Something To Talk About
by Holliday
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Okay I've taken the red eye ended up in Phoneix layover
in L.A. and pittstopped a piston WITH A PIPE DREAM. All in all this
night's getting better.
Author's Notes: That Vision is getting better, now if I could just give it a
ring...
I can't believe Buffy didn't tell me we tell each other everything. Okay well I didn't tell her about Oz, or the time I well that's not important but this is way more than that. Okay she's coming just brain behave.
I can do this it's just Will, she's not going to freak she'll understand I mean she has to.
"Hi Buffy."
"We need to talk."
"No we don't okay I was mad that you didn't tell me at first but you and Faith she cares a lot about you. You can tell. I'm glad you two found each other."
"That was..."
"Easy. Buffy I know the whole Angel thing plus you being a slayer it's all like a maddening time but if you're happy I'm happy."
"I'm more than happy... Except."
"What?"
"I haven't told my mom."
"Oh. She likes Faith plus she's a lot younger than Angel."
"That's in the plus column."
"So any suggestions?"
"My mom still dosen't know I'm a witch or my boyfriend's a werewolf."
"You an Oz it's a match."
"Yeah he's great, but you've got some time right it'll happen when it happens right now if we don't hurry we're going to be late for English."
"Yes the tragic loves of eighteenth century literature my favorite."
B's gone for the day I told her I'd meet up with her after school. She's still got that detention to make up for, her recent behavior has sort of made our world a little more crazy, she was kinda freaked Red would blow a gasket. I had to tell her that a friend would be there no matter what she told me that maybe she was just overeacting. I didn't tell her she was right I just held her.
Three-forty five freedom rings as I head to the library being cooped up all day has caused me to need a workout. When I walk into the library Faith is already in her sparring gear and I know we are definitely about to throw down.
"Time off for good behavior B."
"Keep talking."
"Uhhh, I'm so scared."
"Girls."
"Sorry Giles."
"Yeah G-man we're here to work not play."
B and I begin to circle each other each looking for an opening. I lunge first she side steps me as I catch her leg hooking it around mine I sweep her. She seemed ready for it and it's me who ends up pinned.
"That's one." Faith's so cocky. I know this is going to be one neither one of us wins. Faith is now looking at me with that glint in her eye. We each take postion this time I strike first taking my arm she twists me into her and for a split second I think she is going to kiss me which is when she flips me over. Straddling my chest she pecks me on the cheek.
"One for me." I love when B and I get like this the competition is always the best we're never really trying to hurt each other it's the thrill of the hunt.
We go at this for another two hours until Giles finally stops us. We ended up tied at ten. Well I guess that really means we're evenly matched. Faith has alrady gone to get changed. Giles asked me to stay behind for a few to clean up.
"Buffy I know I have no real say in your personal life but I must say that if Faith is what you desire then I am happy for you."
"Thanks dad." I give Giles a hug then put the rest of the stuff away. By the time I get to the showers Faith's already dressed.
"You're late, shower and change I'll take patrol tonight and I'll meet you back at yours."
"Okay be careful."
"I will." B worries too much but I know it's just she cares I'm not always the best one to say what I feel but I know she knows I would never do anything stupid to mess this up. I've had enough letdowns in my life to jeopardize this.
It's almost another twenty minutes until I'm out of the school building. It's weird I spend more time in the building than I do in any classroom and for this they want to give me a diploma go figure. Walking home I start to think about the little things that got me to this moment. I have to smile when I think about that night outside the Bronze who woulda thought Faith would be the one to help put me back together. When I reach Revello Dr. I see mom's car is back it's now or never. Opening the door Dawn jumps out at me.
"Dawn."
"Some slayer you are you screamed like a girl."
"I am a girl."
"Who has powers."
"Where's mom?"
"She's upstairs."
As I leave my annoying little sister I make my way up the stairs to find my mom waiting for me. What is that they always know when you have something to unload.
"Buffy Anne Summers Principal Snyder called me."
"I can explain."
"The dark haired girl I'm going to assume was Faith."
"No... yes how did you know.
"A mother knows, At least she's younger than Angel. I'm going to set some ground rules Faith is going to be staying with us from now on. However you two will keep the making out to a minimum."
"Yes mom."
