The Witch's Council
by Suki
Rating: NC-17
Kate looked up at the woman that was straddling her waist…she had two fingers deep inside of Dorian and she was calling out Kate's name.
"Dorian look at me, please."
Her hair was a tangled mess as it circled her shoulders, her face was flushed with passion and her breath was coming out in gasps with each thrust of Kate's fingers.
"Baby look at me…." Kate said as she reached up to brush the hair out of Dorian's eyes with her free hand.
Dorian gazed down at her lover, her hand on the mattress on either side of Kate's shoulders.
"I love you Dorian Grey…I mean it, I love you."
This sent Dorian over the edge; Kate thrust into her faster deeper. She placed her other hand on Dorian waist to guide her down on her hand.
"I love…you Kate…I love you too."
Dorian collapsed on top of Kate.
They lay quiet for a while…..Catching their breath. "I do love you Kate," she kissed her softly on the lips. "I want us to be together…do you want that?"
"Ya, I do but the question is where right?"
"Yes, I guess it is for all of us."
Buffy was staring at a very red faced Dawn, her arms were folded across her chest and she was tapping her foot as she stood.
"Well….when were you going to tell me?"
"Um Dawn today I was going to tell you today."
Buffy kneeled down in front of Angel…."you have a big mouth Tiger," she poked the little girl in the belly.
"Sorry Aunt Buffy," she put her arms around Buffy's neck.
"Dawn I am sorry I didn't want you to find out this way." Buffy stood with Angel still wrapped in her arms.
"Buffy what's going on how are you pregnant?"
"I don't know Dawn, we're working on it, I promise."
"Are you okay, I mean have you seen a Doctor and all?"
"Yes, I have and we did the whole blood test thingy and all."
Buffy was playing with Angel's hair and tickling her neck.
"Buffy, you don't seem too concerned about this, what's the deal?"
"I am happy Dawn, everything is okay, right Angel?" She spun the little girl around.
Angel squealed…."Faith help, help."
Faith laughed as she rounded the corner….."What's up Tiger?"
Buffy and Faith laughed as the little girl wobbled after being put down.
"Mommy, Kate ……" Angel yelled as she saw Kate and Dorian approaching.
"Hey baby," Angel ran into a stunned Kate's arms.
"Hi Kate" she kissed Kate on the cheek.
"Hi Angel," Kate looked at Dorian and she shrugged….."go with it okay" Dorian mouthed.
"Dorian, Kate I would like you to meet my sister Dawn."
They exchanged hellos.
"And this must be Willow" Dorian said…she stepped in front of the red head. She put her hands on Willow shoulders; "I am so sorry Willow." She pulled Willow into a slow hug and held her.
Willow stiffened at first and then relaxed, she felt Dorian's energy and knew she was welcomed here.
Dorian released Willow and looked at her…. "You've had a tough road haven't you?"
"Umm, ya. Thank you for letting me be here…ya know with the whole messing with the creed and all." (Everyone looked back and forth at each other they were confused.)
Sophie stepped closer to the two women, she gently took Willow's hand then Dorian's, they formed a triad. "Goddess bless our sister and hope that she finds what it is that she needs here with us. Let Willow be safe and not judged here, she is one with us. Blessed be." Willow had silent tears slipping down her cheeks. Dorian winked at her and moved to stand next to Kate.
Willow hadn't noticed that Sophie had not let go of her hand. Willow looked down then up to met Sophie's hazel eyes a small smile crept on her face. Willow felt a flush of warmth spread across her body, she quickly pushed it back down.
"Hey…" was all she said, "you'll be okay Willow you are here with us now."
"But I betrayed the creed, everything I thought I was…."
Sophie wrapped her in her arms…."shh I know, we will help you get back to the way, to the goddess," she rubbed circles on Willow's back.
"Will, we all love you" Buffy said.
"Thanks" Willow wiped her face…"enough…someone show me my room and I'm hungry."
"Yea…." Angel jumped up and down "come on I'll show you."
Willow gave Sophie a soft look …"you um want to come ..um if you want to .."
"Sure come on I'll show you around," she picked up on Willow's lead and followed her into the cottage.
"So, we can expect to see you all for dinner in the main house?" Dorian said.
She was met with nodding heads all the way around.
"Faith you have Angel right?"
"Sure Mom…she's with me," Dorian kissed Faith on the cheek…"see you all later."
"Wow what was that all about?" Buffy said to Faith.
"You're asking me…" she gave her partner a quick kiss and pulled her into a hug? "Hey B you're really starting to show….." she leaned back and looked at Buffy.
"Do I look bad Faith?"
"No B, you're beautiful…I can't out it into words you're beautiful."
"Thanks Baby."
"And try not to worry, I just think they are letting Red know…it's okay ya know."
"Poor Will."
"She's here now Buffy we will all be here for her, and I think she's made a new friend too."
A private plane arrived to a small airstrip just outside of Boston's Logan airport.
"Sir, I hope your trip was comfortable?"
"No, Jenkins it wasn't what do you have for me?"
"A new development Sir."
"Well, just don't stand there what is it man?"
"It's the Summers woman Sir."
"Yes, what is it!"
"She's pregnant Sir."
"You can't be serious?"
"Deadly Sir."
"Well this is interesting…and it changes everything."
"Sir I don't understand."
"Well, we have a bigger bargaining chip with Faith don't we Jenkins?"
"Yes, Sir, but Rupert Giles Sir…don't you think she'll call him?"
"Probably…and that is why your plan better work for your sake."
"Sir can't we just ask Faith to……………"
"Jenkins you don't know Faith she's unpredictable and psychotic. There is no reasoning with her."
"Yes, Sir."
"The other slayers planes are due in tomorrow Sir, one from Australia and one from Cleveland, would you like to go over their files now?"
"Yes, let's go."
Author's Notes: This is wicked fluffy sorry.
"Well…..do you have enough?"
"I think so?"
"Come on, pick it out already!"
"Why are you busting me so bad about this? This is a big decision."
"Faith we have been here for an hour and over the course of a week!"
"Shut up Sophie…you didn't have to come."
"Right because you have a driver's license right?"
"Technicality."
"Sure Faith…whatever."
""Okay I want this one!"
"Let me see??? Aww it's beautiful….she'll love it."
"Ya think?"
"Ya…I think…"
"Are you crying?"
"No, maybe, I am just so happy for you and Buffy."
"Listen if you're gonna be my friend you're gonna have to toughen up a little."
"Whatever Faith," she hugged a surprised Faith.
Faith hugged her new friend in return. "Thanks buddy."
"Miss what size do you need the engagement ring?"
"Make it a six pal!"
"Yes, fine it will be about an hour while we size it…. You can come back if you like."
"Nah I'll wait". Faith pulled a wad of cash out of her pocket.
Sophie looked at her…"Our next stop is to the bank for a checking and savings account!"
The two friends found a bench outside to sit while they waited for the jeweler to finish.
"Hey, Soph….can I ask you a question?"
"Sure Faith what's up?"
"The whole thing with you and my Mother what was that about?"
"Oh! She told you?"
"Not really, well kind of, I kind of guessed then I asked her."
"I am like you Faith an orphan in a sense…. When I came out my parents couldn't except it…I rebelled then I left….simple. Dorian found me at a woman's festival one summer, I was hungry, ticked off, you can imagine right?"
"So, did you guys, ya know, date or whatever?"
"Nah….she just took care of me…I am a little young for her. I know she loves me but not in that way. I am happy for her and Kate really, she deserves this."
"Did you know Anna?"
"No, I met Dorian a few years after that."
"So are you seeing anyone now, Sophie?"
"Sure I see people, nobody special, but I go out. Why the third degree on my love life Faith?"
"Don't shit me Sophie I saw the way you looked at Willow."
"Oh that…she's sweet, she got a lot going on."
"Ya, that's what I wanted to talk to you about."
"I know, I know, don't go after Willow stay away, right?"
"No, that's not what I was gonna say."
"Well, what?"
"You know about Tara right? Well she's just hurt is all."
"And she needs a friend more than anything else right Faith?"
"Something like that…but if she likes you go for it…I just wanted you to know okay."
"It's cool Faith really I like Willow we talked a lot in the car on the way back from the airport, she's nice, but I know she's still very raw."
"Okay cool, Buffy just wanted me to tell you."
"What about you can you get past your history with Willow?"
"I hope so cuz Buffy loves her a lot…and I means too much to her. Red's cool, I was …well you know how I was."
"You have made great strides my friend you really have! Come one let's go check on your ring."
Buffy woke up from her nap…she stretched and reached over to the other side of the bed then she remembered that Faith went onto town with Sophie.
"HELP!" Buffy yelled from the bedroom. Willow, Dawn and Angel ran in from the other room.
"Buffy what's wrong," Willow yelled.
"Oh my god," Dawn covered her mouth.
Buffy was stuck on the bed she couldn't get up…while she slept, the baby grew again. She was approximately 5 to 7 months pregnant now.
