Hello Azirahael. I'm glad you're enjoying the medieval setting and the unique twists on the characters there. Having a whole side story separate from the others where Tara gets to stretch her "badass muscles" is really fun to write.

Oh, someone is definitely going to be surprised when they get confronted by the power couple and Tara is the one who lays the smack down instead of Willow. I already have at least one big scenario like that planned in "early" act two.

When writing this last Buffy / Faith "I like you." conversation I almost made the mistake of having one of them jump the other's bones right off the bat. But then I realized I already covered that in Marvels and figured a slow approach would work better for the story line that has had the most love scenes "Per Capita" of the four.

Medieval Snyder is great. He's every bit the simpering, sycophantic, weasel that "Proper Snyder" is but in there he's a sycophant for our favorite characters and an outright jerk to the characters we're supposed to hate.

The table turning is also fun to write. And Tara is the best dictatorial warlord anyone is likely to ever meet.

Sadly this was it for Dark Age Chronicles Act 1. More to come in Act 2. I promise. The next entry may or may not involve a clash with one of the Mad Queen's generals.

But for now we have to "go fish."

_________________
Time and Time Again

Time and Time Again.

Author: Citanul

Feedback: Be kind, rewind?

Spoilers: Just about all of them. Go watch the show.

Rating: NC-17

Pairings: W/T, B/F

Disclaimer: You all know I don’t own the rights to characters you’ve seen on TV.

Summary: A story of reincarnation and interdimensional travel made possible through the power of love. What misfortunes will our two favorite love birds be able to prevent with the aid of experience from countless past lives.

Author’s Note: Remember the episode that was all about steroid abuse in high school athletics? Me neither. But here's the one where they fought a bunch of fish monsters.

******************************

Chapter 20: Fish Shtick

“It’s officially nippy.” Xander complained as he Cordelia, Faith, Willow and Tara huddled around the fire while the rest of their classmates got drunk on the dark stretch of sandy beach. “So say my nips.”

“I think it’s festive.” Willow replied as she and Tara clasped hands and stared into the campfire. The flames leapt upwards suddenly and the temperature around the teens increased. “A party with nature.”

“Thank you ladies.” Xander said with a mild bow.

“Well it’s the team’s choice.” Cordelia added. “It was their victory.”

“Team?” Xander all but cried out in exasperation. “Swim team, ha ha ha. Hardly what I’d call a team. The Yankees, Abbot and Costello, the A. Now those were teams.”

As the light hearted mocking went on Faith glanced further down the beach. She saw Buffy sitting alone watching the ocean and began to walk up to the girl she had been avoiding for the last two weeks. To her annoyance a member of the swim team beat her to the punch.

Faith watched as some creep spouted meaningless poetics about the ocean to her girl. Her fists clenched as she fought the urge to walk up and deck the jock. To make matters worse she was soon joined by his teammate.

“Don’t worry about Cameron sweet cheeks.” Dodd said as he walked up and draped an arm over Faith shoulders. “He’s the love‘em and leave‘em type. I’m the romantic one on the team.”

Faith took one look at the tattoo of a shark smoking a cigar while doing bicep curls on the boys arm and fought back the sudden urge to gag. As if this night couldn’t get any worse she now had to fend off the unwanted advances of the douchebag nation’s dimmest bulb.

“Take it off before I break it off needle dick.” Faith seethed in a vicious tone that shocked the mildly drunk swimmer.

“Jeeze, sorry for asking.” Dodd said as he backed away and ambled down the beach away from the party.

Faith continued to seethe as Cameron talked with Buffy. She almost didn’t notice as she was joined by yet another of her classmates.

“Don’t worry about Buffy Faith.” Jonathan said with as soft a voice as he could manage.

“You know something I don’t John Boy?” Faith asked through clenched teeth.

“Maybe.” The diminutive young man replied. “Cameron isn’t smart enough for Buffy. He’ll screw up early and she’ll put him in his place for it.”

“How’d you come by that one?” Faith asked as she started to calm down.

“Halloween really did a number on me.” Jonathan replied with a smile. “I think I’m a much better judge of character now.”

“Well that’s a relief.” Faith replied. “The way Red and Blondie talk you were gonna end up dead because you picked the wrong friends.”

“I know.” Jonathan said with a slight laugh. “Thank the Goddess Tara dragged me to that costume shop. I really don’t want to end up facing down three angry Slayers and whoever else the girls recruit in the next few years.”

“Years?” Faith asked.

“They have big plans Faith.” Jonathan said quietly. “I can’t tell what for now but I can tell that this world will never be the same once they are done with it.”

Faith looked to the young man for an instant before turning back to Buffy. If what he said held true then her life would only get more interesting. She could handle interesting. She had been since she was old enough to walk.

But she knew she couldn’t handle seeing Buffy throw her life away on some asshole. That she would not stand by and watch. It just might kill her.

******************************

“I can’t stand this!” Faith said angrily as she paced back and forth along the edge of the school parking lot. “What the fuck does she even see in that piece of shit? Am I gonna have to break the legs of every jock that walks by just to keep the dipshits off her scent?”

“She’ll figure it out soon Faith.” Tara said as she and Willow sat on the bench watching the students come back from off campus lunches.

“Tara’s right.” Willow agreed. “Cameron has next to no personality and the little bit that he does have is a creep. He’ll be lucky if he gets out of this with all his bones intact.”

“That limp dicked, chest shaving freak is gonna try something with her?” Faith almost shouted.

Before fresh panic could wage a pitched battle with unquenchable fury a navy blue mustang pulled into the student parking lot. The three girls noticed right away that Buffy was sitting in the passenger’s seat looking as bored as physically possible while the creep in the driver’s seat rambled on.

“I’m gonna kill him.” Faith seethed. “I’m gonna slit his throat, haul his carcass out to the middle of the fucking desert and bury him in a two foot deep hole.”

“Be sure to bring a shovel with a pointed nose.” Willow reminded her just a little too casually. As Tara gave her love an almost chastising look the redhead flustered slightly. “What? Flat nosed shovels are more work in that kind of scrubby terrain. I just don’t think Faith is thinking the little details of this plan through.”

“Faith shouldn’t be thinking about any details of any plan that involves murder.” Tara chided. “Especially when the problem will go away later tonight.”

“What’s happening tonight?” Faith asked.

“Big ugly fishy surprise if this world is like many others.” Willow said. “Oh hey look at that.”

Faith turned back to the car to see the jock reach over and try to grab her girl. Before she could leap into action the Slayer saw the steely look in the blonde’s eyes. In a flash Buffy’s hands snapped out and grasped Cameron by the wrist and the back of his head. She slammed his face into the steering wheel, sending a message that was all too clear.

“Fuckin’ A!” Faith shouted from across the parking lot. Her celebrations were short lived however as she saw Snyder standing in front of the car glaring at the blonde Slayer.

“I think we’re gonna have to set him straight about a few things.” Willow said as they watched the principal escort Buffy and Cameron inside the school.

******************************

“So I’m treated like the baddie just because he has a sprained writs and a bloody nose.” Buffy complained to the Scoobies that had gathered in the library. Her brow furrowed before she continued. “And I don’t have a scratch on me. Which, granted, hurts my case a little on the surface. But meanwhile he gets away with it because he’s on the “aren’t we the most swim team” who by the way, if no one’s noticed, have been acting like real jerks lately.”

As the Slayer noticed all eyes were staring at her with equal mixtures of incredulous exasperation and mild contempt she brought her babbling to a halt. At that point it dawned on Buffy that she was far from the only person among her inner circle who had long ago lost patience with the school’s swim team.

“So.” She said with a light chuckle as she took a seat. “Anything new with you guys?”

“Thank you for taking an interest.” Giles said with only mild sarcasm. “Apparently some remains were found on the beach this morning. Some human remains.”

“Dodd McAlvy’s remains.” Willow added.

“Vampire?” Buffy asked as Faith straightened up nervously.

“No, no he was eviscerated.” Giles replied. “Nothing left but skin and cartilage.”

“In other words, this was no boating accident.” Xander quipped.

“So something ripped him open and ate out his insides?” Buffy asked as she got a chill just thinking about the gruesome death.

“Like an Oreo cookie.” Willow said drawing disturbed looks from around the room. “Well except for, you know, without the chocolaty cookie goodness.” Tara simply leaned over and whispered something in Willow’s ear. The redhead perked up considerably as the honey blonde ran her fingers through long crimson locks.

“Yes, um.” Giles began as he tried to steer the conversation back on track. “Principal Snyder has asked the faculty to keep the news quiet for now, so as not too unduly upset the students.”

“For “students” read swim team.” Xander mocked openly.

“So we’re lookin’ for a beastie.” Faith summed up.

“That ah, eats humans whole.” Giles clarified before restating the obvious. “Except for the skin.”

“This doesn’t make any sense.” Buffy said.

“Yeah the skin’s the best part.” Xander remarked.

“Any demons with high cholesterol?” The Slayer asked with an upbeat tone. Giles just looked at her with yet another incredulous stare. “You’re gonna think about that later Mister, and you’re gonna laugh!” She finished with a sternly pointed finger.

“So you two gonna share with the class?” Faith asked as she set down her book and looked across the table to the witches.

“Ah, yes.” Giles said as he realized a little foreknowledge would help narrow their search immensely. “Do the particulars of this tragedy ring any bells?”

“Yeah this is kinda a gray area.” Willow admitted.

“What does that mean Will?” Buffy asked with a curious frown.

“Okay so it might be a demon that eats people from the inside out.” The young redhead said as her love stroked her hand. “But it’s probably the side effects of the steroids the coach has been pumping the team with.”

“What?” Giles all but shouted in shock.

“Yeah, huh?” Xander added.

“I knew those bunch of muscle bound dipshits were all roided up!” Faith said with far too much glee in her voice. “So what? They juice too much and explode from the inside out?”

“Worse.” Willow said with a squeamish cringe.

“They shed their skin like a snake and turn into fish monsters.” Tara explained.

“Oh dear lord.” Giles gasped as her took to polishing his glasses.

“They shed their skin and turn into fish?” Xander asked as all the color drained from his face. “And everything else just falls off? Like, all of it?”

“Yeah Xand.” Willow said as she gave him a meaningful look downwards. “All of it.”

“Oh god.” He muttered.

“What’s his deal?” Faith asked.

“He saw a documentary on how fish reproduce.” Tara answered causing Giles to gasp and then laugh suddenly. As all eyes turned to the Englishman he chocked off the laughter and looked suitably chastised.

“Sorry.” He said while trying to look crestfallen. “I just couldn’t help but picture those delightful “winners don’t do drugs” propaganda pieces you have in this country.” He turned back to the witches with a more upbeat tone. “So you waited till now to bring this up, why exactly?”

“We weren’t sure this was going to happen again.” Willow said. “And that damn Coach Marin keeps switching up his delivery methods from one world to the next. You have no idea how many times we’ve done the big reveal only to find that he hides the drugs in a different place.”

“But is steroid abuse usually linked with “Hey I’m a fish!” Xander asked. “I don’t remember that from the afterschool specials.”

“He uses Soviet Union documents and formulas to mix pheromones and DNA from a bunch of different fish species.” Willow said. “Add in the fact that the place they are getting dosed is on top of the hellmouth and you get fish monster jocks.”

“As if the regular jocks weren’t bad enough.” Faith muttered.

“So is there an antidote?” Buffy asked.

“Maybe?” Willow admitted slowly. As everyone stared at her blankly she knew she’d have to explain more. “If we catch them before they skin themselves then yes, but the fish men always make a break for the ocean before anyone can try to cure them.”

“Bloody hell.” Giles muttered. “Alright we have to look into that damned swim coach fool. Maybe we’ll get lucky and catch him with a needle in his hands.”

“This is starting to sound like another all nighter.” Xander said with a mournful sigh.

“Yes, quite.” Giles remarked as he sat down at the end of the table. “Probably best to call Joyce and Jennifer. I’m sure they’d love to hear all about our new fish monster students.”

******************************

“Too much research.” Xander muttered wearily as he stumbled down the hall. “Need beverage.” Unfortunately, before he could reach the vending machine Cameron walked around the corner and bumped into him.

“Hey!” The jock said angrily. “Watch it!”

“Oh forgive me your swim teamlyness!” Xander apologized mockingly as he stooped to pick up his dropped pocket change.

“Loser.” Cameron muttered as he turned to walk away.

“Liking the nose Cam!” Xander called out. “Good look for you!”

“Meaning what?” The swimmer asked as he slowly turned to face the dark haired teen.

“Meaning Buffy must not be on your list of privileges after all.” Xander said with a chuckle. “Man, I love it when you guys mess with her.”

“You’re lucky I’m hungry.” Cameron said menacingly.

“You sure that’s hunger?” Xander asked. “You’re looking a little green around the gills to me.”

“What?” Cameron asked in a confused tone.

“I don’t know if I’d go in that cafeteria if I were you Cam.” Xander said in a sarcastically concerned tone. “They were serving fish sticks today.”

“Whatever loser.” Cameron said as he turned and walked away.

“Careful Cam.” Xander called to the jock’s back. “Wouldn’t want you getting dipped in a nice lemon butter sauce.”

Cameron walked towards the cafeteria but before he could enter he was stopped by yet another Scooby. He looked up to see an angry brunette glaring at him.

“What do you want?” He asked.

“From you?” Faith replied. “Nothing. Just had to give you fair warning.”

“What about?” Cameron asked.

“See, X man over there is a softie.” Faith said. “He’s content to let you go with the mild beating you got. I’m not.”

“What’s your problem slut?” Cameron asked as he puffed out his chest and stared down at Faith. Before he could posture any further he felt the edge of one of the largest knives he’d ever seen pressed against his throat.

“I’m only gonna say this once Ocean Boy.” Faith told him slowly and clearly with firm conviction in her eyes. “You touch Buffy again and I’ll chop your fish stick off.” As the look of fear came over the young man’s face the Slayer slowly pulled back the butterfly sword. She sheathed it and walked away.

“What the hell?” Cameron muttered as he entered the kitchen.

“Grape, orange.” Xander said as he examined the soda machine. “Orange, grape.”

“Both fine choices.” Faith said as she walked up to the machine and wrapped a fist on the side. A can fell into the catch tray below and she stooped to pick it up. “Whatever floats your boat.”

“So Faithy, did you have fun threatening Fins McGillicuddy?” Xander asked with a smile.

“No threats X man.” Faith replied. “Promises. No one messes with my girl.”

“Glad to hear it.” Xander said. Before he could go on a loud scream echoed from down the halls. They both turned towards the cafeteria. “So he’s either being eaten right now or turning into a fish monster.”

“Guess I’ll have to go have a look.” Faith sighed before drawing her blades and stalking towards the disturbance. Xander was quick to follow. As they entered the cafeteria they noticed several tables had been upturned just as they had been the week before last when ghosts added live snakes to the lunch menu. Faith kept her eyes peeled for danger from all around as Xander leaned in to examine something odd on the floor.

“Oh my god.” Xander muttered. With fresh revulsion turning his stomach he realized the crumpled pile on the floor was the tattered remnants of the skin and clothing worn by the jock they had both so recently taunted.

Faith sensed a presence behind her and quickly spun to deliver a roundhouse kick to her attacker. The blow connected solidly with the chest of the tall dark and scaly monster that had once been Cameron Walker. Xander looked up and immediately let out the loudest scream Faith had ever heard.

“You really want to go freak?” Faith asked as she weaved her favorite blades back and forth between herself and the new menace covered in black scales. The former high school student turned aquatic monster glared at her before hissing once and turning to flee into the night.

“You can stop screaming now Xander.” Faith said as they were left alone once more.

“Sorry.” The boy replied. “Maybe we don’t tell the others about that part.”

“Sure why not.” Faith agreed. “Let’s go tell everyone the bad news.”

******************************

“Go ahead, say it.” Cordelia said with a smirk. “You screamed like a little girl.”

“Yeah but in a manly way.” Faith added with a smirk.

“Hey if you saw that thing you’d scream like a little girl too.” Xander shot back with a sullen expression.

“Buffy was right.” Willow said as she, Tara and Buffy walked through the library doors. “Dodd and Cameron were the best swimmers on the team.”

“First and second actually.” Buffy added. “Which means they probably had the highest exposure to the fishroids. And that means Gage Petronzi, the third best swimmer, will be the next to filet himself.”

“I don’t even want to think about them tearing their way out of their own skin.” Tara admitted.

“God, this is so sad.” Cordelia said causing everyone to look her way. “We’re never gonna win the state championship. I think I’ve lost all will to cheerlead.”

“Raise your hand if you feel her pain.” Xander quipped.

“Alright then.” Giles said as he removed his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “We need to pinpoint the source of these transformations before we lose anymore student athletes. Buffy, watch swimmer number three and see if you can find whatever they are using. Faith, follow the coach. He’s more than likely at the center of this, as Willow and Tara said. Everyone else, keep your eyes open and be watchful around the remaining teammates. Even without the bloody fish metamorphosis steroid abuse is rife with nasty side effects.”

With the plan in place the Scoobies called it a night. The Slayers and witches escorted everyone home before returning to their homes on Rovello Drive. Little did they know one Scooby was already formulating a plan all their own.

******************************

The next day Buffy stalked Gage. She watched him loiter in the student lounge. She followed him as he left campus for lunch. She trailed him to the Bronze that night and monitored his use of the pool table. Throughout all this surveillance the jock grew more and more agitated. As he noticed the petite blonde watching him line up shots with the pool cue he decided to do something about it.

“This “me and my shadow” act is getting old.” Gage said as he cornered Buffy by the pillar between the pool table and the counter. “What do you want from me?”

“Well, um, it’s a little embarrassing you see.” Buffy stammered. “I’m a swim groupie.”

“Ah hah!” Gage replied with mildly amused disbelief.

“Oh yeah. You know there’s just something about the smell of chlorine on a guy. Oh baby.” Buffy went on as best she could before the jock turned and walked away. “Okay, okay, okay!” She called out as she ran to cut off his escape. “Obviously me sex appeal is on the fritz today so I’ll just give it to you straight. Stop taking whatever steroids the coach has been giving you.”

“Uh huh?” Gage asked with a shocked look in his eyes. “And you think I’m juicing because?”

“Two of your teammates are already gone because of this stuff Gage.” Buffy said with a serious tone. “Please don’t be the third.”

“You’re one twisted sister, you know that?” Gage muttered as he shook his head. “Cam told me about your games. Go find someone else to harass.”

“Cam’s gone.” Buffy said. “So is Dodd, and you don’t want to see the things that are left in their places.”

The Slayer’s pleas fell on deaf ears as the jock walked out of the night club. The Slayer followed a moment later and found a vampire gagging over a wounded Gage. She leapt at the undead, knocking it away from the boy. Before it could decide between vomiting up whatever was in its mouth and fighting the Slayer it felt a small wooden hair stick pierce its heart.

Gage watched in horror as the thing that attacked him crumbled to dust before his eyes. He couldn’t believe what had just happened. Before he was even able to process the end of the fight the blonde was standing over him.

“I don’t know if I’d call that lucky but there’s obviously something in your blood that thing didn’t like.” The Slayer said.

“What?” He asked before trying to pull himself together. “Was that the thing that killed Cameron?”

“No.” Buffy replied slowly. “That was something else.”

“Something else?” Gage asked.

“Yeah.” Buffy said. “Unfortunately we have a lot of something else’s in this town. Good night.” The Slayer then turned to leave the boy only to find herself followed.

“Hey!” Gage called out nervously as he ran to catch up with her. “Walk me home?”

With a roll of her eyes Buffy walked the boy home. No closer to finding out the cause of the current crisis.

******************************

On the word of their coach the swim team’s first string dove into the pool. Half way across Gage paused and looked towards the bleachers. He saw the blonde Slayer there sitting with her friends and smiled. He managed a wave before the coach yelled at him to get his head back into the practice.

“So the blood sucker just spit it out?” Cordelia asked as Buffy returned Gage’s wave with a noncommittal one of her own. “I thought vampires loved blood.”

“Yeah.” Buffy agreed. “But they don’t always like what’s in the blood.”

“So Gage is definitely on the juice then.” Faith said as she watched the swimmer make doe eyes at her girl as he left the pool.

“Definitely.” Buffy agreed. “I saved his life and he still can’t tell me what we need to know. Any luck on your end?”

“Zippo.” Cordelia complained. “No clues where or how the team is getting dosed. Not that chicken little was there to help but, oh.” Cordelia trailed off as she glanced across the pool to a tall slightly muscular body coming towards them. Her eyes trailed upwards from strong calves to sculpted thighs. “Oh!” She said as she got an eyeful of the way the young man filled out his Speedo and moved up his glistening chest. “Oh my. Now that, girls, is my kind of.”

“Hi Xander.” Willow called out as Cordelia’s gaze finally reached high enough to recognize her boyfriend’s face.

“Xander!” The cheerleader cried out in shock causing the boy to lunge to the side and cover himself with a kickboard. Faith took one look at the boy they all knew and broke out laughing. “What the hell are you doing here?” Cordelia demanded.

“I’m under cover.” Xander answered as he came up to the girls while trying to hide his barely clothed groin behind the piece of foam board.

“Not under much.” Buffy said with a lewd smirk that only caused Faith to cackle even louder.

“Get out of here before someone sees you impersonating a member of the swim team!” Cordelia ordered.

“I don’t do impersonations.” Xander replied with a smile. “I tried out for the team last night, I made it.”

“Really?” Cordelia asked.

“Yeah I figure I can keep an eye on Gage and the others when Buffy can’t.” Xander added.

“Ooh Sweetie.” Tara said. “I can see what you saw in him. Literally.”

“Baby!” Willow cried out in shock as Faith’s continued mirth caused her to roll off the bench and into the foot well between the bleachers.

“Sorry Sweetie.” Tara continued teasing her love. “It can’t be helped. I’m cured, I like the boys now.”

“I’m gonna make you eat those words.” Willow all but growled.

“I hope that’s not all I’m gonna eat.” Tara whispered back with one particularly arched eyebrow.

“You know I’m not afraid to fight for you.” Willow said as she pulled her heart into her arms. Just before the flirtations could cause Xander to wish he had a bigger board to hide behind an ear piercing whistle called him to attention.

“Harris! You can flirt on your own time!” Coach Marin yelled.

“Okie dokie Coachie.” Xander said as he hurried back to the lineup of other swimmers.

“I’m dating a swimmer from the Sunnydale swim team.” Cordelia said with pride.

“You can die happy.” Buffy chirped sarcastically.

“No doubt about that.” Faith said as she finally pulled herself together enough to rejoin the conversation. “Plus this is just too funny not to let my school spirit show.”

“What?” Cordelia asked as she watched Xander mount the short diving stand.

“Go X man!” Faith shouted as he began to dive. “Shake that nice tight ass!”

“Oh my god, Faith!” Buffy said as she barely held back her own laughter.

“You know you love me B!” Faith said while waggling her eyebrows at the blonde who almost immediately relented and joined in on the laughter.

The head cheerleader just rolled her eyes as it seemed the majority of the town’s gay population had taken extra delight in playfully objectifying her boyfriend. Despite what they all thought of her she could be as good a sport as anyone when it came to the intimate closeness the core Scoobies shared. All that mattered was the side of himself that Xander reserved for her.

******************************

“Gotta love this undercover deal.” Xander said to the Slayers as he stepped out of the locker room. “Twenty minutes in a hot room with a bunch of sweaty guys.” He draped the towel around his shoulders over his still wet hair.

“Where’s Gage?” Buffy asked.

“Oh he was right behind me putting his sneakers on.” Xander replied before adding another playfully cautionary jab. “But it’s not he Velcro kind so give him an extra couple minutes. Tag, you’re it.” He finished as he tapped Buffy and Faith lightly on their arms and walked off.

“Any sign of the junk B?” Faith asked.

“I got nothing.” Buffy replied. “What about the Coach.”

“Think I’m getting close.” Faith remarked. “I keep seeing him go into the boiler room under the pool and locker rooms. Gonna check there when he isn’t looking.”

“Good call Faith.” Buffy said. Before she could ask anything further terrified shrieking came from inside the locker room. “Gage!”

Both Slayers ran into the locker rooms. Inside they found an all too unsettling scene. Gage was backed up against a locker screaming as a large monster covered in slimy black scales approached him. Buffy went to Gage’s side as Faith launched herself forward. The brunette Slayer kicked the beast in the chest with all the force of her body behind one boot.

“Gage?” Buffy asked as the boy fell backwards and started clawing at his own chest. The Slayer watched in horror as the boy she tried to help ripped open his own skin to reveal slimy black scales beneath.

Long razor sharp claws on the ends of scaly webbed fingers tore through what used to be his hand. The boy’s screams were muffled and died out as his face was ripped away and the hideous fish monster rose in his place.

“No use playing nice now B.” Faith called out. “Let’s show these ugly critters the door.”

“You’re right Faith.” Buffy said as she joined her sister Slayer in what could hardly be called a battle. After only trading a few punches the creatures dove down an open sewer grate and were gone. The Slayers shared a concerned look before turning and leaving the locker room.

Coach Marin sneered as he came out from behind his office door. He knew trouble for his team when he saw it. He knew better than most the troubles young women could cause any athlete. He knew he would have to stop them from interfering with his team.

******************************

“Gage turned.” Buffy called out as the two Slayers entered the school library.

“Oh dear lord.” Giles muttered while polishing his glasses. “Xander are you sure you weren’t exposed?”

“What?” The boy asked. “No! I’d know. Wouldn’t I? Oh god, I’m gonna turn into a fish monster. What am I gonna do?”

“You, you, you!” Cordelia said as she sat on the steps leading to the book stacks. “What about me? It’s one thing to be dating the lame unpopular guy, but it’s another to be dating the creature from the blue lagoon.”

“Black Lagoon!” Xander shot back as he came to sit by his girlfriend. “The creature form the blue lagoon was Brooke Shields. And thank you so much for your support!”

“You haven’t been undercover long enough to turn Xander.” Willow said. “If the delivery method is something you don’t even notice then we’re talking hours of exposure before you even come close to turning.”

“We should call in one of our teams of doctors.” Tara said as she pulled out her phone.

“Yes, that may be the only solution for preventing any more of these horrid metamorphoses.” Giles remarked. “Xander I believe the time to “play it casually” has passed, as they say. Ask those boys what they are taking and how tomorrow.”

“Okay.” Xander replied with a defeated tone.

“In the meantime we’ll stick to the Coach and try to catch him in the act.” Buffy said as she and Faith stood up.

“Be careful.” Tara added. “Wear your armor.”

“Yeah there’s like an eighty percent chance he has a gun stashed in his office or the boiler room.” Willow added.

“Damn it Red!” Faith all but shouted. “How bout a little warning next time?”

“Sorry.” Both witches said as the Scoobies prepared to leave for the evening.

******************************

“I feel good!” Xander said with far too much enthusiasm for the given setting. “Lovin’ the sweatiness! Had some carrot juice this morning. Little wheat germ mixed in with it, woke me right up! Nothing like it huh? Breakfast of state champions, you betcha!” He looked around the steam room at all the other swim team members. “Okay so when do we get our next dose?” Xander asked with a less jovial tone.

“What do you mean?” Sean asked as he looked over at the new addition to the team.

“Who’s carrying?” Xander asked. “I need a little something to improve my performance. Give me an edge. Grrr!” All the humor melted from his face as he grew serious for the first time. “The steroids! Where are they?”

“You’re soaking in it Bud.” Sean replied as several teammates laughed.

“Huh?” Xander sputtered.

“Aromatherapy.” Sean said, taking a deep breath. “It’s in the steam.”

“What!” Xander began to panic.

“Coach’s special blend.” Another guy called out with a laugh.

“Oh god.” Xander cried. “We have to get out of here!”

“Relax Harris.” One of the guys on the far side of the room said.

“Don’t tell me to relax!” Xander shouted as he leapt from the bench. “Do you nitwits even know what this stuff did to Dodd, Cameron and Gage?”

“What do you mean?” One of the boys asked. “Wasn’t it wild dogs?”

“No! No it wasn’t wild dogs, or barbeque forks, or any other lie the police around here stick to!” Xander explained with no small amount of scorn. “They peeled their own skin off and turned into giant fish monsters!”

“What the fuck are you rambling about?” Sean asked.

“Haven’t you guys noticed the weird shit that goes on in this town?” Xander went on. “Well this is one of those things that people around here keep ignoring!”

“So they turned into fish people to swim better?” Another boy said.

“No they did it to get girls.” Xander mocked, sarcastically. “Like that would even work anyway.”

“What does that mean?” One teenager asked.

“Seriously?” Xander was in awe at the lengths he’d have to go to save these fools. “Do you not know how fish have sex?” He asked, growing more and more annoyed. “Okay then, I’ll explain it. Mrs. Fish craps out a pile of eggs on a rock. Then Mr. Fish crop dusts them.”

“So when you say Dodd and Cameron peeled off their skin.” One member of the swim team began to say.

“Their dicks fell off!” Xander screamed. “Now they are running around the sewers with scales and flippers and gills and no dicks! I don’t know about you guys but I like having a dick!”

“What about Gage?” Sean asked as most of the other young men began to take the warnings seriously.

“Yeah. Did the same thing happen to Gage?” A now nervous teen said.

“Oh no, he only had a mild case of dick fell off.” Xander said with casual sarcasm before giving the real answer with a shout. “Of course the same thing happened to him!”

“Don’t tell me you guys actually believe this.” Sean said.

“I don’t care what you believe Sean!” Xander shot back. “I’m getting out of this steam before my dick falls off. Anyone who’s with me, say so now.”

All around the steam room young men stood up, went out the door to their lockers, dressed and prepared to leave the locker room. Sean watched in shock as he was left alone in the steam room.