"Now go and clean the kitchen." Leaving her room I can't help but love mom for being the best. Even cleaning the kitchen isn't so bad I've got a new roommate I can't wait to tell Faith. There's a knock at the back door opening I pulled into a bear hug.
"Xander what are you doing here?"
"Hey be glad I'm not pressed against your bedroom window."
"They have laws for that."
"X-man are you trying to solicit my girl."
"No I was just having a bit of fun. There is fun to be had right?"
"Not that kind."
"Okay then I'll just keep that in my head."
"Thanks."
"So what are we doing tonight?"
"You are going home I'll see you in the morning."
"And me?"
"You are going up to bed after you take a bath."
"Are you going to join me?"
"We'll talk about that later, now go."
I leave B in the kitchen. As I head up the stairs I run into Mrs. S.
"Hi Mrs. S."
"Hello Faith how are you."
"I'm good. I was uh just stopping by."
"Faith it's okay, Principal Snyder called."
"Oh, then I want to apologize I didn't want to get Buffy in trouble."
"It's not alright that she got detention but Faith I like you and I think you and Buffy are a good fit together. So if it's alright I would love for you to move in."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Good."
"Now go tell Buffy the good news."
"Mrs.S I was told to take a bath."
"Well then if you were told then please do."
"Thanks."
PART 2: The other side of dreams
Author's Notes: If so I know more than a couple of CEO'S who should have a
couple checks made out to me. First stop Sony. Then BudWeiser Cha-
Ching.
Author's Notes 2: I wrote another story called Third Slayer after season five
Buffy dies comes back and she and Faith have a daughter anyway I'm
sort of borrowing a character from myself. So Joy is mine. Well
then I just answered my own question. I hate when that happens I
digress moving on.
I've finnished my bath B's already asleep easying in I lay down beside her. Closing my eyes I let my mind drift off. I'm standing in the corner of some dark room. I'm not sure if I should move or not. I'm aware I'm dreaming I can see the sparks of light swirling past me. Then something calls to me. It's not a voice but a lull I seem to be floating towards the sound, a door what appears passing thru it I am in a nursery I seem to be on the outside of myself then just as suddenly I am in my body or my dreamself's body. As I stand in the doorway I see B holding a little girl. There is something about the girl that looks so familiar. She turns to me puting her finger over her mouth she signals me to stay quite. At the moment I wouldn't know what to say anyway.
B begins to fall asleep the little girl slips out from under her walking towards me she smiles taking my hand she leads me out of the room.
"Mommy sleepy let's go play." I nod my head as we move outside. Suddenly there is a large playground pulling me towards the swings I pick her up placing her in the seat. I begin to push her. As the swing leaves my hands I watch as the little girl becomes a teen. When the swing stops she's looking at me kind of funny. I guess it's because I'm staring she has my face except there are a few subtle changes as I look closer I can see B.
"I wondered which one of you would get to me first."
"Huh?"
"I'm your daughter."
"I'm confused."
"Mom, I'm not sure how much time we have they are everywhere. But you are going to have to leave her."
"I can't."
"You must if you don't I will die and your world will die."
"You haven't been born yet, what is this place."
"It's Raja." I must look like I have no idea what she's talking about because she just grins. "This place is a plane between heaven and your dreams. I am part of both worlds to you this is a dream at least from your reality. For me this is where I live until I pass into your world."
"I still don't understand."
"A few years from now Buffy will be in a battle with a goddess named Glory, she is going to die trying to keep the key safe, however when you killed deputy mayor Finch and Buffy killed Angel it altered your timeline. If you don't leave Sunnydale Buffy will not die."
"That's a good thing right. I can't let her die I won't."
"Faith this isn't about just you anymore. Your lives hold the balance of all existence. It is the way you were created."
"Please. I can't."
"Shh it's alright don't cry you will be together again yet now you must learn to be apart."
"Where will I go?"
"L.A. you can be close to her but you can't be near her if you are needed they will send for you."
"Who?"
"The Powers That Be."
"So what do I just leave in the middle of the night. You know she won't stand for this."
"We know but she will choose the Greater Good."
"I'm so tired of hearing about all the sacrifices we have to make for them. Most of them don't even know we exist and when we show ourselves they want to label us and call of freaks. We never asked for this."