"My god Buffy…come on give me your hands let us help you up. Dawn stop laughing and help" Willow yelled as she stifled a laugh.
"Where the hell is Faith?" a red faced Buffy yelled.
"Ut oh Aunt Buffy you said a bad word……"
"Angel go get your Mommy now."
"Aunt Buffy are you mad at me?"
Dawn picked up the little girl, "come on Angel Buffy's not mad at you she's cranky…. She's as big as a house now. Hahahah."
Dorian rushed through the cottage door…"Buffy are you okay, what's wrong….." Her voice died in her throat.
"Oh boy you got big!"
"Tell me about it! I think it's the slayer thing. When we go to sleep after a night of slaying we fall into a deep sleep that's when the healing happens…I think this pregnancy gets all wacky when I sleep, it speeds up."
"Well, I called Pam, she's coming over to take a look at you, you remember Dr. Spencer? Buffy I don't sense anything wrong with you. Other than…well you are very pregnant and very aggravated right now, just try to be comfortable until Pam gets here."
Dorian pulled Willow aside…. "Please get my daughter on her cell and get her home…I think Buffy is headed for labor…. Go Willow now."
"Oh, oh" was all Willow said as she left the room.
Buffy was sitting in a chair in the living room looking very uncomfortable; Pam did all the usual tests she could on Buffy without having lab or hospital facilities.
"Everything seemed to be okay, it seemed to be a normal pregnancy just a very fast one."
"So Pam is Buffy going to be? …please tell me she's okay."
Pam was finishing washing up "Dorian she's fine…in fact the baby has already turned its head is in the birth canal. It's amazing, but with what you gave me to read about slayers it's not surprising, they have accelerated healing, metabolisms everything is accelerated. And there has never been a slayer that has lived this long so it's all a mystery."
"Pam you could be the next Doctor for the council. You know that you probably know more about the slayer physiology more than anyone in the world.
"If I could get Buffy and Faith to do a work up…then yes, we could have a detailed history of a slayers" Pam said. "Dorian I got the results back on the DNA…. Faith's DNA is present in the fetus, well to say it is the fetus, it's not Buffy's egg, it's Faith's. We do these implants now, but oh forget it……Dorian this is just strange. It's magic…. Right?" Pam said this as she flopped down in the chair.
"Yes, Pam I guess so…"
Faith busted through the door…"What's wrong with B, where is she?"
"She's okay Faith!" Dorian held her hands up, "calm down don't upset her. Faith Buffy's pregnancy has advanced…she is about to go into to labor as far as Pam can tell. Faith look at me, look at me," Faith was pacing back and forth… looking crazed. "I need to be focused if Buffy is going into labor you are the only one that can control her. We are going to do a calming spell, but Buffy has slayer strength…..I need you to be focused."
"Okay, okay…focused as long as B is okay, I'm here."
"Good, Pam what do you need us to do?"
"We, let's get the bedroom set up…I don't want to sedate her…if really don't know what to expect."
"FAITH!" Buffy yelled as the first contraction hit her.
"I am here B…everything is okay," she held her hand, and Buffy squeezed it. "B, oww the hand…try not to crush it …kay?"
It didn't take long and only a few broken things for a very loud, healthy baby girl to be born, she had a patch of brown hair, and long legs…both of her mothers were exhausted. Not to mention a Doctor that got thrown into the Armoire across the room.
"Sorry about that Pam," Dorian said.
"No problem nothing is, just a few bruises."
"So how is the baby?"
"Well her weight is normal, reflexes good, apgaurd test is good. She's healthy Grandma."
Dorian was crying and Kate put her arm around her…"I have never been with a grandmother before" Kate quipped.
Dorian jabbed her hard in the ribs.
"Let me bring the baby to them." Shara and Lynn had cleaned the baby up and wrapped her in a blanket.
Dorian cradled the little bundle and cooed at her "I am your Grandma."
"Here are your Mommies."
Buffy had both her arms out stretched, "hello baby girl come to Mommy."
Faith was sitting on the bed next to her…"look at her B; she's perfect," her finger wrapped by the tiny little hand.
"Hey, B I have something for you…I wanted you to have this before she was born." Faith pulled out a red velvet box.
Buffy looked up at her…"Faith you didn't?"
"Buffy in front of all our friends and family…Will you marry me?"
"Oh yes, Faith I'll marry you!"
Faith kissed her wife-to-be then her daughter on her tiny forehead. She placed the ring on Buffy's finger.
"Faith it's beautiful!"
Buffy looked at her ring, it was sapphire wrapped with diamonds.
"Faith how did you know…it's Amber's birth stone?"
"I don't know baby something just told me to get this one."
"I love you Faith."
"I love you too Buffy Anne Summers."
Everyone hugged the two woman, and looked at Buffy's ring.
"So, what are you two going to name her she needs a name," Kate said.
"Well we have been going back and forth on this but I think it's settled."
"Faith are you sure?"
"Yup B, I'm sure go ahead."
"Her name is Amber Joyce Tara Summers."
"Wonderful" Dorian clapped!
Buffy looked at Willow.
"She would have loved it Buffy thank you." Sophie looked at Willow and offered a small smile to comfort her.
"So would Mom Buffy," Dawn leaned down and kissed her sister then the baby then Faith. "I love you guys."
"Thanks Dawn" Faith said, "I um we love you too."
Faith stood and walked over to Willow. "Umm Re.. I mean Willow, are you okay?" she put her hand gently on Willow's arms.
"Ya, I'm fine, just very happy."
Buffy looked at Faith and motioned for her to continue…."Umm Willow I um Buffy and me would like it if you would be Amber's godmother…we trust you, I trust you with my daughter's life. I know you will protect her."
"OH Faith," Willow threw her arms around the taller girl. Faith looked at Buffy pleadingly…"Umm B?"
"It's okay honey…she's happy, hug her back." Faith hugged the red head.
"Okay everyone let's let these two be alone for a while. Come on clear out." Dorian ushered everyone out of the cottage.
"Wait!" Angel yelled and crawled on to the bed…Buffy bent little Amber down so Angel could see the baby. "Hi Baby, I'm Angel and I will take care of you," she kissed Amber on the forehead. "It's okay Aunt Buffy she's just like you and Faith…. It's okay, she'll be strong. Bye" she kissed Buffy on the cheek, and held her arms up to Faith.
Faith picked her up and set her down…. She ran out the door and left the adults with their mouths open.
Willow found her way to the lake and sat down on the dock.
"Can I join you?"
"Sure Sophie" she patted the stop next to her.
"You okay?"
"Ya…I just wish Tara could have seen all of this and the baby. She would have loved it."
Sophie put her arm around Willow and they looked out over the lake the sun was setting.
"It is pretty here isn't it…?"
"Ya but it's cold too."
"Come here" she pulled the red head against her.
Willow let out a big sigh.
"Ya know Willow I am glad I met you."
"Who me?"
"Ya you…I think you are a very brave woman, and I am glad you are going to be my friend."
Willow lifted her head and placed a light kiss on Sophie's cheek, "me too," she said as she rested her head against Sophie's shoulder.
Six months earlier two young girls are kidnapped and held at an undisclosed location.
"Pst….hey can you move. Hey…you get up."
"If you push me one more time with that boot of yours you're gonna find it up your butt!"
"Sorry Mate see the chains…I'm chained to the wall."
"Ya I see." She tried to stand up only to find she was chained to the floor. "Oh man …Christ my head is killin me."
"Hey I'm Olivia….do you know why we are here?"
"No, do I look like I know what the hell is going on?"
"You have a lovely attitude."
"Listen, I just woke up in some dump chained to the floor while some Aussie chick is chained next to me and not in a good way I might add. So cut me some slack."
"Lovely, 'Aussie chick'…are you going to say next 'good day mate'?"
"Bite me. And my name is Deni."
"Deni I'm scared I don't mind telling you."
"Ya well join the club."
"That's all you can say?"
"Listen ass bite, what do you want me to say?"
"Get me out of here, now." Olivia screamed!
"Ya sure princess…. Let me just break through steel and I'll bust you out."
"Don't call me princess!" Olivia's black eyes glared at Deni.
"Princess!"
Olivia leaned on her chains trying to reach the girl chained to the floor. Deni did the same trying to get up.
"Enough…this is not gettin us anywhere."
"Damn.shit ass chains!" Deni threw herself down onto the ground.
"You really have mastered the English language haven't you?" Olivia scoffed.
"Ya know sweetie when I get outta this I am gonna so kick your ass."
"Promises promises."
"Ladies, ladies, please stop you're giving me a headache."
"Who are you and where are we?" Olivia all but stomped her foot looking for an answer.
Deni the more reserved looked through the curtain of her hair that hung in her face.
"That is not important."
"Why…why are we here?" Olivia was crying a little.