“To the Mayo Clinic boys!” Xander called out as he led the procession outside.

******************************

“This has got to stop Carl!” Nurse Greenliegh pleaded as she followed the coach past the pool. “Those poor children!”

“What are you? A quitter?” The coach asked. “We got no room for quitters on this team.”

“Do you even understand what’s happening? Listen to yourself.” The nurse continued.

“Very close to perfecting this. We just need to adjust the mix.” The coach said as he continued to dismiss the woman’s concerns. They walked through a maintenance door in the back corner of the pool and down into the boiler room filled with machinery that fed into the steam room.

“Carl, you can’t be thinking of continuing to expose these boys.” Her pleas fell on deaf ears. So focused was the man on the glorious victory just beyond his grasp.

“They’re gonna be the best. I don’t accept anything less.” He boasted.

“They’re gonna be monsters.” She begged. “Carl, please, don’t make it any worse. You’ve already lost three.”

“Lost?” The coach asked in a surprised tone. “They’re not lost.” He lunged towards the woman and began wrestling her towards an open sewer grate. The heavyset nurse struggled as best she could but her efforts were undone by the surprising assault. Just as she was leaning precariously over the hole in the floor a dark form leapt out of the shadows.

The stunned nurse was thrown back, away from the gaping hole leading down to the sewers. She watched in shock as the dark figure turned out to be a brunette student she had hardly seen all year. The girl wrestled with the coach on the concrete floor and maintained the upper hand. Nurse Grenliegh watched in horror as the man reached up to a workbench with one arm. She saw the gun, half hidden under a newspaper. It seemed as if all hope was lost.

“Not so fast you ugly son of a bitch.” Faith said as she grasped his forearm and twisted it at an angle it was never intended to bend.

The nurse gasped at the sickening crunching sound that reverberated off the hard surfaces all around. With one hand the young girl had snapped Carl Marin’s radius and ulna right in the middle. The now useless hand and wrist dangled at a stomach churning ninety degree angle as the man let out a pained cry.

“You two are going to answer for what you did.” Faith said as she stood up from the broken man. “I ain’t one to care for those jocks all that much but even I have standards.”

“This isn’t over.” Carl said as he slowly rose to his feet cradling his injured arm. “Where’s you school spirit?”

“Creeping up the skirt of the ex cheerleader I’ve been hitting on all year.” Faith shot back. The man dove for the gun but Faith knew his type far too well. She snatched it out of his hand and delivered a boot to the center of his chest. The coach toppled backwards and fell into the open sewer grate.

The man hit the water with a splash and quickly began looking around the large, half flooded intersection of sewer tunnels. He saw the altered members of his team approach all too eagerly.

“Boys? Boys oh no. Now boys. Boys!” The coach pleaded as the three fish men went in for the kill.

Faith and the school nurse watched from above as the one sided fight began and ended all too soon. Nurse Greenliegh fought back the urge to vomit as she saw the flesh being torn from Carl Marin’s body.

“Those boys really love their coach.” Faith remarked with cold sarcasm.

With almost casual disregard the Slayer released the ammo magazine from the pistol. She slid back the action to release the bullet in the chamber. Once all the bullets were dropped into the waters below Faith removed the action from the barrel of the gun and threw the pieces into different corners of the boiler room.

“Alright nurse fun bags.” Faith said menacingly as she glared at the now terrified woman. “You’re going to tell some nice people that are way smarter than me exactly what that scumbag put in those swim team dipshit.”

“Alright.” The nurse whispered. “That’s probably better than I deserve.”

******************************

Buffy and Cordelia walked into the building containing the school’s swimming pool. They looked all around for any sign of their friends.

“No one.” Cordelia muttered as she looked around the empty pool. “Xander must have rounded up the rest of the swim team.”

“You really do care about him don’t you Cordelia?” Buffy asked with a slightly surprised tone.

“Oh as if Slayer!” The cheerleader said with a defensive tone that betrayed her true feelings. “Okay, fine. Yes I can’t help but like the guy. He’s just so.”

“Relax Cordy.” Buffy said. “I’m glad you two are happy together. Really, with all the bad luck we’ve had it’s great to see my two best friends find people that make them happy. Now if only Faith and I can find honeys of our own we’d all be set.”

As Buffy scanned the room for signs of life she missed the exaggerated eye roll the brunette gave her. Cordelia couldn’t believe how dense the chosen one could be. In spite of everything the cheerleader had grown to like the younger Slayer. She hoped that for Faith’s sake the obvious romantic tension between the Slayers would come to a head sooner rather than later.

“I’m gonna check in the locker room real quick.” Buffy said. “You hang back here.”

“Whatever.” Cordelia said as the blonde ran off. The head cheerleader walked around the side of the pool. As seconds wore on she began to wonder what was taking the Slayer so long. The sound of rushed footsteps and a splash drew her attention. Someone had just jumped in the pool.

“Buffy what are you doing?” Cordelia asked before noticing that the figure swimming before her was covered in dark scales. “Oh my god Xander is that you?” She cried out.

“It’s me Cordelia!” She went on trying to call the submerged figure’s attention. “I know you can’t answer me but, god this is all my fault! You joined the swim team to impress me. You were so courageous. And you looked really hot in those Speedos. And I want you to know that, I still care about you no matter what you look like. And we can still date. Or, or not I mean. I understand if you want to see other fish.”

“I’ll do everything I can to make your quality of life better.” Cordelia promised as she crouched down by the side of the pool. “Whether that means little bath toys or whatever.” The cheerleader was so engrossed she didn’t notice the blonde sneaking up behind her.

“Uh Cordy?” Buffy said. “That’s not Xander.”

“What?” Cordelia asked just before the fishman lunged towards her. She shrieked as the monster swiped its claws at her. Fortunately Buffy reacted almost instantly with a swift kick to the face. The creature fell back into the pool and made its escape out the other side.

“I just saw Xander leading the rest of the team out the side exit.” Buffy added. “Judging by the shreds of skin in the locker room I think that was Sean Dwyer.”

“Xander’s okay?” Cordelia asked in relieved shock.

“Xander’s okay.” Buffy assured. “And it means the world to me that you said what you did.”

“Don’t you dare tell him!” Cordelia demanded.

“My lips are sealed.” Buffy promised.

“Mine too Queen C.” Faith said as she dragged the sullen looking school nurse out of the boiler room.

“Faith!” Buffy greeted her sister Slayer with a cheery smile. “You found the nurse.”

“Yeah B.” Faith replied. “Ruth here was in on it from the start.”

“I’m so sorry.” Nurse Greenliegh pleaded. “Carl didn’t say anything about turning the boys into fish monsters. I tried to get him to stop.”

“Where is that sicko coach now?” Buffy demanded.

“Dead B.” Faith answered. “Saw him about to throw the nurse here into the sewers and stopped him. He went for his gun and when I knocked him back he took the plunge. His fishy friends were waiting down below.”

“He was going to feed me to them.” The nurse said in a hollow whisper.

“Eww.” Cordelia said as she turned up her nose.

“Okay, this is a lot more icky than I usually like.” Buffy admitted before turning to the nurse. “You’re going to explain about everything he had you do and just maybe we’ll have a lawyer friend of ours try to cut you a deal.”

“You think that Lilah chick Red and Blondie are always calling up will do her any favors.” Faith asked.

“God no.” Buffy said with a slight laugh. “But she might have one of her minions represent Nurse Greenliegh here pro bono. It really depends on whether or not Xander was exposed enough to be hurt. If we loose him there isn’t a place on this earth where you can hide from Willow.”

“The Rosenberg girl?” Ruth asked.

“Yeah, you don’t want to piss her off with all that’s been going on this year.” Faith remarked. “Just pray the boy that’s been her BFF since kindergarten still has all his skin on him.”

“You’re talking about Alexander Harris?” The Nurse asked with a curious frown. “He’s fine. It took the other boys almost a full week’s worth of sauna time before the first one changed. Something like a hundred or so hours. He’s only been on the team a few days.”

“Oh thank god.” Cordelia said with a relieved sigh.

“In any case let’s get you outside.” Buffy said to the shell shocked nurse. “Tara says there’s a surprise waiting for all of us.”

******************************

Xander led the remaining human portion of the Sunnydale swim team out into the school parking lot. To his surprise there was a large, oddly shaped bus awaiting him and his teammates. A man in a white coat was standing by the main door of the vehicle and looked up with a smile when he saw the boys exit the building.

“Hello there young men!” The man called out. “My name is Doctor Faust. I’m a representative of the Law Firm of Rosenberg and Maclay. It is my pleasure to inform you all that we will be supervising your treatments and making sure you all recover as quickly as possible.” The teens stopped and stared at the man in confusion. As he spoke the front door of the buss opened up. With a slight wave he gestured for them to proceed inside.

“If you enter here we can begin taking samples and running your blood work.” Dr. Faust said. He looked at his clipboard and then back to the group of young men. “Is there a Mr. Alexander Harris present?”

“Um, here?” Xander said as he stepped forward.

“Ah, good.” The doctor said. “Mr. Harris I was told to see to your case personally. Ms. Rosenberg and Ms. Maclay were very adamant about that.”

“Oh, okay then.” Xander said as he followed the doctor to the rear entrance of the bus. The rest of the team began filing inside while Xander was led to a small, isolated room with two large men waiting inside.

“I am the Gatekeeper.” One said.

“I am the Keymaster.” The other replied as he took out a key and uncuffed a briefcase from the first man’s wrist.

“Solid Ghostbusters reference.” Xander said with a slight smile.

“Yes, Ms. Rosenberg was certain you’d like that part.” Dr. Faust remarked as he opened the briefcase and pulled out a single vial of a strange green liquid that glowed eerily. “Now this is a proprietary substance they discovered that will cure you instantly. But we don’t have any kind of FDA clearance or medically recognized testing to go along with it so it has to be your choice to take it.”

“Okay I’m interested but I’ve never seen any of you guys before and I really think I need to ask Willow and Tara before I do anything hasty.” Xander said while trying to ease through the strange situation diplomatically.

“Sorry I’m late.” A familiar voice came form the doorway. “Oh good you’re in here Xander.” Willow said.

“Hiya Will.” The boy replied with a smile. “So these guys work for you and Tara right?”

“Yup.” The redhead replied. “The normal cure for these fishroids is a few weeks of blood transfusions. But we had this other thing we could give you to skip all that.”

“That’s all I needed to hear.” Xander said with a smile to his oldest and closest friend. “Shoot me up boys.”

“Excellent.” Dr. Faust said enthusiastically as he prepared a hypodermic needle. “Young man you’ll be our third human patient to take this treatment.”

“Do I know the other two?” Xander asked Willow with a knowing grin.

“Yeah, but don’t tell anyone.” Willow told him. “We can’t reveal where that green stuff comes from just yet.”

“Cuz Magic?” Xander asked as the doctor rolled up his sleeve and swabbed the indside of his elbow with an alcohol wipe.

“Cuz Magic.” Willow agreed with a smile.

“See I pay attention to these things.” Xander chided his friend while the doctor gave him the injection.

“Which is just one of the reasons why I love you Xander.” Willow said.

“Love you too Will.” Xander said with a wide smile as his skin began to glow.

******************************

“You’re sure about this?” Angel asked the watcher. They had finally narrowed the list of rituals their unknown enemy might be plotting down to a manageable number.

“As sure as I can be without the scrolls to double check my findings.” Wesley admitted. “I fear there may be no way to reach absolute certainty in this.”

“It’ll have to do.” The vampire muttered. “Good work Wesley.”

“Did Wes find something?” Alonna asked as she entered the hotel’s office.

“I’m afraid so.” The Englishman said. “It would appear that our foes mean to conjure up some sort of creature that died long ago.”

“They can do that?” The Slayer asked, growing nervous about the seemingly powerful artifact they had lost.

“Yes, I do believe they can.” Wesley said. “The Scrolls of Aberjian contain a great many prophecies. The vast majority of which deal with life, death and most importantly of all resurrections.”

“So they want to bring something dead back to life.” Alonna said. “Good, we’ll be able to handle that.”

“Alonna, this is no simple matter.” Wesley pleaded, trying to urge caution in the Slayer that barely listened to him. “Whatever they plan to raise, it won’t be human and it certainly won’t play nice with others.”

“But it will have died at least once before.” Alonna said with a sly grin. “That means it can be slayed. Have a little faith in my team Wes. With Angel watching my back and Charles and the boys holding the perimeter I’ll be free to go all out on whatever they raise from the dead. This demon won’t know what hit it.”

The watcher stood there stunned. He couldn’t believe the conviction in the young Slayer’s voice. Once again he was left to wonder about the success of this insane plan cooked up by witches who seemed to revel in their own defiance of tradition.

A few short months ago he had been certain their schemes would come undone. He had believed then that his Slayer would easily come around to accepting the council’s orders. This boldness made him question those beliefs. And not for the first time since coming to this country.

“What do they need for the most likely rituals?” Alonna asked.

“Not much.” Angel said as he skimmed the list. “Sacred ground where the long dead have been laid to rest. Midnight under a full moon. A few backup people for the chanting.”

“Full moon? Will they need the exact night of the full moon or will the two nights surrounding it be good enough, like with werewolves?” Alonna asked.

“The night of is almost mandatory for ritual work of this magnitude.” Wesley answered. “I’d say that given the amount of time they’ve had the scrolls in their possession they are only waiting for that one requirement to enact whatever ritual they have planned.”

“Okay the next one is in two weeks.” The Slayer said as she pondered their next course of action. “That gives us time to scope out locations that are most likely. Good work Wesley.” She added with a smile before turning to the door. “I’m gonna tell the boys what we’ll need to do in the meantime.”

“She really has a firm grip on this destiny of hers doesn’t she?” Wesley said in mild awe as he watched the Slayer he had been given to exit the office.

“Oh yeah.” Angel replied with a grin. “I was worried the first time I heard the witches explain this setup. But after watching Alonna hunt all these months I can’t imagine a fight she isn’t more than capable of handling.”

“It all goes against everything I was ever trained for.” Wesley remarked with a sullen yet accepting tone. “Especially your presence here.”

“Yeah it does.” Angel admitted. “But look at how great it’s all working out. There are four Slayers in the world. Two on a very active hellmouth. One in a nearby fallback location with a large demon population that needed culling. Plus wherever your council puts the Jamaican. And we owe it all to a little minor bucking of tradition. As one of those evils the council is meant to fight I can say this is probably one of the best things to happen to the world in a very long time”

“Indeed.” Wesley said, letting a slight smile escape his lips for the first time in months. Maybe this would all work out for the best after all.

******************************

“Let’s see.” Xander said as he sat in the school lounge and began to go over his new schedule with all the young women who meant the world to him. “I gotta take a makeup chem test at three. And then I’m meeting some of the guys for plasma transfusions at five. It’s turned into quite the busy afternoon.”

“I thought you got to skip all that checkup stuff.” Faith said with a puzzled frown.

“Yeah but I still show up with the guys and pretend to take my turn.” He replied with as upbeat an attitude as he could muster. “You know, team solidarity and all that crap.”

“The fun never stops with you does it?” Buffy said with an amused smirk.

“The first round of blood work came back and our doctors are confident the treatments will work.” Willow added as she sat in Tara’s lap.

“They’ll all be back to normal in a few weeks.” Tara said with a relieved smile.

“Well turning into a creepy crawly wasn’t on my top ten list of things to do before I turn twenty.” Xander admitted with dry sarcasm.

“I want you to know that you’ve really proven yourself to me.” Cordelia said sincerely as she clasped hands with her boyfriend. “And you don’t have to join the new team next year if you don’t want. I’d be just as happy if you played football.”

“Ms. Rosenberg, Ms. Maclay, I am so sorry.” Doctor Faust apologized profusely as he hurried up to the group of students with Giles hot on his heels. “The containment team just reported in.”

“As Willow predicted, it would seem our creatures have apparently made a dash for it, um, so to speak.” Giles remarked.

“That’s so sad.” Tara said with a regretful frown. “But they get away almost every time. We honestly didn’t think this time would turn out any different.”

“Please don’t tell me we’re gonna have to trudge through the sewers with tranq guns.” Faith moaned.

“I don’t think we’ll be seeing them anymore.” Buffy said with calm certainty.

“Where do you think they’ll go?” Giles asked his Slayer.

“Home.”

_________________
Time and Time Again

Dibs!

So, plotwise, not much happening.
Just some canon stuff we've all seen before.

But Cordelia was pretty cool. Nice to see a little of her hidden depths.
And Xander was a standup guy. And a little braver than we saw on the show.
Just a little, which was nice.

But Faith, yeah, she was awesome. She kicked butt, oh yes.
And i loved Buffy smacking the guy's head into the steering wheel. He had it coming
I think Faith's possessiveness/defensiveness of Buffy is kinda cute

And Faith, you could almost taste her frustration.
Poor Slayer.
I can't wait to see the look on her face when she realizes that Faith fancies her.


So, explain the 'Part 1, Part 2' bit to me, what's happening there?

As always, waiting for more!

R

Typo:
“Raise you’re if you feel her pain.” Xander quipped.
"Raise your hand if you feel her pain." perhaps?

_________________
“All I feel is sunlight. All I hear is music.” Willow
How i Met Your Mother - By Ariel

My Story: Coming Home

Yay for excellent update-y goodness... I really really hope that Buffy soon figures out that Faith really loves her and that she loves Faith back...

_________________
We Few, We Happy Few, We Band of Buggered

Posting while nude improves your mood...

Really great comments and questions.

Hi Azirahael. Yeah this chapter fell in line with the show in a lot of places. But the episode itself held a lot of great character development for some of the characters I've left underdeveloped. Specifically Cordelia.

Also showing Xander's extended panic at finding out he's been doped was fun. And acknowledging that the way most fish reproduce means becoming a fish is pretty much every teenage boy's worst nightmare gave me a chuckle.

Buffy warding off Cameron's advances might have been the high point of the original episode. But Faith's presence added a lot to this chapter. Slayer territory marking can be cute. It can also be violent, deadly and end up with a wooden stake in someone's heart.

The Buffy / Faith resolution is coming. And it won't be as pretty as we all want it to be.

Act 1 is this first set of chapters and entires loosely based on season 2. There is one Marvels entry left in Act 1 and then the finale chapter. Then I'll be taking a short break from posting to go back over the stuff I have for Act 2 which is the Season 3 stuff, minus the mayor, plus a lot more Willow and Tara running around with new plot points. Also the Hyperion Hotel Crew will probably have a few bigger scenes and a lot more interaction with the Scoobies.

The three side stories will continue on, through Act 2, and dive deeper into whatever major conflicts those worlds hold. Act 1 was mostly setup for them. Within the first two Dark Age Chronicles for Act 2 you guys will probably be able to tell who the Mad Queen is.

Not to spoil anything but I'm also really excited for the stuff I'll be putting into the main storyline in Act 3. Big shakeups there.

Hello Zampsa. Buffy and Faith's relationship revelation is imminent. It may not turn out as happy and wonderful as we all hope, but it will be coming out of the shadows very soon.

_________________
Time and Time Again

Ah i get it now.

Two questions,

How long of a break?

And, are Buffy and Faith going to end up happily together, despite the craziness?

(Hoping for the best )

R

_________________
“All I feel is sunlight. All I hear is music.” Willow
How i Met Your Mother - By Ariel

My Story: Coming Home

As always those are great questions Azirahael.

Unfortunately the answers are a very underwhelming "As long as it takes but probably not more than a few weeks." and "Spoilers."

_________________
Time and Time Again

Nonononono!

It's like the FAQ with Willow and Tara.
It doesn't matter what kind of ringer you put them through, as long as they come out happy in the end.

I mean, i could handle them not being together in the 'other world/s' but they have to get together in the main one [/whine]

I don't need to know what happens, just to know that there's a light at the end of the tunnel

R

_________________
“All I feel is sunlight. All I hear is music.” Willow
How i Met Your Mother - By Ariel

My Story: Coming Home

Okay, yeah when you put it like that I'll say there is definitely a light. They won't end up together in every world. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel in the main storyline. But we aren't through the tunnel just yet.

_________________
Time and Time Again

Time and Time Again.

Author: Citanul

Feedback: Be kind, rewind?

Spoilers: Just about all of them. Go watch the show.

Rating: NC-17

Pairings: W/T, B/F

Disclaimer: You all know I don’t own the rights to characters you’ve seen on TV.

Summary: A story of reincarnation and interdimensional travel made possible through the power of love. What misfortunes will our two favorite love birds be able to prevent with the aid of experience from countless past lives.

Author’s Note: So this is the last Marvels entry for Act 1. There's the tail end of a love scene right off the bat but it quickly moves into much more emotional territory. Some characters get put through an emotional wringer fairly often. Others don't see the hit coming until far too late. If the side character's second names throw you I went back to the first post and added a somewhat comprehensive primer of the characters in Sirens and Marvels stories. Going to start work on an Index soon. I really liked the one in Sassette's Vignette series.

******************************

Primer: Marvels

Willow = Wanda Maximoff = Scarlet Witch

Tara = Carol Danvers = Ms. Marvel

Buffy = Jennifer Walters = She-Hulk

Faith = Faith = X-23

Xander = Pietro Maximoff = Quicksilver

Anya = Jessica Drew = Spider-Woman

Giles = Vision = G.I.L.E.S. = Generated Intuitive Logistics Engine Source = Grumpy Intellectual Librarian Englishman Simulation

******************************

Marvels: Mind Walking Faith

“Ooh Baby!” Wanda moaned as almost every inch of her naked, slender frame was squeezed between her love’s curvaceous form and the smooth, marble tiled walls of their shower in the Avengers’ tower.

“Mmm, you weren’t too bad yourself Sweetie.” Carol replied with a smirk. The stronger blonde let the slim redhead slide down just enough so that her feet could once more reach the shower floor. “I know how much you love it when I pick you up with one hand.”

“I always love being putty in you hands.” Wanda admitted freely with a proud smirk of her own as she stood on legs that still hummed with the aftershocks of their love making. “Especially when those hands know every inch of me so well.”

“Sweet talker.” Carol said as she shut off the water and reached for the large towel they had set aside. The blonde smiled once more as took in the sight of her everything. Long crimson locks were tinged a much darker shade as they clung together in drenched tendrils rolling down slick shoulders. Pale, lightly freckled skin glistened as the light reflected off the soaking wet woman.

Carol couldn’t help but smile as she went back to her love and wrapped the large, fluffy towel around her. The smile turned into a delighted grin as Wanda embraced her under the towel and continued to rub their bodies together in oh so tantalizing ways.

Their day was off to a perfect start.

******************************

“I’m telling you guys something is off about her.” Kitty said as she and several of Xavier’s students gathered around the kitchen.

“She is most likely adjusting to all the changes in her very short life.” Sooraya said in as calm and neutral a tone as she could manage. “It has only been a few weeks since she was liberated from that awful place she refuses to talk about.”

“Is this about the fact that you’re the only one here with a crush on someone way older who isn’t being encouraged to go all in with it?” Alex asked with a bored tone as he continued eating his cereal.

“Piotr is not way older than me!” Kitty all but shouted in outrage, causing a few of her friends that had been gathered to snicker. “Besides, this isn’t about that. This is about her and all the very weird stuff she’s been doing lately.”

“Such as?” Bobby asked as he conjured up ice cubes for everyone’s drinks.

“Yeah, explain what you mean by weird.” Jamie said as he stood by the counter slicing up several pieces of fruit onto a serving dish. He then walked over to the table and set the platter down in front of a copy of himself and vanished.

“Cause it seems like just about everyone here is weird for a living.” The Jamie seated at the table said before popping a slice of mango in his mouth.

“You more than most, Bub.” Logan said as he walked into the kitchen. “What are we talkin’ bout?”

All the teens in the kitchen grew silent at the older man’s presence. A beat passed before two of the girls looked to each other and then turned back to the teacher with concerned looks.

“Kitty seems to be under the impression that your little girl is acting strangely.” Clarice said as quickly as she could. Kitty glared at her pink friend before looking back to the gruff man.

“I just wanted to know if anyone else has noticed her whittling little pointy sticks all the time.” Kitty said as the teacher she trusted most took on the unfamiliar role of concerned parent before her eyes.

“Whatever rituals she performs in private are hers and hers alone to judge.” Sooraya replied with a cold tone. “I do not wish to take away whatever comfort she receives. Not after everything she has helped return to me.”

“Okay, I haven’t talked to the witches who brainwashed out all the brainwashing that Hydra put in her head but I doubt that carving piles of wooden stakes is one of their Goddess’s religious practices.” Kitty said with as placating a voice as she could. “I’m not saying we form an inquisition. Just that someone should talk to her.”

“I still think this is about how much better her sex life is than yours.” Alex added with an exasperated sigh as he finished his breakfast.

“I am not jealous of Faith and her green lawyer!” Kitty protested.

“I am.” Jamie admitted as Clarice lightly slapped the back of his head. “Come on, just imagine…”

“Dude, for the love of god, her dad is standing right behind you.” Bobby cut off the lanky teen’s statement before the inherent lewdness could grow any more brazen.

“Yeah, watch it Bub.” Alex added in a mocking tone as Logan grew visibly agitated.

“So you kids think there’s something wrong with her?” He asked in a gruff voice.

“Kitty does.” Clarice replied. “The rest of us think some people should mind their own business when it comes to new friends that introduce us to great people.”

“Oh you’re just saying that because the new girl helped you start up this whole weird jailbait thing with the Captain Flag Pin.” Jamie jumped back in with a fresh jab.

“I am not Jailbait!” Clarice shouted, all too defensively before regaining her composure and replying with a snide remark of her own. “And even if I was Steve is a perfect gentleman who is waiting until my next birthday before he starts waxing his shield with my ass.”

“And there goes my appetite.” Alex muttered as he stood and carried his almost empty bowl over to the sink.

Logan looked around the room at all the teens assembled. Each had taken wildly different sides of an issue concerning his daughter. The girls who had gained the most in the short time since meeting her had chosen almost unwavering support. No one could blame them for that.

The boys on the other hand varied from attitudes that tried to respect her privacy to blatantly lusty innuendo that did little to conceal fraying nerves. They could be safely ignored.

One girl’s opinion, however, stood out. Logan knew Kitty. He knew the girl had a level head when it came to people. He knew she wasn’t saying any of this to stir up drama or catty arguments. She was concerned about Faith. That meant he had to be as well.

“We’ll see.” Logan grunted as he turned and walked out of the room.

“That was unexpected.” Bobby muttered.

“Yeah.” Jamie said as he popped another piece of sliced fruit in his mouth. “I was expecting him to be all gruff and borderline non verbal. Oh wait.”

“Not helping dude.” Alex remarked as he left the kitchen. “So not helping.”

******************************

“You decent Kiddo?” Logan asked as he gently knocked on the door to his daughter’s room.

“Yeah, sure Pops.” Faith called back from the other side. “Safe to come in.”

“Glad to hear it.” Logan said as he opened the door and saw his little girl reading a magazine while sitting on her bed. “There was this thing I meant to ask you. How are you holding up with?” His question was cut short as his eyes scanned the room. His daughter’s bed sat against the far wall between two large windows. Doors to the closet and private bathroom were on the right side just like almost every other room in the student’s dorm. But as Logan stepped past the door he caught sight of the left side of the room for the first time. What he saw shocked him to his core.

A long flat dresser sat against the wall. Atop it were stacks of sharp wooden stakes, hand carved and piled high. Wooden crosses littered the rest of the dresser’s surface. Nailed to the wall at several points were long strings of garlic bulbs woven together. In between the clusters of garlic were hastily drawn black and white pictures etched in charcoal.

Logan stared at the drawings for a long time. His daughter had drawn dozens of different faces. Some he recognized easily. A much more slender version of Wanda was off to one side. Next to her was a dark haired version of her brother. Even the new robot the team had recruited was on the wall. But what really caught his eye was the picture in the middle.

In the center of the wall was a large sketch of Jennifer. That made at least some sense. What took the man by surprise were the two drawings just beneath. A dark haired man with a pronounced forehead and a light haired man with much more angular cheek bones took up spots beside Faith’s girlfriend. Yet the fact she had placed them so close to her girlfriend wasn’t the oddest thing about the drawings. The truly strange aspects that caught his attention were the hideously gnarled foreheads and brow ridges both men sported.

Both men’s faces clearly showed signs of the same disfigurement. Both men’s lips were snarled upwards in a way that revealed razor sharp fangs. Both men glared with the same piercing, feral eyes.

As Logan stared at the wall he noticed many other drawings displayed hideous monsters that made even his worst nightmares seem mundane in comparison. He stood there in shock for what seemed like an eternity. Only when his daughter’s voice rose in volume did he return to their aborted conversation.

“Pops!” Faith shouted. “What’s the deal?”

Logan shuddered as his attention was pulled back to the young girl absentmindedly flipping through a magazine on her bed. He stared at her in open mouthed shock for several seconds before wordlessly pointing towards strange objects and sketches adorning one entire wall of her bedroom. Only then did Faith follow his gaze.

“Huh.” She said as she looked upon the oddities she had gathered. “When did that get there?”

“You mean you don’t remember putting any of this stuff here?” Logan asked in almost dumbfounded shock.

“What?” Faith asked as she looked back at her father. “No! Why would I? I don’t remember getting any of that stuff.”

“Kitty said she’s seen you carving those stakes all around the school grounds.” Logan replied. “I wanted to ask if you were up to something you might need your old man’s help on.” He then looked back at the strange wall of profoundly grim decorations and all the air left his sails. “But I didn’t expect this.”

“I don’t even remember.” Faith muttered as they were joined by another member of the faculty.

