Going Home
by BFtc2
Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Author's Notes: Continuation of The Time Before Exhaustion.
Feedback: Any is welcome.

"Hey you." Faith walked into the hospital room with her usual swagger and customary smirk in place. Walking over to the bed, resting her weight on her arms, she leant down to tenderly kiss her wife. Pulling back she looked into green eyes and smiled. "You ready to bust outta hear?" She bounced her eyebrows suggestively.

"Only if you're the one getting me out." Buffy answered simply. Smiling up into the glowing expression of the woman she loved. "And if we're taking Max and Logan with us."

Tilting her head to the side, the brunette frowned. "You think I'd let this place keep our munchkins without a slayer in residence. They're lucky I let them keep all three of you this long." Leaning forward to steal a quick kiss, she whispered, "Red and T are here too. They want to carry the little ones to the car, said they might hang at the homestead for a bit too."

"Sounds good." Pulling the blanket off of her, the smile never leaving her face, she said, "Let's get me outta here."

"What ever you want baby." Kissing the blonde's forehead, Faith turned around to get the girl's clothes out of the closet.

*****

About an hour later two slayers, two witches, and two babies were on their way to the three story, five bedroom home where Faith and Buffy lived. Faith was driving the black blazer, with Buffy beside her, and the other four passengers seated in the back. After about the seventh time Faith looked in the rearview mirror, the blonde slayer took hold of her wife's hand.

Leaning toward the driver seat, the older girl whispered, "They're not going anywhere sweety, stop worrying."

Turning her head to face the other slayer, the brunette flashed a sheepish smile. "That obvious huh?" When Buffy smiled brightly at her and nodded, she shrugged and went back to watching the road. "So I'm a concerned parent, sue me. We went, you went through a lot to make those two stay with us, I don't want to loose them."

Squeezing her partner's hand, Buffy said softly, "You won't. We won't loose them."

** 4 YEARS PRIOR **

The red head looked up at the pacing slayer, smiling at the nervousness displayed in each turn. "So you're really going to ask her, you're gonna pop the question?"

Stopping her movements to look down at the powerful wicca sitting on the bed, the slayer ran a hand through her long hair. Nodding her head she smiled, saying, "Yeah, I guess I am." Sitting down on the bed beside Willow, she shook her head in amazement at the reality of what she was thinking. "I'm gonna ask B to marry me."

Squeeling with excitement, the red head pulled Faith into a tight hug. "I'm so happy for you, I know she'll say yes." Seeing a shadow pass across the brown eyes she was looking into, Willow asked, "What's wrong?"

Looking up at her friend through her eyelashes, Faith whispered, "B will want kids, and I can't give her that. Maybe it's wrong to ask her, she'd be a great mom, I shouldn't take that opportunity away from her, it wouldn't be right, and I-"

Willow grabbed hold of the slayer's shoulders and shook her. When she finally got Faith's attention, she asked, "Since when did you get with the Willow babble?" Reaching down, she took the brunette's hand into her own. "Faith, Buffy is head over heels in love with you. I've never seen her this happy, not even with Riley or Angel. She's not going to let you go no matter what. If you're worried about the kids thing, there are other options, and Tara and I could fix something if it comes to that."

Smiling into Willow's blue-green eyes, Faith asked, "Do you mean it, there's spells for that?"

"If we can't find one, we'll make it." Willow said with determination.

Her smile turned into a knowing smirk, she asked, "How long you and T been trying to make babies?"

Ducking her head down, a bright pink climbing up to her cheeks, she whispered, "Three weeks." Getting over her shyness, Willow looked up at Faith again. "We're not ready to have any children yet, but somewhere in the future we hope to. Right now we're just doing some researching, only got a little bit of info though."

"I'm sure B won't want to have kids right off the bat, so it's cool."

Glancing over at the clock on the red head's dresser, the slayer stood up and clapped her hands together. Smiling nervously down at her wiccan friend, she said, "Wish me luck, I'm about to find out just how much of a future B and I have."

As she watched the young brunette open the door and start to walk out, Willow called, "Good luck, but I already know she's gonna say yes."