"The things you ever heard of such as vampires or other nasty things that go bump in the night? Well I am here to tell you that they are all real. My name is Quentin Travers, I am head of an organization called the watchers council, we train the chosen one to fight these nasty things that go bump in the night."
Deni wanted a piece of this guy…she wanted to break his face. "Chosen one?"
"Yes chosen one, one in all the world, chosen to fight the forces of evil."
"Ya sure buddy." Deni said sarcastically.
"Sir are you crazy, did you escape from somewhere?" Olivia was crying and laughing at the same time as she said this.
Deni had the sneaking suspicion this guy wasn't lying. "So the chosen one is a teenage girl? Sure she is."
"You have no idea how powerful the chosen one can be, what she is capable of."
Two men came through the big doors at the end of the room, dragging along a man or what seemed to be a deformed man; he was snarling and lashing out at them.
Olivia screamed and pulled on her chains.
"Shh, don't worry Olivia." Deni tried to reassure the girl. "Olivia look at me, it's okay."
The two men held the "thing still while Mr. Travers, plunged a wooden stake into its chest.
Deni even screamed she had never seen anything like it…it disappeared…. turned to dust. Deni looked around franticly…she noticed that Olivia had passed out.
"What the hell was that?" Deni said through clenched teeth. "What kind of scam are you playing at?"
"That was a vampire. Over the next few months you and your counterpart will be trained as slayers, we will teach you all you need to know. We made mistakes in the past but not this time. Gentlemen take them to their quarters."
The two girls were lead to a small room with two beds set up dorm style. Olivia was still passed out; the men had dragged her in and placed her face down on the single bed. And left them alone.
"Hey get up, come on wake up." Deni stroked her back.
Olivia woke up and immediately started crying…..She was scared. "Deni, it's all real isn't it."
"Oh crap. Come here."
Deni pulled her into a hug, "it's okay, we will figure a way to get out of here I promise."
"How, you don't even know where we are, or what those men are going to do to us."
"I can tell you one thing I am not sitting around here and waiting."
Months later………………
Quentin Travers was good to his word, the girls trained as a fighting team. The only thing they could figure out is that they were feed and encouraged to bond with each other. Over the next few months they were given books to read on vampires and various demons, weapons and fighting techniques, hand to hand combat. They were tested for extreme temperatures, pain endurance. When they took Olivia away for testing Deni thought she would go out of her mind listening to the girl scream. When it was Deni's turn Olivia refused to eat or sleep.
Deni had no problem with the fighting on the movies that they had shown them on the martial arts…she just wanted out, and if she cooperated maybe they would let her go home. She feared that Olivia wasn't handling it as well as she was. She missed her Dad and her little brother…she was kidnapped just after soccer practice, someone had thrown something over her head… that's the last thing she remembered.
Deni was mad…she was going to be sixteen next month…they had it all planned all her party with her friends everything her Dad was taking them all to this club where under aged kids could go and dance. Deni hadn't realized she was lost in thought.
"Hey…Deni what's wrong? You okay?"
"Ya just think about my family."
"Yes, I know what you mean." Olivia plopped down on the mat next to Denny. She was covered in bruises from sparing with one of Travers pet vamps.
"Olivia are you okay?"
"No worries, I'll be fine really. So chosen one…. What's going to be our move?" Olivia tried to lighten the mood.
"Should we try to bust out or what?"
"I overheard Mr. Travers talking about the slayers…. There must be more like us."
"Let's grab one of the guards and make him talk." Deni said as she punched her hand.
"Easy there Deni, I feel it too but relax…okay?"
"So you do feel it, the strength, I feel like I could smash something, I could take on an army."
"I know, it's weird, and I feel this humming all the time."
"Ya, what's up with that, I feel it most when I am near you." Deni's eyes were downcast as she said this.
"Maybe it's cuz of the slayer thing or something…. But ya know what I think the other slayers are near here…. And don't tell me you don't feel it?"
"Nah, I feel it. Okay don't think I'm crazy but what if we try to get a message to them?"
"What like telepathic thing?"
"Ya, what do we have to lose right?" Olivia scooted over to sit next to Deni.
"Sure come one, let's meditate."
Both girls sat with their legs crossed hands resting on their knees.
Deni giggled…"stop it or this won't work." Olivia slapped her on the knee.
"Okay, okay."
"What should we think of?"
"Slayers I guess…. Think of our training and vampires…I don't know… concentrate."
The girls sat for a while breathing feeling the rhythm to each other….Olivia thought of the vampire that was slain in front of her…. Her training, Quentin Travers explained to her about slayer lore. Deni thought about the martial arts, sparing with Olivia the way Olivia high kicked, the way Olivia would sweep her legs and drop her to the floor.
"Hey…why are you smiling?"
"Am not!"
"Ya, you are. You are supposed to be trying to channel the other slayers."
"I am." Deni closed her eyes…. After a minute she opened one and looked at the girl in front of her. Wow she's pretty, all that black hair, and her skin is like chocolate, smooth and sweet. Without thinking Deni leaned forward and kissed Olivia on the lips… just touched their lips together lightly. Olivia sat back startled. "Deni!"
"What?"
"What? What do you think you are doing?"
"Kissing you!"
"Umm, ya but.."
"You're cute when you blush."
"Deni, I don't know what to say."
"Don't say anything, I didn't kiss ya cuz I wanted to talk to you, you're pretty okay. Just leave it at that."
Deni got up and walk to the other side of the gym and started to work on the punching bag.
Olivia sat there frozen… *my god, what do I do now.* She had never kissed a girl before, she had never kissed a boy before. Her Aunt would kill her! The realization hit Olivia that she was still a captive still away from home, away from her Aunt the only family she has known. Plus a girl was coming on to her a white girl no less. Not that she didn't find Deni unattractive it's just…well she had never…
"Deni, I am sorry, I, I have never kissed anyone before, I freaked a little sorry."
"Really never been kissed how old are you anyway?"
"I am sixteen, so?" Olivia put her hands on her hips defiantly.
"So nothing, okay."
Deni was amazed that a girl that pretty had never been kissed.
"So why, really?"
"Why what, why did I kiss you?"
"Yes why?"
"Cuz I like you okay."
"Good."
"Really?"
"Really" Olivia smiled at Deni.
Olivia leaned in and kissed Deni on the cheek.
"I want to get out of here."
"I know, I know," she pulled Olivia into a hug.
Buffy had been outside in the garden on a blanket with the baby, Angel was drawing pictures enjoying a lazy fall day. "Aunt Buffy look at this picture, it's you Faith and Amber."
"Oh it's beautiful honey."
Buffy's head started to swim…."AAAngel, go get Faith honey, please Baby quick."
"Right here B, I felt it too."
"Ut oh troubles coming." Angel said as she ran off in the direction of her mother and Kate's cottage.
"Come on, let's go see Dorian and the others."
They all met at the main house; everyone was talking back and forth trying to figure out just where the images that plagued the slayers had come from.
Faith spoke up….."B, these kids are scared we really have to find them."
Buffy was walking back and forth bouncing and rocking little Amber.
"I know Faith, we will find them. I don't think they are in danger right now."
"B, they are being held against there will, that's for sure."
"Got it" Sophie yelled out for the circle she had been scrying in.
"They're not far from here." She said walking towards the slayers.
"Let's mount up" Faith was primed and ready to go.
"Honey wait." Buffy said as she touched her wife's arm.
"B, you aren't going anywhere! I'll do it B."
"What you think I will just let you go off without me, not on your life." She reached up and kissed Faith.
"Baby, I will not risk you, you just had a baby, you're not up to full strength."
Faith now held little Amber and was kissing her on the top of the head.
"I'm still coming Faith." Buffy was fussing with her daughter's blanket and stroking her cheek.
Faith bowed her head she knew once Buffy made up her mind there was no arguing with her.
"Okay B, let's see what we have here in the form of weapons."
Sophie, Willow, Faith and Buffy loaded Sophie's SUV with ropes and a few make shift stakes.
"Time to go B."
Buffy walked up to Dorian she held little Amber.
"Mommy will be right back okay baby." She kissed the little girl on the head and walked away quickly. Buffy really didn't want to be away from their daughter but she wouldn't leave her lover.
Faith kissed her daughter goodbye and then hugged her mother…."See you soon okay?"
"Faith please be careful."
"I will Mom I have too much to lose now!"
"Wait for me."
Dorian turned and saw Kate walking to the truck.
"Kate where are you going?"
"With them…they need me." Kate checked her gun and ammo.
She kissed Dorian hard on the lips.
"I love you."
"Kate, I love you too, please be careful."
Faith patted Kate on the back as she got into the truck.
"Let's do this!"
When they got to the building where the girls were being kept, Buffy and Faith slayer senses went off the scale.
"This is the place." Buffy said as they piled out of Sophie's SUV.
"I will do a protection spell, just to get you in." Sophie made her way to the front of the truck.
Before she had a chance to get started, all hell broke loss.