“Faith, are you in here?” Ororo asked as she appeared in the door. “Oh, hello Logan. Child I brought you more of those art supplies I noticed you’ve been borrowing. I wanted to ask if you’d share what you’ve oh dear Goddess! What the hell is that?” The ebony woman finished her greeting with a shriek of terror as she entered the room and caught sight of the wall that had transfixed the much older man.

“Yeah, that’s about what I’m thinking.” Logan admitted.

“Oh child.” Ororo said as she came to Faith’s side. “Where did you see those horrid things?”

“I don’t know.” Faith admitted in a hollow voice.

“Well you definitely got the gist of what the average vampire looks like.” Logan muttered. “Even some of the older ones with the bald heads and ugly bat noses.”

“Could Hydra have trained her to hunt the undead?” Ororo asked with a worried tone as she ran a hand through long brunette locks.

“No.” Faith muttered. “I remember all the assassin boot camp stuff they put me through. I never saw a vampire.”

“And yet there are no less than fifty charcoal drawings of them on your bedroom wall.” Ororo replied calmly. “And from the looks of it you have first hand knowledge of much darker fiends.”

“There’s a couple creatures on there I’ve dealt with in the past.” Logan said as he took a much closer look at the wall. “If Hydra even knew they existed they would have moved heaven and hell to capture one just to kick off another world war.”

“So Faith knows things even Hydra doesn’t?” The African woman asked, before growing silent for a long moment. When she spoke it was with a resigned yet worried sigh. “We need to talk to the Professor.”

“Why would I even do any of this?” Faith asked as she stared at the wall.

“We’ll find out Child.” Ororo assured her. “We’ll do everything we can to help.”

“That’s not the biggest problem.” Logan said with a grunt. “We need to figure out what kept you from noticing this until we said something about it.”

As her father and teacher led Faith out of the room the brunette suddenly felt the need to talk to her girlfriend. She had no clue what was wrong with her, but she knew the blonde’s presence would help her more than any reassurances the residents of the Xavier Institute could offer.

******************************

“You doing okay out here Jen?” Wanda asked in a concerned voice as she walked into the kitchen and found an all too familiar sight. The blonde lawyer was once again pining over the distance between herself and her young love.

“Huh?” Jennifer asked as she looked up in oddly hopeful shock at the prospect of another person’s company. “Oh, sorry Wanda. I was just.”

“Pining is the term.” The redhead said with a comforting smile. “I get that. It may not look like it but I know what it’s like to be cut off from the love of your life.”

“Of course you know.” Jennifer said with a sullen slumping of her shoulders. “You probably lived through this a couple dozen times Little Miss Reincarnation.”

“Oh no.” Wanda replied with a smirk. “Just the once when I screwed up that first life of ours. Since then I’ve done everything I could to be by Carol’s side no matter what. To be honest when I first found her this time I was terrified I would ruin her place on this team.”

“What did she say?” Jennifer asked with a curious smile.

“She made it clear she wouldn’t let anything come between us.” Wanda answered.

“That’s sweet.” Jennifer said before letting a worried frown cross her face. “I really don’t want to imagine what my life would be like if we hadn’t let you join us that day.”

“Even when one of us is in a supposedly respected career, or a hero, and the other is a wanted criminal we don’t let that get in our way.” Wanda added. “For what it’s worth I don’t think you’d have taken long to come around to our side even if all the others were against it. We’re family. In this life and every other.”

“Jeeze Red.” Jennifer remarked with a huff. “Why don’t you make me feel like more of a bitch for not trusting you the whole time you and Carol were up in the clouds?”

“Yeah but you came around before we even came back to the tower.” Wanda replied. “You always take very little convincing. Even when you’re an assassin sent into Carol’s tiny medieval kingdom.”

“Oh god.” Jennifer muttered. “Please don’t tell me I was that bad in a one of your other dimensional thingies.”

“Oh yeah.” Wanda said. “Big sword fight in the town square and everything. Of course you and Carol didn’t have the power sets you have here, but it was still a pretty impressive fight. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time.”

“Why would I ever try to kill Carol?” Jennifer asked as her wide hazel eyes froze with a look of horror.

“That you was very different from you you.” Wanda admitted. “You know? Besides that you was told, by some very bad men who lied to you about everything, that that Carol was an evil warlord that fed people to demons. But she talked you down that night. By the end of the week we were a family again.”

“So I’m one of the lucky few who you and Carol run into every lifetime?” Jennifer asked with a coy smile.

“I wouldn’t say “lucky” so much as “chosen” but yeah.” Wanda said. “You’ve been my best friend for centuries.”

“Carol isn’t your best friend?” Jennifer asked with a sly smirk.

“She’s my everything.” Wanda replied seriously before letting an equally sly smirk escape. “Besides, how often do you put your tongue inside your best friend?”

“Guess that makes as much sense as anything else.” Jennifer said with a laugh before growing more somber and changing the subject. “And what about Faith?”

“That’s a bit more complicated.” Wanda admitted with a sad tone. “We don’t always get to meet her and when we do getting you to see how good she is for you can be a pain.”

“I’m that blind in every other life then?” Jennifer asked.

“Sometimes worse.” Wanda said. “Plus you have the worst taste in men.”

“Oh god, please don’t remind me of all the losers I dated before I found my Faith.” Jennifer moaned. “I just can’t shake the feeling that she needs me.”

“She always needs you.” Wanda said. “But if this is a more specific thing we can.” The redhead stopped mid sentence as she clutched her hands to her head and fell to her knees. Tears began to stream down her pale cheeks.

Jennifer looked on in shock and knew something was not right. What troubled her even more was the feeling deep in her soul that the love of her life was in danger and needed her more than anything. She went to Wanda’s side and tried to offer what little help she could. If anyone could save her Faith now it was the witches.

******************************

“I must say this all seems fairly troubling.” The Professor said as he looked over the small pile of drawings, a cross and two of the sharpest wooden stakes he had ever seen on his desk. “And you had no idea you were gathering these items?”

“I swear I didn’t even know I had plastered that stuff all over my bedroom wall.” Faith said in an almost pleading voice. “Can ya’ll stop looking at me like I’m crazy?”

“Ol gambit no t’ink you’re crazy ma chère.” Remy said as he flipped through some of the pictures she had drawn. “But me t’inks there’s more to this than you know. Back in the bayou they tell stories of t’ings from other places. You drew the beasts from those stories just like Granny LeBeau used to tell them. Can’t be a coincidence, eh ma chère?”

“A little less with the folksy crap Cajun.” Logan muttered. “You ain’t the only one who recognized some of those headshots.”

“No Mon’Ami.” Remy admitted. “Gambit just sayin’ de girl seen some t’ings she shouldn’t have, no?”

“And you’re positive these drawings depict beings similar to vampires you’ve dealt with in the past Logan?” Hank asked in a worried tone as he flipped through several pictures.

“Yeah Hank.” The gruff man said to the much furrier, blue man. “She drew the faces exactly the way I remember them. She even got the eyes right, which I didn’t know was possible with pencils and charcoal.”

“Sugar, as proud as we all are of your little girl’s artistic talents, it seems like we need to figure out the why more than the how.” Rogue said as she sat across the room from the young brunette. “Trust me Faith. Even if it’s just arts and crafts you don’t want to be running around doing things while blacked out Sugar. Sooner or later you do something you’ll regret the next day.”

“I’m certain Faith already understands the severity of the situation.” Ororo replied coldly. “We need to understand more before we find out how to help her through what ever this is.”

“Very true Ororo.” The Professor said. “Which is precisely why I’m going to ask Faith to join me in a meditative therapy session. I fear the root of these issues will reveal itself once we have a look at her mindscape.”

“You mean, like going inside my head?” Faith asked with a worried tone.

“Yes dear girl.” Xavier said as soothingly as he could. “It may be the only way to understand these events.”

“I don’t know about this.” Faith muttered. “I’ve had so much done in there already. What if all that’s left is held together like a house of cards?”

“It will be fine Child.” Ororo said. “The Professor has helped many of us just the same way. He is quite good at healing these kinds of wounds.”

“I can’t go back to what I was before.” Faith said at last. “That thing they found in that lab wasn’t a person.”

“I assure you that won’t happen.” Xavier said. “We all like you just the way you are Faith. If I face anything that far exceeds my experiences I promise to leave at once and contact Ms. Danvers and Ms. Maximoff. I just want to make sure there isn’t a simple explanation for all this that you and I can work through in private.”

“Alright.” Faith relented. “Let’s get crazy.”

“Excellent.” The Professor replied. He steered his wheel chair around the desk to sit in front of the distraught brunette. “I want you to take my hands Faith.” He said calmly as he extended his open palms out towards the girl.

“Whatever you say Proff.” Faith said with weak chuckle just before taking the man’s hands. They closed their eyes and the Professor went about using his mental powers just like he had so many times before. Only this time something new happened.

Xavier opened his eyes to find a mental realm unlike any he had seen constructed by his students or patients. A vast, open desert spread out before him with the noonday sun pounding down on everything like a hammer. Light scrub brush littered the landscape.

“This is amazing.” He whispered. So rarely had someone in need of his aid been able to form such a complex and stable mental realm. He stood there for a moment to marvel at the astounding feat of mental discipline the young girl had accomplished. He would have to talk to the witches about this and see if any of it was their doing. He hoped they could help others with their magic.

All these hopes and dreams were brushed aside as an angry voice called out to him from behind. The Professor turned to see a massive rocky formation erupting from a sandy hill in the middle of the mental landscape. The jagged rocks reached towards the sky at an odd angle. Even more surprising were the two women he saw glaring at him.

“Who the fuck do you think you are coming here Q ball?” Faith shouted angrily. Xavier looked at her in shock and noticed she was far older than the girl sitting in his office. Before he could answer the second woman lunged forward and struck him in the chest, knocking him off his feet.

The ebony attacker, clothed in gray rags and white face paint squatted on his chest and growled down at him. Her dark dreadlocks shook violently as she looked between Faith and her victim.

“Ooh I think you pissed her off baldy.” Faith said with a sinister chuckle.

“Faith please.” Xavier pleaded as the violent woman loomed over him. “I’m here to help. I’m your friend.”

“No friends.” The ebony girl said in a harsh, grumbling voice. She drew a large dagger that appeared to be carved from obsidian. The serrated edge had been chipped away by smaller rocks over time whenever it needed sharpening. “Just kill. We are Alone.”

“I don’t think she likes that word big guy.” Faith said with a wicked grin as the ancient Stone Age dagger drew ever closer to the Professor’s skull.

“Faith, please, let me help you.” Xavier pleaded.

“I’m doing just fine man.” The brunette replied with a laugh. “It’s you I’m worried about. Go easy on him Sineya.”

“Kill!” The dark figure screamed back at the brunette.

Xavier knew he was in over his head in this place. This mental realm was unlike any he had ever seen. Nothing he could do to defend himself seemed to work. With a regretful sigh he withdrew.

“Oh, I think that just pissed her off even more.” Faith chuckled as Sineya roared into the vanishing man’s face.

The Professor opened his eyes and found himself back in his study. He was surrounded by worried students and sitting in front of the same distraught brunette. Or so he thought.

Brown eyes opened and quickly scanned the room. They locked onto the Professor’s worried expression and grew cold. The expression seemed far more weary than any he had seen on the young girl before. Older, yet almost feral.

Before he could wonder what new danger lurked behind those brown eyes the Slayer delivered a boot to the center of his chest and sent him flying across the room.

******************************

Carol came running into the kitchen and found her love recovering from the same attack that had sent her to her knees. Luckily Jennifer had been there for Wanda.

“Something is not right!” Carol and Wanda said in unison as their eyes met.

“It’s Faith.” Wanda added. “She’s in danger.”

“What?” Jennifer shrieked. “Help her! We have to go help her right now!”

“We will.” Carol promised. “We aren’t loosing any more of this family.”

Wanda began murmuring beneath her breath. A green ball of light appeared before them and spread out into a flat oval shaped disk. Inside the disk images began to take shape. Jennifer recognized the school almost immediately.

Without hesitation she and the witches dove through the portal and into the unknown.

******************************

Faith leapt from the chair and rolled into a defensive crouch across the room. She glared at the strange people watching her. Some of them looked human enough. Though after whatever spell the guy in the wheelchair had just worked on her she couldn’t rule any of them out as a threat. Then her eyes focused on one figure in the back of the group. No way was he human.

“Funny.” She muttered. “I haven’t seen too many blue demons before. And that’s saying something.”

“Child?” The ebony woman asked in a worried tone.

“Who you callin’ a child Bitch?” Faith snapped. “I may have no life expectancy but I’m probably the second oldest Slayer you demons will ever meet.”

“Kid, you’re not making any sense.” Logan said as he inched his way forward. “There aren’t any demons here.”

“Bullshit.” The Slayer seethed. “Next you’ll tell me that blue hairball over there is someone’s pet gorilla.”

“Actually.” Hank began to say before Faith cut him off.

“Hey look at that!” The brunette mocked. “You guys trained him to speak. That’s pretty good English for a demon I ain’t seen before. What hell dimension did you crawl out of Fido?”

“Okay Sugar.” Rogue said as she walked up to the girl. “You clearly don’t know what’s going on. All we want to do is help.” Her plea was cut short as she cornered Faith and was immediately head butted.

As their skin came into contact Rogue’s mind was flooded with horrific visions. Night after night of going out into the darkness and hunting things she had never even dreamed of in her worst nightmares. Blood and violence the likes of which she couldn’t handle. And worst of all was the anger.

“Demons.” Rogue muttered. “Demons everywhere. Get away from me.”

“Back off bitch!” Faith yelled as she pulled the woman’s arm into a martial arts move she had learned from her fellow Slayer and threw the brunette with a streak of white hair across the room.

Rogue went flying and ended up crashing into Ororo. Both women were driven into the nearby bookshelf which came toppling down on them. Hank immediately went to help them out as Gambit and Wolverine squared off against the girl.

“So you demons have a soul sucker on your team.” Faith muttered. “I’ve put down worse.”

“Why don’t we all just calm down ma chère?” Gambit asked as he drew a playing card from his coat.

“Don’t even think about it Cajun.” Wolverine growled.

“What?” The Cajun asked his friend. “It no like this will hurt de girl.”

“Oh, I ain’t the one who’ll be hurtin’ Frenchie.” Faith chuckled. She lunged forward and swept the legs out from under the red eyed man wearing the trench coat. He countered by extending a long, telescoping quarter staff and vaulting backwards. Wolverine took the opportunity to dive in and confront his daughter.

“Faith!” Logan growled as he let his claws slide out. “Please don’t do this.”

“Oh you freaks are just all kinds of weird ain’t ya?” She mocked as he dove towards her. She slid under him and came up by the desk. Her hands lashed out and grasped the sharp wooden stake without even looking.

Before Wolverine could even ready another strike Faith was on him. The sharp piece of wood slid easily through the gap between his metal ribs and into his heart. Wolverine gasped as the pain and trauma caused him to double over.

Faith then looked up to see the other man was now holding a glowing playing card in his hand. He let it fly towards her. She almost smirked before the blast knocked her through the wall and into the hallway.

“Damnit Cajun.” Wolverine muttered while grasping at the wooden stake in his heart. “This is why I told you no energy attacks in our home.”

“Forgive me Mon’Ami.” Gambit replied. “Ol’ Gambit be thinkin’ the rest of us not handle a stake to de heart as well as you, no?”

“That’s great, but you just sent her out into the school were the rest of the students are loitering.” Wolverine said as he finally yanked the stake from his chest.

“Mon Dieu!” The Cajun whispered.

******************************

Faith looked up at the hole her body had made in the wall. She didn’t recall being that sturdy before. What was even more surprising was the fact that the injuries she expected to have were already healing at a much faster rate than they had ever done before.

“Fraulein!” A voice called out from down the hall. Before she knew it there was a loud banging sound as if all the air pressure near her had been displaced and the smell of burning sulfur filled her nose. A blue demon was kneeling beside her. “Iz everything alright Faith?” He asked in a concerned voice.

“Back the fuck off Demon!” Faith cried out as she swung a clumsy punch his way. The nimble man easily avoided the blow but backed away all the same.

“Stay back Nightcrawler.” The man she had staked said as he appeared in the hole in the wall. “Something’s wrong.”

“I was under that impression.” The blue man with yellow eyes and a long barbed tail said.

“What’s going on?” Came another voice as Faith picked herself up and readied for a longer battle.

“Something is the matter?” A tall muscular man asked in a thick Russian accent.

Faith clenched her fists and felt an unfamiliar pain in her knuckles. She looked down and stared in horror as four daggers extended from her fists. Two matching blades came from between her toes. She looked up with a hateful glare at the demons that gathered around her.

“What the fuck did you freaks do to me?” She screamed.

“What is she talking about?” A young brunette asked as she ran up to Faith. Without thinking the Slayer lashed out and slid the ends of her blades through the girl’s throat. She was expecting a torrent of blood but instead got nothing more than a confused frown.

“What the fuck?” Faith muttered as she watched the big Russian’s skin turn to metal. He made a lumbering swipe to grab her but the Slayer easily evaded and ran down the hall. She turned down one corner and then another before bumping into two young women. One was covered from head to toe in black fabric and the other in bright pink skin.

“Faith!” The pink girl said happily. “What’s up?”

Faith didn’t think. She just reacted. The oddly colored girl barely saw the claws coming for her throat. Before blood could be spilled the other girl stepped into the way of Faith’s blow. The brunette stared in shock as she felt her attack blocked by a shifting mass of sand.

“Blink!” Wolverine cried out from down the hall.

The brightly colored girl panicked and Faith found herself enveloped by pink light. The next thing she knew she was twenty feet in the air and falling to the floor of a large, open foyer.

“Holy shit!” A young man cried out.

Faith hit the floor with a thud and struggled to face the approaching demons. This was turning out to be a very bad day for her. A lanky brunette boy ran to her side with a mischievous grin.

“Looks like someone got on Clarice’s bad side.” He said mockingly just before Faith drove the points of her blades into his chest. The boy staggered backwards as a half dozen clones of himself tumbled out of his body. The one she had struck looked up in confusion before dissolving into the nearest clone. The rest stared back at her. None knew what was going on.

Faith knew she had to escape. She turned and ran. With a crash she dove through one of the large glass windows by the doors at the front of the foyer. As she tumbled through the air in a cloud of broken glass Faith caught sight of a comforting green glow. Three women stepped out of the portal forming in front of this mansion she had just escaped and two of them were achingly familiar to her.

“Buffy!” She shouted in joy.

******************************

Jennifer looked up to see her slightly injured love running towards her. She was beyond relieved to see the young woman was alive and moving.

“Faith!” She cried out in joy.

“Jennifer, wait!” Wanda called, but to no avail.

The two women sped towards each other. Faith came to a halt and wondered why Buffy was watching her with a look she had never seen on the blonde before. She also wondered why Willow was wearing skin tight leather and a corset that put her girls on full display.

Then again the redhead was different these days. Always searching for something she knew she’d never have again. Faith understood that all too well.

What she didn’t understand was the way Buffy was wrapping her arms around her just now. Faith had even less chance of understanding the searing kiss she was pulled into.

******************************

Wanda and Carol watched as the brunette melted into the embrace for one tantalizing moment. Maybe things weren’t as bad as they assumed. Then the rest of the Institute’s inhabitants found their way out of the building’s front door and onto the lawn. From the hurt and worried looks the witches saw on everyone’s faces they knew something bad had happened.

Then they turned their attention back to the couple kissing on the front lawn of the Xavier Institute. Faith seemed to regain her sense. With a shudder she put up both her hands and violently shoved the blonde away from her.

“Seriously Buffy?” Faith shouted with now small amount of pain and fury in her voice. “After all we’ve been through you pick now to finally fucking put the moves on me? After making me stand by and watch as you went off to fuck nothing but losers and dipshits. Now you want to lower yourself to my level? No, you know what? Fuck that and fuck you! You had your shot!”

Jennifer stared back at the outraged brunette in shock. How could her girl be saying these things to her? Who the hell was Buffy? Why was the love of her life acting this way? As the tears started to roll down her cheeks Jennifer struggled to put together the words that would make all of this anger go away.

“Faith?” The blonde pleaded in between tears. “Honey, what happened to you? You’d never say those things to me.”

“Don’t play dumb with me Summers!” Faith shot back. “You know damn well how I’ve felt about you for years now! And you still run right back to that fucking corpse every chance you get. After all the shit he’s pulled you should have staked him years ago. But no you had to pretend like he was worth saving!”

“Faith?” Jennifer whispered in between sobs. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about you bending over backwards to save those worthless fucking vampires while stepping over me like garbage!” Faith yelled. “First Angel and then that piece of shit Spike. I admit I fucked up! I screwed myself over more than you even know. But none of that would have happened if you had just woken up and realized someone with a pulse loved you more than any walking corpse ever could!”

“That’s enough Faith!” Wanda said as she stepped up to the arguing couple. “Why don’t we all calm down and talk about this before anyone else gets hurt?”

“Don’t even fucking get me started on you Rosenberg!” Faith said coldly as she stared the redhead down. The brunette looked over Wanda’s shoulder to the other blonde that had come out of the portal with them. Though they had only met once Faith recognized the slight smile and the curvy figure from years before. She knew the face that always took up an important place in the pictures all over Willow’s office. She had seen the shrine in the redhead’s bedroom more than enough to recognize the woman before her.

“What did you do Red?” Faith asked.

“A lot of things.” Wanda replied with a smirk. “You’ll have to be more specific.”

“What did you do to the world with your damn magic you stupid witch?” Faith clarified before pointing an accusing finger at Carol. “Why is she alive again?”

“Good.” Wanda muttered. “That helps narrow down which Faith we’re dealing with.”

“What?” Both Jennifer and Faith asked in confused shock.

“Faith, how many eyes does Xander have?” The redhead asked.

“The fuck is that supposed to mean?” Faith growled angrily. “You know damn well he lost an eye fighting the First!”

“Okay, that explains a lot.” Wanda said. “Faith if you would just please calm down we can go inside and explain to everyone what happened.”

“Inside?” Faith asked in shock. “With all the demons I just fought my way through?”

“Why does she keep calling us demons?” Sooraya asked.

“I’ll explain inside.” Wanda said. “Faith none of these people are demons.”

“Okay, half demons then. What the fuck ever.” Faith said dismissively.

“Not half demons either.” Carol said as she came up to the other women.

“No offense Blondie, but I ain’t takin’ the word of some chick who’s supposed to be dead.” Faith said.

“It’s nice to see you again too Faith.” Carol replied with a warm smile. The four women turned back towards the mansion and the group of onlookers gathered there. With a sigh Faith followed the three familiar faces back into the lion’s den. She hoped it wouldn’t be for the last time.

******************************

“So they’re not demons?” Faith asked.

“Oh my god.” Kitty moaned in exasperation. “Stop calling us demons!”

“Seriously Faith, what’s gotten into you?” Alex asked. “You’ve lived here with us for weeks now. We even saved Manhattan together.”

“Everyone in this building is human Sweetie.” Carol said in as soothing a voice as she could. “Maybe some are from families that evolved a little differently, but still human.”

“Even the two blue guys and the pink girl over there?” Faith asked.

“Why does she keep bringing race into this?” Jamie asked only to receive a light slap on the back of his head from Kitty.

“Science experiment gone horrible wrong, the most devout Catholic you are ever going to meet, and we think one of her ancestors was a differently evolved human that was altered by alien technology.” Wanda said as she pointed to Hank, Kurt and Clarice one at a time.

“Okay but what happened to my powers and why do I have these throat slitters in my hands?” Faith asked.

“Something happened to her powers?” Ororo asked in a concerned voice. “She seemed a strong as ever not too long ago.”

“Then you don’t know what I’m capable of.” Faith said with only a small amount of menace in her voice. “I’m healing faster than ever but my senses are way out of whack and I can smell things I never wanted to. I’d say I’m only at half strength but I don’t feel like I’ve been working hard enough to get this weak.”

“Half strength?” Bobby cried out in surprise. “You tore through this school like it was nothing and you think you’re only at half strength?”

“I must say you don’t seem to be performing less than any of the past experiences we’ve had with you Faith.” Hank said.

“Then you’ve never seen a Slayer at her best Fur Ball.” Faith snapped as she paced across the far side of the room. “So what the hell is going on Red?”

“You are not the Slayer in this world.” Wanda replied. “As far as we can tell this world doesn’t have them.”

“What do you mean I’m not the Slayer.” Faith asked. “I’ve been the Slayer for over twenty years.”

“Twenty eight if you’re the version of Faith from the world we think you are.” Wanda said. “You lasted far longer than anyone suspected but it wasn’t long after losing you that we finally lost Buffy for the last time.”

“B is sitting right here.” Faith said. “And what do you mean version of me? I’m me. Always have been.”

“Why does she keep calling me that?” Jennifer asked as she tried to stop crying.

“No you’re not Faith.” Wanda corrected. “This isn’t the world you’re from. This is another one all together. Different people and different rules.”

“So I was right then?” Faith asked. “You magicked the world away just so you could bring your dead girlfriend back to life. I gotta say I’d be surprised if I didn’t know about all the dyking out you did with that nasty snake demon. How do we fix your screw up without killing you girl here?”

“Okay stop!” Wanda said. “There is nothing to fix because this world isn’t the result of some spell of wish. You are walking around in the body of the version of you that belongs here.”

“Oh so now you’re gonna tell me I ain’t me.” Faith replied with a sarcastic laugh.

“Look in the mirror Faith.” Wanda said as she pointed towards the one at the end of the hall. The brunette went to look but stopped in her tracks at the sight of the young girl staring back at her.

“Why the hell am I so young?” Faith whispered as she searched for signs of wrinkles in the far too young face that stared back at her.

“You aren’t young.” Willow said. “She is young. You are just borrowing her body after whatever the Professor did to unleash you.”

“Oh dear.” Xavier whispered as he realized this was all his doing.

“Come with me Faith.” Wanda said. “There’s a lot of things we need to discuss and I don’t think either version of you wants an audience.”

The brunette followed the redhead into the kitchen as everyone else watched in a mixture of fascination and shock. As the door closed Faith turned back to the witch with a serious glare.

“So what did you do?” Faith asked in a cold voice.

“The Willow you remember cast a spell on her deathbed that let her send experience and wisdom on to another version of us in a far off world.” Wanda said. “That girl took those mistakes and learned from them. She found her Tara and they lived happily ever after.”

“Then what?” Faith asked.

“Then that Willow and Tara cast another spell that let them go on and on.” Wanda said with a proud smile. "They lived, learned, and loved across the multiverse.”

“Why did you drag me into this?” Faith asked.

“The girl you’re walking around in was in a bad place in this world Faith.” Wanda replied. “Some very bad people grew her in a machine. Technically you are a clone of that man out there. The short one with black hair and metal claws. I think he’s one of the best father figures you’ve ever had, but I may be biased.”

“Get to the point Red.” Faith scowled.

“Carol and I cast a spell on this world’s Faith.” The witch went on. “They had ripped away all that made her a person and left nothing but animal instincts and bloodlust. To repair that damage we forged a link between her and as many versions of her from other worlds as we could. One of those versions happened to be you.”

“So I’m in another world and a fresh new body that’s about as young as when I was first Chosen.” Faith assessed. “How long do I have?”

“No idea.” Wanda answered honestly. “Days. Years. Minutes. Who knows. One of you might end up destroying the weaker personality and then whatever is left after that fight will be the new Faith.”

“But you want to fix me.” Faith sneered. “Again.”

“Carol and I want to help the girl that was born into this world take back the life that has been taken from her.” Wanda admitted. “But we’d need your help to do that.”

“And who the fuck are you to make that decision for me Willow?” Faith asked.

“Don’t call me that!” Wanda snapped. “The Willow Rosenberg you knew is dead! She’s gone! She died, alone surrounded by magic that never made up for the people she let die. I am not that worthless junkie!”

******************************

As the shouting in the kitchen grew louder the rest of the X-Men huddled together in the living room just outside. Carol sat beside Jennifer on the couch and tried to offer what little comfort she could.

“She’s gone.” Jennifer whispered between tears. “The love of my life is gone and all that’s left is this stranger that thinks I hate her and resents me for mistakes I never even made.”

“She’s not gone yet Jen.” Carol promised. “We can help her find her way back to you. To all of us. We just need that woman in there to meet us halfway.”

“Carol I think you’d better tell us what she was talking about.” Logan asked as he and the rest of his team came up to the two women.

“What was she talking about before?” Hank asked with a more than curious expression. “What did she mean by Slayer?”

Carol looked around to all the expectant faces in the room. She knew she would have to let them in on the secret as well. With a sigh she readied herself to tell the age old tale.

“Once upon a time, on a world very different from this one, there was a young woman named Sineya.”

******************************

“That was a hell of a story Sugar.” The last woman Carol expected to be approached by said as she walked into the Danger Room.

“You think so Rogue?” Carol asked with calm detachment as she set up the circle in the center of the floor. “I never cared for it. Too much doom and gloom. Too many young girls sent to early graves in the dead of night. But then again it is a true story. And those almost never turn out well.”

Before Rogue could ask the question she came to ask she felt a presence behind her. The southern girl turned and almost cried out in shock as the angry redhead came into view.

“Is this woman bothering you Baby?” Wanda asked in a cold and merciless tone without taking her eyes off of Rogue.

“No Sweetie.” Carol replied with a smile. “Water under the bridge. I think she had something to say but can’t quite get it out. Did Ororo have the herbs we need to help Faith find herself?”

“Oh yeah.” Wanda replied with a smile as she came up to her love and hugged her before handing over the basket of plants. “Plenty of them. We just need to talk Faith into it and we can begin.”

