"Going on Faith: Faith the Vampire Slayer" - Chapter 1
by Bonnie
Season 7 is over. What has happened? Things are hinted at but it doesn't
matter - this is ultimately a Faith/Xander ship story. Settle in to watch
hip, cool, emotionally damaged Faith and dorky, sweet, emotionally disabled
Xander get together.
The Greyhound pulls to a stop with a piercing squeal of air brakes and the passengers soon descend the steps with the leaden gait of people whose legs are practically paralyzed from eight hours of travel. Camera zooms to the bottom step of bus, cue deadly guitar riff as first one scuffed black boot, then another step into view. Pan up to display long leather clad legs, naked midriff studded with a navel ring, skimpy T with "Eat the Chef" emblazoned in glitter letters, and a face - familiar and unexpected. Welcome home to Sunnydale! *******
"No! You don't get it," Willow's hands waved in frustration as she tried to explain the workings of her Ball of Light spell for the tenth time to a nodding, but obviously non-comprehending Dawn. "It's not based on ....It's the level of FOCUS not the......Aargh! Never mind!" She shook her close- cropped red head. "Let's come back to this later. I'm starved. Anyone else up for something from the deli?"
Dawn pouted, "Aw come on, Will, I was just getting a glimmer of....something. Let me try again."
"Maybe, after sustenance," Willow conceded.
"Make that a ham on rye sustenance for me," Xander threw out.
"The same, with provolone and three pickles." Dawn dropped the pout and turned back to the computer she had been working on earlier. "And hey, does anyone have any idea what search word I should type in to find out something about Krelock demons?"
"What do you want to know about them?" Anya looked up from her account book, as always ready to show off her extensive knowledge of demonology. "Willow, don't forget my chicken salad. No pickles."
"Well, I just wondered about their habitat...." Dawn went over to the counter and leaned against it to chat Anya up. It wasn't hard to get the twice-ex-vengeance demon to relate more than Dawn had ever really wanted to know about the small, slime-coated, woods-dwelling Krelock.
Xander cast a fond look at the tall teen then lowered his voice to speak to Willow, who was seated at the research table across from him, fumbling in her purse for her keys.
"So, how's she really doin' with the magic?"
"Not bad," Willow admitted. "But I still think research is her natural gift, despite the fact that the girl's packed with green glowy power. She just doesn't seem to have the knack for tapping into that."
Xander nodded. "Well, maybe one superwoman in the family is enough. Where is Buffy anyhow? Wasn't she supposed to be here by now?"
A mischievous smile twitched Willow's lips. "Oh, I wouldn't expect her to be too on time today - not that she ever really is. Anniversary, you know."
"Huh?"
"Yup. Three month anniversary according to Spike."
"Ewww." Xander automatically grimaced and shuddered. "Please don't.....You know I can't hear that name without....." He trailed off, shaking his head.
"Oh grow up, Xander. You've gotta get used to it sometime."
"No I don't."
"Anyway, the point is....well, you know what a romantic he is. I don't think we can expect to see either of them til sometime tomorrow......or maybe next week."
"Again I say, ewwww." Xander frowned. "How many 'anniversaries' does this make now?"
"Well, let's see," Willow pondered. "There was the one week; the one month; the commemoration of the day he first saw her; her birthday - which doesn't really count does it?; the two month; the anniversary of the day they made up after that big fight - we're still finding stray rose petals around the house from that one!. Then one for the day he claims she first kissed him, and now the 'three month' anniversary - I think that one's aluminum foil. Think I'll make a little foil duck."
"Gifts? We're going to be expected to start providing gifts for these anniversaries?"
"Kidding, Xander!! Jeesh."
"Sandwiches?" Anya called, breaking off her consultation with Dawn. "Some of us haven't eaten since breakfast, you know."
"I'm going. I'm going." Willow rose, just as the front bell rang and the errant Buffy came breezing in.
"Sorry I'm late. What's on the agenda," she said, breathlessly, removing her cap and shaking out her hair. "Whew, it's getting cold outside. Anya, do you have any coffee made?"
"Does this look like a café? Have Willow bring you a cup back from the deli."
"Deli? Ooh good. I'm starving! Hey, Will, can you get me a turkey on....."
"Wheat, no mustard, no mayo.....I know," sighed the redhead. "I hope you all are ready to pony up some cash or the Willow Express is going nowhere."