Several council members burst through the main doors, some with semi automatic weapons some with crossbows.
Everyone leap for cover, everyone except Sophie, who not being used to combat took a hit to her side. A fine mist of blood sprayed out and hit the windshield of the truck. Willow sat frozen inside. The fine mist reminded her of when Tara was killed. Willow shut down. Kate drew her gun and started to fire trying to give Faith cover.
Faith dragged Sophie to safety, she was awake and she was pissed.
"Damn it!" Sophie said through clenched teeth. "Where is Willow?" Sophie was panicked and trying to get up.
"She's in the truck, she okay." Faith said while trying to keep her head down.
"No she's not I can feel it she's freaking out!"
"She's safe where she is for now." Faith motioned for Buffy.
"Sophie can you give us a little cover? Kate can you fire some rounds over their heads?"
"Over their heads, are you serious?"
"Kate, we don't want to hurt anyone!" Buffy said as she ducked down again.
"Cover what kind of cover?" Sophie winced as she felt her side.
"I don't know like a smoke screen or something. That should give B and me time to get in and out before they can find us."
"One smoke screen coming up." Sophie started a chant; bit of water pulled in and around the witch and slayers as a layer of misty fog enveloped them.
"Ready B?"
Buffy leaned over and kissed Faith quick and hard on the mouth.
"Right behind ya baby."
Faith and Buffy ran toward the doors, most of the council guys were lost in the haze, seems Sophie had enough strength to throw in a little confusion spell also.
Faith hit the first guy running and clothes lined him. Buffy hit the next square on the jaw, he got up but she brought him down swiftly with a jab to the throat that rendered him unconscious.
Deni and Olivia were huddled together in a corner of their dorm room, when the slayer found them.
"Hey, come on we are here to get you out."
Buffy held out her hand while Faith watched her back.
"Come on it's okay." The girls cowered away from Buffy.
"They won't go with you."
Buffy and Faith spun around and found Quentin Travers sitting in a chair.
"What have you done to them?"
"Nothing really only told them the truth."
"The truth that's funny coming from you."
"I told them you were a traitor to your calling and have tried to kill council members before. Fact!"
"I love the way you twist the truth. Did you tell them how you tried to kill Faith and me? How you almost had me killed on my 18th birthday?"
At this Deni sat up a little. Could this be true? Mr. Travers had told them Buffy was evil and Faith was practically the devil. She thought that they were myths and probably not even alive, but here they stood and they were trying to rescue them.
"Miss Summers you have fought the council at every step and it's time for you and Faith to give up your birth right and make room for the next generation."
Quentin Travers pulled out a gun from his breast pocket; Buffy knew that killing her would do no good. It was Faith that he wanted his gun was aimed at Faith.
"You don't want to do this." Buffy said choked voice.
"It's for the higher good."
The gun went off before Buffy or Faith had time to react.
Buffy turned to dive at Faith to knock her out of the way.
Deni and Olivia started to their feet, screaming.
Everything was in slow motion. Buffy waited for the love of her life to crumple to the ground, but nothing came. She looked around franticly. The bullet hung in the air frozen. Standing in the doorway were two wiccians, Sophie held by Willow.
"No." Quentin Travers yelled.
Faith was already on her way to him. She hit him with everything she had, he went down hard. Buffy leaned over him and grabbed him by the collar and hit him again and again.
Faith pulled her back. "B, it's not worth killing him."
Buffy was dazed. "He tried to kill you?" Buffy jumped at Faith and hugged her hard.
"I know baby, but see I'm okay."
"Thanks for the wiccian back up." Faith said in a relieved tone.
"Anytime!" Sophie said as she leaned a little more on Willow for support.
"Will, you okay?" Buffy said as she tried to shake the anger off of her.
"A little shaky but okay."
Faith turned and looked at the two young potential slayers.
They were staring at Willow and Sophie then back at Buffy and Faith.
"Hey I don't know what he told you but we aren't evil. Well Buffy's not anyway."
"No One is evil." Buffy said as she approached the girls. They had their hands clasped together and their backs to the wall.
"Really it's okay, we are not going to hurt you. You can come with us and we can explain everything."
Deni looked at Olivia and she gave her a silent nod.
Faith scooped up Sophie and carried her out to the car.
The girls didn't ask a single question the whole way back to the estate, in fact they hadn't uttered a word.
A very relived Dorian met when they pulled in to the driveway.
Kate bounded out of the car and into the arms of her lover.
"I am so happy to see you" she kissed Kate and wrapped her arms around her neck.
"I told you I would come home to you, I'll always come home to you." Kate kissed her again.
"Kate!" Angel hit Kate hard in the back of the knees and wrapped her arms around.
Kate picked Angel up and hugged her. "Did you miss me?"
"Yup, so did Mommy, she chanted the whole time you were gone."
"She did, did she?"
"Yup!"
Dorian noticed them helping Sophie out of the truck. "Goddess Sophie are you okay?"
"Ya Willow did a healing spell, it slowed the bleeding."
"Willow are you okay?" Dorian knew that for Willow to do magick it must have been a very extreme situation.
"Ya, I'm okay, a little charred but no crazy gotta have more stuff."
"Now, just who did you rescue?" Dorian looked at her daughter.
In the back seat of the truck two very tired little slayers were asleep, Olivia was resting her head on Deni's chest.
"They have been like that since we got them in the truck." Faith started to wake them up.
"No don't let them sleep, I am sure they need it."
"Dorian where's Amber?" Buffy missed their daughter.
"She's inside come on and you can tell me everything."
They all sat for a while trying to decide what to do with the council mess.
"Well I called Giles, he is coming with a team to take the bad guys away."
"I will be so happy when he is behind bars." Faith passed Amber to Buffy as she sat down next to her.
"What are we going to do with the littlest slayers?"
"Good question" Dorian said. "They are going to need someone to train them, look after them, make sure they stay on the right path."
"Ya!" Faith stated, not realizing that all eyes were trained on her and Buffy. Faith looked up and started to sputter.
"What me…. I am still trying to find the path whatever it is!"
When they looked at Buffy she was making monkey faces at her daughter to get her to laugh and smile.
"B, I think they mean you." Faith nudged her lover.
"Me what honey?"
"Slayers B, haven't you been paying attention?"
"Nope, I have you and our daughter and nothing else matters."
"I know how ya feel B, but we have to help these kids."
"I know Faith, what is it what do you guys want me to do?"
Dorian spoke up, "Buffy I think you have moved past slayer don't you think?"
"What do you mean past slayer? I am one of the slayers. I can say plural now cuz more keep showing up."
"No I mean Buffy I think you should become a watcher."
"Wait me watcher, come on? Seriously?" Buffy laughed and little Amber cooed along with her.
"Sure B why not, you are the oldest living slayer, the fastest, all of it. Plus if you stop slaying you can have your dream." Faith leaned into Buffy. "Our dream Baby."
"I think you and Willow would make a great watcher team." Dorian looked over at Willow and gave her a knowing smile.
"How is Sophie Willow?" Faith butted in.
"She's good, she asked to see you Faith."
Faith got up and kissed Buffy then left the main house.
Willow sat down next to Buffy.
"So watchers? What do you think?"
"I think, I have a daughter to raise and a partner to look after, and let's face it Faith is a handful. Seriously I have wondered what I would do if …I don't want to think it."
"If Faith died and another slayer was called?" Willow helped her friend finish the thought.
"Ya, I mean, what would I do? I can't lose Faith Will, I just can't."
"Sounds like you should be a watcher." Dorian tilted Buffy's chin up and looked at her future daughter in-law.
"Buffy I love you very much, I love my daughters and my new granddaughter, but I need you to help these girls. No one else can help them, not even Faith, she's still learning."
"That would mean going back to the hellmouth, you know that right?" Buffy voice dropped.
"Yes, I know that, but that doesn't mean you can't live here too. This is your home now too, you have a place here with us, both you and Willow, Dawn, all of you. And I think a certain wiccan would miss Willow."
Willow blushed at this.
"Thanks Dorian, I'll help, I just don't know if I am ready to be a watcher."
Deni was stroking Olivia's cheek very lightly trying to wake her up.
"Hey, wake up." Deni whispered.
"Deni???"
"Right here, hey we are outta of that place." Deni felt like she could scream she was so happy to be away from that place.
"But where is here?" Olivia rubbed hers eyes and yawned. "I slept on you again didn't I?"
"Ya, I don't mind." Olivia kissed Deni; she loved the sensation of the other girl's lips. It didn't take much encouragement and her tongue slipped into Deni's mouth teasing her tongue back. Deni sighed when she felt Olivia caress her lips with her tongue.
"For someone who has never kissed before you are doing a great job of it."
"Just because I haven't doesn't mean I haven't thought about it."
Faith decided to check on the girls before headed over to Sophie's cottage.
Faith tapped on the glass of the SUV.
"I guess you guys are feeling okay, if you're doing that."
