered with what to say and could only reiterate the zero tolerance policy and that he'd call a faculty meeting and remind everyone of it.

"Aside from those issues," he continued. "you'll be allowed time off for any medical appointments as needed and extra time to complete assignments when you do so. A tutor as well if needed."

"Unnecessary, but thank you nonetheless." Diana assured him. "I am a teacher and hold a doctorate, Faith has never had any problems completing her assignments on time and I don't see that changing."

"Well, good." Principal Flutie nodded. "May I asked when you're due?"

"Oh around the first week of January." Faith answered. "So two months to go."

"A perfect way to start a new year." Diana smiled. "Welcoming new life into our hearts and lives."

"A wonderful sentiment." Principal Flutie nodded enthusiastically. "I'll be sure to schedule that meeting with the faculty immediately and remind everyone of the zero tolerance policy on bullying. I hope the rest of your pregnancy is stress free."

Someone really needs to shoot Murphy.

######

A/N I used an online gestational calendar to calculate Faith's due date, conception date of April 7th gives her a due date of approximately Jan 6th or 7th.

Zero tolerance policies first began in the 1980's but by the 1990's were almost universal in US schools, with varying amounts of success. Buffy had an episode addressing one response to bullying, when Johnathan tried to kill himself. Bullying happened quite a bit on the show.