"The pain of your burden is more than most could grasp yet in my future you and mom do more than any of the others before you. Take heart the powers have given you until midnight after the ascension."
"That's less than two weeks away. How am I supposed to."
"I have to leave they're coming for me." The playground begins to evolve and I am left with my dark room. Sitting up in bed I find B still fast asleep reaching out to her I look at her as a tear begins to form. How can I leave her?
Author's Notes: On a note I'm about to pull a Lucas here. Which means Phantom Menace is the first movie but Star Wars is the first movie made. Go figure. Not to toot my horn but check out Wicked & Divine one of my fave sites plus you can read some of my work as well as some other great writers. Now let's begin.
I didn't sleep last night. I couldn't who could. B rolls over looking at me she smiles. Pulling her into my arms I just hold her. I take this moment to let all of her wash over me. The beats of her heart, her scent. I don't want to hold back anything right now, but I do she isn't ready for this right now. Hm, she's older than me and I sound like the responsible one.
The tension easy as Dawn bursts thru the door.
"Buffy you're going to be late for school. Hey Faith."
"Little bit." I never had a kid sister being an only child it's kind of nice having the kid around.
"DAAWWWWNNN, I'm going to kill you." Throwing a pillow at her it just misses her head and I laugh. I know there won't be too many more of those. Another memeory to live from. Sticking her tounge out Dawn runs out of the room B right behind her. I stop again this time I wonder if she'll be like this with our daughter. Then I guess I am leaving it just doesn't seem right.
That's the thing about this life nothing ever does until it's too late. I head over to my bag. Looking at it I finally thought I was home. I try and convince myself that I am just a few years too early. I can't do this. Not when she comes back in flushed and happy. I'm crying right now and she can't see it I won't let her not now. She can sense I'm not myself, she always could. Taking my hand she drags me into the bathroom. Turning on the water we get ready. I told her I was going to get in some training. I watched her as she got dressed every little thing she did today I froze it in my brain.
I could feel the lights being dimmed as I made my way thru the day. Giles is surprised to see me when I come into the room. He drops the book he was holding.
"Sorry G-man." I bend down to pick it up and suddenly it's me who can't get up. "She's going to die."
"Faith what are you talking about."
"Buffy she is going to die."
"Yes eventually."
"No... A few years from now she is going die protecting some key."
"Did you have a dream?"
"Yeah."
"Did Buffy have one too?"
"No I don't think so."
"What more can you tell me?" Grabbing a pad and pen he begins to write. I tell him everything all of it he stops writing when I say RAJA he suddenly looks at me as if I said the one thing he doesn't know about.
"Faith you said she told you that there."
"Yeah so."
"No human being or even slayer has said that out loud let alone claimed to have been there."
"Well I was so what else can you tell me."
"If the Powers are involved I don't think I can help you."
"Thanks. If B comes looking for me."
"I know not a word." I head out of the school no destination in mind I just walk. Fifteen minutes later I've covered the whole city. At least as much as I care to look at. Then in a dark corner I see him. I've never seen him before and yet I know him. He crosses the street and tilts his hat to me.
"Whistler."
"Faith."
"You look like you could use a drink."
"So that's it."
"Yup midnight time is going to slap itself back to the night on the roof."
"Even though it didn't happen, will she remember?"
"Only bits and pieces it will be fuzzy for her but you will hold onto all the moments from here until you fall off the balcony."
"And then?"
"Well that part has yet to be written. Just go back home and forget as the weeks wind down you will be fine." Paying the tab he leaves I don't see him again. I don't want to. The next few days go by with no fuss. The night of the prom is one we'll never forget. Cordelia and B ended up getting hunted I flew solo until she showed up. She was voted Class Protecter. That night we stayed up all night dancing on the beach then we watched the sun rise. Here we are three minutes before midnight Sunnydale high is totaled Mayor Wilkins a shishkabob and Principal Snyder is lunchmeat. Yet it's her I'm focused on the last of the fire trucks and emergency crews have left kids are swapping year books. Buffy and I are standing in the middle of the street it's now or never.
"Buffy I want you to know that this is more than just.... That you..."
"Faith what is it." I can here the clock striking. Before the last chime rings I pull her to me I kiss her our last kiss. As we hold each other something changes I feel the cuffs being locked onto my wrist.
"Give us a kiss." Then I jump.
"Faith."