Deni pulled Olivia close to her almost behind her as to protect her. Faith put up her hands…"woo woo wait I don't know what you've heard but no one here is going to hurt you. I'll just go get B, I'll be right back." Faith ran towards the house she didn't want to leave them alone too long for fear they would bolt.
A few minutes later Buffy followed Faith out to the driveway, both young slayers were standing outside of the truck by this time.
Deni held her hand up in a stop motion. Faith and Buffy stopped immediately.
"Stop…..First, I have a few questions" Deni stared straight at Buffy and Faith.
"I would love to answer any and all of your questions, but I have a small baby inside that I left to rescue you, I haven't really spent any time with Faith so if you want to follow me then come on." Buffy turned her back on the young girls and started to walk away.
Deni and Olivia looked at each other stunned.
Faith ran after her, "B wait? Are you sure you know what you're doing?"
"No not really Faith but I am tired and I miss you and Amber and I want to rest."
"Okay, let me go see Soph, then I'll meet you at home?"
"Sure baby." Buffy reached up a placed a kiss on Faith's lips, she intended it to be quick, but Faith pulled her into a deep hot kiss. Buffy moaned as Faith's warmth enveloped her mouth, she loved kissing Faith.
Faith swatted her future wife on the butt before she headed off down the path to Sophie's.
Faith went one direction and Buffy the other.
Buffy walked into the cottage and to the make shift nursery.
Shara had walked the baby back to the cottage after Buffy meeting with Dorian and the other Witches.
"How is my girl doing?" Buffy lost all dignity when it came to Amber she cooed and made faces, Faith's favorite pastime was watching Buffy watch Amber.
"She's a good baby Buffy." Shara said as she kissed Amber.
"She's Mommies girl and I mean that plural! right baby? Thanks Shara I can take it from here." Buffy made her way to the bed with her daughter and prepared to breast-feed her.
Shara made her way out of the bedroom to give Buffy some privacy, but she was met by Deni and Olivia.
"Does she know you are coming?" Shara was very protective of Amber and wouldn't let anyone in if Buffy didn't know they were coming.
"Umm ya, she does? Does she live here with Faith?"
Shara nodded, still a little leery about the two new girls.
"Shara it's okay they can come in." Buffy called from the bedroom.
"Fine don't keep her she needs her rest." Shara closed the door just after the two girls made it inside.
"She's something huh?" Olivia just nodded.
They made their way to the bedroom where they found Buffy feeding little Amber.
Deni tripped over Olivia trying to hide her face and turn around at the same time. Olivia ignored her and moved to sit next to Buffy on the bed.
"She's so cute. And hungry!" Olivia was in awe of the scene before her.
"She is beautiful!" Buffy acting the proud mother. "She looks just like her mother."
Deni snorted thinking Buffy was a little full of herself, but she still didn't make eye contact.
"What you don't think she looks like Faith?"
"I thought you were her mother?"
"I am! but so is Faith."
"Um you lost me" Olivia said.
"The short version is that The powers that be blessed Faith and I with a baby because of our love."
"That's so romantic…." Olivia gushed.
"That's impossible!" Deni the skeptic pointed out.
"Nothing impossible when love is involved." Buffy didn't look at the young girl she busied herself with Amber.
"Here" she offered Amber to Olivia….. "Umm what?" Olivia was confused.
"Take her I have to button my shirt." Deni glanced up then looked down quick. "Or your girlfriend there is going to hurt herself."
"Oh sure," Olivia cradled the little baby.
"She won't break!" Buffy laughed she liked Olivia she was sweet and gentle with Amber.
Buffy buttoned her shirt and looked Deni's way the girl was looking at the ceiling then at the floor, then to the window.
"Okay can I have her back?"
Olivia handed Amber back reluctantly.
"So you have questions?" Buffy was now burping Amber, rubbing her back then patting it.
"Um ya, I, um we do." Deni said.
Olivia felt stupid now…this couldn't be the same Buffy Summers that Travers had told them about. She was a Mom and she was nice.
"Are you a slayer?" Olivia spoke before Deni had the chance.
"Yes, I was called when I was 15."
"All those things that Travers said about you and Faith are they true?"
"Seeing I don't know what he told you…. But I am sure some yes, some no, some had circumstances."
"Circumstances?" Deni huffed when she said this.
"I think you may need to have your little butt kicked?" Buffy was tired and it was starting to show.
"Deni, please?" Olivia felt frustrated at Deni attitude.
"What now you are on their side?" Olivia got up and stood next to Deni.
"I am on our side yours and mine." She took Deni's hand. "I think Travers was a bad guy, I really do."
"What about that Faith…is she evil?" Deni could believe Buffy was all right but Faith scared her.
Buffy felt her blood boil when she thought of the judgments this girl was placing on Faith.
"Faith had it rough, and her story is not mine to tell." Buffy rubbed her neck, "Girls I really hate to stop this but I have to rest. I will answer some more questions later okay?"
"Umm Okay, we will just go back to that other house." Olivia pulled on Deni's arm. "Come on, let's go." Olivia tugged at her friend.
"No I want some answers." Deni didn't want to budge.
Olivia pulled harder and dragged her outside.
"Come on, I am hungry and tired myself." Olivia started marching off, with Deni close on her heels.
Faith tapped light on Sophie's door she didn't want to wake her if she was sleeping.
"Hey, come on in." Sophie was up and fussing around her place.
"I thought you had a gun shot wound and would be in bed?"
"Can't! Got things to do, plus it's just a flesh wound."
"Really. The way Willow looked I thought I would find you in worse shape." Sophie blushed at the mention of Willow and Faith noticed.
"Well Willow has had a tough day, she was scared."
"Ain't that the true." Faith laughed.
"So how's the kids?"
"Don't know left them with B, I think I scare them."
"You scared me at first." Sophie looked at her new friend.
"Ya, I do that to people, I don't meant to."
Faith looked at the floor, she knew she had a long path ahead of her.
"Hey, it's cool really Faith" Sophie punched her in the arm. "Wanna get out of here and go to the main house for dinner I'm starved?"
"Sure I could eat. Hey did I ever tell you what happens after a good slay?" Faith raised her eyebrows up and down and winked.
"I don't think I want to hear this." Sophie ushered her friend out of her cottage and up the path to the main house.
The two new slayers ate in silence. But it didn't go unnoticed that they held hands under the table and sat as close to each other as they possibly could.
Dorian sat across from them making small talk.
As Dorian looked at the girls she was amazed at how different they were from each other but same sometimes. Deni was obviously from the U.S., Cleveland of all places. She was about 5' 5", with light brown shoulder length hair, almost blonde, she was fit not muscular, and had an attitude she recognized. Olivia on the other hand was from Australia and black. Her skin was the color of coffee and cream, she had soft dreds that stopped right about the top of her shoulders. Olivia was about 5' 3" just a little shorter than her counterpart but unlike Deni she had a womanly figure and she was much quieter and reserved. Dorian could see the bond between the girls was strong. Dorian had contacted the girls' families and they were on their way to the estate, maybe that would ease some of the girls' worries.
"So, you had a talk with Buffy?" Dorian startled Olivia.
"Ya, Olivia blurted out." She liked Buffy. "She's cool."
"What about you Deni? Do you still have questions?"
"As a matter of fact I do? But no one seems to want to listen to me."
Just then Faith and Sophie came through the door.
"Well I think help just arrived my dear." Dorian looked in her daughter's direction.
Faith glared at Deni, Deni glared at Faith.
Faith walked up and kissed her mother on the cheek, "Hi Mom."
"Hi, sweetie."
"She's your Mom." Deni almost spit out her milk while she tried to talk.
"Gross much kid." Faith laughed. "Ya, she's my mother, got a problem with it?"
"Okay girls down, butch much?" Willow noticed the tension. "You two are so much alike." The redhead laughed.
"Are not!" Was said in unison.
Everyone laughed at them, even Olivia.
"So kid you got questions for me, what do you say we spar after lunch and I answer your questions."
"Spar….?" Deni, looked around.
"Ya, spar kid, need a dictionary, spar."
"You're on!" Deni had attitude and Faith liked her.
"Cool, gonna enjoy knocking you around a little."
"Sure, how old are you?" Deni's eyes narrowed as she looked at Faith.
"Hey, I am not that old." Faith looked indignant.
"Sure, not old at all Grams." Deni leaned back in her chair.
"That's it kid lets go." Faith stood.
"Anytime," Deni stood up also.
"Need a ref?" Lynn spoke from the other table.
"Ya, sure Lynn would you mind? I need someone to keep this kid honest."
"You're joking right? You honest? You are Faith right?" Faith looked more hurt than anger now.
"Okay girls let's take it to the gym."
Faith and Deni stormed out at laughs and cheers.
Most of the witches hated the fact that the Slayers even had to fight but they knew it was necessary so they followed to make sure all were well and protected.
