Frozen Memories and a Fussing Baby
by BFtc2
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Feedback: All is welcome.
Taking in a deep breath, the slayer's eyes blinked open to stare at glowing green numbers. 'What am I doing up this early, it's four o'clock in the morning?' Kissing her sleeping partner's temple lightly, she quietly slipped out of the warm bed. Sliding on her soft black robe, she walked out their door and lightly padded down the stairs. 'Can't sleep, might as well get some work done.'
Rubbing what little sleep was left in her brown eyes, Faith stepped into her darkroom and smiled. Grabbing some undeveloped rolls from a shelf to the right, the brunette said, "Let's see how my babies turned out." Collecting the chemicals she'd need, she walked around the room, preparing to see if she still possessed talent in her chosen field of everyday work.
** 1 YEAR PRIOR **
"Come on B, you look stunning." Faith tried to persuade her lovely wife, kissing the blonde on the tip of the nose. Shaking the black camera that hadn't left her hands since Buffy had become pregnant eight months ago. "Just a few more pics, I promise."
Raising her golden brows in disbelief, Buffy crossed her arms over her chest. "That's what you said last month and the month before that and the month before that and so on. Besides," looking down at herself, she used her hands to gesture to her distended belly. "How can you think this is stunning, I'm bigger than our house, I shouldn't be able to fit in here."
Wrapping her arms as best she could around her wife's body, Faith leaned in and covered Buffy's lips with her own, attempting to erase the blonde's insecurities with the kiss. Resting her forehead against her lover's, she locked her brown eyes on emerald greens. "You are stunning, I've never seen anything as beautiful as you carrying our children." Sliding one hand around to rest on Buffy's extended abdomen, she never broke eye contact. "If these little ones look like you they'll be blessed, and I'll be chasing away boys and girls with a bat when they start dating."
Feeling hot tears slip from her eyes, Buffy smiled at her wife's endearing speech. "I want at least one to look like you. To have your midnight hair and chocolate eyes, and there's no way you can forget your smirk." Pulling Faith to her in a tight hug, Buffy sighed as she brushed away her tears. "Alright, but you're gonna have to stop being a shutter-bug when I go to cook dinner."
** PRESENT DAY **
The blonde awoke to a soft whimper that she wouldn't have heard without her slayer hearing. Stretching out for a moment, she rolled over to kiss her wife before getting out of bed, only to find said wife was already out of bed. Blinking a few times she climbed out of bed, running a hand through long golden tresses before heading across the hall to the nursery. 'She's probably in the darkroom, where else does she go when she has trouble sleeping.'
Walking through the doorway into the nursery, Buffy went straight to Maxine's crib. Leaning down she scooped the fussing baby into her arms, kissing the little ones head. "What's the matter sweets, huh?" She whispered in a soothing tone, her hand checking the baby's diaper as she asked. "You don't need to be changed, and you already had you last bottle." Rocking back and forth, rubbing little Maxie's back, Buffy started singing softly. "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine..." As she continued the lullaby, she gently nuzzled the tiny head resting on her shoulder, her hand still rubbing circles on the baby's back.
Finished with the first roll, Faith tilted her head back to listen to the soft singing of her wife upstairs, while she the last picture of Dawn and the twins. An adoring smile curved her full lips as she grabbed her camera and headed up stairs. Using her slayer abilities to be stealthy, she peeked into the nursery to watch Buffy sooth their daughter back to sleep. Bringing the camera up, she adjusted the lens to get everything in focus and started snapping shots.
** 1 YEAR PRIOR **
"Faith, they're not gonna need one of those for a couple of years hon." Reaching out she took the brunette's hand and started leading her away from the power wheels.
"I'm just thinking ahead B." Faith said with a smirk, throwing one last look towards the miniature motorcycles. Wrapping her arm around the blonde's waist, she kissed the girl's temple before looking over at their companions. "So what are we in the toy store for ladies?"
Seeing the casual affection displayed between the slayers, Willow and Tara smiled, entwining the fingers of their joined hands. Anya let out a short triumphant laugh when the hour she'd had her hand placed on Buffy's belly finally paid off in a swift kick. When Faith asked her question the ex-demon simply shrugged her shoulders in response.
Resting her head on the brunette's shoulder, Buffy answered her wife. "We're here to pick up some books and clothes, maybe even a few stuffed animals." Smiling at the sound of another triumphant laugh form Anya, Buffy continued, "We're already stocked up on diapers, formula, blankets, bath stuff, and we have some clothes but I'd feel better if they had more."
"Have you two decided on names yet?" Tara asked, peeking around her girlfriend to look over at the slayers with a raised eyebrow.
Smiling up at her raven-haired lover, Buffy's green eyes shone with happiness. "Faith picked out Logan for a boy and Rogue for a girl." Turning her gaze to the frowning wiccans and money obsessed brunette, the blonde explained, "They're names from X-Men, but I do like the name Logan."
Nodding her head, Willow continued to frown, asking, "So what's the girl's name ganna be?"
"B wants to name her Maxine," shrugging her shoulders, Faith gave her wife an affectionate squeeze. "I like it, we can call her Max for short." Looking down the ale passed the redhead's shoulder, her brown eyes lit up. "They make leather jackets for babies, we are definitely getting those." Steering her wife in that direction with the rest of the group following behind, she kissed the blonde's head. "Our kids are gonna be styl'n B."
** PRESENT DAY **
Seeing the soft smile creep onto her love's lips, Faith walked into the nursery, knowing she'd been made. Coming up behind her wife, she stroked Maxie's resting head softly, leaning down to kiss the child's brow. Setting her camera on the stand beside the baby's crib, she went back over to the blonde and wrapped her arms around the girl's trim waist, resting her chin on the unoccupied shoulder.
"This isn't a bad place to be." Buffy whispered, leaning back slightly, relaxing into Faith's arms. "Stuck in between two beautiful brunettes."
"So you're happy here, with all of us?" The younger slayer asked, her insecurities making their presence known for the moment.
Walking out of Faith's arms to gently place Maxine back into her crib, Buffy couldn't stop the smile the sight of her sleeping daughter brought to her face. Rubbing her hand down the little girl's back softly, she then turned to face her gorgeous wife. Holding out her hand, she whispered, "Come her sweets." When Faith took her hand, Buffy wrapped her arms around the girl and started swaying gently back and forth. Her mouth right at the brunette's ear, she let her words caress over her love. "There's absolutely nowhere else I'd want to be, and I know I've never been as happy as I am with you."
Releasing a shaky breath, Faith tightened her hold on the tiny blonde. "I love you so much Buffy, you've given me every thing I've ever wanted...You've given me my dreams." Leaning back, she looked into green eyes shining with love and devotion. Moving in slowly, she captured her wife's lips in a tender kiss, putting all of the feeling she could into it.
Neither of the two slayers saw the hand snake out and snatch up the discarded camera. Dawn couldn't help the glowing smile that appeared as she took one picture after another, capturing the moment between two of the most important people in her life. Taking one last shot, she replaced the camera and tip toed back to her bed, leaving the slayers in their moment.
...continued in Welcome Guests...