rating: pg-13.
Notes: Takes place after the trip to LA in the first Post Finale fic. i'd suggest you read that first. I know i said i was changing it to narrative style and i still am. i'm just trying to get this part out of my head.
Notes 2: This begins on the evening of the day Dawn is taken to LA by Hank Summers. Also remember that Tara and Faith have *bonded* somewhat in LA.
disclaimers: the usual.
feedback: would be nice.
*****
Later that night. Willow and Tara walk into the Summers living room.
Willow- It’s kinda odd staying here without…
Tara- Both of them.
Willow- (sighs) All three of them.
Tara- Let’s just go to your house tonight, Willow.
Willow- No, I cant deal with my parents right now. I need to fix the bot. We need to finish packing up their things and-
Tara- But, right now?
Willow- What else can we do?
Tara- Rest?
Willow- Tara…
Tara- What?
Willow- (tearing up) I can’t… Maybe we should patrol with them. They may need our help.
Tara- Spike’s with them. They’ll be ok.
Willow- He- (looks around the couch) I can’t stay here. I can’t do this.
Tara- Then let’s go.
Willow- (she hugs Tara and begins to cry) Tara, I miss her so much.
Tara- I know, baby.
Willow- This isn’t happening. It’s all a joke.
Tara- No, it’s not. But we have to deal with it.
Willow- I can’t.
Tara- Yes, you can.
Willow- (looks into her eyes) Don’t ever leave me. Please. (kisses her)
Tara- I’m not going anywhere, Willow.
Knock on the door.
They both look at each other a bit puzzled. Willow wipes her tears and tries to act composed. Tara’s given her strength again. She opens up the door to Faith. She’s even carrying a small backpack.
Faith- Thought you’d be here.
Willow- (quietly) What are you doing here?
Faith- Thought I’d go patrolling.
Willow- You’ve apparently been doing a lot of thinking.
Tara- (tenderly) Willow.
Faith- Yeah, well. (backs off into the porch) See ya.
Tara- Faith, wait. Come inside.
Faith- Here I thought demons roamed around in the streets of Sunnydale, not in houses… (sees Willow’s sad face) Shit. All I’ve been doing is thinking and I’m tired of it.
Tara- Come in.
Faith- (shakes her head) Where is she?
Willow looks at Tara. Tara looks at Faith. Faith starts to walk away.
Faith- I’ll find her.
Willow- Wait. I’ll go with you. I can take you there.
Faith- Don’t do me any favors, Red.
Faith leaves. Willow just stands there and turns to Tara.
Willow- I-
Tara sadly shakes her head and walks back into the house. Willow looks over to Faith down the road and frowns. She walks back into the house and closes the door behind her.
****
Faith walks up to the grave. Hesitant at first.
Faith- You beat me to it, B. You finally beat me good. How the hell can I top this?
Faith looks around, takes in the scenery.
Faith- Nice spot. Under a Willow tree. How very fitting. I wonder if you picked it out yourself… (sits on the ground) I’m so sick and tired of all this… This is crap, B, and you know it. (stays silent as she stares at the tombstone)
Faith hears something walking up to her but doesn’t move. She knows it not a demon.
Faith- (without looking back at the person) Giles.
Giles- What are you doing here, Faith?
Faith- I, uh-
Giles- We found a nest of vampires. We could use your help.
Faith- (stands up) Just like old times, eh.
Giles- This is certainly not like old times. Tomorrow you return to Los Angeles.
Faith- What?
Giles- Sunnydale is not the place for you. No matter what the Council says.
Faith- Watching out for me now?
Giles- (looks at her and then begins to walk away) Come on.
Faith follows, but not before looking back at the tombstone. She kisses it with her fingers.
*****
Willow is coming out of Joyce’s old bathroom. The bedroom looks very different. Stripped down to the bare essentials, nothing that reminds them of Joyce or Buffy remains. The girls went through it all and packed things away. Willow comes out in her nightgown and hair wet.
Tara- How are you feeling?
Willow- Bath’s are yummy.
Tara is getting into bed.
Tara- You think she’s mad at us?
Willow- Why would she be mad at us?
Tara- I don’t know. Faith is such an odd person to understand. (smiles all vixeny trying to change the topic) We got a king sized bed.
Willow- (looks out the window) I know.
Tara- (frowns) Hey.
Willow- (turns to her) Yeah?