“That’s a relief.” Carol said. “Why don’t you let Rogue and I get this out of the way?”

“Anything for you Baby.” Wanda whispered in the blonde’s ear before turning and walking out of the room. On her way to the door she fixed the brunette with the wide white streak in her hair with a withering glare. Rogue almost shuddered at the sheer malice the slim redhead was capable of conveying.

“She seems nice.” Rogue said once she and the blonde were alone again.

“She’s the best thing to ever happen to me.” Carol admitted with a smile.

“Guess that would make me the worst?” Rogue asked in a hollow, defeated tone. The laughter that answered her question shocked her. It was by far the last response she had expected.

“Not even close.” Carol said once she regained her composure. “Sure Rogue. What you did hurt me. It took me a long time to recover from those wounds. But you aren’t the biggest monster I’ve been victimized by.”

“I had no idea.” Rogue whispered.

“This one time a hellgod stuck her fingers in my brain.” Carol said in an almost wistful manner. “She fed on my sanity and left me a broken shell of the person I was. Do you know who stayed by my side that entire time. Wanda. Or that world’s version of her anyway. She healed me.”

“That sounds like love to me.” Rogue admitted.

“This other time a teacher I adored tricked me into being his guinea pig.” Carol went on. “He poisoned me with so many plant based toxins I became a half human monster obsessed with plants. Do you know who turned my life around then?”

“The version of Wanda you met on that world.” Rogue said.

“Exactly.” Carol replied with a wide smile. “So you see you aren’t the biggest monster I’ve ever been hurt by. You aren’t even in the top twenty. Not since I regained all my memories.”

“That kinda takes the pressure off my guilt trip.” Rogue admitted with a sly smile. “I just want you to know I’m sorry for what I did when I followed that woman. It’ll never happen again.”

“I know it won’t.” Carol said. When she saw the confused look in the southern girl’s eyes she smiled again. “The first thing Wanda whipped up was a ward to protect the two of us from life drains like your powers. You can’t harm me or her Rogue. Not even if you wanted to. And trying might get you killed.”

“Thanks for the warning.” The woman replied with a sullen expression. Before she could turn to walk away Carol pulled a small green band out of her pocket and held it up for her to see.

“Take this Rogue.” Carol said in a tone that brooked no argument. Rogue stepped forward and grasped the small band of fabric in her gloved hand. She immediately felt a light tingle that quickly subsided.

“What?” Rogue asked.

“Wear this choker collar.” Carol said. “It will suppress your natural powers without turning off the ones you took from me.”

“Why would you?” Rogue began to ask but stopped short as the emotions threatened to overwhelm her.

“I guess once I really sat down and thought about it I felt sorry for you.” Carol admitted. “Not being able to touch another human being. To love, to kiss, without fear of killing them. Your life is a kind of hell I don’t wish on my worst enemies. And you certainly are not my worst enemy.”

Rogue felt the multiple meanings behind each word the blonde said to her. She was being pitied, and yet at the same time given a grudging amount of respect. There was forgiveness in this conversation, but still a very clear sense that they would not become friends anytime soon. If ever. With a heavy heart Rogue accepted the peace offering and said one finale statement before turning and walking out of the training room.

“Thank you.”

******************************

“What’s she doing in there?” Alex whispered.

“I think she’s drinking all of Logan’s beer.” Jamie replied with a snicker as he peeked around the corner.

“Faith doesn’t drink.” Clarice said.

“Our Faith doesn’t drink.” Sooraya corrected in a far too casual tone. “This Faith is a very different individual.”

“Well I’m going to say something about it.” Kitty stated as she boldly walked past her classmates and into he kitchen. There she found the brunette sitting at the table with her feet propped up. A few crushed empties littered the floor. The “two pack” on the table wasn’t long for this world. The beer can in the brunette’s hand sloshed lightly as the young woman looked up to see she had company.

“Well if it isn’t ghost girl.” Faith called out with a chuckle. “Come to tell me all about the great shit other me has done for all you freaks? Let’s hear it kid. Tell me exactly why you think I should kill myself just so this other girl can walk around with my face.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Kitty said with a mildly reprimanding tone. “I just want to know what the hell you think you’re going.”

Faith looked around the room with a curious tilt to her head. She then looked back to the other brunette. When she spoke there was humor in her voice for the first time in several hours.

“Kid you’re gonna have to be way more specific than that.” Faith said with a chuckle. “What am I doing that has you all worked up?”

“You don’t drink Faith.” Kitty said flatly. The serious tone in the girl’s voice caught Faith’s attention. The slightly buzzed Slayer looked at her and laughed. She laughed for what seemed like minutes. Then paused and looked to the girl again.

“Oh wait, you’re serious.” She said before laughing even harder. This time when she got herself under control Faith returned the other girl’s serious look with a mildly amused smile.

“Kid, I’ve been drinking ever since the foster care system took me away from my strung out whore of a mother and handed me off to some assholes who tried to feed me to a vampire in their attic.” Faith replied with a low chuckle.

“Oh my god.” Kitty muttered.

“God ain’t got nothing to do with me and mine little girl.” Faith replied with a grin. “Hasn’t for a long time. I don’t know what they tell you in Sunday school.”

“Hebrew School.” Kitty corrected.

“So you’re Jewish.” Faith said. “So is Red, not that she bends a knee to her parent’s god ever since Blondie came into the picture. Like I was saying, I don’t know what they tell you in Hebrew school but we are on our own. Kid, I've slain monsters from hell on every continent. I've seen a lot of strange stuff, but I've never seen anything to make me believe there's one all-powerful force controlling everything. If there are gods they left us to clean up their mess a long time ago. Ain’t no one watching the shop now.”

“The Faith I know would never talk like that.” Kitty said as she stared at this stranger in shock. “She knew there were things out there watching over us. She believed in the people she cared for.”

“Good for her.” Faith said with a casual smile and sarcastic tone. “It takes a special kind of stupid to trust other people that much. How’d it work out for her?”

“She got body swapped by some foul mouthed bitch that seems to take pleasure in hurting the people Faith loved most.” Kitty remarked with a snide tone just as clear as Faith’s.

“And there’s the problem.” Faith said with a laugh. “What happened right before old me went bye bye? Whose stupid idea was it to let her play mind games with Captain Q Ball?”

“She was acting strange.” Kitty protested weakly. “I had to say something.”

“So it was your fault.” Faith said with a renewed smile. “I gotta say girlie. I’m impressed. How did it play out? Did you run your mouth to everyone about how other me was keeping to herself? Did they finally come check on her only to overreact when they found something weird? That’s what gave me this second shot at life, wasn’t it? You stuck your nose in someone else’s business and got them sent to the mind walker’s office, didn’t you?”

“That’s not how it happened.” Kitty whispered.

“Well this changes things, doesn’t it?” Faith chuckled as she stood up and crushed her now empty beer can. “Thanks for the new life Kid. I don’t plan on letting it go to waste.”

“Where are you going?” Kitty asked as Faith brushed past her.

“To check up on my girlfriend.” The taller brunette replied as she strode out of the kitchen and through the startled gang of eavesdropping teens.

******************************

“Come on B tell me how I got you in the sack.” Faith asked as she scooted closer to the woman that looked like her Buffy.

“You aren’t her.” Jennifer said as she turned away from the brunette that had found her alone on a couch in one of the mansion’s long hallways. “She would never say those horrible things to me.”

“What if I tried really hard?” Faith asked with a coy, almost seductive smile. “You obviously didn’t mind whatever it was I did.”

“Oh like I had a choice the first time Little Miss Want Take Have!” Jennifer snapped. The anger in her own voice socked the lawyer so much that she found her hands covering her own mouth in a vain attempt to undo the harsh words.

“Damn, that worked on you B?” Faith chuckled with a proud smirk. “Other me has got some serious game!”

“Stop calling me that.” Jennifer demanded weakly. “That isn’t what she calls me.”

“And just what does other me call you? Lover, sugar tits, pookums?” Faith asked.

“I can’t listen to this.” Jennifer said as she stood up and prepared to storm off. “You don’t have any right to take over her body like this. If you really care about me then you wouldn’t force me to watch as some ghost with a chip on her shoulder walks around in the body of the woman I love.”

“You love me Buffy?” Faith asked as she looked up at the petite blonde, stunned by the teary eyed admission.

“I love her!” Jennifer seethed. “The woman whose life you are stealing with every second you put off Wanda and Carol’s spell.” She brought a hand up to her face for one moment and sighed, desperately trying to gather up what little resolve she had left. When she spoke there was iron in her voice. “If you don’t let go of her body you will never see me again. I can’t be with someone wearing her face, pretending to love me the way she loves me. I won’t betray my Faith like that.”

Faith looked up at the blonde in stunned silence. She couldn’t imagine how lucky the brat whose body she had taken over was to have gotten this level of loyalty out of her Buffy. Even if the blonde didn’t like being called that name she still had so much of the blonde Slayer in her that it was beyond any need for comparison.

Faith felt a twinge of jealousy over that devotion she could never have. Then she realized she was capable of giving that chance to a girl so much like herself that it really didn’t matter. With an angry sigh she stood up and loomed over the petite blonde.

“Okay, I’ll do it!” Faith said in as harsh a tone as she could muster while looking at the hurt and worried blonde she wanted to comfort. “I’ll die for you! Again! But don’t you ever take her for granted. You treat her right or I swear I’ll… I’ll.” Faith paused for a long moment before finishing her threat as best she could. “I don’t know but you won’t like it. Maybe something to do with your shoe collection!”

With that the brunette turned on her heels and stormed off down the halls. She had a magic ritual to sit in the middle of. For her part Jennifer did the best she could. She broke down in a sobbing heap as the very real threat of losing the love of her life filled her with terror.

******************************

“What do we need to get this donkey show on the road?” Faith asked in as harsh a tone as she could manage as she walked into the Danger Room.

“Faith!” Xavier called out in shock. “You’re here?”

“Can it chrome dome!” Faith shot back. “I’m talking to the witches. Your voodoo is what got us into this mess in the first place.” The chagrined Professor watched in shock as the brunette walked right by him with far too casual disregard. With a sigh he went to join his oldest students in the observation room.

All around the room Wanda and Carol had set up ritual objects they claimed would ease the process. Ororo had even helped them gather herbs they claimed would be necessary for the spellwork. As the two women stood near the circle drawn on the floor in salt they smiled at the brunette.

“We only need you to willingly step into the circle and stay there while we do our thing.” Wanda said with a calm smile. “You’ll be back to your new old self in no time.”

“Sweetie.” Carol said as Faith gave the redhead a glare. “You’re doing the right thing Faith.”

“Yeah whatever Blondie.” Faith muttered. “Just tell me if this will smooth things over with B.”

“This will bring back all the memories of the girl that body you’re in belongs to.” Carol said. “You won’t die, or fade away. But you won’t be in the driver’s seat anymore.”

“And how is what’s going on with me any different from what you two have been doing for god knows how long?” Faith asked with a skeptical frown.

“We are the women who were born into this world.” Wanda said as calmly as she could. “We just have memories and knowledge from girls like us who lived and died in countless other worlds. I know it’s a gray area at best but we didn’t steal anyone’s bodies to get here and we aren’t suppressing the souls of these bodies’ owners.”

“You’re just asking to suppress mine.” Faith muttered.

“The other Faith will still remember you.” Wanda promised. “We won’t try to shut her off from your memories. She’ll learn from everything you went through.”

“Will she be able to get her Buffy to love her?” Faith asked in a mournful tone.

“Oh Sweetie.” Carol said. “She already does.”

“Alright then.” Faith said at last. “Let’s do this.”

Faith stepped into the circle and sat down, waiting anxiously. Carol and Wanda lit several piles of incense and circled her no less than a dozen times while chanting in hushed tones. Just when she started to suspect the ritual was going nowhere Faith heard the witches’ chant rise in volume and pace.

The Slayer felt a presence unlike any she had ever felt before take hold of her. She felt energy pour through her. For the first time in her life she understood what love felt like. So powerful was the sensation that tears of joy escaped from Faith’s eyes. Those brown eyes closed for a moment and the Slayer was gone.

******************************

The young woman’s eyes flew open with a new sense of urgency. She remembered everything. Without hesitation the brunette leapt to her feet and ran from the circle and the large training room. The witches smiled at their handiwork and began to clean up the remnants of the casting. They were soon joined by very anxious school faculty.

“Did that do it?” Hank asked. “Is she back to her old self again?”

“Nope.” Wanda replied with a cheery smile. “That ritual was to put her old self back in its place. She’s once again the girl you all knew.”

“And will this Slayer stuff pop back up again?” Logan asked in a concerned tone.

“No.” Carol said. “She remembers now so she won’t feel the need to draw demons or carve stakes.”

“I must say this has been a trying yet fascinating day.” The Professor remarked.

“Professor I have a tremendous amount of respect for what you are doing with this school. I want you to know that.” Wanda said with clear honesty. She then let a stern look cross her face as she stared at the man in the wheelchair. “With that said, don’t ever stick your mind dick in my friend again.”

“Of course.” The man agreed. The day had given him far more than he ever bargained for. He had no desire to risk another incident.

******************************

Faith ran through the halls of the institute at a break neck pace. She had to find the one person who made her life worth living. As she turned a corner she realized she was only a few steps away from her bedroom. The brunette quickly went to the open door and saw exactly who she was looking for.

“Babe, I’m so sorry.” Faith said in a voice heavy with pain and sorrow.

“You’re back?” Jennifer whispered as she looked up from the piles of stakes and crosses on the dresser. Faith wasted no time in crossing the room to take the love of her life in her arms. Their kiss lasted for seconds that stretched on like days. When it was finally broken Jennifer let a stern look cross her face before smiling back at her young lover.

“Don’t ever leave me again.” Jennifer ordered through a relieved and happy grin.

“Never Babe.” Faith promised with all of her heart. “I can’t believe how lucky I am that you are my life. I know I don’t deserve you but I ain’t never letting you go.”

“You deserve me you big dummy.” Jennifer swore between tears of love and joy. “You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. I’m lost without you.”

The two women spent the rest of that evening proving to one another that no force could tear them apart. Unbeknownst to either of them another presence was overjoyed for their reunion. Somewhere deep within the brunette a very happy Slayer that had been guiding Faith all along cheered them both on.

_________________
Time and Time Again

Dibbity!

A more coherent comment will follow some sanity refreshing sleep

R

Edit: Ahh, sleep. I got about 8 hours, after a long day where i got 3. And was kinda sick.

I feel so much better!



Yikes! Looks like Willow is still carrying around some serious issues.


Starwars reference, i see what you did there.


Ok, so some things never change. Buffy and pretty shoes
But, damn, threatening someone's shoe collection? That's cold.


Though i have to question Willow and Tara's 'Fix' if Faith is having blackouts and doing 'Slayer' things.
It looks like Faith 1.0 was well on her way to taking over Faith 3.0 before professor X had a look.
And seriously, all he did was look.

Oh well, all better now, plus i now have a timeline for the stories

I'm a little worried about B/F in the Prime timeline, now that this happened.
Faith 1.0 is so dark, so hurt and so angry, it could really screw everything up.
Hopefully, now that she's getting her vicarious happy, she'll relax a bit.

And you bring up an interesting point with the Soul vs Memories thing.
What is a soul? And how does it relate to memories?
If you change the memories, do you also change the soul?
Do different versions of someone share the same soul?
It gave me a lot to think about.
Cheers.

As always, i'm eagerly anticipating the next episode.
Go Fuffy!

R



Typo:

Kinda prophetic, but i think it's a typo/




Should that be: "Take this Rogue.” Carol said in a tone that brooked no argument.
Perhaps?



Is this woman bothering you Baby?” Wanda asked in a cold and merciless tone, without taking her eyes off of Rogue.
Perhaps?

_________________
“All I feel is sunlight. All I hear is music.” Willow
How i Met Your Mother - By Ariel

My Story: Coming Home

Yay for great update-y goodness... I'm glad that the girls were able to fix Faith's mind after Xavier's screw up...

_________________
We Few, We Happy Few, We Band of Buggered

Posting while nude improves your mood...

Hello Azirahael. Ouch, glad to hear you're feeling better.

Yup, Willow has a lot of pent up guilt and unresolved issues that take her longer to unpack than the handful of weeks or months since Wanda met Carol. Buffy's true sight spell experience just showed off the tip of the iceberg on that front. Things were obviously more intense with bitter Faith from the tv show running around accusing her of all the stuff she regrets.

Gotta squeeze in any Star Wars quote I could. If only there was some way for that Faith to have "Flown from one end of the galaxy to the other."

Buffy really likes her shoes, and Faith knows that. But yes, the spell they did in the Hydra base was pretty hastily thrown together. It opened a door and the oldest versions of Faith and Sineya walked right through it. What the Professor did was more akin to stepping on a psychic landmine that the Slayer Spirit just left lying around.

And if everyone was paying attention I think the timeline is well established.

As to the Slayers in the prime timeline I think that Faith has been given a few serious advantages over the original. She didn't watch her watcher get torn in half right in front of her by Kaistos. She didn't have to watch as Buffy went running right back to Angel. Then Riley. Then Spike. She didn't kill a guy and almost have the Council try to off her and get the next one girl in all the world chosen. She didn't spend a few years in prison. She didn't have Buffy question her every move when she volunteered to help fight in a war. And perhaps most importantly she didn't have the Mayor seduce her with his Mr. Rogers act.

And that's not even counting the stuff in the comics that I haven't had the energy to google yet. But seriously, the Faith we saw a glimpse of in this last entry had been the Slayer for almost three decades before whatever happened that she didn't survive. That comes with its own baggage and issues. I like to think it was telling that Wanda said they lost Buffy for the final time right after that.

As to metaphysical questions of souls and memories and the broader issue of what makes a person a person, those are all very good topics I want everyone reading to ponder because they just might distract from the fact that something like a third of my story is technically starring characters that have almost nothing to do with the primary characters and content of this website.

Oh wait.... I've said too much.

Hi Zampsa. I think we're all glad the right Faith found her way home in this one. And as good intentioned as Xavier is, when he steps in it he really steps in it.

On another note we're almost to the end of Act One. Just have "Becoming" left. I think the twists with what's going on in LA will either be entirely unexpected or entirely expected. Not sure how thick I've laid the foreshadowing on this one.

_________________
Time and Time Again

Time and Time Again.

Author: Citanul

Feedback: Be kind, rewind?

Spoilers: Just about all of them. Go watch the show.

Rating: NC-17

Pairings: W/T, B/F

Disclaimer: You all know I don’t own the rights to characters you’ve seen on TV.

Summary: A story of reincarnation and interdimensional travel made possible through the power of love. What misfortunes will our two favorite love birds be able to prevent with the aid of experience from countless past lives.

Author’s Note: Wow. Here we are at the end of Act One. I'm actually surprised I managed to keep to a weekly posting schedule for this run. Might slip down to posting every other week when Act Two starts. Until then here is the finale for this first story arc. Thank you all for reading and commenting. I hope you'll enjoy this bit of drama.

******************************

Chapter 21: Becoming

“Careful now.” The lead archeologist said as one of the Sunnydale Museum of Natural History’s restoration technicians used an air compressor and a paint brush to wear away at what may have been centuries of calcified grime and dirt covering the strange object. “Concentrate in this area. There you go.”

“Hello?” Came a voice from the far side of the room, calling the man’s attention.

“Rupert Giles?” The archeologist asked as he approached the librarian.

“Yes.” The watcher said with a smile as he went to shake the shorter man’s hand.

“Doug Perren.” The man said happily. “Thanks for coming.”

“Oh not at all, I was flattered to be asked.” Giles replied modestly.

“I spoke to Lou Tabor at the Washington Institute and he told me we had the best authority in obscure relics right here in Sunnydale.” Doug boasted.

“Oh, heh. Well he may have ah, exaggerated.” Giles replied with a light chuckle before looking up across the room to see the large stone object that had been unearthed. “Ah this is?”

“This is our baby.” Doug said proudly as he guided Giles over to the massive stone block with one small patch of cuneiform glyphs on the side the technicians were working on. “Construction workers dug it up outside of town. Don’t have a clue what it is. Any ideas?”

“A few. None I’d care to share until verified.” Giles said as he lightly touched the stone and looked closely at the writing engraved on the surface. “You have, carbon dated?”

“Results will be back in a couple days. I’ll go out on a limb and say old.” Doug offered.

“Um yes, it certainly predates any settlements we’ve read about haven’t we.” Giles said as he took out a small file and clear sample container. “May I?”

“Yeah sure.” The archeologist confirmed. Giles began scraping away at one spot until he uncovered a long seem running from the bottom of the block to the top.

“I assume you haven’t tried to open it.” The watcher stated offhandedly.

“Open it?” Doug asked in confusion before taking a much closer look at what the expert he had requested uncovered. “Well I’ll be damned. I figured it was solid. What do you think is in there?”

“A friend who saw this in the morning’s paper pointed me towards a very interesting text I have.” Giles replied as he reached into his bag and pulled out a fairly old tome and some notes. “Let me see if I can translate the text.”

“Ah yes.” Giles said after a few moments of study. “It says. Within this sarcophagus sleeps the demon Acathla. Devourer of worlds. May death take those who attempt to awaken the beast.”

“Demon?” Doug asked with an almost amused smile. “Seriously?”

“Oh yes.” Giles said as he pointed out a specific glyph on the side of the ancient stone box. “This is the mark used to denote demons or any kind of other worldly abominations one might happen across.”

“Okay, but are you seriously saying there’s a dead demon in this box?” Doug asked skeptically.

“Sleeping demon.” Giles corrected. “If the text is to be trusted. Let me see.” He pulled out another book and flipped to a page marked by a long ribbon. He turned the text over to Doug who gasped at the obviously old book and the long flowing prose it contained.

“Yes.” Giles began to tell the tale. “In ancient times the demon Acathla came forth to swallow the world. He was killed by a virtuous knight who pierced the demon’s heart before he could draw breath to perform the act. Acathla turned to stone, as demons sometimes do, and was buried where neither man nor demon would dare to look.”

“Here in Sunnydale.” Doug whispered as he stared at the book before growing concerned. “But all this talk of demons?”

“Oh I assure you there are a great many myths and legends that are based on far more truth than any would care to admit today.” Giles said. “It should be safe to open the sarcophagus and have a look. Just don’t pull any swords out of what you find inside.”

The archaeologist looked back and forth between the librarian and the massive stone block he now knew to be a coffin. The man wanted more than anything to have a look inside.

“I’ll get a work crew to remove the lid.” Doug said with a renewed smile.

Giles stood by and watched as a handful of men came in and prepared to open the sarcophagus without damaging the cover stone. Some fifteen minutes later the stone box was cracked open for the first time in centuries and the lid was slowly set to the side. He and Doug Perren stared in awe at the finely detailed stone figure within.

The demon Acathla was a sight to be seen. Taller and more muscular than almost any man. Small horns adorned his head. A pair of tusks jutted out of the broad square jaw. Though despite all this the archaeologist’s eyes quickly focused on the hilt of the sword embedded in the fiend’s chest.

“I’ll be damned.” He muttered.

“I must caution you.” Giles began. “There are any number of groups in this town. Fanatics with very strange ideas. Cults if you will. They may try to take this statue by force.”

“Don’t tell me you believe all that demon swallowing the world stuff.” The man said.

“Oh what I believe is immaterial to the very real problem.” Giles assured. “That being people who believe in every word of it and will spill blood to try and make it happen.”

“You think someone might actually break in here and hurt people to steal this statue?” Doug asked in a now worried voice.

“Last year a zoologist and the former high school principal were killed by one such group.” Giles began. “The former mayor had the police spread a story about wild dogs, but in reality they died during an attempt to call forth the spirits of rare African Hyenas so that the cult members could transcend what was left of their humanity.”

“That’s horrible.” Doug said in shock. “And you think one of these groups might come looking for Acathla here?”

“Oh without a doubt.” Giles said as he began to polish his glasses. Before either man could say something else there was another knock on the door.

“Doug Perren?” The tall brunette asked as she came into the room followed by a team of what appeared to be a half dozen cargo movers.

“Yes?” The archeologist asked as he looked up towards the woman.

“Hello, I’m Lilah Morgan.” She said with a smile. “I represent the law firm of Rosenberg & Maclay. The senior partners are very concerned about the artifact that I can see you just uncovered. Hello again Mr. Giles.”

“Ah yes, hello Ms. Morgan.” Giles greeted with a sly smile of his own. “The senior partners want to keep the sarcophagus out of the reach of any who might try to use it for occult purposes?”

“Oh yes.” Lilah replied before turning back to Doug. “Mr. Perren, I’ve been told to acquire this artifact by almost any means necessary. Though considering how dangerous something like this is in a town like Sunnydale I was hoping you’d want to be rid of it sooner rather than later. I’d happily offer extra security until you are done studying it.”

Doug looked back and forth between Giles and Lilah. He couldn’t help but wonder about the dangers both these people talked about.

“You’ve met this woman Mr. Giles?” Doug asked at last.

“Oh yes.” Giles replied. “Several months ago I took a handful of students to LA on a field trip of sorts. We met while her law firm was changing hands.”

“Changing hands?” Doug asked.

“Undergoing a hostile takeover is more like it.” Lilah said with a light laugh. “Though seeing as I was promoted upwards at a radical pace I can’t complain.”

“And you think someone will try to hurt people to get to this “demon” if it stays here too long.” Doug said as he looked back towards Acathla once more.

“Oh, almost certainly.” Giles affirmed with a serious tone. “To us this may just be a stone statue that someone particularly strong has thrust a sword into. But to others it’s a means to a very dark end. The kind of person working towards that end is extremely dangerous.”

The archeologist stared at the demon for a long time. He knew there was almost no way he could benefit from trying to sell the story of a brave knight slaying a demon to the museum’s president or any of the other head curators. If he tried they may just cut his department funding altogether. Even with the very tantalizing “sword in the stone” angle there was little this find could do for his career. On the other hand a very powerful law firm was more than interested in the artifact.

“Alright.” Doug said at last. “I’m sure that if the law firm of, what was it again? Rosenberg and Maclay? I’m sure that if they are willing to make a sizeable contribution to the museum then I can give them Acathla here to add to whatever private collection they are putting together.”

“Oh no worries there.” Lilah said with a warm smile. “I’m sure the sum I’ve been authorized to offer is more than enough to fund your department’s works for years to come.”

The lawyer pulled out a slip of paper and glanced at the number written on it. She then folded it and handed it to the archeologist. Doug looked down at the small paper and opened it. His jaw nearly hit the floor as he stared at the number of zeros that followed the very low prime number.

“This.” Doug whispered as he stared in shock at the promised sum. “This will fund a lot of exhibits.”

“Wonderful.” Lilah said. “The senior partners are always interested in supporting the arts and sciences. Shall I have my men wrap up the demon?”

“Sure, sure. Take him.” Doug waved his hand dismissively at the sarcophagus as he stared at the slip of paper. “He’s all yours.”

Without needing another word the men following Lilah moved forward and fitted the cover stone back over the open side of the stone coffin. Sturdy bands were wrapped all around the block to keep it secure during transit. Before any of the other lab technicians or archeologists could blink the curious object was wheeled out of the room and down a hall that led to a service entrance.

“Shall, I write a check or have the funds transferred to the museum directly?” Lilah asked.

“Oh please come with me.” Doug replied. “The president and the rest of the administrations office will want to thank you personally for your generous contribution. We can handle the transfer there.”

“Perfect.” Lilah said before turning back to the all too amused watcher. “It was so nice to see you again Mr. Giles. Tell Ms. Rosenberg and Ms. Maclay I said hello.”

“Oh I’m sure they will appreciate hearing that.” Giles smiled back at the woman.

“Mr. Giles knows the Rosenberg and Maclay in Rosenberg & Maclay?” Doug asked just as he was about to lead the lawyer away.

“Two students of mine.” Giles replied. “Though I must admit there is little I can teach them these days, I am so very proud of how far they’ve come.”

“That’s nice.” Doug said before turning back to Lilah. “This way Ms. Morgan if you please.”

“My pleasure.” Lilah said as she took the man’s arm and walked out.

Giles watched them leave in amusement. Willow and Tara had been sure of the threat posed by Acathla’s awakening. That they would have Lilah come here personally was no surprise. Once again the watcher was left in awe of the foresight the girls possessed.

He didn’t want to imagine the carnage that would come to pass if the demon was awoken. Nor did he like to imagine the bloodshed that would no doubt visit poor Doug and his coworkers had Lilah not taken the threat away. Wherever they reburied that sarcophagus he prayed it would remain undisturbed.

******************************

“This is the place?” Doyle asked as he walked up to the vampire hiding in one of the darker patches of shadow in the heart of the cemetery grounds.

“This is the place.” Angel confirmed. “Three mercenaries have been coming and going from this mausoleum at odd hours each of the last three nights. They were each carrying multiple concealed weapons and walked like they had been trained in how to use them.”

“You got all that from their walk?” Doyle asked with an amused tone as he slurped on his milkshake and stared at the fairly large building in the middle of the cemetaery. Before he knew what hit him the vampire dragged him into the shadows.

“Um, Angel?” Doyle asked, growing worried at the sudden change in the vampire’s demeanor. “Buddy?”

“Shh.” Angel whispered. “They’re here.”

Doyle watched as three men fitting the description Angel had given made their way inside the mausoleum. Something about their behavior struck him. The half demon didn’t know why but he could tell that there was much more to the trio than even the vampire had noticed.

The three mercenaries remained inside the building for several minutes. On the way out the lead one looked around cautiously, as if he was expecting to be observed. A minute later he gave a signal to his comrades and the trio made a hasty exit.

“That was close.” Angel whispered. “They’re trained to watch out at night. I’m sure one of them almost noticed me the other night.”