Willow got up…she didn't want to watch Faith teach this kid a lesson. She headed out towards the lake.
"Want some company?" Sophie said as she caught up to the witch.
"Sure, you up for a walk?" Willow was concerned about her new friend.
"Ya, why not I feel great."
"Good come on." Willow linked her arm in Sophie's and they walked on.
"Willow how are you doing?"
"Fine" Willow answered a little to quickly.
"No really Willow, I felt it, I saw what you went through back at that place." Sophie stopped walking and faced Willow.
"If you want to talk I'll listen, I promise."
"You're sweet ya know that?" Sophie blushed. "Ya, I was freaked, when you got shot. Things kinda went blewee, in my head."
Sophie didn't say anything she just listened to the woman in front of her. Goddess Willow was pretty! Sophie reached up and stroked the side of Willow's hair. Willow looked up at her with huge eyes, filled with about to spill tears.
"Sophie I like you….I mean I like you, and I feel bad about it."
"Shh Willow, it's okay, I know you don't feel the same way about me, you're my friend and that's enough."
"NO! That's not it, I like you and I feel like I am betraying Tara!" Willow sobbed and leaned into Sophie.
"Oh Willow I am sorry. I am so sorry."
"Don't feel bad, it's not your fault, I tried to push you away. I didn't want you to see that I had feelings for you." Willow sobbed.
"Willow sometimes you can't help it sometimes feelings just sneak up on you." Sophie rubbed her back.
"I will give you all the space you want…I won't push I promise. I care very deeply for you, from that first time I saw you in the airport, your hair was all messed from the flight and you were cranky." Sophie was tucking and untucking the hair from Willow's ear.
"Really, I looked bad, like so bad." Willow sniffed.
"I think you looked beautiful." Sophie whispered.
"I um..not me…I well my friends are pretty, Buffy is pretty, Dawn is pretty, not Willow."
"I like the way you babble." Sophie chuckled.
They both stopped and looked at each other it was one of those times in your life when you know you will remember where you were and what you were feeling at that particular time.
"Sophie? I want to kiss you."
"Willow, I want you so much. I am afraid that you might be confused. I am also afraid if I kiss you I won't want to stop."
"So don't." Willow pressed her lips to Sophie's they were warm and soft and gentle.
Sophie pulled back and looked at Willow…"are you okay…." She traced Willow's cheek with her thumb.
"I guess. I have wanted to do that for a long time." Willow looked into Sophie's eyes. "Do you regret it?" Willow asked but really didn't want the answer.
"No Willow not at all." Sophie offered her hand to Willow and they continued walking until they made it to Sophie's cottage.
Early evening was upon them, they sky was turning a bright fall red. The cottage was a little chilly so Sophie light a fire. "Come on sit down her and let's talk."
As the evening wore on Willow told Sophie all about Tara, how they met, how they fell in love, even the night she died.
Sophie let her and Willow cried harder than she had in a while. It felt to Willow like small pieces of Tara were leaking out of her, she was mourning her last bits for her lover. Willow had fallen asleep next to Sophie in front of the fire; she traced lazy patterns on Willow's back and watched her steady breathing, until she fell asleep also.
What seemed like hours later Sophie woke to a shutter slamming, the wind over night had picked up and a loose one had unlatched. She shuffled in her stocking feet over to the window and re-latched it and quickly checked the other windows. The fire was giving off a soft glow with the remaining embers and that's where Sophie saw the blonde woman sitting perched on the hearth poking the fire.
Sophie inched closer to the woman; she didn't feel frightened she just felt peace.
"Are you Tara?"
"Yes, I am."
"Are you really here are you a ghost?"
"Kind of..I I I'm just checking in on Willow. Are you her friend?"
Sophie nodded "Yes, it's not what it looks like?"
"Shhh I feel no jealously where I am, I am at peace. I came here to see you also, I was curious."
"You know how I feel about Willow?"
"Yes…. It's okay, she's wonderful isn't she."
"Ya, she is. She misses you so much, her heart is broken."
"You will mend it, she has feelings for you, ya know?"
"She told me tonight….I am sorry."
"Please…Willow is blessed, she is special. You must treat her as such, you must promise me?"
"I promise…Tara??? I am sorry for what happened to you, to you and Willow."
"You're sweet, go back to sleep now….come on." Tara kissed Sophie on the cheek and turned her back towards the blankets where Willow slept soundly.
Sophie crawled back under the covers and lay down.
Sophie woke with a start and looked around…it must have been a dream she thought. She looked down at Willow sleeping and her heart broke to think of this beautiful woman in so much pain. She spooned up behind Willow and pulled her close, she kissed her on the top of her head. Willow stirred and tightened her grip on Sophie. For the first time in a year since Tara had been gone Willow didn't feel alone and broken. She turned around to face Sophie.
"You okay?" Willow brushed the dark hair off of Sophie's cheek.
"Ya…Willow, I have something to tell you."
"Okay" Willow leaned in a little. She felt a little scared that maybe Sophie had changed her mind, maybe Willow was just too much work.
"Tara was here last night, I know it sounds crazy."
"No it doesn't, I dreamed about her." Willow sighed and looked into Sophie's eyes.
"Willow, she asked me to protect you and care for you." A small tear leaked out of Sophie's eye. "I promised her I would, Umm I want to."
Willow hugged Sophie; she wrapped her whole body against her.
"I know…I feel okay, everything is going to be okay." Willow hugged her tighter. "Just don't go anywhere or get hurt or sick or die or anything okay?"
Sophie laughed a little. "I'll try but I can't promise…okay? You're gonna be okay Willow I got ya."
"No I got you." She kissed Sophie this time with passion, with a feeling for the future.
"Come on you, go back to sleep."
They snuggled up to each other and drifted off to sleep.
Buffy sat on the edge of the bed next to her wife.
"B, it's not funny!"
"I known sweetie I know." Buffy pursed her lips in an attempt not to laugh. Faith had a shiner…she has had shiners before just not one from a kid!
"It was a lucky shot!"
"Yes dear I know, Olivia told me all about it."
At the main house, Deni & Olivia's room
"If you don't hold still I can't keep the ice on it!"
"Owww Livy that hurts!"
"You are such a baby!"
"Am not she just in one lucky shot!"
"You both got in one lucky shot….just one and you knocked each other out."
"You think it's funny don't you?" She started to tickle her girlfriend.
"Ahhh no I don't, ahhh it's not funny."
"Who is that baddest of the slayers admit it?"
"Okay, okay stop tickling me." Deni had Olivia pinned on the bed and was straddling her waist.
"You are the baddest of the slayers, my love." Deni leaned her face down to inches away from Olivia's.
"And you are the most beautiful my love." Olivia closed the gap between the two and they kissed.
"Do you mean it? Do you love me?" Deni said in a soft voice.
"Ya I do." Olivia was shy; she had never been in love before.
"Me too. I mean I love you too."
"Deni do you think they will let us stay together? I mean our families will take us away."
"I don't know Livy I don't know."
"We will have to ask the council…. That Mr. Giles is coming and there is the witch's council. I don't know."
Back at Buffy & Faith's cottage
"Honey is true you both knocked each other out?"
Faith was pacing the room holding an ice pack to her eye. Buffy felt like she was at a tennis match, back and forth back and forth.
"Honey, please sit."
"Ya, it's true, out cold." Faith did the signal for safe with both arms and then started to laugh.
"Aww my poor baby, want me to kiss it better?"
"Sure baby." Faith inched her way over to Buffy.
"Where does it hurt?"
Faith pointed to her eye and Buffy kissed it, then her cheek and Buffy kissed it.
"Anywhere else my love?"
Faith pointed to her lips, and Buffy kissed them.
Slowly they made their way up the bed discarding clothes as they went.
"You know Faith this is the first time in a week that we have made love?"
"Really baby…well I guess I am just going to have to take my time and feel my way around."
"Sounds good, but not too slow okay?"
"Okay."
Faith dipped her tongue in the hollow of Buffy's neck; it was her favorite spot.
She could just feel the mark that Angel had left on Buffy, sometimes it bothered her, but tonight it ignited her passion. She moved down Buffy's chest placing soft kisses. Buffy was hers; no mark could change the fact that Buffy would be her wife in a few days they had a child together. They would spend the rest of their lives together, watch Amber grow up. Faith felt complete for the first time in her life.
"Oh god Faith, more" Buffy's back arched.
Faith didn't realize she had nipped the sensitive flesh of Buffy's breast and left her own mark.
"B, I'm so sorry."
Buffy noticed the blood on Faith's lips.
"Faith the blood." Buffy eyes were fixed on Faith's mouth. Faith brought her hand to her mouth and realized she had broken the skin.
"B, I'm sorry I didn't mean to."
"Shh it's okay Baby…it's the slayer in you, no one taught you this, I forgot."
"B you lost me, I bite you and made you bleed."
"Yes, Faith, slayers mark their mates."
Faith sat up on the bed, and put her head in her hands.