Tara- (pats the bed) Come here. (Willow does) You ok?
Willow- No.
Tara stretches her upper body out and sighs. It comes out somewhat seductively.
Willow- (smiles) Are you trying to seduce me?
Tara- (realizes, faux innocence) Me?
Willow- (leans over to kiss her and does, stops as soon as Tara’s hands cusp her face) I can’t.
Tara- What?
Willow- I can’t.
Tara- (a bit hurt) All right.
Willow- (beat) Lean back. Please.
Tara looks at her, grins and does. Willow curls up to her and hugs Tara. Tara begins to run her hands through Willow’s hair as Willow caresses her tummy.
Willow- I’m sorry.
Tara- Don’t even think about it. (kisses her head)
*****
At Giles’. Everyone’s tired and morose.
Xander- Thanks for the Slayery back up there, Faith.
Faith- Not a problem.
Anya- I have a problem. Well it’s more of a question than problem. Why are you here?
Faith- Your man just said it, Slayery back up.
Giles- Faith is leaving in the morning.
Anya- What?! Why? She’s a Slayer. We need one. This is a Hellmouth we’re living in!
Giles- It isn’t safe for her.
Faith- What are you talking about?
Xander- I thought this field trip was backed by the Council.
Giles- Yes, and they are always so accommodating with our best interest in mind.
Xander- I don’t get it.
Faith- (dawns on her) They wanna kill me? (everyone stays quiet) That’s the only way right? For them to call a new Slayer I have to die too.
Xander- No. I don’t think they even know how it works.
Faith- What are they planning- a vampire attack? (she looks at Giles) It makes total sense. (chuckles sadly) I’m such a dumb ass.
Giles- Faith-
Faith- (grabs an old knife from Giles’ bookcase) I’ll make it easy for them. (holds it against her heart)
Xander- Faith! (he runs towards her)
Anya- (gasps at seeing him tackle Faith) Xander!
Faith knocks Xander off her and into the wall. She struggles up, still holding the knife in her hand. She’s staring at it. Giles stands back, watching. Anya runs over to Xander and slaps him over the head.
Anya- That is a knife, Xander! It can really hurt you! Didn’t your mother ever teach you not to play with knives?!
Faith and Giles are still staring at each other. His face is stern, hers is crumbling.
Faith- I need to do this for her.
Giles doesn’t say a word.
Xander- Faith, don’t.
Faith looks over to Xander and Anya. She sees him and remembers everything.
Faith- I’m so sorry, Xander.
She drops the knife, grabs her backpack and runs out into the night.
*****
Tara and Willow are in bed. Tara’s holding Willow in her arms as Willow is cuddle up over her chest.
Willow- Tell me a story.
Tara- Once there was a little redheaded girl-
Willow- I want a Tara story.
Tara smiles down at Willow and kisses her hair.
Tara- Let’s see… (starts to sing, softly like a lullaby) Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I’m found, was blind but now I see.
Willow- (giggles sadly) Should’ve gotten your eyes checked.
Tara- (hugs her close) You silly rabbit… (beat) Willow?
Willow- (sleepily) Uh huh?
Tara- I love you.
Willow- I love you too.
Tara- No. I really, really love you.
Willow- (looks up to her, worried) What’s wrong?
Tara- (getting uncomfortable) I-I…
Willow- (concerned) What?
Tara- (starting to tear) I think it’s all hitting me now. Everything. It’s, like, flashing before my eyes. (crying now) I see Joyce and Buffy... and G-Glory.
Willow- (moves to hug her) Shh… Baby.
Tara- (crying more) I can’t- I can’t stay here. I want to go home but- I don’t have a home, Willow.
Willow- (tearing up) Yes you do, with me. Remember wherever you go I go? We’re each others, Tara. (Tara cries even more) Shh, baby.
Willow is now holding on to Tara as the blonde cries.
*****
A couple of hours later Tara wakes up, hears some music playing weakly in the house. She sees Willow is sleeping by her side and wonders what it must be. She realizes where it’s coming from and who’s probably listening to it. She gets up slowly trying not to wake Willow up.
Willow- Kirk Vonegut wrote it.
Tara smiles, amused.
Tara- (softly kisses her cheek) I’ll be right back.
Tara sits up. Getting accustomed to the darkness takes a few seconds. She walks over to Buffy’s room, slowly opening the door. The room is littered with boxes and lit candles.