“I have a bad feeling about those mercs of yours Angel.” Doyle replied in hushed tones. “Something about them seemed familiar.”

“We need to report this back to the hotel.” Angel said as he stepped out of the shadows for the first time in a few hours. Doyle soon followed and the two men made their way to a different cemetery exit than the one their strange foes had taken. Half way across the graveyard the unexpected happened.

“Angel I think I just realized why those blokes looked familiar.” Doyle began but was cut off as an ebony fist shot out from the shadows and struck his jaw. The Irishman went down hard as the new threat stepped out of the darkness.

“Whoever you are you shouldn’t have done that.” Angel seethed as he morphed into his vampiric game face.

“Ye be sayin’ that now vampire.” The ebony girl with long black hair said in a calm Jamaican accent. “Ye won’t be de first one I’ve dusted tonight. What evil are you and the demon there plotting?”

“Wait.” Angel said. “Jamaican accent, long curly black hair, no sense of humor.” His eyes widened as he realized who he faced. “Kendra is that you?”

“How do ye know that name vampire?” Kendra demanded to know.

“You’re Kendra the vampire Slayer?” Doyle asked as he slowly tried to crawl back to his feet. “Look we don’t want any trouble. We’re on the same side.”

“Ye expect me to believe the lies of some evil demon masked as a human?” The Slayer asked in an almost amused tone. “Never.”

“If we took you to a watcher would you believe us?” Angel asked while not letting his guard down.

“I’ll be goin’ nowhere with the likes of you vampire.” Kendra replied before lunging forward and lashing out with a quick flurry of blows.

Angel did his best to counter and block her attacks. Some blows still got through his defenses. He knew he couldn’t beat Kendra this way. This Slayer was focused on slaying him at all costs. He would have to knock her off her guard some other way in order to survive the next few minutes. Then inspiration struck.

“Buffy was right.” Angel said with almost casual disregard that masked how he really felt about his odds. “Your fighting style is just a little too predictable.”

“What?” Kendra yelled.

“I mean it’s great and all for hunting fledges.” Angel admitted with a sly grin as he countered a sloppy punch. “Don’t get me wrong. You must be at least a little good to have survived a whole year as the Slayer. Most little girls don’t last a week. You’re really good as far as beginners go. But you’ll have to step it up if you want to take on master vampires with a few centuries under their belts.”

“I am de Slayer!” Kendra seethed. “I will Slay all de vampires.”

“And so quick to get angry.” The vampire chuckled. “She was right. You need to use your emotions. Not run and hide from them. That anger you’re feeling shouldn’t be throwing you off your game enough for me to do this.”

As he spoke Angel threw up one arm to block an incoming haymaker and then flowed into an almost fluid spin that brought one of his legs out to sweep both of Kendra’s out from under her. The Slayer had a moment of utter confusion as she tumbled back to the ground and was soon pounced upon by the vampire.

“Look at me Kendra!” Angel barked as he let his vampiric visage melt away. “I work for the other Slayers. I’m probably the only vampire they will ever trust. In a minute I’m going to back away. Can we please talk before you try to Slay me and my friend?”

“I’m going to stake you vampire.” Kendra promised.

“Would saying that gypsies cursed me with a human soul change matters?” He asked. The Slayer blinked for a moment and almost didn’t notice when Angel was suddenly standing a few feet away from her still prone body.

The Slayer leapt back to her feet and stood in a well practiced fighting stance. Angel was guarded but not making any openly hostile moves. Doyle was still rubbing the side of his jaw that had nearly been caved in by the impact from her fist.

“Man she packs a wallop.” The shorter man muttered.

“So what’ll it be Kendra?” Angel asked. “Come meet our friends?”

“Hey what’s taking you guys?” A voice called out causing all three combatants to turn and stare at the young man approaching. “Who’s the new girl?” He asked as he shouldered his crossbow.

“Gunn say hello to Kendra the vampire Slayer.” Doyle said as he tried to straighten up. “Kendra this is Charles Gunn, our Slayer’s older brother.”

“De Slayer’s brother?” Kendra asked as she took a much closer look at the young man while her demeanor suddenly changed. “I, that is. Hello Sir.”

“Hey nice to meet you too.” Gunn replied. “You can drop the sir stuff and just call me Gunn like everyone else. Did you guys find out what we needed?”

“We were just about to head back to the Hotel when someone waylaid us.” Doyle said with a slight frown at the Slayer who acted much shyer than before.

“Damn Irish.” Gunn remarked as the half demon took his hand away from his face. “You can sure take a punch. Let’s get back home and ice that sucker.”

“These demons really work for de other Slayer?” Kendra asked.

“Whoa, hey now.” Gunn protested. “Just cuz Irish here is biracial don’t mean he’s a bad guy or nothin’. He pulled my whole crew through their G.E.D.’s.”

“They pulled themselves as much or more than I did.” Doyle said with a slight smile. He hadn’t realized how much he missed teaching until he had moved in with the Gunn’s and their crew.

“Don’t get modest on me Irish.” Gunn said with a grin before pointing a thumb over his shoulder. “The car is parked back this way, so are we heading home or standing around a graveyard all night?”

“Home.” Angel and Doyle said almost immediately. They both kept a weary eye on the Slayer as they went to walk the way Gunn had come from. Kendra took a moment and then decided to follow the trio out of the graveyard. She soon found herself standing outside a large van watching as the young man pulled out an ice pack from a cooler. He handed it to the demon she had punched who quickly pressed it to his swelling cheek.

“Hop in.” Gunn told her as Angel and Doyle climbed in the back and he got in the driver’s seat. “We’ll be home before you know it.”

******************************

“The most likely rituals they could be performing have to end sometime between moonrise and midnight.” Wesley proclaimed as he closed the large tome he was consulting. “That is when we shall have to strike to have the highest chance of disrupting their evil schemes!”

“Good work Wes.” Alonna said as she looked over the various notes and books strewn across the office desk. “Once the boys get back we can plan out how to strike the place. Angel seemed confident that he’s found the right spot.”

“Yes.” Wesley agreed. “I must say I had my reservations about the vampire, but he has proven quite willing to go the extra mile for us in these last few months.”

“You read the scrolls more than any of us.” Alonna said. “He wants to prove himself worthy of that whole becoming human prophecy. I just hope that when he gets there he isn’t too crushed about loosing the girl.”

“What girl?” Wesley asked with renewed panic. “Oh my, is something going to happen to the Slayer he keeps brooding over?”

“Nothing you need to worry about Wes.” Alonna said in a stern voice. “Buffy is in for a big surprise. Sooner or later she’ll have to face something. I don’t know how it will play out, but just this once I’m honestly not rooting for Angel.”

Before the conversation could take an even more worrisome turn for the watcher they heard the doors open and Fred’s excited cry from the front desk. Alonna smiled. That shriek meant her brother had come home. The Slayer and watcher hurried to see what news had just come through the door. The scene awaiting them in the hotel lobby was unexpected.

“Identify ye’self!” A strange girl demanded as she stared Fred down. The Texan was on her guard, watching the new girl like a hawk. Gunn had managed to work his way around the stranger to stand by his girlfriend.

“Yo, relax!” He ordered. “This is my girl Fred.”

“Her?” Kendra looked shocked and confused at the revelation.

“Charles who is this?” Fred asked in a serious yet hushed tone.

“New Slayer.” Angel said with evident boredom as he walked past the tense scene with Doyle in tow. “Can someone try convincing her we aren’t evil?”

“So this is the Kendra that Buffy and Faith were talking about.” Alonna said as she walked up to stand between her sister Slayer and her brother’s girl. “Hello Kendra. I’m Alonna, the vampire Slayer.”

“So you’re the one they spoke of back on de hellmouth.” Kendra said as she eased her guard slightly. “I am told you have a watcher to report to.”

“I have a watcher that reports to me and my brother.” Alonna corrected. “And a cursed vampire that helps me train and hunt, and an Irish guy who lucked into getting all the watcher training I’d need even if I didn’t have a watcher.”

“You mean the demon?” Kendra asked.

“Okay first off he’s biracial and very sensitive about his deadbeat dad issues, and his name is Doyle.” Alonna said, leaving no room for argument.

“Why does everyone keep saying he’s biracial?” The new Slayer in town asked. “He’s a demon.”

“Half demon.” Doyle said as he took the ice pack from his face and reached in the fridge behind the front desk for a new one. “Half human. Very complicated story about the birds and the bees. Let’s get back to the matter at hand please.”

“Yes, please.” Wesley said as he came up to the two Slayers. “Hello Kendra, I am Wesley Wyndam-Pryce. Alonna’s watcher.”

“Sir.” Kendra said as she snapped to attention. “Me watcher sent me here. He saw signs that somet’ing dark was going to be raised in this city.”

“Yes, we are quite aware of the threat.” Wesley said as he looked over to where Angel was leaning against a column. “I believe Angel had narrowed down the site of the ritual to one particular mausoleum.”

“There’s a large mausoleum in the center of Hollywood Forever cemetery over on Santa Monica Boulevard.” Angel said in a calm, almost detached voice. “Each of the last four nights three men who look, act and walk like armed mercenaries have come and gone from there at all hours of the night. Last night I went in to have a look and there were definite signs that one of the larger inner chambers was being prepped for the ritual tomorrow night.”

“Excellent work Angel.” Wesley said with a renewed smile. “And with Kendra here aiding Alonna we should have little trouble stopping the resurrection of whatever fiend they are trying to bring back.”

“Ye know this is a resurrection?” Kendra asked in a worried tone.

“Yes.” Wesley replied. “Some weeks ago they snuck in here with the aid of some form of magic. A very important set of scrolls was stolen from the office safe. The Prophecies of Aberjian.”

“The Scrolls of Aberjian?” Kendra asked in shock. “I had read that those were written over the course of four thousand years in a dozen different languages.”

“Yes quite true.” Wesley said. “I had been studying them for some time in the hopes of helping our friend Angel.”

“What would de vampire want with the prophecies?” Kendra asked in a suddenly suspicious tone.

“Apparently he’s in them.” Alonna said dryly causing the other Slayer to look at her in shock.

“Yes.” Wesley admitted. “The scrolls go to great lengths alluding to the exploits of the vampire with a soul. He will play a pivotal role in the apocalypse and, after averting many disasters, will be rewarded with his humanity.”

“That is impossible.” Kendra whispered.

“As was having two Slayers in the same room not too long ago.” Wesley remarked. “Now I’m told there are four.”

“All thanks to the two witches who helped us take over this Hotel.” Alonna said. “Kendra if you’re going to patrol in my city you have to realize that LA isn’t like the hellmouth. There are good demons here. People who may not be human but still serve the powers that be. We don’t go around killing them just because they are different. That’s the main lesson Willow and Tara wanted to drive home before they left me in charge here.”

“So you work with more demons.” Kendra said.

“No where near as many as I slay.” Alonna assured. “But the ones I don’t Slay either work with me to save lives or they are pacifists who would never harm a human. Going out of my way to hunt them would be wrong.”

“And you’re sure de half demon can be trusted?” The newly arrived Slayer asked.

“If he couldn’t Tara wouldn’t let him date her mom.” Gunn said with a wide grin as Fred slapped his arm.

“Hey now, none of that.” Doyle called out from behind the front desk. “Jennifer is a classy lady.”

With the tension somewhat eased the Slayers went inside the Office with Angel and began planning the eminent attack on the mausoleum. Before he could join them Wesley was pulled aside by Doyle. The Englishman grew confused as he caught the serious look in the Irishman’s face.

“There something you want to tell me Wes?” Doyle asked in a harsh yet quiet tone.

“Not that I’m aware of.” Wesley replied with a slight frown. “Why?”

“If you are in on it come clean now and I might vouch for you to the others.” Doyle said. “If you don’t know then convince me and we’ll tell them together.”

“Doyle?” Wesley asked growing more confused by the second. “What the devil are you talking about, man?”

“I’m talking about the fact that you’re lucky Angel has no way of recognizing the three mercenaries he’s been following.” Doyle said. “It took me a minute to sort out the memories from that damned Halloween costume curse but I know where I recognized those bloody idiots from.”

“You know who they are and you haven’t told the others yet?” Wesley asked. “Why on earth not?”

“Wes, Buddy.” Doyle said as he looked in the other man’s eyes for a long time. “You really don’t know do you?”

“Know what?” Wesley asked, starting to grow exasperated.

“That the men who stole the scrolls from us.” Doyle began. “The men coming and going from the mausoleum that will make the perfect site for any ritual to raise the dead.”

“Go on.” Wesley whispered as he suddenly caught on to why Doyle had come to him first. He could already tell his usual level of panic would not suffice.

“They’re the watchers council special operations team.” Doyle said as the air left Wesley’s lungs.

******************************

“This had better work Rayne.” Collins muttered as he and his men returned from their patrol. “Capturing those sacrifices was no easy task.”

“For which I applaud your efforts my good man.” Ethan replied with his usual oily sarcasm. “This time tomorrow we’ll have exactly what we need to get the Slayers back in the Council’s good graces.”

“We had better.” Weatherby remarked with his usual hostility and scruffy sneer. “Else it’ll be your hide sorcerer.”

As the three council agents left the room that had become Ethan’s office the English sorcerer turned back to his raven haired companion. He smiled at her as she rolled her eyes in a bored manner that had become all too commonplace.

“Keep goading them like that and they’re going to skin you alive.” Jenny said with a sigh.

“My dear I would very much like to see them try.” Ethan replied. “Until then they need us both for any of this to ever turn out in their favor.”

“And what about your favor?” Jenny asked.

“My dear Ms. Calendar.” Ethan chuckled. “If my charms have peaked your interest you only have but to ask.”

“Settle down lothario.” Jenny said with apparent disinterest. “How are you planning to get out of this alive?”

“I assure you my dear.” Ethan said with a sly grin. “I will always have a means for you and I to land on our feet.”

The gypsy gave the Englishman one long, appraising look. She could easily tell there was more to his flirtations than simple sexual appetites. He was hitting on her to cover up something else. She knew not what but she had her suspicions. In the end all that mattered was staying alive and completing the mission her clan had sent her here for. She could hardly back out of that now. There was simply nowhere else for her to turn.

******************************

“I just got off the phone with the council.” Wesley said in sullen and defeated voice as he entered the room.

“What?” Alonna asked as she spun around and fixed the man with a glare. “Why would you contact the council?”

“It is our duty to follow the council’s orders.” Kendra repeated as if by rote memorization.

“Not if they’re gonna try to drug me, steal my powers, and lock me in a cage with a starving vampire when I turn eighteen.” The lighter haired Slayer said. “What’s going on Wes?”

“Alonna I’m so sorry.” Wesley said. “I had no idea they’d sent others.”

“What others?” Angel asked.

“The mercs you saw.” Doyle said. “It took me a minute to remember the watcher stuff from last Halloween. Those men are the council’s special operations team.”

“What?” Alonna, Fred, Gunn, Rondell and Angel all but shouted.

“What is de special operations team?” Kendra asked.

“The thugs and assassin’s that handle all the council’s wetwork when your typical watcher isn’t enough.” Wesley admitted. “I had no idea they were in town until Doyle confronted me about them.”

“Did the council at least say why they stole from us or what they are doing here?” Alonna asked.

“No.” Wesley admitted. “It was outside the bounds of my orders apparently.”

“And just what are those orders Wesley?” Alonna asked with a menacing voice.

“Convince you to distance yourself from the vampire and the witches.” The sullen Brit admitted. “Get you back in line with what the council’s traditions demand of a “proper Slayer.” And they aren’t too fond of your associations with Doyle and Lorne it would seem.”

“Of course not.” Alonna said as she took a moment to contain the outrage that threatened to drive her into hasty decisions that could get her nowhere. “Alright. Wesley I’m furious with you right now but the fact that you came clean means a lot. If this wetworks team reaches out to you tell us about it before they try to stick another knife in our back.” She then turned back to the rest of the room and began to work out what all this might mean for their assault.

“Unless this is all some huge misunderstanding and we are tracking the wrong guys we can probably assume whatever they want to raise is intended to kill Angel or at least take him out of play.” Alonna stated while trying to settle her emotions. “Worst case is it’s something meant to kill Charles, Rondell and all the boys.”

“No!” Fred cried out as she possessively clung to Gunn’s arm.

“Much more likely is some sort of anti vampire monster.” Alonna said before taking a moment to process what that creature might be. “Obviously not a Slayer.”

“Even for the wetworks team, raising a Slayer from the dead is way out of line for all watchers right?” Gunn asked.

“I would certainly hope so.” Wesley said. “The very idea is just, unseemly.”

“Especially when the conventional wisdom for Slayers is out with the old and in with the new.” Doyle remarked dryly. “No matter what that means for the poor chosen one being tossed out.”

“Probably not a dead Slayer.” Alonna admitted. “In any case we have to stop whatever they raise from hurting people.”

“I don’t know if I like the sounds of this plan.” Kendra said. “We shouldn’t be going against the council.”

“It’s a wetworks team.” Fred said. “Even if they get caught they’ve probably been ordered to never let anything link back to the council. Or they’ve gone rogue and need to be stopped before the council finds out how out of hand they are with whatever form of necromancy they’re working up. In any case the council shouldn’t be raising the dead.”

“I see ye point.” Kendra relented. “So how are we going to stop this ritual?”

Alonna smiled as she spread a large map of the cemetery out on the table. She went over the plan and was relieved to have everyone’s consensus that what she had come up with was the best any of them could think up on the spot. This time tomorrow night they would be going into battle. She prayed her Crew was up to the task.

******************************

“Damn but this place is swanky.” Rondell said with a whistle as they Crew pulled up outside one of the rear entrances to the cemetery just after sunset.

“Yeah.” Gunn replied as he and the rest of the boys filed out of the two large vans.

“I, um, that is.” Kendra tried to speak but found the effort difficult when surrounded by so many new faces. Male faces in particular.

“What’s the new girl’s deal again?” Joey asked.

“Slayer number four lives with her watcher who doesn’t let her talk to boys.” Fred said in a casual tone.

“Why am I de fourth Slayer?” Kendra asked forgetting her stutter while addressing the other girl.

“Cause these guys will listen to the other three first.” Fred replied with a grin. “They all still can’t get over how tiny Buffy is. They are downright intimidated by Faith. And Alonna knows them so well they each won’t dare cross her.” Before Kendra could come up with a retort she felt a hand on her shoulder.

“Don’t worry Kendra.” Alonna said. “You’ll prove yourself in no time. Just wait till the fighting starts.”

With that the Hyperion Crew formed up into familiar squads and set out for the mausoleum. The dozen or so teens followed the two Slayers, the vampire, the half demon, and the more skilled fighters of the group. They had even coerced the watcher into coming along. All grew quiet as they saw Alonna put a hand up. She slowly crept along a wall and peeked around the corner. What she saw shocked her. The long curved horns and dull brown skin reminded her of something they had covered after Doyle’s impromptu watcher training.

“Okay that’s unexpected.” Alonna whispered into her radio. “Wesley, Doyle up here.”

The two men went to her side and peeked around the same corner. It was all they could do to keep the Englishman from crying out in shock. Doyle dragged him back to the rest of the group and began relaying what he had seen.

“Okay that looks bad, but not too bad.” He said into the radio that linked each tiny huddle of squad mates. “There are about twenty Fyarl demons around the corner.”

“Fyarl?” Fred asked. “Okay strong but not too smart.”

“Right.” Doyle said. “You all remember what we talked about the day we covered Fyarl’s in class right?”

With practiced ease each and every member of the Hyperion Crew pulled out a silver dagger with a foot long, razor sharp blade. Kendra looked around confused for a moment before Alonna handed her a spare she kept.

“Silver to the heart.” She told her fellow Slayer. “Takes Fyarl’s out every time.”

“Ye each have a silver weapon?” Kendra asked in mild awe.

“Benefits of having some kick ass mega witches picking up our bills.” Gunn answered with a smirk.

Alonna looked at the obviously expensive dagger in her hand. She had almost no concept of what it would cost her watcher to get her one such blade. Let alone buying thirty or more for each of the young men following Alonna and the few who remained at the hotel to have their own personal one. The appeal of what the witches offered was starting to sink in.

“Angel, while we’re clearing them out I want you to slip ahead and stop that ritual.” Alonna whispered.

“Understood.” The vampire’s reply came from the radio. It was only then that Kendra noticed the Vampire had disappeared from the group.

“You trust de vampire?” Kendra asked as she crouched beside Alonna.

“So long as he has a soul he’s one of the good guys.” The Slayer replied. “He’s stronger than any of my boys, and a lot harder to kill. He’ll fight till he’s been torn apart if it means each of us gets to walk home unharmed. And all he asks in return is a quiet place to brood and a refrigerator full of bags of pig’s blood. How can I turn that down?”

Kendra let a slight smile cross her lips. As she prepared to charge into battle with a dozen or so demons she looked around at the faces of people that more than willingly followed her fellow Slayer. There was so much more to the prospect of having friends than she had ever imagined.

******************************

Angel Crept along the back wall of the mausoleum. He knew the large chamber the ritual would be performed in had an external wall with a large set of ground level windows. Once in position he caught a glance of what was going on inside.

A tall man with lightly graying dark hair and a shiny silk shirt walked in a circle around the center of the room. Off to one side the three mercenaries he now knew to be watchers were standing around looking anxious. Across from them was a woman in a long flowing black robe and a hood that completely concealed her identity. All that paled in comparison to the main focus of the ritual.

In the center of the room was a large crate with small barred openings near the top. Chained to the box were five struggling sacrifices. It only took Angel a second to realize the intended victims were vampires.

“Five are without breath.” The man in the middle, holding the scrolls said.

“Yet they live.” The robed woman chanted in a dull tone.

“Five are without time.” He said. As his voice raised so too did the air pressure in the immediate are.

“Yet they live.” The woman with an almost eerily familiar voice said.

“Five are without soul.” The man went on. Angel knew it was past time to stop this. He had to act.

“Yet they live.” The woman chanted just as Angel crashed through the large window, sending shattered glass and splintered shutters everywhere.

“Five are without sun.” The man shouted as he vigorously nodded for the three watchers to deal with the intrusion.

“Yet they live.” The woman chanted as the fighting ensued.

Angel blocked a clumsy blow from the largest of the three men. As he saw the skinniest of the three approach with an ugly sneer on his lips and a wooden stake drawn he threw the first attacker over his shoulder and towards the second. They tumbled to the floor in a heap of struggling limbs.

“Five are dead.” The figure by the cage and the five chained vampires cried out.

“Sorry mate.” Collins said as he approached Angel with a dagger in one hand and a cattle prod in the other. “Council business. You understand.”

“Yet they live.” The woman intoned.

Angel was able to parry the arm holding the knife but the cattle prod still grazed his thigh. As the shock of several thousand volts tore through the vampire he struggled to close the distance the tallest watcher had now put between them.

Angel could tell this one would be the real threat. He had obviously been playing the role of Van Helsing for the council for a long time. For a brief moment Angel was reminded of his personal war with the vampire hunter Holtz. So many years had passed. So much had changed.

And yet here he was fighting a man who carried himself in the exact same way that the now long dead hunter had all those years ago. Then the chanting figure kicked the ritual into its final stage.

Et illi quinque sacrificium est et ille que est mortuus vivet,
dum vita et mors non duae res sed una sunt.
In tenebris lux est, in luce tenebrae sunt.

“Serge! Serge! Serge!” The sorcerer screamed before finishing the ritual with his own maniacal laughter.

As the sorcerer driving the ritual chanted the wind inside the mausoleum picked up. The five vampires crumbled to ash and merged together into a whirlwind around the crate they had been bound to. The dust devil coalesced atop the box and turned into a blindingly bright light. It erupted in a series of luminescent shockwaves sending the man holding the scrolls to his knees.

Angel saw the robed woman run to the crate and begin dragging it off. Two of the watchers soon followed her. The third struck him with the cattle prod again.

******************************

“Watch out!” Doyle screamed.

Kendra spun around just in time to see the half demon plunge his weapon into the heart of the last Fyarl demon. The brute was mere inches from her exposed back. A nasty looking cleaver slipped from its grasp and fell to the ground.

“You saved me?” Kendra muttered in confusion.

“Of course I saved you Slayer.” Doyle remarked in an exasperated tone. “I’m on your side. Always have been.”

“Is everyone okay?” Alonna called out.

A rough chorus of replies answered back. A few of the boys had light bruises here and there. No one was seriously hurt. The Slayers had dove into battle and come out unscathed. Fred was likewise unharmed. No demons had even come close to touching her.

“Wes!” Alonna called out as she noticed the watcher hadn’t responded.

“Here.” He moaned causing everyone to look down. The Crew found the watcher pinned under the dead body of a particularly husky Fyarl demon. “Please help.”

Gunn and Rondell were quick to drag the corpse to the side. Once free, Wesley was able to gasp for air again. The Slayers helped him to his feet and only needed to hold him steady a few moments longer than anyone else had needed to regain their bearings.

“My, that was bracing.” The Brit said in an awed tone as the color slowly returned to his cheeks.

“No time to catch our breaths people!” Alonna ordered. “There’s still a ritual that needs stopping.”

******************************

“Collins, get everyone out of here!” The man who had performed the ritual ordered once he regained his feet.

“I was getting bored of this place anyway.” Collins said as he struck Angel with the electrifying weapon a third time. “Until next time Angelus.”

The vampire writhed on the floor as whatever they had raised was hauled away by the three watchers and the mysterious woman. A long moment passed before he was able to drag himself off the floor.

“Well, dear boy.” The sorcerer said in an almost amused tone as he rolled up the scrolls of Aberjian and slid them back into the intricately designed bronze cylinder they had been stored in for centuries. “Now that all that is wrapped up.”

Angel watched as the man paused for dramatic effect. He watched the English sorcerer grin at him slyly while moving across the room. Whatever this mage was planning it was going to amuse him to no end watching the chaos play out. Then the sorcerer turned and faced Angel once more.

“Catch.” He called out as he sent the metal scroll case sailing through the air.

Angel caught it in one hand not taking his eyes off the wizard. He stared in shock for a long moment. It couldn’t be that simple.

“Oh don’t look so surprised vampire.” He said mockingly. “The game has only just begun between you and I. There’s so much more fun in store.”

With a laugh and an overly theatrical flourish of his arms the sorcerer vanished in a cloud of purple smoke. The cursed vampire stood still for a long time after that. The evening had been worse than defeat. He had been toyed with from the very start.

******************************

Alonna and the rest of her Crew approached the mausoleum. There was no sign of their foes. Surprisingly enough their friend was slowly stumbling out of the building as they were about to enter.

“Angel!” Alonna cried out in relief. “You got the scroll. Oh no, what happened? Were you forced to kill anyone?”

“They gave it to me.” The still stunned vampire admitted.

“Huh?” Gunn asked.

“They completed the ritual.” Angel said with sullen remorse. “I wasn’t enough to stop them. The watchers and this woman took away the box that held whatever they raised. Then the warlock just smiled, rolled up the scrolls and tossed them to me.”

“He gave you back the Prophecies of Aberjian?” Wesley asked in shock.

“He said the game was just beginning between the two of us.” Angel said as he struggled to put the night into perspective. “That there was so much more fun in store.”

“So the warlock the council hired has plans for you specifically.” Alonna said. “This is bad.”

“What about the thing they raised?” Kendra asked in a worried tone.

“Whatever it was it fit inside a square box with four foot by four foot wide sides.” Angel said. “I couldn’t see inside but they sacrificed five vampires to bring back whatever it was.”

“They had five vampires in there?” Gunn asked.

“Chained to the box until the ritual turned them to dust.” Angel replied.

“At least they couldn’t dust you too.” Doyle said. “Right big guy?”

“I think the watchers wanted to.” He admitted. “Collins, the lead watcher, could have.”

“Let’s get back home and regroup.” Alonna ordered. “Angel you survived, alone, without backup. That’s all I can ask from anyone. You did good.”

The vampire looked up for the first time and let a slow smile spread across his face. Even with all his shortcomings and issues the Gunns had still come to accept him. If nothing else he at least had friends who cared that he was still around. With slightly renewed spirits the Crew made their way back to the Hyperion Hotel.

******************************

“You just gave the vampire the scrolls?” An outraged Weatherby all but shrieked.

“Of course I gave him the scrolls.” Ethan replied. “The powers that manipulate him want him to have those scrolls. Something would have come back on us if I hadn’t tossed them over to him.”

“What if he suspects something?” Smith asked.

“Oh do calm down.” Ethan said dismissively. “He won’t suspect a thing. He’ll be far too busy trying to figure out what we raised and why we let him live. Thanks to Collins he knows we could have killed him but didn’t.”

“We should have killed him.” Weatherby demanded.

“No, Ethan is right.” Collins said in an amused voice. “This is better. If we just outright kill him the Slayer will distrust the council even more. We need to isolate him from her group. We need to break him.”

“Gentlemen this is but the first step in what will be our grand plan to bring the Slayers back into the fold.” Ethan stated with a wide smile. “It will take time, yes. But it will all work out well in the end. We just have to stick together.”

“What about that thing?” Weatherby asked, still somewhat annoyed.

“She has a name!” Jenny snapped at the man before moving over to the large crate and whispering soothingly to the being inside. “We’re all very pleased you’re here. I know it’s a bit confusing, but it’s gonna be better soon. A lot better.”

The quivering blonde in the box began to breathe more evenly as the calming words came to her. It was the last word Jenny said that caused her terrified panting to stop.

“Darla.”

******************************

“Oh my god, that was an ordeal.” Buffy huffed as she brushed dust from her clothes.

“Ain’t no thang B!” Faith called out from across the crypt. “We fought worse.”