** PRESENT DAY **

"You two make beautiful babies. Max looks just like you Faith, and little Logan takes right after Buffy." Willow stared down at the sleeping children, buckled up snuggly in their car seats. Max was the image of Faith with her dark hair, full lips, and brown eyes. Logan was a male Buffy, his wisspy blonde hairs sprinkled on his tiny head, and his sea green eyes sparkled with innocence when he was awake. The only thing that didn't follow was that Logan was the bigger of the two newborns, while Maxie inherited Buffy's petiteness.

"Yeah, they're adorable." Tara agreed, smiling at her wife over the little ones heads.

Turning her head to look in the back, Buffy smiled at her two wiccan friends. "Are you two feeling like proud godmommies?" As she asked the question, her eyes wondered over the sleeping forms of her children and a content smile spread across her lips.

"How could we be anything but? These little ones are so precious." Willow said, her eyes once again on the newborns. Looking up at Buffy she frowned. "You never told us their middle names, you said they were a surprise."

"Yeah, come on B. Tell them the surprise middle names." Faith said in her best excited kiddy voice, once again glancing in the rearview mirror.

"Alright, alright." Punching her wife playfully in the arm, the blonde said, "Their middle names are-"

"Bum bum ban." Faith interrupted, adding a dramatic effect that earned her Buffy's 'knock it off' look.

Turning in her seat, seeing they were only a few blocks from home out of the corner of her eye, the older slayer faced her wiccan buddies. "The little one next to you Willow is Maxine Tara Summers." Smiling at the watery eyed shy witch, Buffy then looked at her long time bestfriend. "And the little guy next to Tara is Logan William Summers."

"You named them after us?" Willow gave a teary eyed smile to the nodding blonde slayer. Blinking back the moisture and making little sniffles, the wiccan looked down at both children. "They're our name sakes, we have name sakes." Looking up at Buffy, she said excitedly, "You gave me a name sake, and Tara too."

"Calm down Red, you're almost in babble mode." Faith called from the driver's seat. "Home sweet home." Pulling into the driveway, she put it in park and turned to smile at her wife. Leaning forward, the two slayers shared a swift kiss before Faith hopped out of the blazer. "T, Red, you two mind bringing in the munchkins? I don't want my baby hurting herself, so I'll be carrying her."

With that last sentence said, Faith opened up the passenger side door. Looking into the sparkling brown eyes of her slayer, Buffy said, "You don't have to carry me, I can walk."

"Don't care." The brunette stated simply. "I wanna pamper you, and you'll have to deal with it." Reaching into the car, she scooped Buffy into her arms and turned, closing the door with her hip.

Sighing dramatically, the blonde wrapped her arms around Faith's neck. "Alright, if you must."

The two witches had already gotten out of the blazer with their two little bundles, and watched the display with ammused grins. Looking down at little Logan, Willow leaned down to whisper, "Your life will never be dull having those two as parents."

** 4 YEARS PRIOR **

"I'm sorry about the dinner plans." Buffy said, looking up at her girlfriend. The two had lost their reservation when they had to take care of a group of vamps. Now they were walking home, hand in hand, with Buffy resting her head on the taller girl's shoulder.

"No sweat sweets, not like we planed the vamp attack." Leaning down she kissed the top of the blonde's head. Her mind running over this way and that on how she was going to propose now. "We'll just go home and I'll make us some thing to munch on before bed."

"Sounds good, mostly because you're a better cook than me, but still good."

Buffy turned to look up at her slayer smiling, she stood on her tippy toes to lightly kiss her girlfriend. Hearing the brunette's stomach rumble, she chuckled softly. "Maybe we should pick up the pace, your tummy sounds angry."

"Tummy?" Faith allowed the blonde to pull her hand as they started rushing towards the house. "Sometimes you sound like a two year old B."

*****

When the two girls made it home, Faith took a quick shower, telling Buffy she'd start dinner when she was done. Right now the blonde slayer was taking a steamy hot shower, and her counter part was down stairs fixing up a quick meal of premade chicken, along with carrots and peas.

After setting the table, the brunette set up all the candles she could find, and turned out the lights once they were all burning. Sitting down at the table, her legs bouncing beneath the surface, her thumbs drumming on the sides of her chair, she waited for Buffy to come down stairs. Checking under the table she found the ring she'd taped there before starting the food.