"Faith what's wrong?"
"You are already marked B." This was just above a whisper, but Buffy heard her.
"You mean where Angel bite me? That's not a mark baby that's a bite, he bit me. He did it so he could live. Faith look at me!" Faith looked at Buffy through the tears in her eyes.
"You marked me by my heart, for love…slayers mark on the breast. Vampires don't mark their mates Faith."
Buffy brushed her hair away from her breast. "Do you see any other scars on me?"
Faith shook her head; she noticed a small trickle of blood run from the bite she gave Buffy. Her eyes were fixed on it.
"I bear your mark Faith, your bite, I am your mate."
Faith looked at her lover and Buffy nodded slowly. "Yours, only."
"Mine?"
"Yours."
Faith brought her mouth to the wound and licked it, cleaned it till it stopped bleeding, she lay Buffy down and kissed her, she brought both Buffy's hands over her head and held them. She wanted to dominate Buffy, own her, finish claiming her mate.
Faith quickly thrust two fingers into her lover. Buffy gasped and moaned as the fingers started to pump in and out of her, Faith kissed and suckled her neck, bite and sucked on her earlobe.
Buffy moaned and struggled against Faith. Faith held on to her tight. Buffy growled more then grunted when Faith thrust a third finger into her.
"Oh god Faith I love you, only you."
"Tell me you're mine B. Tell me."
Buffy was panting on the edge of orgasm…
"Tell me!" Faith thrust into her love harder.
"I, I am yours Faith, I'm yours." This pushed Buffy over the edge, she came around Faith's hand. Faith could feel the muscles clench around her fingers, then release, she felt how wet her mate was for her.
Faith still had Buffy's hands by the wrist above her head, she licked the wound on Buffy's breast again, then slowly withdrew her hand.
"God Buffy you're beautiful."
"Only for you baby, only for you."
The wedding
Giles had arrived with little fan fair; he and Buffy had talked way into the night. She later found Amber curled into Faith's side and the two slept soundly. Giles agreed to give Buffy away at her hand fastening. Giles had been over come with emotion when his "daughter" asked him, they both cried, cried not only for joy but for the journey that they both seemed to be surviving.
Faith had asked Sophie to stand up for her to be her witness to this new life she was embarking on, Sophie agreed with a punch to the arm, and for Faith it spoke volumes.
Dawn and Willow would stand up for Buffy and Dorian would do the ritual. Kate laughed that if she could stop crying long enough she could do the ritual. Angel of course is the flower girl, she insisted.
Deni and Olivia spent the days before their families arrived taking walks and worrying if they would be allowed to stay together.
"If they won't let us then we'll run, me and you." Deni being the defiant one had already devised a plan.
"Deni, I love you but you know they will find us." Olivia felt defeated.
"No, they won't, I'll stop them, they can't take us if we don't want to go."
"Deni we are minors they can do what they want."
Faith had been listening to their conversation, she knew she had to help them somehow. Everyone would just think of them as children and that their emotion were fleeting, she knew all too well that a slayer had a hard life and if these kids had found love she would see to it that they got to spend as much time together as possible.
"Um guys I couldn't help but over hear." Faith walked up to them gingerly. Deni was already in fight stance.
"Relax kid! Man you have enough attitude for the both of us." Faith laughed.
"Just being prepared, you want another black eye?"
"Easy there Grasshopper, I just came to tell you that I am behind you both."
"Are you going to talk to our parents?" Olivia felt her heart leap.
"I don't know how much help I will be but sure why not." Faith stood taller in front of the two young girls. "Ya, know if someone had stepped in for me and B, or maybe seen what was happening, well let's just say I'm in." Faith stuck out her hand to Deni.
Deni looked down at the hand then back to Faith's eyes, "you're serious!"
"Ya, kid I am. I love B and if anyone tried to keep us apart, well I don't know what I would do."
Deni took Faith's offered hand and shook it, Olivia was very happy that the two could maybe put their differences aside.
"Morning." Willow leaned over Sophie and kissed her.
"Morning back at you." Sophie pulled her in for a deeper kiss. "I could get used to seeing your face every morning."
"Same to you...um how are you feeling about last night, ya know us, well me, and I mean us talking and all."
Sophie laughed and tried to untangle herself from the blankets, they were still in front of the now cooled fireplace.
"Willow, I love you and I want you." Sophie got up and stretched.
"That's it, you love me?" Willow felt yet another babble coming on, Sophie sensing this headed her off.
"Willow love come on let's go make some tea and talk some more if you need to." Sophie offered her hands to help Willow up.
Willow pouted and folded her hands across her chest.
"Aww what's with pouty mouth baby?" Sophie dropped back down to wrap her arms around Willow.
"Nothing just wanted you next to me." Sophie smiled then kissed Willow; she laid her down on the blankets.
"See isn't this better than getting up and getting all productive and getting tea and stuff."
"Yes, Willow." Sophie kissed the redhead on the cheek then made her way down her neck stopping at the valley between her breasts. "You are extra babbly this morning, everything okay?"
"Ya, well it's my best friend's wedding tomorrow and I have fallen in love with a mysterious dark haired witch, that was visited by my ex last night." Willow looked at Sophie with a "Duh" kind of face.
"Ya, gotcha kind of weird. Tara projecting herself was amazing, and scary." Sophie added. "Willow are you happy that she let you go or gave her blessing in a way?"
"Ya, I always knew that Tara would be okay, I miss her but it's comforting to know that she is happy and at peace."
"What about giving her blessing to us?" Sophie looked down and played with the hem of Willow's top.
"I think it is very Tara like thing to do." Willow kissed Sophie and laid herself down on top of her. "Will you really wait for me, I mean for me to be ready?" Willow was looking into Sophie eyes searching for approval.
"Yes, Willow. I would wait a life time for you." Sophie kissed her. "I just have one thing to ask you, it's a lot, so if you can't do it I'll understand."
"What is it you can ask me anything?" Willow gave her a quick kiss.
"Um, I don't think I could go many nights not having you in my bed, I mean I am not asking you to do anything, I just need you Willow, I need to feel you next to me, to be here with me."
"I need time Sophie I am still in love with Tara and I always will be...I just need time to leave those feelings in the past so you and I can have a future. I hope that's okay?"
"It's more than I could have asked for Willow." Sophie leaned in and kissed the redhead lightly.
"I um still want to sleep with you, ya know together in your bed, me and you...okay."
"More than okay." Sophie hugged Willow tight to her.
Kate stretched and looked around she couldn't believe her life had taken such a turn in such a short period of time. The woman she loved was on her stomach sleeping away; her red hair was spread across her shoulders and down her back. Kate ran her hand down her hair to the small of her back then caressed her ample ass and kissed her on the hip.
Kate pulled the covers off herself and made her way to the bathroom, she heard a small voice in the next room and decided to see if Angel was up.
Angel had all of her dolls placed around the room it looked like they were having some sort of party. Kate peered in from the doorway as to not disturb the scene that was playing out in front of her.
Angel had one of her Barbie dolls dressed in a wedding dress, and the other in a tux, she assumed was Ken's. "Hi Kate" Angel looked up and smiled.
"Are you having a wedding sweetie?"
"Yup see everyone is ready."
"I see which one is Buffy, the one in the dress?" Kate just figured Faith was the tux wearing type.
"No silly this is not Faith's wedding." Angel continued to play with the dolls.
"Oh sorry, and who's wedding is it?" Kate chuckled at the little girl.
"It's yours and Mommies wedding silly."
Kate stunned started to turn around... "That's nice dear, are you hungry?"
"No Mommy Kate, I'm just playing." Angel turned her attention back to her dolls.
Kate made her way back to the bedroom she shared with Dorian.
Dorian yawned and rolled over, "Hi baby morning." She kissed her partner sweetly on the lips and stretched. "Is Angel up have you seen her?" Kate looked as if she saw a ghost. "Honey you're pale are you okay?" Dorian sat up and put her arm around Kate. "Kate what's wrong?" Kate stared at the woman in front of her, her hair was sticking out at all angles, her cheek held a slight blush from sleeping on it. The nightshirt she wore was riding high on her thighs as she sat Indian style next to Kate. "Kate, I love you." Dorian kissed her cheek.
Kate came out of her trance and looked into Dorian's eyes, "She, she called me Kate Mommy! Angel..She's having a doll wedding...right now and not Buffy and Faith's wedding our wedding, yours and mine." Kate looked at Dorian.
Dorian wasn't sure what she saw in her lover's eyes, "Kate is that okay with you? I'm sorry, I'll talk to her...kids get attached, don't worry about it." Dorian started to get up.
"No.... I didn't mean it like that." Kate felt her world slip away when Dorian moved to leave their bed. "Dorian wait, I didn't mean I didn't want it."
Just then Angel came bursting through the door.
"Momma you're up!" She threw her arms around Dorian and kissed her on the cheek.