“There was a nest of six vamps in this teeny tiny crypt Faith.” Buffy replied. “This was a nightmare. No way would I have taken them on alone.”

“Well ain’t you glad you had me around then?” Faith said.

“Always, but can we take a breather now?” Buffy pleaded as she flopped down on the large stone sarcophagus. “We have to plan out this summer. I know I can’t depend on Willow being my wing woman what with her being all blissfully happy and pretty much engaged.”

“Pretty much.” Faith agreed. She knew where this conversation was going and knew she wouldn’t like it.

“Seriously Faith.” Buffy said as she pulled the brunette around to look at her. “We need to help each other scope out some hunks for our very own. I know you have this thing with Xander but he’s seeing Cordy and they actually really like each other. Which is this whole other kind of weird.”

Faith couldn’t believe what she was hearing. It would be hilarious if it wasn’t so unbelievably frustrating. She stared at the blonde for what seemed like ages before the words finally worked their way out on their own.

“Oh my god B!” Faith all but shouted. “You are so frustrating!”

“Huh?” Buffy asked.

“I ain’t into Xander!” Faith cried out.

“But you keep talking about his nice tight ass?” Buffy couldn’t see the brunette’s recurring joke for what it was.

“Joking around with the one straight person we hang with doesn’t mean I’m into him!” Faith shot back. “For fuck’s sake B, I’m not into Xander.”

“Wait. What?” Buffy thought she had heard the first part of the statement wrong. What was Faith telling her?

“Oh for the love of!” Faith moaned in exasperation. “I can’t take it anymore. To hell with all that “be patient” crap Red and Blondie keep telling me. I shoulda done this right from the start.”

Faith grabbed Buffy by the shoulders and pulled her to her feet. Hazel eyes stared in shock as the emotions bubbling to the surface of those deep brown pools made their presence known. Faith leaned in and threw all caution to the wind. This was her moment. This was her time. She would show the love of her life just how much she felt for the girl.

Their lips brushed together in a soft, tender embrace that drove all doubt from Faith’s mind. This was right. This was perfect. This was what she had been missing her entire life. For one glorious moment in time Faith luxuriated in the sensation of kissing her girl. She reveled in delight as she felt Buffy melt into the kiss.

Then Faith felt Buffy’s hands work their way up her chest and rest against her shoulders. She felt the air rush by as contact with the blonde was severed far too soon. She gasped in pain as her back struck a corner of the sarcophagus on the far side of the room.

Faith fell to her knees. What just happened? She had just put everything out there. She had opened herself up to someone she cared about more deeply than anything else in the world. She had been rejected. She had just ruined everything.

The mild pain in her back was nothing compared to the searing desolation that was her heart. She could feel it all slowly slip away. The life she had here was over. The people she had met and grown close to might still humor her stupid idiotic dreams but they would never offer her what she really needed.

“Faith?” She heard Buffy whisper. The shocked tremor in the blonde’s voice was almost enough to make her laugh. It was certainly enough to make her cry. She couldn’t give in to that now. There would be time for tears later. Now Faith had to fall back on what she knew would see her through the pain. What had worked out so well for her in the wreckage that was her life.

Faith steeled herself for the hardest decision she’d ever had to make. She knew there was no going back after the mess she had just made of things. With all the strength she could muster Faith looked up from the floor and met Buffy’s beautiful hazel eyes.

******************************

Buffy was being kissed. She was being kissed by a girl. She was being kissed by Faith. Why was Faith kissing her? What was going on? Why was this so unbelievably good? Why hadn’t she ever thought of this before? Was this what it felt like kissing any girl?

No. There was no doubt in her mind that this was all Faith. Buffy knew in her heart neither Tara nor Willow could ever come close to kissing her the way Faith was right now. She couldn’t even imagine wanting to try this with Cordelia or any of the Cordettes. Willow was right. Never Cordelia.

Why was she thinking about Cordettes now? When Faith’s lips were literally the most perfect thing she had ever experienced. For one brief instant Buffy let herself go. She gave in to what might have been the most natural feelings and desires she had ever known.

And then the moment passed and she knew she had to figure out what was going on. She tried to pull away, but Faith was lost in the moment. Buffy slipped her arms up Faith’s chest. Just past those oh so soft mounds. A chill ran up the petite blonde’s spine as she marveled at the feeling Faith’s chest now stirred in her. She would have to come back to that later. Now she needed answers.

As Buffy felt her hands grasp slender, yet muscular shoulders she knew what she had to do. She knew she couldn’t put this off any longer. She feared she may not even want to.

She pushed.

The Slayer watched in horror as Faith went flying across the crypt. There was a sickening, crunching sound as the brunette’s back struck the corner of another sarcophagus. Buffy couldn’t believe she had been so careless with her strength. She watched as the brunette fell to the floor and stayed there crouched on her hands and knees. Not moving. Not looking up.

“Faith?” Buffy whispered.

For a long time there was no response. Buffy was just about to go to her fallen friend when the brunette looked up and their eyes met. The icy glare in those hard brown eyes sent a far more sinister chill down the blonde’s spine.

Then there was a gaping hole ripped in her heart. A yawning abyss in her soul. A cavernous emptiness in the deepest recesses of Buffy that she never thought anyone could touch. The place in Buffy’s senses that had been occupied by nothing but Faith for months was now gone.

Where there had once been limitless strength that both the Slayer and the girl could draw comfort from, now there was nothingness so harsh and bitter it brought tears to the petite blonde’s eyes.

“Faith?” Buffy sobbed as the emptiness threatened to consume her. She couldn’t believe what she was feeling. She had gone from the happiest she had ever been to the lowest and most pitiful wretchedness she hadn’t even known was possible.

The blonde stared in shock and horror as the now cut off brunette stood. She tried to gasp out some plea, a cry, any sound at all. Nothing came. Sobs wracked Buffy’s body as she watched her girl turn. The Brunette ran out of the crypt and into the night.

On the floor of the now desolate crypt the blonde sat. Sobs and wails came in waves as she realized what she had lost. What she had given up. What she had pushed away.

“Why did I push her away?”

******************************

The wind whipped through long brunette locks as the Slayer ran through the night. She had no direction. No goal. Just away. She had to get away. There was nothing here for her anymore. This place wasn’t her home. It wasn’t her. It was Buffy. It all belonged to the blonde and was a part of her. Faith knew she couldn’t handle spending another day in a town where every single thing reminded her of the girl she could never have. It would kill her.

As she tore through the cemetery the slayer almost ran right into a pack of vampires. Just one more mess Faith made for herself.

“Well look what we have here.” The most self assured of the vampires said. “Supper time boys.”

“How could you?” Faith whispered.

“What did she say?” One vampire asked just before he found a stake in his heart. He had just enough time before turning to dust to see the two butterfly swords take the head off of the vampire standing beside him.

The next three went down in the blink of an eye. The Slayer was in rare form.

“How could you?” Faith demanded an answer from the last vampire.

He tried to turn. To flee. To run. It was no use. A blade whipped out and severed the tendons in his knee. He toppled to the ground with a dull thud as he cried out in pain. Before he could even try to struggle the Slayer had him on his back. The pain in his leg forgotten as the swords skewered both his shoulders. Pinning him to the ground.

“How could you ever think you were good enough for her?” Faith yelled at the vampire before striking him.

“Huh?” He asked as he looked up at the Slayer straddling his chest. Before he could process the questions she readied another punch.

“Shut up! You’re nothing!” Faith screamed as she continued to rain down blow after blow. “Disgusting! Murderous! Bitch! You’re nothing! You’re disgusting! You’ll never be good enough! You’ll never be like her! You worthless whore!” Each word screamed out in rage and suffering was punctuated by a fist to the vampire’s face. When Faith finally stopped she looked down at what was left of her victim.

“We’re not talking about me anymore are we?” The vampire mumbled through a mouthful of broken teeth when the assault finally let up.

Faith stared down at the ruined fiend beneath her. At the creature’s blood on her hands. She couldn’t let this ruin her. She had to survive. Like every other devastating shitstorm life sent her way she would survive this.

Without a moment’s hesitation Faith withdrew her butterfly swords and sliced them cleanly through the vampire’s neck. He was dust and she was running again. But this time she had a destination.

******************************

The wails of torment had ceased. The sobs had tapered off. Even the tears began to dry. The crypt was silent save for some heavy breathing.

Buffy knew she had to get up. She had to make this right. She had to find her Faith.

With slow, almost cumbersome movements Buffy pulled herself to her feet. She had to find Faith. Stepping out of the crypt and into the night Buffy looked around. There was no sign of her girl. Where would she go? Where could she go?

“Home.” Buffy said to herself in an unsure voice. “She’ll go home. Please let her be home.”

With that the blonde began to trudge slowly through the night. She stumbled every few steps in a way she never had before. She had grown so used to the presence. Her absence tore at Buffy. Fought her every move. How would she ever survive without Faith?

“First thing’s first.” Buffy lamented. “Get home. Get back to her.”

******************************

The lights were on all through the first floor of the house. Faith would have to be careful. She scaled the tree outside her bedroom window and made it inside. The lights were out and the door was closed. Just as she had left everything.

Faith quickly but quietly made her way to the closet. From a pile in the back she pulled out her bolt bag. She had made it the first night she stayed here. After becoming the Slayer she prayed she’d never have to use it. Yet here she was, checking it for necessities.

Twenty thousand dollars, squirreled away from the allowances and other hand outs the witches had given her, and three changes of clothes were in the duffle bag. A small knife was nestled in the side. She picked it up and examined it once. The blade was useless. An inferior weapon she had pocketed that first day. She set it aside and went back to the top drawer of her bedside nightstand. From there she pulled he favorite sharpening stone and three blades that she had come to depend on.

Next came her bow. The collapsible weapon fit neatly inside the bag. One quiver loaded with all manner of nasty arrowheads went with it. She couldn’t weigh herself down with more.

Faith felt for the butterfly swords at her back. They had quickly become the one thing she could depend on in this world. They would always be at her side. She grabbed her better jacket and Wallet from the dresser. Hefted the bag on her shoulder and went back to the open window. With one easy leap she was on the tree and with another she was on the ground.

Into the night she ran without looking back once. She knew it would be far too painful to even dare.

******************************

Jennifer Maclay was pulled from her light hearted laughter with the family her daughter had helped her build by the sound of slow solemn knocking on the front door. The other Scoobies watched curiously as she went to see who it was. The sight that greeted her was almost too sad to comprehend.

The Slayer stood before Jennifer Maclay broken and defeated. Her arms were wrapped tightly around her stomach in a defensive posture the woman recognized all too well. Dried tears streaked her usually bright cheeks. Her face was haunted by loss.

“Hello Mrs. Maclay.” Buffy said in a hollow, broken voice without taking her eyes off the floor. “Is Faith home?”

“Oh Sweetie.” Jennifer said as she realized just what might be bothering the girl. “Come inside. What happened?”

The Slayer almost resisted the warm embrace as her friend’s mother pulled her into the house. She didn’t want to break down again. But she knew it would be no use. How could she face her family after what she had done?

“Buffy?” Willow said as she and Tara appeared in the doorway. They were soon followed by the rest. Joyce and Giles both tried to hold back shock and concern as they saw the daughter they loved in such pain. Dawn was confused. Her sister was annoying but far too strong to let anything bad get to her.

Cassie took one look at the Slayer and knew. As much as she wanted to reassure the hero that everything would turn out alright in the end she also knew nothing she said would help. There was only one person who could fix this.

Xander was immediately concerned. He had seen Buffy at some of her lowest points and she had never looked this weak. This lost. Cordelia held a mildly vacant expression until she noticed something important.

“Where’s Faith.” The cheerleader asked.

This only caused fresh tears to build in the blonde’s tormented eyes. Jennifer and Joyce walked her back to the living room and sat her on the couch. As her family gathered around her Buffy couldn’t help but recall how much she had hurt the one member of that family not present.

“Where’s Faith Buffy?” Joyce asked in as soothing a tone as she could. “What happened?”

“Faith kissed me.” Buffy admitted.

“Finally!” Cordelia yelled in relief.

“Honey.” Xander pleaded, trying to reign in his girlfriend. “Maybe we should be a little easier on her. Something else had to happen.”

“No, it’s about damn time one of them did something about it.” Cordelia protested. “All this tip toeing around Little Miss I’m The Big Dumb Hero and her sidekick’s massive jealousy was getting old.”

“What?” Buffy asked. How could they react this casually?

“We know.” Willow said as she sat on the coffee table in front of her friend. “We’ve all known she loves you for a long time now.”

“Faith doesn’t love me.” Buffy protested weakly.

“She does Sweetie.” Tara promised.

“But I’m not.” Buffy began to protest. “Why would she even think that I?”

“No matter who or what you are dear girl, Faith can’t help but love you for it.” Giles assured his Slayer. Their eyes met for a moment and Giles knew why the old watcher diaries had stressed detachment. His heart was breaking for his charge.

“But I’m.” Buffy muttered in a confused voice.

“Buffy, it’s okay.” Joyce said. “I’ve known since you were a little girl.”

“Known what?” Buffy asked as panic set in. “I’m not!” She froze. “I mean, Will, Tara I love you guys but I’m not.”

“You’d be surprised.” Tara replied with a knowing smirk.

“Sweetheart, do you remember the big coffee table art books we used to have lying around the house when you were little?” Joyce asked with a sly smile.

“Of course.” Buffy said a little too quickly.

“Do you remember the paintings you used to stare at for hours on end until you went off to high school and started hanging around that judgmental Ford boy and his vapid friends?” Joyce asked.

“I don’t know.” Buffy said as she began to squirm in her seat on the couch.

“Titian's Venus of Urbino, The Three Graces by Rubens, Danaë by Artemisia Gentileschi, La Grande Odalisque by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres, The Birth of Venus by Botticelli.” Joyce rattled names of paintings and artists off the top of her head with almost fond reminiscence. “And more depictions of Aphrodite than even I can name.”

“No Georgia O’Keeffe?” Xander asked almost hopefully as Cordelia slapped his arm.

“Those were all over her bedroom walls.” Joyce remarked with a laugh. She grew more serious for a moment. “They were just about the only thing she could slip by her father.”

“Faith loves me?” Buffy asked at last.

“From the first moment she saw you Buff.” Willow confirmed in a sad tone. “She wouldn’t have stayed here if she didn’t have a reason. If she didn’t have you.”

“Oh god.” Buffy whispered as her horrible mistake dawned on her. “I ruined everything.”

“What happened Buffy?” Willow asked in a worried voice.

“I pushed her away.” Buffy lamented as even more tears came forth. “She proved that she loves me and I pushed her away like an idiot. She was so hurt. I’ve never seen that look in her eyes before. Then.”

“Then?” Someone asked. Buffy couldn’t tell who was talking at this point.

“She shut herself off from me!” Buffy sobbed into her hands. “I could almost always feel her after the first month. She was this comforting presence. This warm place in my Slayer senses. She felt like home.”

“But she shut herself off from you?” Tara asked.

“I can’t feel her anymore!” Buffy wailed. “She was right in front of me and I could feel her just vanish. Like half of my soul just tore itself off and walked away.”

“Honey?” Joyce whispered as she ran a hand through her daughter’s hair.

“It’s like my heart’s been ripped out.” Buffy cried.

“Buffy.” Dawn said in a quiet, hollow voice as she clung to Cassie’s hand.

“I hurt her so bad.” Buffy said through tears of sorrow and remorse. “She was the best part of me and I treated her like she was nothing.”

******************************

“We’ll find her.” Tara said as she and Willow led Buffy up to Faith’s room. The honey blonde noticed the open window and realized the girl they needed wouldn’t be returning any time soon. “We have to find her.”

“I’m so sorry Buffy.” Willow said as she helped her friend remove her jacket and shoes and crawl into Faith’s bed. “It must be horrible.”

“I think horrible is still coming.” Buffy admitted. “Right now, it's worse. Right now, I'm just trying to keep from dying.” Fresh tears came again and the blonde collapsed into Willow’s lap as sobs tore through her.

“Oh, Buffy.” Willow tried to reassure her best friend as Tara joined them and offered what comfort she could.

“I can't breathe, Will.” Buffy sobbed as the witches tried to comfort her. “I feel like I can't breathe.”

******************************

Dawn broke out across the small southern California town. One former resident yawned as she went to check the bus schedule one last time. The first bus out of town was only a few minutes from departing. The brunette had spent a sleepless night in the bus station. There were more vampires throughout the night than there ever were at happy hour on the most crowded night at the Bronze.

Faith had dusted at least a dozen who seemed to habitually loiter around the station at night in the hopes that one or two weary travelers might make a decent meal. Part of her wanted to call and tell the gang to add this place to the patrol rotation. Part of her wanted to curl up and die at the thought of hearing any of their voices ever again.

Before she knew it Faith was on the bus with the few possessions she owned and more money than she had ever had at any one time. It had always shocked her how little Red cared about money. It was something useful but only for what it could do for the people she loved. If he would let her Red would probably buy the X man his own mansion. Maybe one right beside her house or Buffy’s.

Perhaps that came from how her parents always left tiny piles of hundred dollar bills around the house whenever they were away. It always sounded odd that they had decided to have a daughter when they only had the emotional capacity to handle raising a ficus. Red had it tough. Nowhere near as tough as Faith but tough in her own way. But at least Red had Blondie.

With what they had given her in the months since meeting in that alley Faith knew she could get by almost indefinitely. It wouldn’t be comfortable or fun but she could make do with far less than what the nest egg in her duffle bag would get her.

But it wouldn’t be living. Not without her. Without that special someone Faith would simply be surviving. That thought turned to ash in her throat as the bus drove past the now leaving Sunnydale sign on the edge of town.

For the first time since this new life of hers fell apart Faith let the tears come. She didn’t know if they would ever stop.


End of Act 1

_________________
Time and Time Again

Dibs-y goodness!

Yay for great update-y goodness... So raising Darla and eventually get her to bang Angel and produce Connor is the Ethan's & Jenny's plan... I really hope Willow, Tara & Buffy soon find Faith and bring her back and Buffy finally confesses to Faith that she's open for naked snugglies with Faith...

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We Few, We Happy Few, We Band of Buggered

Posting while nude improves your mood...

Hello Zampsa.

Connor will make an appearance one day. Probably. Long winding road ahead on that front and what role the boy will have once he shows up is open to wild speculation.

And there is definitely a light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to the Buffy/Faith drama. Much more will be made clear once Act 2 starts up.

Now if only I can get a good ways into those chapters before I start posting again.

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Time and Time Again

Damn, it happened again.
I had this big post, and it just vanished.

I don't imagine our favourite witches will have too much trouble tracking Faith down.
I mean hey, without a car, there's only so many ways out of Sunnydale.

Also, there's magic.

So, in Buffy's defence, ANYONE would be surprised when someone just randomly smooches them.
And shoving them offm so you can process seems... sane.
Ok, she pushed a bit hard, but shocked slayer here.

And then Faith overreacts.

If only she'd stayed long enough to say "What the hell B?"

"Hey, you kissed me! It's hard to think straight when that's happening!"

Cue sniggering.


Man, i hope they get it together.


Really hanging out for the next bit...

R

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“All I feel is sunlight. All I hear is music.” Willow
How i Met Your Mother - By Ariel

My Story: Coming Home

Hello Azirahael.

Sorry to hear about system errors again. Sunnydale has a few exits for the non motorist. The Airport, Train station, and as Faith chose, the Bus station. They'll find her when it matters but even with magic Faith is better at concealing her presence than anyone realizes just yet.

Buffy's actions seemed perfectly reasonable to Buffy at the time. As did Faith's. The problem is both girls are prone to making hasty decisions in the heat of the moment. Plus Faith has all manner of trust issues from her childhood, Buffy was in a particularly profound state of denial even after she realized kissing Faith was so much more than she could ever imagine, and Slayer fight or flight responses are a force to be reckoned with.

Things will work themselves out in the end. In a few weeks when I start posting again that is. Right now I have to finish the rougher edges of the outlines for Act 2. And rewatch some episodes. But it's all coming along nicely.

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Time and Time Again

Okay this is weird. I'm going back through the thread and copying links and titles to an index I'm working on and Chapter 14 posted way back in December is just gone. The reaction posts that came up right after it are still up and I think I can edit one of my answer posts to include the chapter but it's still weird.

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Time and Time Again

Okay so good news. I reposted Chapter 14. It first went up way back in December and I have no idea when it vanished. So if you don't remember reading the chapter where the Gorch brothers showed up and then Buffy and Faith went dancing you can find it here.

Also I just finished the table of contents for Act One and placed it at the top of the first post. Just in case anyone wants to go back and re-read a certain chapter. Now I'll just get back to work on Act Two.

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Time and Time Again

Hey

I'm just dropping by to ask how the work on act II is coming along. I really love this story. Hope you had a good fourth.

What mystic said.

More Please?

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“All I feel is sunlight. All I hear is music.” Willow
How i Met Your Mother - By Ariel

My Story: Coming Home

Hello Mysticrain. Hi Azirahael. I had a good fourth and I hope you guys did as well. I'm sad to say I fell behind schedule on the story over the last two months.

The good news is several chapters are written and only in need of a little proofreading. I'll start posting again very soon. Just took me longer than I thought it would to figure out a way to fill in most of season three. Besides just replacing all the Mayor scenes with sex scenes that is. Don't get me wrong, there will still be sex scenes. Just needed something else plot wise to string the sex scenes together.

Again, sorry for the delay and I'll be posting again very soon.

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Time and Time Again

Okay I've put this off too long. The long rambling tale I've subjected all of you loyal readers too will return.

Though this time I'm going to stick to posting once every other week. Trying for early on Wednesday mornings, but sometimes there are delays.

And here we go.

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Time and Time Again

Act Two

Time and Time Again.

Author: Citanul

Feedback: Be kind, rewind? Seriously though all feedback is welcome.

Spoilers: Just about all of them. Go watch the show. And Angel too. Also Agents of Shield a little bit. You know what, if a name you don’t recognize pops up most of the time you can find dozens of pages of character bio if you type that name and the word comics into Wikipedia. It’s almost scary how much page space comic book fans have taken up on that site.

Rating: NC-17 = Smutty smut smut smut. Seriously though they make love quite often.

Pairings: W/T, B/F, G/J, D/J, F/G, A/?, X/C (X/A in half the worlds.) D/C (Though not till they’re older and even then maybe not so much with the graphic detail.)

Disclaimer: You all know I don’t own the rights to characters you’ve seen on TV.

Summary: A story of reincarnation and interdimensional travel made possible through the power of love. What misfortunes will our two favorite love birds be able to prevent with the aid of experience from countless past lives?

Author’s Note: And we’re back! Okay so when last we left off Faith had had enough and kissed Buffy for real real, not for play play. Panic and then hurt feels ensued. Drama drama drama. And we pick things up months later, right before the start of the next school year.

******************************

Chapter 22: Anne

The ground covering one of Sunnydale’s many fresh graves began to stir and shift. A hand broke free of the dirt and touched the cool night air. It was soon followed by another. Before too long a gruesomely deformed head broke the surface. The freshly risen vampire began to crawl his way up but stopped short as he took in the sight of a young woman standing before his grave.

“That’s right big boy.” Willow said with a smirk. “Come and get it.”

The redhead took a step backwards as the vampire lunged up from the ground and began to advance towards her. Before it could take another step a shimmering sword whipped out of the darkness and cleaved head from shoulders. The fledgling vampire crumbled to dust.

“Come and get it big boy?” Buffy asked in exasperation as she sheathed her blade. “Will, what the heck was that?”

“Well, well you always say a pun of a witty play on words and I think it throws the vampires off and, and it makes them frightened because I’m wisecrackin’. Okay, I didn’t really have a chance to work on that one but you try it every time.” The redheaded witch babbled away as the Slayer stared at her while their friends gathered around.

“Okay first off, fledges don’t have the wits about them to appreciate my “A” material.” Buffy began in a huff. “Too much hunger and not enough brain power. Second, don’t make the pun an open invitation to chow down unless you’re specifically acting as bait which you are never going to do. If you really need to throw out something and can’t think up one on the spot go with a cheesy movie line like “This time it’s personal!”

“I liked it Sweetie.” Tara said as she wrapped her arms around her love before whispering seductively in the redhead’s ear. “But I might be biased. I always love the things you do with your mouth.”

“See!” Buffy exclaimed as Willow began to shudder and melt into the honey blonde’s arms. “That was a solid pun. Ask Tara to proof read your material next time.”

“Not sure they’d ever leave the bedroom if they started running each other’s dirty jokes back and forth beforehand Buff.” Xander quipped as he slurped from a large plastic soda cup.

“You’re probably right Xand.” Buffy admitted before turning back to the witches. “In any case let the Slayers do the heavy lifting when it comes to the comedy.”

The three Scoobies froze in place as Buffy referred to her profession in the plural sense. At the end of the last school year the very thought of other Slayers would send the petite blonde into tears. None wanted to tempt fate by responding to the casual utterance.

“So school is starting next Monday.” Willow said, trying to divert the conversation.

“I can’t wait to see Cordelia!” Xander replied with a smile before a bewildered frown overtook his face. “I can’t believe I can’t wait to see Cordelia.”

“I wonder what our first homework assignment’s gonna be!” Willow added as two of her friends stared at her blankly and her heart chuckled in her ear. “Hey, you’re excited over Cordelia okay. We’ve all got issues.”

“Sweetie.” Tara whispered in Willow’s ear as their other plans for the next few days came to mind.

“Oh, that’s right.” Willow said with a sudden brightening of her mood. “We’ve got things to do in L.A. before classes start up. You two should pack a bag and meet back at our place tomorrow morning.”

“We going to war again or just visiting the Hotel?” Xander asked with a quirked smile.

“You two can visit.” Tara replied. “Willow and I have to set our engineers in motion if w-we’re gonna make it in time for the h-holiday launch window.”

“You guys are gonna love the new toys Pentacle is making.” Willow added. “And if our contracts with the Mayor’s office hold up, and they will, they’ll have great coverage in the whole town by the time we go public.”

“How do toys have coverage?” Xander asked as Buffy just rolled her eyes. The Slayer had learned long ago to just let the witches odd plans go if something seemed confusing. They always worked out in the end.

“I don’t know.” Buffy said. “What about Slaying?”

“Sweetie, you’ve been going nonstop all summer.” Tara assured her friend. “This was the last vamp we could track in the papers.”

“Tara’s right Buffy.” Willow said. “Give yourself a break and come with us. I have it on good authority that your watcher won’t mind.”

The Slayer mulled the witch’s words over in her mind. Though reluctant to admit it Buffy was well aware of her overzealous hunting ever since she had run out of tears late last spring. She was even grateful that Giles had been around more often to help her focus her training on broadening her Slayer senses. If she was ever going to see “Her” again Buffy would have to sharpen her spidey senses like a knife.

The thought of “Her” favorite weapons almost brought tears to Buffy’s eyes. Even after weeks of working to hide her emotions the thought of anything that related back to the brunette still tormented the blonde’s fragile heart. Before the tears could come again Buffy schooled her emotions and decided to get as much work done this night as she could.

“I’m gonna do another sweep. You guys should head home.” Buffy said with false cheer before heading off into the darkness. “See you all tomorrow morning.”

As the blonde left her friends the trio of teens stared after her. The witches quickly muttered a short prayer to the Goddess. A flurry of tiny pixie lights took form and began circling them. The young man watched his obviously powerful friends with a small smile before the more serious matter at hand had to be brought up.

“Please tell me that “She” is somewhere in L.A.” Xander begged as the witches began to walk him home.

“I really hope so.” Willow muttered. “Buffy needs her to come home.”

“We all need her to come home.” Tara corrected.

******************************

Wide brown eyes flew open as the brunette practically threw herself out of bed. She leapt to a standing position in the tiny shoebox apartment. The first thing the young woman did was walk over to the nearby wall and open up the single window in the small living space. With a disgruntled sigh she leaned her head out the small window and watched over the rundown street from her second floor hole in the wall.

She had picked one of the worst neighborhoods in L.A. to hide out in. She could afford much better but this was never meant to be a long term solution. Just a pit stop she could crash at long enough for the tears to stop coming. That had proved much harder than she ever realized.

No matter how many weeks had passed Faith still couldn’t shake the dreams. Her mind was playing tricks on her. There was no other excuse. What she dreamed was far too wonderful to imagine and far too painful to ever hope for.

Night after night Faith’s mind was filled with haunting images of her girl patrolling. And yet no matter how many vampires or demons met their end nothing seemed to slow the tears streaming down the Blonde’s beautiful face.

“Stop that you stupid bitch.” Faith muttered to herself as her head began to clear. “She ain’t your girl. Made that fact crystal clear to your dumb ass.”

With newly resolved self loathing the Slayer pulled herself back into the tiny apartment and sprawled out on the crappy excuse for a mattress. She had wasted far too much time crying herself to sleep in this rat’s nest. It was well past time she packed up and hit the road.

“Now just where the fuck am I gonna drag my sorry ass next?” Faith muttered to herself as she stared at the ceiling. She could tell tonight would be just another in a long string of sleepless ordeals.

******************************

“Think the business meetings will go over well Baby?” Willow asked as she zipped up the suitcase filled with all their clothes and other travel necessities.

“You’ll knock ‘em dead Sweetie.” Tara said as she fell back on her usual tactics to soothe her love’s fraying nerves. Willow practically melted into the kiss and almost didn’t recognize the sound of Jennifer clearing her throat in the doorway to their bedroom.

“You girls don’t want to keep your friends or your pilot waiting now, do you?” The honey blonde’s mother asked.

“No Mama.” Tara replied with a smile as she pulled away from Willow.