Every thing's set, now I just need my B here. God, I hope she says yes, I hope Red's right and she'll say yes. Faith's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a freshly washed slayer coming down the stairs.

Walking into the dinning room, Buffy pushed loose wet hair behind her ears. Looking around at Faith's set up, she smiled shyly. "I didn't know you were gonna do all this, I would've gotten dressed." Buffy pulled at her sky blue, loose fitting pajama pants. Looking up at her girlfriend, she smiled apologetically into deep brown eyes.

"Don't worry about it girlfriend, you know I love the way you look in pj's." As if to prove her point, Faith's gaze raked the blonde's body from head to little naked toes. The girl's hair was wet and straight, hanging loose, tucked behind two little ears. Buffy was wearing a tight white tank-top along with the pj pants. Walking over to the older slayer, Faith smirked, "Then again, you always look good, so it doesn't matter."

When Faith opened her arms up to Buffy, the blonde slipped into the strong embrace willingly. Resting her head on her girlfriend's chest and wrapping her arms around the brunette's waist. Letting out a content sigh, she said, "I love you."

Hearing the whispered confession brought a smile to the younger girl's face, but she couldn't contain her laughter when she heard the sound of the petite slayers stomach grumbling. Kissing the blonde on top of the head, Faith said, "Let's feed you before it really gets mad."

Pulling out her girlfriend's chair, the younger slayer waited for Buffy to sit before going back to her own place. Looking up into sea green eyes, sparkling in the fluttering candle light, she pulled the ring into her hand from beneath the table. Clearing her throat, she began to speak. "Um, B-Buffy... I was, kinda..."

It wasn't hard to see the nervousness painted all over the brunette's features. Not knowing what else to do, Buffy smiled at Faith encouragingly. Reaching out her hand, she took hold of Faith's and felt some thing. "Faith? What is this?" When the question was out of her mouth, her partner allowed the older girl to take the object from her hand. Looking down at the small diamond ring in her hand, Buffy read the inscription on the gold band. "My chosen one."

When the blonde looked up, Faith's eyes teared up at the sight of her girlfriend's glistening eyes. "Will you marry me Buffy?"

Nodding her head, Buffy whispered a broken, "Yes." Her smile was brighter than any before as Faith took the ring back and placed it on her finger. Standing, she walked over to the brunette and sat on her lap, kissing her softly. "It's a good thing I'm your chosen one," she whispered in the girl's ear. "Because you are definitely mine."

*****

Willow and Tara stepped into the house after Faith carried her wife over the threshold. The two wiccans smiled at one another as they watched the brunette gently place Buffy on the sofa. Seeing Faith kiss the blonde's forehead, Willow leaned over to Tara, whispering, "They're both glowing. We helped do that."

Looking at her own wife with affection, Tara glanced down at little Maxine. "Yes we did."

"Hey, you two ever gonna get in here?" Faith questioned with a smile, looking at the two witches over the back of the love-seat. She watched as her friends stepped into the living room and carefully sat down on the other sofa. Gazing at her two little ones, Faith couldn't hold back her huge grin. "That's more like it, my family in one room."

"I still remember when we first moved in here." Taking the brunette's hand in her own, Buffy smiled at her fellow slayer.

"Yeah, who know Buffy'd have a talent for the market?" Willow pipped in from her seat.

"Not me, but she does a lot of shopping, so..." For that remark she got a playful shot to the ribs from her lover. "Ouch B, you didn't let me finish." Clearing her throat, Faith continued, "If it weren't for you, we'd never be able to afford this place." Gently squeezing her girl's hand, her brown eyes wondered around the room.

A big screen T.V. at one wall, two leather couches, surround sound with speakers built into the walls and ceiling, a glass coffee table, a shelf full of scooby gang photos, over head lighting, and a huge bay window with a cushioned seat. That was only the living room, the rest of the house was just as nice. There were four bed rooms, the basement was converted into a gym, and the room Faith liked the best was her dark room.

"Now you've got your martial arts studios all set up too, and Faith's freelance photography stuff. You guys are raking in the big bucks." Tara said, softly smiling at the slayers. Looking down at the twins, she continued, "These little guys will have every thing, you've just got to be careful not to spoil them."