"Here. I'll take it out of petty cash - my treat." Anya unexpectedly offered. The others exchanged frightened looks. Anya caught their silence and looked up, "What? I can't be generous on occasion?" She extracted a couple of bills from her little cashbox. "Here. Thirty should cover it."
Willow went over and gingerly accepted the money.
"Get a half dozen cookies, too," the shopkeeper added.
"Buffy, what were the signs of an impending apocalypse again?" Dawn asked, sweetly. "Cause I think the world's out of whack, what with vampires sleeping with Slayers and vengeance demons sharing their loot. I don't know...."
Anya smacked the back of Dawn's impeccably groomed, glossy brown head. "That's about enough out of you, missy, or you can pay for your own sandwich."
Dawn smothered a laugh and wandered back over to her beloved computer.
"And speaking of...." Xander shuddered at the thought of vampires and Slayers performing ungodly acts together. "Where IS the Bleached Wonder?"
"Your epithets are outdated Xander. Spike's hair has been brown for months now. And, in answer to your question, he's fixing some furniture that.....broke." Buffy's cheeks pinkened prettily and an unrepentant grin stole across her mouth. "He'll join us for patrol later."
"Epithets? Is that your new word-of-the-day?"
"Yes. And did you see how easily I just slipped it into a sentence," the Slayer said, proudly.
"Wait a minute. You guys broke the bed AGAIN?" Dawn interrupted. "You know you could save a lot of wear and tear on the furniture if you'd just do it on the floor all the time."
"Dawn!!" Three shocked voices chimed in, as Buffy, Xander and Willow tried to pretend the almost-seventeen year old was still ignorant of the facts of life. Dawn looked around at them, opened her mouth to complain about being treated like a child, then gave up, shaking her head. She grabbed Willow by the arm.
"Come on. I'll go with you." And the pair headed out the door to the deli.
Buffy tossed her jacket on a chair and slipped into it, facing Xander across the table. "So, again, what's on the agenda for today?" she asked, idly flipping the pages of a musty, dictionary sized book.
"You tell me," Xander replied. "Any out of the ordinary weirdness in Sunnydale lately?"
"Not so much. Just vamps and demons, demons and vamps. The endless parade," Buffy replied. She shot a glance at Anya, who was now straightening shelves at the front of the shop, "And speaking of demons.....how is Anya doing with the whole losing her powers for the second time thing?"
"Your guess is as good as mine. It's not like she'd confide in me, Buffy." Xander looked up at his former fiance, backlit in the glow of the window. "But, if you want my honest opinion, she's happier now than she ever was before.....with me."
"Oh no, Xander, that's not....."
"I mean, look at her. She's glowing."
"I don't know. That could be the light from the window." Buffy shut up at the pained look her friend gave her. "Sorry."
"When D'Hoffryn rescinded her powers and we tried to make another go of it, I thought 'This is it. My second chance. Everything'll be different this time. If I'm careful and don't make any mistakes, it'll all work out....better.' But.....well, you know what happened. We couldn't seem to stop trying to make each other into different people than we are. Why is that?"
Buffy shook her head. She was the queen of trying to force her lovers into designated roles and had no answer. She was still fighting tooth and nail to hang on to the relationship she'd managed to forge with Spike and certainly wasn't qualified to give advice.
Xander sighed. "Anyway, since we broke up again Anya has thrown herself back into retail with a vengeance." He grinned. "Couldn't resist that pun."
Buffy smiled, too. "She is in her element, with the Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club. A demon with civic pride. Who'd have guessed." She paused, then took the plunge. "And you, Xander. How are you dealing with it? Is it hard to come here for the research and all - cause the Scoobies can meet at my house if it would help."
"Surprisingly enough.....I'm okay. I look at An now and feel....I don't know, a little sad -nostalgic kinda, but it really doesn't hurt like I expect it to. Is this what getting over someone feels like?"
Buffy thought of Angel.......and waited for the pang she used to feel at the very thought of his name. Pang - no. Nostalgia - yes. She smiled again at Xander, "Yep, that's what it feels like."
Then, for good measure she did a check on her feelings for Spike. An aching emptiness because he wasn't immediately at hand yawned within her, soon to be replaced by a raging inferno of desire - both lustful and otherwise, that made her ready to leap up and run home to his arms that very second. Buffy didn't know if the confusion of powerful emotions was completely healthy, but had given up fighting against the current. This was her life now.
"Ahh....Buffy?" Xander snapped his fingers in front of her face.
"Ooh, sorry." Buffy shook her head and brought her attention back to the present.