“And we certainly don’t want to keep Doyle waiting.” The redhead added with a playful smirk as she set the suitcase on the floor, trailing it behind as she walked hand in hand with her heart towards the lone adult of the house.

“Certainly not.” Tara added with her own smirk as she caught the uneasy shifting in her mother’s stance.

“Oh like I’m not allowed to have a playmate while you two have done nothing but help almost everyone we know couple up.” Jennifer remarked with an exasperated roll of her eyes.

“Of course you’re allowed to have you own playmate.” Willow said cheerily as they went downstairs and loaded the two bags into the car. “How else are we supposed to get this house to ourselves every now and then?”

“I thought we had a “don’t ask don’t tell” policy when it came to the things we get up to in private?” Jennifer asked as Tara began to laugh at the ribald tête-à-tête between her mother and lover.

“Papa Doyle aside.” Tara said with a smile as she watched her mother squirm at the playful nick name. “We think there’s a good chance she’ll be there.”

“Thank the Goddess.” Jennifer whispered. “I don’t know how much longer that neighbor girl Bunny can keep up the pace she’s been going at all summer.”

With no small amount of laughter the three witches left the half packed car and began the short walk next door. “Bunny” was waiting for them.

******************************

Several residents of the Summers household looked up in mild surprise as the Slayer came charging down the stairs and dropped a small duffel bag by the front door. The petite blonde then walked into the dining room and made herself a small plate of eggs, bacon and biscuits for breakfast. She sat across from her sister and hastily began clearing her plate.

“Umm, Honey?” Joyce began to ask as Buffy looked up in surprise. “You packed for something?”

“Oh, sorry Mom.” The Slayer replied. “Will and Tara are heading to L.A. in a bit and they asked Xander and me to tag along. I should only be gone a few days.”

“That’s nice dear.” Joyce said with a relieved sigh. “Just be back in time for school to start.”

“Yes dear girl, if this school year holds half as many surprises as the last then we should all be prepared.” Giles added as he thumbed through the newspaper while sipping tea.

“Oh Giles I’m so sorry.” Buffy said as she looked to her watcher in mild surprise. “I should have told you sooner. I didn’t want to put you out or anything. I mean it’s great that you’ve been coming by so much to help me train my spidey senses. I can’t thank you enough.”

At that odd statement the man set down the paper and looked at his Slayer with the most befuddled expression. Joyce looked back and forth between the two of them with a nervous frown but before anyone could say anything further the doorbell rang.

“Oh that’s the girls.” Buffy said right before wolfing down the last of the food on her plate and heading to the door. “I’ll be back by the weekend. Love you guys.”

As the Slayer ran to greet the witches the rest of her family waved goodbye in mild amusement. Once the Slayer and neighbors were gone a slight throat clearing drew everyone’s attention.

“Um, Dawn?” Cassie asked in a worried tone. “Does your sister not know that Mr. Giles moved in with your mom months ago?”

“Oh my god Cass!” Dawn moaned in exasperation. “Don’t even get me started on how self involved that dingbat is.”

“Dawn!” Joyce chastised as Giles let a small grin slip across his face.

“What?” Dawn asked her mother as Cassie began to laugh. “Mom, come on, Buffy not having a clue is what got us into this mess in the first place. First she drives off Faith because she thinks they’re both straight and then she spends a whole month crying about it while you and Papa Giles took your relationship to the next level.”

“Oh dear lord.” The Englishman moaned. “Dawn, please don’t call me by that absurd nickname.”

As Cassie and Dawn laughed at the man’s obvious discomfort Joyce leaned in and whispered into his ear all the things she’d let him do if he let her call him Papa Giles. In moments the displeased look was a distant memory. In its place was a wide and uncompromising smile.

Joyce laughed as her man pulled her into his lap and they shared a tender yet passionate kiss. As the two young girls sitting across the table from them saw this they smiled. Cassie loved having a place she could go where the adults weren’t alternating between dead silence and full on shouting matches.

Dawn for her part had long ago realized how good Giles was for her mother. Even if the man’s role as watcher meant he’d always dote on her older sister a little more than on her she still had to admit he was better by far than any vampire, demon, werewolf or robot the hellmouth had to offer as far as dating was concerned.

The fact that Giles let Dawn read just about all of his books was yet another perk that made her glad their weird little family had taken him in so completely. Before the adults could progress any further in their fun the two girls finished their meals and quietly left the room.

******************************

“Wes.” Doyle said with a weary sigh. “I’m telling you man, it couldn’t have been a vassarite demon. Those things are twenty feet tall sitting down and blow fire out their arse whenever one of their two heads isn’t sleeping.”

“Much bigger than the bread box Angel saw them wheel away.” Alonna muttered with a bored tone as she flipped through the pages in one of their archive source books.

“How big was the bread box again?” Fred asked as she turned pages in another template book filled with graphic depictions of various fiends.

“A four foot tall cube.” Angel replied distractedly as he set his tome aside and began to rub his eyes. “Just big enough for something the size of a human to sit in comfortably.”

“And Fangs would know about squeezing people into boxes.” Gunn chimed in with a smirk. “Had a hundred and fifty years of practice.”

“Please Gunn.” Wesley admonished. “The belief that vampires sleep in coffins is nothing more than hearsay and movie set nonsense.”

“He’s talking about all the times I’ve tortured people to death.” Angel said with casual disinterest as he began to reach for another book. “Don’t believe everything the council records say about my wild days. That one iron maiden story was blown way out of proportions.”

Just about all the men in the room stopped what they were doing and stared with wide eyed shock at the casual admittance from the vampire. The two young women just rolled their eyes as the research continued.

The game of figuring out what came back in the watchers’ bread box had turned into a weekly event. Once many of their other cases and regular patrols were done for the week several members of the Hyperion Crew always seemed to gravitate towards the office and its many books.

Before the stunned silence could go on any longer Alonna’s head shot up from the tome she was skimming. The book was slammed shut and the Slayer was out the door before anyone could ask what had happened. At the sound of excited cries of joy coming from the lobby the group followed the girl out of the office. The sight awaiting them did wonders to raise their spirits.

“Hey guys!” Willow cheered as she looked up from Alonna and Buffy hugging. “We had some stuff to set up and thought these three would like to hang while we’re in town.” As the young redhead was talking Jennifer walked right up to a happy, yet stunned, Doyle.

“Hello Sweetie.” The woman said. “It’s been so long since I heard from you I was starting to get worried.”

“Jen, Darlin’.” Doyle replied in a high pitched squeak. “I would have called but things around here have been busy since that fourth Slayer left us.”

“Hush Sweetie.” Jennifer said before taking the man’s lips in her own and driving the thoughts from his head. Before too long the kiss was broken off and the Irishman almost staggered at the loss.

“Come.” Jennifer ordered seductively as she took her man’s hand and led him off towards his room.

“Way to go Irish.” Gunn remarked with a smirk once the couple was out of sight. “So y’all are staying at our crib?”

“Only until the weekend.” Willow said as she and Tara walked further into the lobby. “School starts up Monday and we need to be back on the hellmouth before anything too nasty pops up.”

“I can’t believe we only get you guys for a few days.” Alonna said as she, Fred and Buffy began walking towards one of the training rooms. Before they could make any progress a certain Englishman made his presence known.

“Ah, this must be Ms. Summers.” Wesley said as he extended a hand. “Wesley Wyndam-Pryce, at your service.” The blonde looked at the man with a curious frown for a second and then turned back to Alonna.

“You got him housebroken yet?” Buffy asked her sister Slayer.

“Mostly.” Alonna admitted. “I at least got him to stop talking about “protocol” all the time.” As the man began to frown at the exchange between Slayers Buffy turned back to him and took his offered hand.

“Nice to finally meet you Wes.” Buffy said. “Though don’t get any ideas. You’re at Alonna’s service and then Willow and Tara’s. Not mine.”

“Ah, yes.” Wesley admitted as his eyes widened. “Of course.” Before he could think of another response the Slayers and Fred were halfway down the hall.

“Yo Xand!” Gunn called out with a grin. “Come with me and Rondell man. The Crew just got the new game room set up.”

“Sweet.” Xander said as he went with the other young men. If nothing else this trip would turn into a nice relaxing vacation for him. With the hotel lobby rapidly emptying the watcher looked up in shock.

“We were in the middle of a strategy meeting.” Wesley complained as he watched the young men depart.

“Relax Wes. The kids were due for a break.” Angel said as he strolled up to the watcher. He looked over to the witches and smiled as he found them lost in their own little world. “Plus the bosses obviously had something important to bring them all the way here.”

“Th-that’s right!” Tara said with an exaggerated flourish as the men’s conversation snapped her attention away from the way she was lightly rubbing her nose against Willow’s. “The volume. The text.”

“What text?” Wesley asked with a worried frown while Angel’s grin practically tripled in size.

“The volumey text.” Willow added.

“You know!” Tara said with a relieved smile at the way her girl caught on.

“The, the merummnefer Report.” Willow mumbled halfheartedly as she grasped for an explanation.

“The what now?” Wesley asked as Angel practically bit his own hand to stifle his amusement.

“There’s just a few new volumes coming into the archives and we wanted first crack at them to check up on potential threats and allies.” Tara said boldly as she took Willow’s hand and began backing away towards the doors of the hotel.

“Right!” Willow said as she was being dragged away. “So we’ll just, bye!”

“Well that was certainly odd.” Wesley muttered to himself once he and the vampire were alone in the spacious hotel lobby.

“Don’t worry about it.” Angel told the watcher. “Things have been quiet on the “What’s in the box?” front for a while now. It can wait a few more days.”

“And just where are you going?” Wesley asked as Angel turned and walked off towards the hall the Slayers had disappeared down.

“Something’s on Buffy’s mind.” Angel replied just as he exited the lobby.

Wesley looked around the now deserted room and sighed. His meeting was apparently called on account of Scoobies.

******************************

“You have to check out the training room while you’re here.” Alonna said. “You’ll love what Fred and I have done with it.”

“You helped Alonna with the training room Fred?” Buffy asked the physicist as the trio moved down the hall.

“Oh, no, not that much.” Fred protested under the Slayer’s amused scrutiny.

“Don’t be modest Burkle.” Alonna ordered. “Your space ninja know how and engineering skills really made the difference.”

Before the Texan could protest further the girls reached the ballroom turned dojo. Alonna threw open the double doors and Buffy gasped in awe as she saw just what the shy girl was being so coy about.

In the front half of the ball room was a wide practice ring with stacks of padded gym mats and weapon racks to either side. It reminded the blonde Slayer of the room Willow and Tara had built in their home. Past the ring the back half of the space was dominated by what seemed to be several large, oddly shaped devices.

Alonna ran forward and stood beside a large lever and began to turn it. Gears reminiscent of those connected to bicycle pedals moved with her and the large contraptions came to life. What had seemed like assortments of random objects were revealed to be countless moving obstacles lining an ingenious training course.

Wooden training dummies menaced a long balance beam. Pendulums ending in padded blocks and punching bags swung freely back and forth over a narrow walkway. A section on platforms moved up and down just as similar plates in another part of the course tilted precariously at seemingly random angles.

“Fred, this is amazing.” Buffy whispered in awe as she walked towards the mechanized obstacle course. “You did all this?”

“Well, the guys helped.” Fred said shyly as the stunned praise from the Slayer caused her to fidget slightly.

“They carried stuff.” Alonna amended. “You’re the one who made this possible.”

“Al’s right Fred.” Angel said as he strolled into the room. “You never give yourself enough credit.”

“Say why don’t we all change into workout clothes and give this baby a whirl.” Alonna suggested.

“Oh, I didn’t really pack anything.” Buffy said with a worried frown as she carefully avoided looking at Angel.

“Don’t worry.” Alonna replied. “We’re about the same size. You can borrow some of mine.”

Before Buffy could follow the girls out of the room Angel stepped into her path. The Slayer looked up for a moment and saw the concerned look in the vampire’s eyes. She cringed at how much things had changed between them and at how much the next few days would test them both.

“Angel, I.” Buffy began but faltered.

“Buffy what’s wrong?” Angel asked in as soothing a voice as he could manage. “I know we can’t have what we both want just yet but I’m still here for you no matter what.”

“I can’t do this now.” Buffy said as she fought back a stray tear. She quickly sidestepped the stunned man and left the room with a whispered apology. “I’m sorry.”

******************************

Terrified screams echoed down the alleyway as the brunette was making her way back to the tiny apartment. She looked up and sighed. No matter how hard she tried Faith Lehane couldn’t leave her past behind her.

The Slayer dropped the small bag of groceries she had gone out for and took off down the dark alley with all the speed she was capable of. As the shrieks grew louder she passed a frightened young man running the other way. Faith figured he could probably take care of himself and picked up her pace.

Coming around the blind corner she saw the source of the screaming. A pale young blonde woman with all too familiar cleavage was on the ground. Three vampires had her backed up against a brick wall. Without hesitation Faith dove back into the lifestyle she tried to abandon.

“Hey fuckers!” The Slayer screamed as she pounced on the first vampire with stake in hand. He was dust before the other two could even turn around. “Yeah that’s what I thought. Come and get some.”

The two remaining blood suckers growled as they turned to face their foe. One lunged forward while the other tried to circle and flank the Slayer. Faith saw the move and sidestepped the over eager fiend. With a smooth flourish she dropped down and one leg shot out. The vampire that thought himself clever let out a startled yelp as his legs came out from under him. He hit the ground and Faith’s stake hit his heart.

“Now for you.” Faith said right before she put both feet beneath her still crouched form. She kicked off from the ground and sprang through the air with a speed that caught the last vampire completely by surprise. Faith heard a sickening crunch as her fist struck the creature’s throat with all the force her body could put behind it.

He went down hard and for an instant Faith wondered if she had completely severed his spine or only ruined his trachea. She didn’t give the stray thought much attention as she slid the sharp length of wood in between his ribs. Her victory was short lived however as the sound of terrified whimpers soon filled the night air.

“You should be okay.” Faith offered as she slowly picked herself up and turned to face the seemingly familiar girl. “They’re gone now. They didn’t get a chance to bite you did they?”

“Ricky. He ju-just left me.” The blonde sobbed as the brunette started to loom over her. “Wh-who’s gonna take care of me.”

“Probably gonna have to do some of that yourself Funbags.” Faith replied with little sympathy.

“It’s you.” The young woman said as she looked up and recognized the Slayer. “You were there. You saved me from the vampires.”

“Oh you noticed that did you?” Faith asked with an exaggerated eye roll.

“No, I meant.” The girl tried to explain as she wiped away tears. “Before. Back in Sunnydale. I was in that stupid cult that worshipped vampires. You and that other girl saved us.”

“Yeah, I recognize you too Funbags.” Faith sighed as she took a seat next to the traumatized girl. “So that cheese dick I passed on the way in here was your boy Ricky right?” At the timid nod Faith pieced the girl’s story together all too easily. “You two been together long?”

“Not really.” The girl said. “We were gonna get matching tattoos. His cousin is gonna get him a job at the car wash.”

“Sounds like a real fucking prince you had there.” Faith said with no small amount of sarcasm. “I bet the chicken shit is still running.”

“He was nice.” The girl claimed. “He took care of me.”

“Well looks like you’re gonna have to do that yourself now.” Faith told her again with an all too bitter edge.

“I don’t think I can.” She whispered in a defeated tone.

“Not with that attitude.” Faith agreed.

“What am I gonna do?” She asked.

“You’re gonna get your dopey ass up and start looking after yourself.” Faith said as if it was obvious.

“But what if I can’t.” The blonde asked.

“No buts Funbags!” Faith shouted as she stood up and loomed over the girl once more. “I’ve saved you dumb ass from blood sucking monsters twice now! This is a harsh fucking world we live in and it ain’t getting any easier for people at the bottom like you and me! If you want to live, and I mean really live a life you can call living, you are gonna have to grow a pair and stop flitting from one douchebag’s easy fix to another! Otherwise you’ll end up dead or wasting away as some cult leader’s slave!”

That got the girl’s attention. She looked up into the Slayer’s expressive brown eyes and for the first time in a long time understood what she had to do. She’d have to take charge of her own life. As she slowly stood the girl smiled at the Slayer who had truly saved her.

“Thank you Faith.” She said. “For saving me again. For saving me then. For everything. Thank you.”

“Your welcome I guess. Listen girlie.” Faith paused as she looked at the blonde once more and realized she didn’t know what to really call her. “You got a name I can call you instead of Funbags?”

The girl cringed slightly. Faith didn’t expect that question to be a stumper. After a second the girl looked up at the Slayer and let a timid smile grace her face.

“Ricky gave me a name from a song. I don’t really like it all that much.” She admitted before letting a small laugh out. “I was going by Chantarelle back when we first met. Before that I was following this loser preacher and calling myself Sister Sunshine.”

“Jesus Funbags that is the most pathetic shit I’ve heard all week!” Faith interrupted. “Okay you know what? Let’s go real simple from now on. Pick a normal name for yourself, like Anne of some shit.”

“Anne.” Anne said as she timidly tried it out for the first time. “I like it. What made you think of that?”

“It’s her middle name.” Faith whispered to herself.

“Whose?” Anne asked. “That other strong girl? Buf?”

“Don’t say her name!” Faith snapped causing the timid blonde to cringe once more and Faith to realize she wasn’t as ready to get back into saving lives as she should be. “Sorry about that. Some stuff went down and I just. It’s hard talking about someone you lost okay.”

“I get that.” Anne said. “Sorry Faith. So what should I do next to turn my life around?”

“Shit girl.” Faith muttered. “I can’t be your new Yoda or whatever. You got a place you’re staying?”

“There’s a couple of places.” Anne said. “They’re abandoned and a lot of people stay there.”

“You blondes are fucking killing me, you know that?” Faith moaned as the reality of Anne’s situation sunk in. “Okay no more living on the street for your ass no more, got it? There’s a place nearby. You’re gonna go there and tell them exactly what went down tonight.”

“Oh, I can’t.” Anne started but was soon cut off by the angry brunette.

“No!” Faith shot back. “Damn it Anne, I’m not saving your ass again! You’re gonna go see these people and tell them all about how this badass chick with rockin’ tits swooped in and saved you ditzy ass and they’re gonna love you for it.”

“They will?” Anne asked. “Why would they want to hear about how you saved me again?”

“They’ve been lookn’ for me for a while now.” Faith admitted. “I like them but I just can’t have them telling her where I am right now.” The Slayer paused for a long moment to consider what she should say next. It was clear the girl needed just a little more to convince her to take the Crew’s help.

“They’re good people Anne.” Faith said at last. “The girl who runs the show is like me only a lot smarter.”

“You’re sure?” Anne asked.

“Yes.” Faith said. “Go to the Hyperion Hotel and tell them you just survived a vamp attack.”

With a smile and another profuse thank you the blonde started off on the journey that would take her into her new life. Faith watched her go before moving back down the alley. When she got back to the street she noticed her small bag of groceries was gone.

“Doesn’t matter.” Faith muttered to herself. “The second she talks I’ll have to leave this town.”

As Faith trudged back to her ratty little apartment she pondered her next move. It soon became perfectly clear that she needed some small amount of guidance to decide where to go next. She would have to go to the second place she had been avoiding since showing up in Los Angeles.

******************************

“That was an ordeal.” Willow sighed as she closed the door to their office on the top floor of Pentacle’s L.A. headquarters. “I didn’t think I’d have such a hard time convincing the engineers about all the things those designs are capable of.”

“I know Sweetie.” Tara said as she pulled her girl into her arms and began to whittle away at the stress the day’s work had built up. “Even with that brief snuggle session in the limo I’m sure I’ll have my work cut out for me tonight.”

“Is that a promise Ms. Maclay?” Willow asked.

“You bet your sweet ass it is Ms. Rosenberg.” Tara replied with a seductive smile.

“Ooh Baby.” Willow moaned. “You know how much I love your spicy talk.”

“Almost as much as I love watching you explain science and tech to a room full of people who have no idea what you’re capable of.” Tara said with a grin as she began to kiss the most sensitive parts of her girl’s throat.

In a matter of seconds Willow found herself pressed up against the large glass windows of their office as Tara worked her magic. The redhead quivered in delight with each piece of clothing the honey blonde removed from her slender frame. She wouldn’t change one second of this for all the world. The way Tara touched her, kissed her, stroked her. The tender places that those wonderfully dexterous fingers were beginning to explore. It was all just too perfect.

******************************

“Wow, that was a great workout.” Buffy said as she hopped off the end of the obstacle course and reached for a towel. Alonna came up beside her and offered a bottle of water.

“So, you gonna tell me what’s on your mind Buffy?” The ebony girl asked.

“That obvious?” Buffy replied with a pout.

“Yeah, just a little.” Alonna paused for a long second before deciding to just jump into the thick of it. “It’s Faith isn’t it?”

“How much did the girls tell you?” Buffy asked in a sullen voice.

“Xander told me next to nothing.” Alonna admitted with a sly grin. “Just that you’ve all been looking for Faith and that we should be too. But I’ve known Faith was head over heels in love with you since the first time we guest stared in each other’s dreams.”

“How could you?” Buffy began to ask but trailed off.

“The girl had it bad Buffy.” Alonna went on. “I got a pretty strong impression just by watching the way she watched you but the scene in the Bronze just highlighted it all too well.”

“That long?” Buffy muttered to herself while examining the floor tiles. “God, what’s wrong with me?”

“Buffy, it’s okay if you don’t like Faith like that.” Alonna said in a voice that tried to be soothing.

The speed with which Buffy’s head shot up shocked the other Slayer. The wide eyed look of panic and fear in those hazel eyes spoke volumes of the emotional turmoil brewing within the petite blonde.

“I love her!” Buffy almost shouted. The tone of that admission shocked them both, but Buffy knew in her heart that it was more than true. “I just need to find her.” She went on in a softer voice. “I need help.”

“Then there’s just one place in this town that you have to go Buffy.” Alonna affirmed.

The blonde looked to her friend with a questioning frown before realization hit home. She smiled and sped out of the training room. She would have to shower and change into something stylish for her big performance.

Alonna simply smiled as she went off to her own room and took a relaxing shower. She had an overwhelmingly good feeling about the advice she had given. If the blonde was lucky then many of her problems would be resolved by the end of the evening.

******************************

Buffy hopped out of the cab and walked up to the door of the nightclub. The bouncer greeted her with a friendly smile while letting her inside.

“Welcome to Caritas.” He said just before the Slayer entered the karaoke bar. She walked down the short staircase and stopped dead in her tracks at the metal detector and second bouncer. An all too familiar voice drew her attention to the main stage.

Well tell me do you think it'd be alright
If I could just crash here tonight
You can see I'm in no shape for driving
Anyway I've got no place to go

“Faith.” Buffy whispered in a tone that was almost a prayer. Before she did anything else the Slayer honed all the skills she had been working on all summer and did her best to conceal her presence from the girl on stage. She couldn’t afford to scare Faith off now. Not when she was finally ready.

And you know it might not be that bad
You were the best I'd ever had
If I hadn't blown the whole thing years ago
I may not be alone

Buffy passed through the metal detector and quietly made her way around the edge of the room. She listened to the voice she had missed so much as it filled the space. There was pain in that beautiful voice. Pain the blonde knew the source of all too well. She swore to never hurt Faith again if this night turned out anything like she hoped.

Tomorrow we can drive around this town
And let the cops chase us around
The past is gone but something might be found to take its place
Hey Jealousy
Hey Jealousy
Hey Jealousy
Hey Jealousy

You can trust me not to think
And not to sleep around
And if you don't expect to much from me
You might not be let down

'Cause all I really want is to be with you
Feeling like I matter too
If I hadn't blown the whole thing years ago
I might be here with you

“Sounds like some idiot broke the Slayer’s heart.” A nearby demon whispered to his friend.

“Pretty much.” The other demon replied. “I don’t know about you but I don’t want to test the no violence hex on this place when it comes to Slayers. Let’s leave before she changes her tune.”

Tomorrow we can drive around this town
And let the cops chase us around
The past is gone but something might be found to take its place
Hey Jealousy

“Don’t worry about them Sugar Plum.” Lorne said quietly after he strolled up to stand beside Buffy. “There’s a side door down the hall. It leads backstage. Why don’t you go get ready to sing? I’ll stall her until you get up there.”

Buffy looked up to the host of the karaoke bar and smiled. She quickly hugged the green man and raced off to the door he mentioned. Everything was up to her now. Buffy knew what she had to do.

Tomorrow we can drive around this town
And let the cops chase us around
The past is gone but something might be found to take its place
Hey Jealousy
Hey Jealousy
Hey Jealousy
Hey Jealousy

Well tell me do you think it'd be alright
If I could just crash here tonight
You can see I'm in no shape for driving
And anyway I've got no place to go

And you know it might not be that bad
You were the best I'd ever had
If I hadn't blown the whole thing years ago
I may not be alone

Tomorrow we can drive around this town
And let the cops chase us around
The past is gone but something might be found to take its place
Hey Jealousy
Hey Jealousy

You know she took my heart
Well there's only one thing I couldn't start

******************************

As she finished her song Faith hopped off the stage and scanned the room for the green psychic. Half the demons in the bar had left during her performance. She smirked as she thought it meant either no one wanted to tangle with an emotional Slayer after a bad palm reading or that she was just plain terrible. Either way it didn’t matter. She was done with this town. All that was left was the question of where to go next.

Faith scanned the bar and soon found the host. She quickly walked up to the brightly colored and dressed lounge singer. He had answers she needed.

“So where do I go from here?” Faith asked in a harsh voice.

“Settle down there Sweet Pea.” Lorne replied as he sipped from his sea breeze. “Your aura has a lot of unpacking to do before you get where you need to be.”

“I’m at the end of my rope here Jolly Green.” Faith muttered. “Just tell me which city I should head to next to hide out in.”

“You know it isn’t that simple Faith.” Lorne said as his red eyes traced over her face and then glanced just past her shoulder. “You have a destiny, a big one, and I’m gonna help you find it again.”

“So long as it’s far away from here.” Faith said before sighing and looking the man square in the eyes. “Alright lay it on me. What’s my destiny?”

“That’s the thing. It’s not something I can just tell you.” Lorne said with a coy smirk. “But we’re in luck. Now’s you chance to get a real good look at the big prize the fates have laid out for you.”

“Prize?” Faith asked as a small smile crossed her face for the first time that evening. “I’m gonna win something?”

“Honey.” Lorne remarked with a slight grin. “You’ve already won it. Now comes the part where you reach out and take it.”

“So what do I gotta do?” Faith said almost pleadingly. She had to get out of town before word of her early evening slaying spread further than the hotel lobby. Lorne looked her in the eyes and smiled. The green demon took another sip form his cocktail and nodded to the stage.

“Turn around bright eyes.” He whispered with another grin.

A song started up and before Faith could even think an all too familiar voice drove everything else from her mind. She turned around just like the demon told her to and the sight of the beautiful blonde on stage took her breath away.

High dive into frozen waves where the past comes back to life
Fight fear for the selfish pain, it was worth it every time
Hold still right before we crash 'cause we both know how this ends
A clock ticks 'til it breaks your glass and I drown in you again

“Buffy?” Faith whispered in shock as the song went on. She almost couldn’t believe how much emotion her girl was pouring into each word.

'Cause you are the piece of me I wish I didn't need
Chasing relentlessly, still fight and I don't know why

If our love is tragedy, why are you my remedy?
If our love's insanity, why are you my clarity?

As the background vocals and techno beat picked up Faith swore she saw tears in the blonde’s eyes. She could barely process what was happening. Part of her wanted to turn and run away. Another part made sure she couldn’t even move. And then Buffy was singing again.

If our love is tragedy, why are you my remedy?
If our love's insanity, why are you my clarity?

Walk on through a red parade and refuse to make amends
It cuts deep through our ground and makes us forget all common sense
Don't speak as I try to leave 'cause we both know what we'll choose
If you pull then I'll push too deep and I'll fall right back to you

Faith couldn’t believe it. Buffy was on stage singing her heart out. To her. Faith felt those gorgeous hazel eyes lock with hers. The rest of the night club melted away as the words to the song reignited hope in her heart. Hope she had thought was long dead.

'Cause you are the piece of me I wish I didn't need
Chasing relentlessly, still fight and I don't know why

If our love is tragedy, why are you my remedy?
If our love's insanity, why are you my clarity?

Why are you my clarity?
Why are you my remedy?
Why are you my clarity?
Why are you my remedy?

If our love is tragedy, why are you my remedy?
If our love's insanity, why are you my clarity?

Before the closing bars of the song ended the blonde Slayer leapt from the stage and raced towards the brunette. Faith just stood there as strong arms wrapped around her and the girl of her dreams pulled her into a kiss that put their first and last to shame.

Lips ground into each other with desperate need. In the span of a heartbeat Faith’s arms were wrapped around her girl. Both Slayers poured all the pain and anguish of the last few months into the kiss. They let every scrap of grief and regret out in that embrace. Before either of them realized it all those feelings were washed away. By the time their lips finally broke apart all that was left was love standing confidently in places once haunted by doubt and uncertainty.

“I love you Faith.” Buffy swore through tears of joy and relief. “Please give me another chance. Come home.”

“Anything Buffy.” Faith promised through tears of her own. “I’m never leaving you again.”

The blonde smiled and grabbed her girl by the hand. Before another word could be spoken Buffy was leading them out of the club and back to the hotel. Faith was all too eager to follow her heart.

Lorne looked around the night club that had almost emptied of most other demons as the second Slayer took the stage. He was truly happy for the young lovers but hoped this wouldn’t turn into a weekly event. Even with the deposit on the witches tab he wondered how long he could keep the doors open if he lost half his clientele.

******************************

“Tell me again what happened.” Alonna asked the blonde that had wandered in off the streets.