"If anybody's gonna spoil them it'll be Faith, you should see how she gives Dawn anything she wants." Buffy smirked over at her wife. She gave a soft chuckle when she noticed the brunette's cheeks turning a shade brighter.

"Speaking of Dawny, isn't she coming home for break soon?" Tara asked.

"Yep, in two days. I talked to her the other day, let her know she was an aunt twice and that B was doing fine." Looking at the blonde slayer laying on the sofa next to her, Faith grinned. "She was really worried about ya, and now she can't wait to see her new niece and nephew."

"I can't wait to see her, she can't stop talking about the art courses she's been taking." Shaking her head in amazement, a slow smile spread across Buffy's lips.  "Dawny, my little sister's a college student."

** 3 YEARS PRIOR~DAWN'S BIRTHDAY **

The brunette was walking down the concrete sidewalk, the afternoon sun beaming down on her from behind. "I can't believe they forgot my birthday, both of them." Continuing her track home from school, she complained about the forgetful slayers out loud. "Hey I'm Dawn, yeah I'm sixteen today, nope, nobody's wished me a happy birthday. My sister didn't even remember."

The youngest Summers walked up to her front door and stepped inside. Throwing her bookbag on the hall floor, Dawn called out from the hall. "Buffy, Faith I'm home."

"In the living room Dawny." Buffy said, her voice coming from deeper in the house.

Stepping around the corner of the hall, the brunette let out a yelp, jumping back as everyone yelled out a harty 'SURPRISE'. A giant smile spread across her face when her blue eyes took in the birthday decorations. "I can't believe...I thought you..." Dawn shook her head in amazement and continued to stutter. Looking at her closest friends and older sister infront of her, she finally settled on one word. "Wow."

"I knew going to school would improve those verbal skills." Buffy smiled at her little sister, walking up to wrap her arms around the girl in a tight hug. "Happy birthday Dawny, I can't believe you thought I forgot."

Leaving one arm around the birthday girl's shoulder, she kissed the side of her sister's head.

"Hey b-day baby." Faith said with a smirk, quickly hugging the younger girl. "We got you good kiddo, I've never seen anyone jump that high...Alive or dead." Looking at the two Summers women, the dark slayer couldn't keep the grin off her face. Turning back to the party, which was in full swing not that some one had keyed in the music, she looked back at her girls. "It's a party, which means we should be dancing."

Buffy shrugged her shoulders at Dawn when Faith took both their hands and started leading them to the dancing area. Leaning over to whisper to her sister, she said, "I find it best to indulge her."

"Yeah, I bet you do." Dawn replied, happy to see the surprise in Buffy's eyes at the double meaning in her words.

When the three girls had moved into their new home, Buffy and Faith had agreed to treat Dawn as the adult she was becoming. As a result, the youngest girl had picked up Faith's habbit of putting a double edge on her phrasing. This was constantly leaving both slayers with their mouths hanging open.

Shaking her head, but still smiling, Buffy said, "I'll let that slide 'cause it's your birthday."

"Thanks for not forgetting about me." Dawn said, her tone serious as she looked into her sister's eyes.

Faith chose that moment to wrap an arm around each girl, saying, "Like you'd ever let us forget ya D."

** PRESENT DAY **

"We should get going." Standing up, Willow and Tara placed a child in each of the new mothers arms. Hugging her bestfriend, Willow whispered into Buffy's ear. "If you need anything just call us." Turning to hug Faith, the red head continued, "And you make sure you take good care of them."

"Promise." Faith said, returning the hug.

Willow patiently waited while Tara finished up her good byes, then held out her hand to the blonde wicca. As the couple walked to the front door, Willow called out. "We'll stop by tommorrow for a little bit, to see how you're all doing. Have a good night."

The two witches stepped out the door hearing the two slayers' 'good byes' following them. Smiling happily at her girlfriend, Tara hugged Willow's arm to her chest as they started walking home. "We have name sakes."

"That we do." Willow said, in a tone that could only be described as chipper.

"They're so cute, and I've never seen Buffy and Faith so..." Tara trailed off, not able to find a word close enough to define the slayers' happiness.

Smiling as they walked, Willow simply said, "I know sweety."

...continued in Welcome Home Aunt Dawn...