"You were celebrating your anniversary again weren't you? I could tell by the drool."
Buffy had the grace to blush, then opened her mouth to return a clever quip when the bell at the front of the shop rang again.
"Can I help you?" the pair at the table heard Anya enquire of the customer.
"Uh, yeah, I'm lookin' for.....I mean, I was supposed to meet someone here," a low female voice replied.
Buffy's eyes widened at the familiar tone. She jumped to her feet and whirled around to face the door. Xander rose behind her.
"Meet someone? No customers besides yourself are here right now," Anya politely answered.
"No. He...or she....wouldn't be.....I mean....."
"Faith!" Buffy gasped and launched herself across the room.
In three bounds she was on the dark Slayer like a leopard attacking a gazelle, only Faith was no gazelle. The younger warrior quickly recovered from her surprise and returned the punch Buffy had delivered to her gut with an elbow to the blond girl's face and a quick jab of her bootheel onto Buffy's moccasin clad toe.
Buffy let out a yelp, but instantly grabbed Faith around the waist and threw her up against the front door. She locked her arm across the other woman's throat, pinning her there. "What do you want? Why are you here?" she demanded.
"Hey B, long time no see," her nemesis choked out. "See you haven't lost your....edge."
"No small talk, Faith. I want to know why you're here and I want to know Right. Now!"
Faith would've nodded if she could, but with the other Slayer's arm crushing her windpipe it was all she could do to spit out the words, "Watcher's Council" as the lights began to dim before her eyes.
Buffy let up slightly. "What?!"
"The Council. Sprung me. Sent me here - to the Hellmouth."
"No way."
"Way. Guess they figured I'm rehabilitated enough. I'm supposed to meet my new Watcher. Here."
"I haven't heard anything about this. Giles would've called....."
"Believe it, chica. You tellin' me there's no Watcher here to meet me?"
"No! This is....Why would.....?"
"Don't ask me. These days someone tells me how to jump, I say 'how high'. Got a call outta the blue last week sayin' I'd be coming up for 'special' parole and that a bus ticket here would be waiting for me." Faith's dark eyes locked with Buffy's and she saw no slyness or deceit there. Of course, Faith had always been a damn good liar.
Buffy tightened her arm against the other girl's throat once more. "If I find you're lying to me....."
"Geez, B, lighten up. You should be happy. Council told me one other thing. They're retiring you. I'm gonna be your replacement."
(to be continued)
The Greyhound pulls to a stop with a piercing squeal of air brakes and the passengers soon descend the steps with the leaden gait of people whose legs are practically paralyzed from eight hours of travel. Camera zooms to the bottom step of bus, cue deadly guitar riff as first one scuffed black boot, then another step into view. Pan up to display long leather clad legs, naked midriff studded with a navel ring, skimpy T with "Eat the Chef" emblazoned in glitter letters, and a face - familiar and unexpected. Welcome home to Sunnydale! *******
"No! You don't get it," Willow's hands waved in frustration as she tried to explain the workings of her Ball of Light spell for the tenth time to a nodding, but obviously non-comprehending Dawn. "It's not based on ....It's the level of FOCUS not the......Aargh! Never mind!" She shook her close- cropped red head. "Let's come back to this later. I'm starved. Anyone else up for something from the deli?"
Dawn pouted, "Aw come on, Will, I was just getting a glimmer of....something. Let me try again."
"Maybe, after sustenance," Willow conceded.
"Make that a ham on rye sustenance for me," Xander threw out.
"The same, with provolone and three pickles." Dawn dropped the pout and turned back to the computer she had been working on earlier. "And hey, does anyone have any idea what search word I should type in to find out something about Krelock demons?"
"What do you want to know about them?" Anya looked up from her account book, as always ready to show off her extensive knowledge of demonology. "Willow, don't forget my chicken salad. No pickles."
"Well, I just wondered about their habitat...." Dawn went over to the counter and leaned against it to chat Anya up. It wasn't hard to get the twice-ex-vengeance demon to relate more than Dawn had ever really wanted to know about the small, slime-coated, woods-dwelling Krelock.
Xander cast a fond look at the tall teen then lowered his voice to speak to Willow, who was seated at the research table across from him, fumbling in her purse for her keys.
"So, how's she really doin' with the magic?"
"Not bad," Willow admitted. "But I still think research is her natural gift, despite the fact that the girl's packed with green glowy power. She just doesn't seem to have the knack for tapping into that."