“I was walking with my boyfriend and we were jumped by some vampires.” She said. “He ran.”

“And then someone came and saved you?” Angel asked as he handed the girl a mug of coffee. “Do you know who it was?”

“Oh I know her.” Anne answered with a smile. “She’s saved me before. And each time she turns my life around.”

“What did this girl look like?” Gunn asked as he Xander and Rondell stood by with matching concerned looks.

“Oh, like.” The girl paused as the doors to the hotel swung open and a giggling blonde raced up the stairs with a grinning brunette in tow. “Her.” Anne finished with a small smile.

“That was Faith.” Fred said in a shocked voice.

“And Buffy.” Gunn added.

“Finally.” Alonna said with an exaggerated huff. “I thought those two would never get their act together.”

“You and me both sister.” Xander remarked as he took a seat across from a stunned vampire. “Sorry to burst your bubble Deadboy.”

“Angel.” Alonna said as she looked over to her ally. “Please, try to be happy for them.”

“Oh, ouch.” Gunn said as he noticed just how that particular love triangle had lost one of its corners. “Sorry big guy. But hey, there are plenty of other fish out there.”

“Which he can’t date due to the curse.” Wesley remarked in a tone that honestly tried to sound supportive but still fell short.

“No, guys, this is fine.” Angel said as the others around him grew concerned. “It’s good that she has someone. Buffy deserves to be happy.”

“You’re taking this all rather well.” Wesley said with a mildly surprised tone.

“I’m happy for her.” Angel said with a slight smile. “Just not too happy.”

******************************

Buffy dragged Faith up to the third floor of the hotel and into her room. The brunette laughed as she was thrown against the inside of the door and the kissing resumed. This evening was so far beyond any of Faith’s wildest dreams that she knew it had to be real. Nothing her own mind ever made up for her was half this good.

She felt Buffy’s tongue trace her front teeth. Without hesitation Faith opened up and let the silken organ wrestle her own for dominance. Her fingers wove through long blonde locks as she felt every inch of Buffy’s slender frame press into her curves with an almost desperate hunger.

Before Faith knew it her leather jacket was on the floor. Her belt soon followed. She decided to even things up and was surprised to find the sequined top on Buffy falling to the floor when she undid the laces tied behind her girl’s neck. Faith leaned back and took in the sight of Buffy’s pert breasts and gorgeous nipples for the first time.

“You are so beautiful Buffy.” Faith whispered, in awe of her love.

“So are you Faith.” Buffy replied with a tender little peck on the awestruck brunette’s cheek.

The blonde reached down and unzipped the short skirt she was wearing. The action snapped Faith out of her stupor. She quickly whipped off the white tank top she wore just before her hands flew down to the button of her leather pants.

Faith struggled for a bit and cursed when the tight fitting pants gave her nervous hands a struggle she didn’t want. Before things went on too long the pants were down around her ankles and her leather boots were kicked off to the side. Faith stood there in her matching black bra and panties. She looked up and caught a truly heartwarming sight.

Buffy was staring at her in open mouthed shock. The blonde was clad only in a pair of pink lacey panties and her hazel eyes were trailing all over the brunette. Faith worried at first that she had disappointed the beautiful girl somehow but soon recognized the unmistakable sparkle of pure lust in the corner of the other Slayer’s eye.

“See something you like B?” Faith asked with a lurid smirk as she kicked off her leather pants and strolled up to her girl.

“Everything.” Buffy whispered before blinking and looking up into deeply expressive brown eyes. “God Faith, you’re gorgeous. Why couldn’t I see that months ago?”

“Don’t worry about it B.” Faith replied. “All that matters is that we’re together. How we got here is just another story.”

With that the brunette took the blonde’s lips in her own again. She let a grin work into the kiss as she felt Buffy unclasp her bra and pull it down her arms. With their breasts free the embrace grew ever more heated until Faith had pushed Buffy all the way over to the bed. The kiss continued as they both fell onto the mattress with Faith straddling her love.

Each Slayer marveled at the sensation of her girl’s taut, erect nipples digging into her chest. The feeling of tiny peaks slowly dragging back and forth across supple flesh. Clashing against one another in ways that thrilled and excited.

“Faith.” She heard Buffy whisper before she felt a sudden apprehension in the blonde’s movements and breath. Faith pulled back and looked down at her heart laying there with the most adorable worried expression on her face.

“What’s the matter Buffy?” Faith asked as she once again grew worried that this had really all been too good to be true.

“I just.” Buffy began but faltered. “I’m sorry Faith.”

“Hey, nothing to be sorry about B.” Faith quickly replied. “Just tell me what I did.”

“It’s not you, it’s me.” Buffy began to say but her voice soon trailed off to a whisper Faith could barely decipher.

“Please don’t tell me you’re breaking up with me already.” Faith moaned.

“What?” Buffy cried out in shock. “No! Never! I just.”

“Talk to me Buffy.” Faith pleaded as she leaned in closer to her love’s face.

“I don’t know what to do next.” Buffy admitted with a sullen pout. “I don’t want you to be disappointed.”

Faith smiled more brightly than she had all night. The girl of her dreams actually cared about her enough to be worried about something the brunette had no doubts about. With a wicked smile Faith leaned back and straddled the blonde. She knew just what to say.

“Don’t worry B.” Faith smirked happily. “I’ll steer you around the curves.”

One hand danced down the blonde’s taut stomach while the other traced and then squeezed an erect nipple. Faith took her time working the sensitive nub of Buffy’s into a stiff peak. The blonde writhed beneath the brunette’s eager ministrations.

Buffy gasped as she felt Faith’s fingers slid beneath her panties and through her curls. She moaned out Faith’s name as her girl traced her lips until the unmistakable slickness of her arousal drove all doubts from her mind.

Faith leaned back down and kissed Buffy once more while her other hand worked its way down and began to remove the last article of clothing adorning her girl. Once the lacey pink affair was down to Buffy’s knees Faith raised one leg that had been straddling the former cheerleader and removed her own underwear.

With their naked bodies fully exposed to one another Faith positioned herself over Buffy yet again. The blonde’s breathing quickened as the brunette’s busy hand continued to massage her swollen lips. Without breaking the kiss Faith took things to the step she had been dreaming about since the first night she saw her girl.

Buffy gasped into Faith’s throat as she felt two strong fingers plunge into her steaming hot center. Her short nails dug into Faith’s shoulders as she clung to the woman that filled both her soul and body.

Faith broke off the searing kiss and looked down into hazel eyes that swam with tears. Sudden fear gripped her heart as she thought she had ruined the most perfect moment of her life.

“Shit, B.” Faith muttered. “I’m so sorry.”

“No.” Buffy pleaded as she shook her head forcefully. “Don’t stop. I’m so glad you’re the first person to be with me like this.”

“But the tears?” Faith began to ask before a smile broke out on Buffy’s lips.

“Happy tears silly.” Buffy assured. “So very happy.”

Faith smiled as her fingers began to stir within the velvety walls of the woman she loved with all her heart. She stared in wonder as Buffy’s eyes rolled back in her head. She felt her heart skip a beat as her fingers ran over a particularly bumpy spot along Buffy’s front wall and the action caused the Slayer to writhe beneath her, hips bucking into Faith’s hand.

“Faith.” Buffy moaned again in ecstasy as the brunette traced that same sensitive spot over and over. Buffy felt the tender caress stir up a tempest within her. As the pressure finally broke her whole body convulsed and wrapped around Faith as tightly as she could.

Faith was in heaven. She had no idea how she had gotten lucky enough to experience this but she never wanted to let this feeling go. Having Buffy wrapped around her so completely. Feeling her girl’s inner walls clench around her fingers in ever rippling waves as the aftershocks of her release went by. The intoxicating presence of Buffy’s arousal coating her hand and stomach as they lay together. The privilege of watching the most beautiful woman in the world cry out in rapturous delight.

Faith would forever cherish the knowledge that she had been able to bring about such overwhelming pleasure in the woman she loved. As she lay there in the arms of her love Faith grew even happier. The rapid breathing of the blonde had evened out to a slow and steady pace. The arms and legs still clung to her but in a more relaxed and comfortable way.

A very proud smirk broke out on Faith’s face. She had more than enough reason to be smug. Her lovemaking had put the Slayer to sleep.

******************************

Hazel eyes snapped open and for an instant terror gripped the Slayer’s heart. She was alone in bed. Panic began to stir at the thought that the wonderful night before had been nothing more than a fantasy.

“Please tell me it wasn’t a beautiful dream.” Buffy whispered to the empty room as she looked around. The bed sheets were well and truly ruffled. She was completely naked under the thin sheet clutched around her breasts. The air smelled of something familiar yet new.

Buffy’s eyes widened as she realized she was smelling the scent of her own arousal mixed with the scents she had grown accustomed to while working out with Faith. That somewhat shocking revelation put another slight smile on her face. She had apparently been driving Faith crazy all along with her tight little workout outfits.

Her body practically hummed as she slowly moved to the edge of the bed. Not only was she aroused, but all of her muscles had a relaxed sort of rubbery feeling. A hand running over her hair deduced that her long blonde locks were a riot of messy whorls that made run of the mill bed head seem tame in comparison. If all these signs weren’t enough to prove to her that last night had really happened then the singing was what did the trick.

The sound of flushing water and a soft, happy melody floated out of the half open bathroom door. Buffy stood and began to walk towards the beautiful voice that filled her heart and brightened her soul. At the edge of the doorway she listened to the cheery tune as the young woman inside washed her hands.

Oh hey, didn't see you there
Guess what I just did?
Had sex, undressed
Saw her boobies and the rest
Was sure nice of her to let you do that thing
Nice of any girl ever
Now sing

I just had sex
And it felt so good
Felt so good
Buffy let me put my fingers inside her
I wanna tell the world

As the chorus came to a close Faith happened to glance up and caught sight of the blonde watching her sing with the most amused smile on her face. She yelped in panic and the song ended abruptly.

“Shit B!” Faith exclaimed as she tried to catch her breath. “Give a girl a little warning next time.”

“Sorry Honey.” Buffy said with a smile as she walked into the bathroom and let the thin bed sheet drop away. “I was just admiring my girl’s singing.”

Faith relaxed the instant Buffy put her arms around her. The way the blonde pressed into her was almost enough to make her forget about her embarrassing choice in songs. With a sigh Faith asked the question she had to ask.

“How much did you hear?”

“Enough to know that my girl has a beautiful voice and a dirty mind.” Buffy replied happily.

“I love it when you call me that.” Faith admitted as she turned in Buffy’s arms and buried her face in the blonde’s neck.

“Call you what Honey?” Buffy asked.

“Yours.” Faith answered.

“If you like being claimed by me so much why did you let me fall asleep last night without returning the favor?” Buffy asked.

“Shoot B.” Faith said with a laugh. “Do you know how awesome it was for me that I made you pass out after coming? That alone made the last three months worth it.”

“Still.” Buffy said as she pushed Faith against the sink counter and began to kiss her way down the pale creamy skin of her neck. “I remember a conversation about junior partners and feel it’s my duty to catch up.”

“Oh Goddess B.” Faith moaned as the kisses trailed down her stomach while the blonde’s hands massaged her breasts. The brunette let out a gasp as she felt the face she adored nuzzle into her dark brown curls. She moaned as that wickedly witty tongue she loved pressed into her folds and past her lips. She desperately clutched at long strands of blonde hair as that beautiful pink organ stirred inside her.

Buffy seemed to delight in taking her time exploring the brunette’s core. She took even more pleasure in the way those same strong fingers that had loved her so thoroughly last night massaged her scalp as they desperately clutched the back of her head.

In far less time than she thought possible Buffy heard the wailing cry of Faith’s release. She felt the rush of Faith’s essence fill her mouth and cover her chin. In the wake of her orgasm Faith’s legs gave out. Buffy guided the brunette’s body to practically sit in her lap. The blonde took one finger and started gathering up the copious amount of Faith’s nectar covering her face. With a lurid little smirk of her own Buffy waited for Faith to raise her head and look into her eyes before she took that finger into her mouth, savoring every last drop.

Faith watched in amazement as the most erotic thing she could ever imagine Buffy thinking of played out right in front of her. Buffy seemed to consider the mild cleaning done and favored her love with a smile.

Faith put her hands on Buffy’s cheeks and pulled the blonde into a deep, sensual kiss. The taste of herself on Buffy’s tongue was enough to make the brunette swoon yet again. The kiss wore on for a long time. When it was finally ended the Slayers gazed into each others eyes.

“I love you.”

******************************

“So how much trouble am I in with all the others?” Faith asked as they slowly got dressed for the day.

“Not too much. Mild to moderate groveling should do the trick.” Buffy commented as she looked over the sheets with a curious frown. “They all missed you so much Faith. I don’t think Dawn’s forgiven me for driving you off.”

“You didn’t drive me off B.” Faith stated with certainty as she watched her love’s odd movements. “I misread you and panicked. Running away like a chicken shit is all on me, and just what the hell are you looking for?”

“Shouldn’t there be blood on the sheets?” Buffy asked. “I mean you’re my first and you definitely were inside me deep enough.”

“I was pretty amazing, wasn’t I?” Faith replied with a casual smirk that drew a laugh from her love.

“Very funny Honey.” Buffy said. “Seriously though, there’s supposed to be blood isn’t there?”

“Maybe for most girls.” Faith admitted. “But not us.”

“What does that mean?” Buffy asked as she looked up with a genuinely curious expression. Faith walked around the bed and pulled her girl into her arms. They kissed briefly before the brunette decided to tell the blonde about one of the less obvious side effects of the destiny they both shared.

“You know what they say about girls who grow up riding horses?” Faith said slowly. Buffy blinked and then nodded as arbitrary information she never even thought of came to mind.

“Well let’s just say that slaying demons and vampires is a real bitch on the hymen.” Faith informed her girl of the obvious. She watched with a smile as she actually saw the light bulb turn on in Buffy’s mind. Hazel eyes widened with sudden comprehension.

“Oh.” Buffy whispered. “So I shouldn’t expect.” She paused. “I mean later when I’m “with” you.”

“Sorry B.” Faith said with a grin. “Though that don’t mean I ain’t gonna enjoy every second of you poppin’ my cherry. Again.”

“I aim to please.” Buffy remarked with her own smirk as she casually appraised her finger nails. “Oh my god, I need to trim my nails before I even think about any of that.”

“Aww.” Faith said with a sweet drawl. “How lucky am I to have found such a caring and thoughtful girlfriend?”

“Very.” Buffy replied. “Now finish getting dressed. I want to get the guys ogling our newfound post coital bliss out of the way as fast as possible and then we need to swing by your place and pack.” As Buffy settled in front of the mirror to brush her hair Faith dressed then came up behind her and gave her a light kiss on the cheek.

“I’m gonna step outside for a bit okay B?” Faith asked and quickly received a smile and nod from her girl. Faith gave the beautiful hazel eyes one last look before moving to the door and slipping into the hall. Once outside she just stood there for a minute as the shock and joy of all the events since last night covered her face with the biggest smile she ever remembered having.

Just before the Slayer was about to break into a little celebratory happy dance a slight coughing caught her attention. Angel was just stepping out of his room down the hall and looking her way.

Faith realized this confrontation was overdue. She steeled her emotions and faced the cursed vampire. Nothing was going to ruin the relationship that easily ranked as the best thing to ever happen to her.

“Good morning Faith.” Angel said in a calm voice.

“Morning.” She replied curtly.

“So you and Buffy?” He began.

“You don’t deserve her vampire.” The brunette seethed.

“I know.” Angel admitted with a defeated sigh. “I love her. I probably always will. But I can’t be what she needs, what she deserves, while I’m a monster.”

“Good.” Faith replied with a slightly confused furrow of her brow. “Glad we got that cleared up.”

“Just promise me you’ll take care of her Faith.” Angel said in a tone that was part order and part desperate plea.

“I’ll spend the rest of my life giving Buffy everything she needs and then some.” Faith stated with cold resolve before brushing past the cursed vampire and walking down the hall. “We’re done here Fangs.”

As she left the domesticated undead behind her Faith came to a corner. What awaited her there was something she could never have prepared for.

“Faith!” Shouted a shrill voice filled with a mixture of relief and shock. The Slayer turned and saw the one person she truly regretted running away from.

“Hi Mrs. M.” Faith said in a timid voice as she was soon pulled into a desperate hug by Jennifer.

“By the Goddess girl.” Jennifer cried as she grasped the Slayer’s face to get a better look at her. “Don’t you ever leave me again! I mean it Faith. I don’t care how much that neighbor girl breaks your heart. We’re a family, and that means you come and talk your problems over with me.”

“I’m so sorry Jen.” Faith whispered as she hugged the woman right back. “I never meant to hurt you. I just got scared and couldn’t handle anyone’s pity after I thought I ruined things with B.”

“I know Sweetie.” Jennifer said as she held the girl she had taken into her home and heart. “But I mean it. I’ve been up half the night for months worrying about you out on your own. It’s bad enough watching you run off into the darkness every night for your work. I can’t stand the thought of you living in some rat’s nest apartment or sleazy motel room. You deserve so much more than that.”

As the Slayer and the loving mother stood there holding each other an ease settled over their hearts and minds. A burden that had been weighing on both of them for far too long was suddenly lifted. They both understood just how much they needed one another. How much they needed the family they had been drawn into by a certain honey blonde and redhead.

******************************

“The clan is pissed.” Jenny said as she came into Ethan’s office and collapsed into one of the chairs the watchers had “procured.” While rubbing her temples she gave thanks for the way the slow, soothing tones of classical music filled the room.

“More so than usual?” Ethan asked in a bored tone as he went over arcane texts.

“I just spent an hour on the phone listening to Uncle Enyos rant about the vampire.” She went on. “Apparently the witches’ promise that he would suffer once their Slayers started mating didn’t pan out. The Elder Woman says he’s relieved that Buffy has someone. Happy even!” She finished with an aggravated huff.

“The Slayers started mating?” Ethan asked as he finally raised his head from the tomes strewn across his desk.

“There really is an old gypsy woman?” Smith asked in an equally curious yet even more excited tone. “Does she have the Eye? Can she see the future? Oh, does she grant wishes?” He asked with an almost childlike grin.

“Smith, for god’s sake man.” Collins muttered as Jenny glared at the other watcher. “Just, go check on Weatherby.” As the easily excited man left the room his superior turned back to Ethan and Jenny. “Will this affect our plans?”

“No.” Ethan said before getting a slightly skeptical look. “Maybe. But, no. I’d say we’re still good to go with our next few steps.” The sorcerer let a sly smile spread across his face as he looked to the far side of the room. “That is of course if our guest is up for the task.”

“Mmm, Angel.” The petite blonde murmured as she stood next to a shelf along the far side of the room. “It’s been a long time. I’d love to see that boy.”

“Well at least someone is on task.” Jenny said with a sarcastic roll of her eyes.

******************************

“You sure about this B?” Faith asked as her girl ran the brush through her brunette locks for one final stroke.

“Positive Honey.” Buffy answered with a smile. “The guys will be so happy to see you.”

“Red and Blondie aren’t too mad I abandoned them?” She asked with a nervous look in her eyes. Buffy saw the look in the mirror and smiled.

“It’s my fault you left Faith.” The blonde stated as if the matter was settled long ago. “I was so oblivious I couldn’t tell what literally everyone important to me could at first glance. They all know that.”

“The Brat too?” Faith asked with another worried expression.

“I don’t think Dawn is ever going to forgive me for taking you for granted.” Buffy admitted. “Everyone else was walking on eggshells around me most of the summer. Not her. She told me how much I screwed up every chance she got. She was so furious that first night.” The brunette held her breath for a long moment before asking about the person she feared letting down the most.

“And your mom?” The Slayer whispered.

“She misses you almost as much as Tara’s mom.” Buffy promised. “As far as she’s concerned you are the best thing to ever happen to me. She won’t say anything worse than what Jennifer already told you earlier.”

“I just don’t ever want to let her down again.” Faith said in a quiet, almost childlike voice. “She knew I loved you from the beginning. She pulled me into your kitchen that first night I slept over and gave me the talk.”

“Really?” Buffy asked with suddenly wide eyes. That admission was shocking to say the least.

“I thought she was gonna tell me no street trash would ever be good enough for her little girl.” Faith admitted. “I was so afraid she’d tell you how I felt and you’d laugh at my stupid crush.” The brunette looked up and saw a hard glare in the blonde’s eyes.

“I told you not to do that again.” Buffy said in a mildly bitter voice as she wrapped her arms around her girl. “You are not trash Faith.” She whispered in one ear. “You’re the love of my life. The one girl in all the world for me. Where you grew up and who you had to put up with doesn’t matter. They’re beneath you.”

Tears streamed down pale cheeks as the girl from the worst part of Boston felt all the love behind each of those words pour into her. She really couldn’t imagine ever deserving this level of devotion from her girl but a part of her swore she would spend her life trying to earn it.

“Dry those tears lover.” Buffy whispered in one ear. “This is the best day ever. I’ve got my Faith back.”

A smile broke out on Faith’s face at the terrible pun. She quickly did as Buffy asked and the two of them were ready to face the rest of the hotel. The short walk from Buffy’s room to the lobby seemed to drag on as Faith’s apprehension spun out of control. As they stepped out onto the walkway that overlooked the lobby a surprising sight was waiting for them.

“Mazel Tov!” The entirety of the Hyperion Crew plus three very smug Scoobies and one pleased mother shouted in unison. There were streamers hung around the room and a large cake on a table near the center. A banner hung above the front desk.

“Congratulations on getting your swerve on?” Buffy asked in a confused tone as they came down the stairs. The words on the banner puzzled the petite blonde to no end.

“Happy coming out!” seemed a bit redundant.” Xander said as he came up to the Slayers and hugged Faith. “Missed you buddy.” He whispered.

“You too X-Man.” Faith replied as she hugged the boy right back.

“You should have seen the look on Deadboy’s face last night when you two came running in the door and up the stairs.” He added before letting go and turning to Buffy. “So Buff! Gotta say I’m loving this new part of the dating pool you’re dipping a toe in.”

“No dipping Xand.” Buffy said as she clasped Faith’s hand. “Only diving head first into a serious relationship for this girl.”

“We couldn’t be prouder.” Willow said as she and Tara came to hug Faith as well. “Welcome back roomie.”

“We’re so happy you’re here Sweetie.” Tara added.

“I swear I tried to get them to be less crass with the sign.” Alonna said as she joined the Scoobies. “They wanted to paint little smooshed cherries all around the edges.”

“Oh my god! That’s what that means?” Buffy asked in shock as the rest of the gang began to laugh.

All around the room people greeted the two reunited Slayers with cheery smiles and heartfelt congratulations. Even Anne came up to congratulate the couple for what she had been told was them finally getting their act together. For the first time in a very long time Faith new what really being part of a family was like. She never wanted to loose that feeling again.

******************************

The Rosenberg & Maclay limo pulled up outside the ratty tenement building. The Scoobies inside all shared concerned looks. None could fathom just why she had chosen this place.

“I know what you guys are thinking and I swear this was just supposed to be a pit stop to get my head on straight and decide where to go next.” Faith said, hoping to alleviate their concerns. “I’ll just go in and pack real quick like. No need to go in with me.”

“I’m going in with you.” Buffy said adamantly.

“B, it’ll just be a fast in and out.” Faith pleaded. “Just gotta grab my clothes and weapons.”

“I’m with you Faith.” Buffy said more slowly and with a soft smile. Faith’s resolve melted under those loving hazel eyes.

“Alright but the rest of you stay here.” Faith ordered. The two Slayers got out of the limo and disappeared inside.

“Why would she choose to live in a place like this?” Jennifer asked in a concerned voice.

“It does seem like a lovely place to catch hepatitis.” Xander remarked.

“To make however much money she had squirreled away last a long time.” Willow said in a dull, matter of fact tone. “You guys know the really crappy motel on the edge of town back in Sunnydale? Well that’s the place she lived in our first life.”

“And th-that’s why we tried to make sure she knows there will always be a place in our home for her.” Tara added. “She had it really bad back in Boston. So bad she doesn’t trust anything good.”

“Goddess help me, I don’t ever want to meet her birth parents or any of those monsters she met in the foster care system.” Jennifer said in a harsh tone. “I’d do something the Goddess wouldn’t approve of.”

******************************

“My god Faith.” Buffy whispered in a pained voice as she looked around the ratty apartment.

“It’s not half as bad as it looks B.” Faith assured as she went to the side of the bed and reached down to the floorboards. A loose board came up easily and out from beneath it the brunette pulled her quiver, bow, butterfly swords and several stacks of large bills.

“You had that much money and still spent months here?” Buffy asked in shock.

“Had to make it last B.” Faith replied casually. “I knew I was never going to run across anyone half as generous as Red again. Of the twenty thousand I had when I ran I’ve only spent about five hundred.”

“Jesus.” Buffy whispered. “I did this to you. I can’t believe what a self centered bitch I was.” As the tears started to pool in the corners of her eyes the blonde walked over to the bed and sat down hard.

“How can you ever forgive me for making you live like this?” Buffy muttered. “How can you still love me after everything I put you through last year?”

“Okay seriously Buffy cut that shit out.” Faith ordered. The edge in her voice caught the Slayer’s attention all too well.

“You don’t get to take the blame for each and every one of my screw ups.” Faith went on. “Running away from you was my decision. Yeah it was stupid as hell, but that’s on me. And this place is no worse than the shithole in Boston that Red and Blondie pulled me out of. A lot of people wish they had it this good.”

“But.” Buffy tried to interrupt but was cut off.

“No buts.” Faith shot back. “I love you Buffy Summers. I have since day one. I don’t regret that or any of the other weird shit that comes with our life together.”

“I shouldn’t have taken so long to see the way you felt.” Buffy said quietly. “The way you were hurting.”

“Everyone we care about said you needed time.” Faith told the distraught blonde. “And they were right.”

“I was so stupid.” Buffy said. “Before I was chosen I had these people I thought were my friends. I tried so hard to be what they expected of me. I guess I forgot who I was. Becoming the Slayer, going to Sunnydale, meeting Willow and Xander and then Tara.” She paused as the emotions that came with each name nearly choked her. Moments passed before the blonde spoke again.

“It all helped me open up but none of that compared to meeting you Faith.” Buffy went on in a sad voice that slowly grew more hopeful. “And then that kiss. I had no idea what was going on, but I knew it was what had been missing from my life all along.” The almost happy tone disappeared suddenly. “And then I hurt you so bad you ran off with a part of my soul.”

“Listen Buffy.” Faith said. “We obviously have a problem sayin’ the shit we need to say and even more when it comes to the shit we both need to hear. So no more secrets and shit. We gotta try to make our relationship more like Red and Blondie’s. We need to tell each other what’s goin’ on in our heads.”

“Do you think they really spend that much time communicating their emotions?” Buffy asked in a mildly curious tone.

“No.” Faith said flatly. “I think they’ve been together so fucking long that everything they could say has been said, processed, dissected, compared to everything else under the sun, and decided long ago. Now they just stick to the same inside jokes they’ve had going back and forth longer than we can imagine and have wicked hot sex whenever no one is looking their way.”

“But to get to that point they had to talk to each other a lot more than we have.” Buffy said as she realized how little she actually knew about what Faith was thinking from one second to the next.

“Exactly!” Faith all but cheered. “B I know I’m gonna spend my life lovin’ you. But to keep stuff like this from getting in the way again we need to talk to each other about life stuff a whole hell of a lot more.”

“I can’t wait.” Buffy said with a renewed smile that brightened her girl’s soul.

With that settled the Slayers made short work of packing up everything Faith valued in the small apartment. They then sped back down to the limo. The Scoobies had a private jet to catch.

_________________
Time and Time Again

Dibs-y Goodness!

Yay for great update-y goodness... Really big yay for Buffy finding her Faith...

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We Few, We Happy Few, We Band of Buggered

Posting while nude improves your mood...

WOOOOOHOOOOOO!!!!!!

Yes!

Welcome back!

And : Aww, nice to see Buffy and Faith get their shit together at loooong last



Well, this made my day.
Everything else is going to suck in comparison to this.
I think i'm going to go back and re-read the entire series again

Yep.

I am so looking forward to the next bit, though yeah, topping this is gonna be hard.
Can't wait to see you try

R

_________________
“All I feel is sunlight. All I hear is music.” Willow
How i Met Your Mother - By Ariel

My Story: Coming Home

SO HAPPY TO SEE THIS STORY BACK!

*runs off to read*

_________________
Heather aka vampyregurl73 aka Riverwillows73

My stories:
"Dry Heat – In Progress (still)" "Penny Arcade - Completed"

My Fic Challenge entries:
"Fireworks" "Promise" "I Did What Last Night?"

Hello Zampsa, Azirahael and Vampyregurl. It's good to be back at posting again.

Though some details of this story are being made up as I go I'll admit that the key details for the Slayer reunion in LA were part of the plan from the start. Even doing a rewrite of season 2 stemmed from the fact it was easier to justify the Buffy / Faith dynamic in my head by bringing all the key players together a year in advance.

I think I stuck a little too closely to some of the show scenes in the back half of Act One but going forward I'm pretty sure the surprises I have in store for Act Two will make up for it.

Plus the off the wall wackiness of Dark Ages, Marvels and Sirens will be a fun twist. Speaking of which, I'll have Sirens part seven up next Wednesday.

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Time and Time Again

Yay!

to everything!

I didn't find anything too close to cannon, i just enjoyed it

Re-reading it all now. It's fun

i must have re-read it 3-4 times now.
It always makes me smile

R

_________________
“All I feel is sunlight. All I hear is music.” Willow
How i Met Your Mother - By Ariel

My Story: Coming Home