Tara- Spike?
Spike- Yeah.
Tara- (not meanly) What are you doing here?
Spike- Listening to some tunes. My radio broke.
Tara- (knows it’s probably not true but-) Oh.
She just stands there looking at the forlorn vampire.
Spike- Has the nibblet called?
Tara- She left a message on the machine earlier. She’s in LA.
Spike- (snorts) Los Angeles. Talk about a real portal to Hell.
There is an uncomfortable silence as the song ends. Another one starts up.
Tara- Spike… Promise me something please. (he looks over at her) P-Please don’t… don’t even think about-
Spike- I wont… Besides, the Ghora’s gone.
Tara’s about to say something when the window is opened from the outside. Faith comes in. The stink of cigarettes and alcohol permeates the room.
Faith- Hi.
Tara- Are you drunk?
Faith- (thinks about it a second) Um, yeah. I need a place to crash. (acknowledges Spike) If it isn’t the neutered bleach blonde. What are you doing here?
Spike- Me? I’ve actually been invited into this home unlike some people.
Faith- Not that I’m a vampire or anything but Tara did invite me in. Granted, it was a few hours ago, but still.
Spike gets up and turns off the radio.
Faith- Where you going, lover?
Spike shakes his head and sighs.
Spike- Still trying to take what’s Buffy’s, eh?
Faith- What the hell is that supposed to mean?
Spike leaves. Faith looks at Tara.
Faith- Buffy-
Tara- No. I’ll see you in the morning, Faith.
Faith- (sits on the bed) No you wont. I’m Audi 500 at daybreak.
Tara- (surprised) You’re leaving?
Faith- Same old, same old. Council want’s me dead.
Tara- What?
Faith- (lies down, yawning, ready to pass out) Got me out… sent me here… gonna kill me. (sighs as sleep takes her)
Tara walks over to her and covers her up with a duvet.
Tara- We wont let them.
******
It’s morning. Willow and Tara are in the kitchen making breakfast. Faith is coming down the stairs listening to them. She looks over the house littered with boxes everywhere. You can tell it’s tearing her up inside.
Tara- Trust me, honey, it’s two spoons of sugar.
Willow- (kidding around) And how would you know how she takes her coffee?
Tara- (kisses her) I should wake her up.
Faith- (entering) I’m up.
Tara smiles and hands her the cup of coffee. Faith grabs the cup and sips.
Willow- Faith.
Faith- (swallows) Willow.
Willow- (sighs) I’m not playing here. What Tara said is serious. Well, what you told Tara and she told me is serious. The Council-
Faith- I’m not worried about that.
Willow- But they know you’re here.
Faith- I’ll be gone in five minutes.
Tara- Where?
Faith- Back to Angel. They wont mess with him.
Willow- But…
Faith- What?
Willow- Nothing.
Faith- (chugs down the coffee) I left my backpack upstairs.
Faith exits and heads upstairs.
Tara- I think… I think we should go with her.
Willow- Why?
Tara- I don’t feel right staying here. Last night… It’s weird.
Willow- (nods and thinks) I fixed the bot. Xander can use it, you know. She and Spike could do the job. I’ve deprogrammed all the sex files so… I mean, there are still some files I need to re-write but-
Tara- (kisses her babble) I’ll call Giles and let him know.
*****
Faith is walking towards Buffy’s room when something in Dawn’s room catches her eyes. It’s the bot. It’s simply standing there, eyes closed.
Faith- (entering the room) Jesus Christ.
Faith circles it, taking in the sight of the robot. Notices everything is exactly the same as the real Slayer. She stares at her face.
Faith- Down to the last “T”.
Bot- (suddenly opens her eyes) Hi! Who are you?
Faith- (startled, first reflex is to punch it) Shit!
Bot- That is not very nice. (punches back)
Faith- (takes the punch) Hey! I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to-
Bot- You’re not a demon. (stares at her)
Faith- That’s debatable.
Bot- Who are you?
Faith- Faith.
Bot- Faith. (trying to register the name) Faith? I have no Faith in my data bank.
Faith- Figures.
Bot- Who are you, Faith?
Faith- (absorbs the question) I don’t know.
Bot- Where is Willow and her gay type lover Tara?
Faith- (chuckles) Downstairs making breakfast.
Bot- Thank you. Have a good day, Faith.
Faith watches the bot leave the room.
*****
end for now...