Xander nodded. "Well, maybe one superwoman in the family is enough. Where is Buffy anyhow? Wasn't she supposed to be here by now?"
A mischievous smile twitched Willow's lips. "Oh, I wouldn't expect her to be too on time today - not that she ever really is. Anniversary, you know."
"Huh?"
"Yup. Three month anniversary according to Spike."
"Ewww." Xander automatically grimaced and shuddered. "Please don't.....You know I can't hear that name without....." He trailed off, shaking his head.
"Oh grow up, Xander. You've gotta get used to it sometime."
"No I don't."
"Anyway, the point is....well, you know what a romantic he is. I don't think we can expect to see either of them til sometime tomorrow......or maybe next week."
"Again I say, ewwww." Xander frowned. "How many 'anniversaries' does this make now?"
"Well, let's see," Willow pondered. "There was the one week; the one month; the commemoration of the day he first saw her; her birthday - which doesn't really count does it?; the two month; the anniversary of the day they made up after that big fight - we're still finding stray rose petals around the house from that one!. Then one for the day he claims she first kissed him, and now the 'three month' anniversary - I think that one's aluminum foil. Think I'll make a little foil duck."
"Gifts? We're going to be expected to start providing gifts for these anniversaries?"
"Kidding, Xander!! Jeesh."
"Sandwiches?" Anya called, breaking off her consultation with Dawn. "Some of us haven't eaten since breakfast, you know."
"I'm going. I'm going." Willow rose, just as the front bell rang and the errant Buffy came breezing in.
"Sorry I'm late. What's on the agenda," she said, breathlessly, removing her cap and shaking out her hair. "Whew, it's getting cold outside. Anya, do you have any coffee made?"
"Does this look like a café? Have Willow bring you a cup back from the deli."
"Deli? Ooh good. I'm starving! Hey, Will, can you get me a turkey on....."
"Wheat, no mustard, no mayo.....I know," sighed the redhead. "I hope you all are ready to pony up some cash or the Willow Express is going nowhere."
"Here. I'll take it out of petty cash - my treat." Anya unexpectedly offered. The others exchanged frightened looks. Anya caught their silence and looked up, "What? I can't be generous on occasion?" She extracted a couple of bills from her little cashbox. "Here. Thirty should cover it."
Willow went over and gingerly accepted the money.
"Get a half dozen cookies, too," the shopkeeper added.
"Buffy, what were the signs of an impending apocalypse again?" Dawn asked, sweetly. "Cause I think the world's out of whack, what with vampires sleeping with Slayers and vengeance demons sharing their loot. I don't know...."
Anya smacked the back of Dawn's impeccably groomed, glossy brown head. "That's about enough out of you, missy, or you can pay for your own sandwich."
Dawn smothered a laugh and wandered back over to her beloved computer.
"And speaking of...." Xander shuddered at the thought of vampires and Slayers performing ungodly acts together. "Where IS the Bleached Wonder?"
"Your epithets are outdated Xander. Spike's hair has been brown for months now. And, in answer to your question, he's fixing some furniture that.....broke." Buffy's cheeks pinkened prettily and an unrepentant grin stole across her mouth. "He'll join us for patrol later."
"Epithets? Is that your new word-of-the-day?"
"Yes. And did you see how easily I just slipped it into a sentence," the Slayer said, proudly.
"Wait a minute. You guys broke the bed AGAIN?" Dawn interrupted. "You know you could save a lot of wear and tear on the furniture if you'd just do it on the floor all the time."
"Dawn!!" Three shocked voices chimed in, as Buffy, Xander and Willow tried to pretend the almost-seventeen year old was still ignorant of the facts of life. Dawn looked around at them, opened her mouth to complain about being treated like a child, then gave up, shaking her head. She grabbed Willow by the arm.
"Come on. I'll go with you." And the pair headed out the door to the deli.
Buffy tossed her jacket on a chair and slipped into it, facing Xander across the table. "So, again, what's on the agenda for today?" she asked, idly flipping the pages of a musty, dictionary sized book.
"You tell me," Xander replied. "Any out of the ordinary weirdness in Sunnydale lately?"
"Not so much. Just vamps and demons, demons and vamps. The endless parade," Buffy replied. She shot a glance at Anya, who was now straightening shelves at the front of the shop, "And speaking of demons.....how is Anya doing with the whole losing her powers for the second time thing?"
"Your guess is as good as mine. It's not like she'd confide in me, Buffy." Xander looked up at his former fiance, backlit in the glow of the window. "But, if you want my honest opinion, she's happier now than she ever was before.....with me."
"Oh no, Xander, that's not....."
"I mean, look at her. She's glowing."
"I don't know. That could be the light from the window." Buffy shut up at the pained look her friend gave her. "Sorry."
"When D'Hoffryn rescinded her powers and we tried to make another go of it, I thought 'This is it. My second chance. Everything'll be different this time. If I'm careful and don't make any mistakes, it'll all work out....better.' But.....well, you know what happened. We couldn't seem to stop trying to make each other into different people than we are. Why is that?"
Buffy shook her head. She was the queen of trying to force her lovers into designated roles and had no answer. She was still fighting tooth and nail to hang on to the relationship she'd managed to forge with Spike and certainly wasn't qualified to give advice.
Xander sighed. "Anyway, since we broke up again Anya has thrown herself back into retail with a vengeance." He grinned. "Couldn't resist that pun."
Buffy smiled, too. "She is in her element, with the Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club. A demon with civic pride. Who'd have guessed." She paused, then took the plunge. "And you, Xander. How are you dealing with it? Is it hard to come here for the research and all - cause the Scoobies can meet at my house if it would help."
"Surprisingly enough.....I'm okay. I look at An now and feel....I don't know, a little sad -nostalgic kinda, but it really doesn't hurt like I expect it to. Is this what getting over someone feels like?"
Buffy thought of Angel.......and waited for the pang she used to feel at the very thought of his name. Pang - no. Nostalgia - yes. She smiled again at Xander, "Yep, that's what it feels like."
Then, for good measure she did a check on her feelings for Spike. An aching emptiness because he wasn't immediately at hand yawned within her, soon to be replaced by a raging inferno of desire - both lustful and otherwise, that made her ready to leap up and run home to his arms that very second. Buffy didn't know if the confusion of powerful emotions was completely healthy, but had given up fighting against the current. This was her life now.
"Ahh....Buffy?" Xander snapped his fingers in front of her face.
"Ooh, sorry." Buffy shook her head and brought her attention back to the present.
"You were celebrating your anniversary again weren't you? I could tell by the drool."
Buffy had the grace to blush, then opened her mouth to return a clever quip when the bell at the front of the shop rang again.
"Can I help you?" the pair at the table heard Anya enquire of the customer.
"Uh, yeah, I'm lookin' for.....I mean, I was supposed to meet someone here," a low female voice replied.
Buffy's eyes widened at the familiar tone. She jumped to her feet and whirled around to face the door. Xander rose behind her.
"Meet someone? No customers besides yourself are here right now," Anya politely answered.
"No. He...or she....wouldn't be.....I mean....."
"Faith!" Buffy gasped and launched herself across the room.
In three bounds she was on the dark Slayer like a leopard attacking a gazelle, only Faith was no gazelle. The younger warrior quickly recovered from her surprise and returned the punch Buffy had delivered to her gut with an elbow to the blond girl's face and a quick jab of her bootheel onto Buffy's moccasin clad toe.
Buffy let out a yelp, but instantly grabbed Faith around the waist and threw her up against the front door. She locked her arm across the other woman's throat, pinning her there. "What do you want? Why are you here?" she demanded.
"Hey B, long time no see," her nemesis choked out. "See you haven't lost your....edge."
"No small talk, Faith. I want to know why you're here and I want to know Right. Now!"
Faith would've nodded if she could, but with the other Slayer's arm crushing her windpipe it was all she could do to spit out the words, "Watcher's Council" as the lights began to dim before her eyes.
Buffy let up slightly. "What?!"
"The Council. Sprung me. Sent me here - to the Hellmouth."
"No way."
"Way. Guess they figured I'm rehabilitated enough. I'm supposed to meet my new Watcher. Here."
"I haven't heard anything about this. Giles would've called....."
"Believe it, chica. You tellin' me there's no Watcher here to meet me?"
"No! This is....Why would.....?"
"Don't ask me. These days someone tells me how to jump, I say 'how high'. Got a call outta the blue last week sayin' I'd be coming up for 'special' parole and that a bus ticket here would be waiting for me." Faith's dark eyes locked with Buffy's and she saw no slyness or deceit there. Of course, Faith had always been a damn good liar.
Buffy tightened her arm against the other girl's throat once more. "If I find you're lying to me....."
"Geez, B, lighten up. You should be happy. Council told me one other thing. They're retiring you. I'm gonna be your replacement."
(to be continued)