She had the dolls in her little hands. "Where are you going my dear with these dolls all dressed up?"
"They got married with each other." Angel said proudly.
"Married with each other...how very nice for them." Dorian gave a quick glance at Kate to gauge her reaction. "Sweetie are you hungry?" Her mother asked brushing her hair away from her round face.
"No Kate Mommy already asked." He had her dolls dancing on the bed now.
"So kiddo tell Momma who's getting married." Kate took the doll wearing the tux and held it while it danced with the doll in the wedding dress.
Dorian looked at Kate but really couldn't read her.
"It's your wedding silly remember?"
"Oh that's right who am I marrying?" Kate tickled the little girl.
"You're marring Momma, see she has the dress on." Angel held up the doll with the red hair and the wedding dress on.
"She is very beautiful.... But do I have to wear a tux?" Kate looked at Angel.
"I only had one dress...so you have to wear his cloths."
"Somewhere around here is a naked Ken doll!" Kate teased Angel.
"Ewww." Angel laughed at the face Kate made.
Dorian looked on and laughed on one except Kate and Faith could get Angel to laugh and be a silly kid like those two could.
"Momma can we get a dress for Kate? She doesn't want to wear the suit."
"Well that's up to Kate...it's all up to Kate Angel." Dorian looked at Kate hoping she was picking up her meaning.
"Hey Angel, when I marry your Momma we will go get a dress, and one for you too...okay?"
"Okay Kate...can I go show Faith my Barbie Momma?" Angel was already up and on her way out of the cottage.
"Be careful please stay out of the woods.....She's gone isn't she?" Dorian looked at Kate as she leaned over to look out the door.
"YUP! Gone. So...will ya?" Kate was looking down at the pattern of the quilt.
"Will I what marry you or will I stop my daughter from call you Mommy? Which is it Kate cuz when you have kids things move fast, relationships move fast, kids get attached." Dorian got up off the bed and Kate could tell she was upset.
"Why are you angry at me?" Kate looked like her heart would break.
"I have no right to be angry at you...I just want my pain now." Dorian had her hand on her heart.
"Pain how said anything about pain." Kate got up to stand in front of Dorian. "Dorian I want to marry you, Angel well she's a bonus." Kate was trying to get Dorian attention. "Honey look at me, I followed you all the way from LA, I helped your daughter rescue two mythical potential slayers in a hail of gun fire oh....and I have fallen in love with your five year old who calls me Kate Mommy."
Kate had Dorian around the waist and tilted her chin up so she could look in hers eyes.
"Do you think I am killing time until something better comes along or more exciting cuz with you honey boring would still be exciting."
"Do you mean it..? You love us all of us."
"Yes honey I love everything about you and your life, most of all I want to be an old lady with you...training slayers fighting demons all of it, as long as I'm with you."
Dorian threw herself at Kate "I love you so much."
"Hi Buffy."
"Well hello miss Angel, how are you this morning?"
"Good who's he and where is Faith?" Angel had a scowl on her face at finding Buffy at the kitchen table with Giles having breakfast.
"I don't know sweetie but I want you to met Mr. Giles, he is a friend of ours."
Angel backed up a little..."Faith's too?"
"Hi Tiger?" Faith come through the kitchen door and scooped up Angel.
"Hi Honey, 'G'." Faith bent down and kissed Amber on the top of the head. "How is my little girl doing?"
"She is fine she misses her Mommy." Buffy kissed Amber.
"Faith I think Angel is a little leery of my presents." Giles looked over his glasses at Angel.
"He's cool Tiger...he's like Buffy's daddy."
"Oh..." Angel laughed like she finally got a joke.
"What's so funny?" Faith said to her sister.
"He feels for her that's why it was weird." Angel handed one of her dolls to Giles.
"He is like a father to me Angel...are you okay?" Buffy asked.
"Yup, wanna play Barbie's?" Giles looked at Angel
"She's extraordinary isn't she?"
"You have no idea." Buffy laughed.
"Well Faith I couldn't be happier for you, you look well."
"Thanks Giles, everything is 5x5, I'm wicked happy." Faith moved to sit next to Buffy.
"Well I should get going I need to see Dorian and the others and see about Quentin." Giles excused himself and left the kitchen.
"Okay, what's wrong honey I can see it all over your face?" Faith was looking at Amber and counting and recounting her toes.
"B, it's Deni and Olivia....what's gonna happen with them?"
"Well, I don't know how much we have to say about it." Faith could feel Buffy's frustration with this situation also.
"What does that mean B, you're not gonna be their watcher?"
"I didn't say that Faith, we need to talk to their parents."
"We are going back to the hell mouth aren't we?"
"Well if I am going to be a watcher, and slayers are around then the hell mouth is the place to be!"
"I was afraid you'd say that."
"I talked to Dawn, we are selling the house and buying a bigger one, so we all can live together."
"You mean it B?" Faith was already hugging Buffy.
"Yes, Honey where did you expect us all to live? Dorian sold the house in Boston and I think she found us all a bigger one. So hell mouth here we come, besides I can't keep leaving it to that Robot, it still gives me the creeps."
"Ya, that reminds me I owe someone a visit when we get back to SunnyD."
"Faith you promised!" Buffy hated the thought of Faith confronting Spike.
"Don't sweat it B, I don't want to fight him, just warn him, okay lie I want to fight him wicked bad. But I promised this sexy blonde that I wouldn't." Faith leaned in and kissed Buffy.
"Hello, kid in the room." Angel giggled as she said this.
Deni's Father arrived as well as Olivia's aunt, they cried they fought, they wanted to press charges, Giles tried to convince them that both councils could handle Travers. This was a lot for both families to deal with, Faith and Buffy had to do their fair share of demonstrations to convince them. In the end it was Olivia and Deni clinging to each other that seem to put everything into prospective. Faith spoke for them she tried to explain to everyone what the girls were feeling, how they needed to stay together.
They agreed the girls would train at the hell mouth in the summers when school got out. Buffy would be their watcher the witch's council would also take part in the girls magical training. Giles could not have been prouder; no watcher has ever seen his charge live much less move on to become a watcher.
"So it's settled! Good, because I get married tomorrow and I need to be ready."
Faith looked up at Buffy as she was speaking and noticed Buffy was starting hyperventilating.
"B, B are you okay?" Faith moved to stand next to her lover.
"Let's face it, it's a little much for one woman to handle." Shara and Lynn agreed.
"She just had a baby, she just became a watcher, she's getting married, anything else?" Faith checked off the list.
"Come on B, let's get you back to the cottage to rest." Faith led Buffy out and home. Faith tried to hide her smirk.
Sophie and Faith bunked down the night before the wedding; Buffy was superstitious and didn't want to jinx anything.
"So Faith tell me again why I am sleeping with you and not a gorgeous redhead tonight?"
"Cuz Buffy is a freak right now, and she wanted Willow to stay with her!"
"Oh that's the reason." Sophie laughed at her friend; Faith can get a little out of hand if you don't keep her in check.
"So excited about tomorrow?"
"What do you think?" Faith liked Sophie but right now she was getting on her nerves.
"Hey, I know you're nervous, anyone would be. Faith I am so jealous of you!"
Faith was taken aback no one had every considered her worthy of anything before in her life except Buffy and Dorian.
"Me!"
"Ya you, numb nuts...you got everything, a daughter, a beautiful wife to be, a great Mom, a sexy Mom!"
"Ewww, enough with the sexy Mom stuff."
"Sorry but your Mom is hot, but you got everything I hope you know that?"
"Ya, it's starting to sink in, but I am scared Sophie what if I screw up?"
"Then Buffy kicks your ass, and so do I, and so does your mother and Kate and the coven, need I say more?"
"Nah, thanks I get it! Hey what's up with Willow, you guys look tight?"
"Ya, she's great, but she has a long road in front of her with Tara and all. But she did tell me she loves me!" Sophie wanted to believe it was true.
"Hey, Red is a good person, she doesn't say things she doesn't mean."
"Thanks Faith that means a lot. Now let's try to get some sleep."
Back at Faith and Buffy's cottage
"So...she kissed you? Details please?" Buffy got closer as to not miss a word.
"It was a kiss, well kisses...it was nice, very nice." Willow was blushing.
"Nice, that's all you can say? Will, are you freaked?"
"Ya, like a lot! Buffy I loved Tara with all my heart with everything, now, now I find someone else? It makes no sense, I don't deserve it."
"Will, you're gonna have to move on...." Willow cut her off.
"Move on, forget about Tara?" Willow was mortified.
"No Will, past the whole Warren thing...and yes move past Tara, and not in a heartless way. You are lucky most people get one love in their life, you've had three. Poor Willow. Just let it be Willow, just see where this goes with Sophie, she's a nice person."
"I know, and I am trying. Hey look at you getting married lady with a baby, marry your arch enemy and all."
"Weird right?" Buffy had to laugh at the irony of it all. "Ya, know Will if you told me a few years ago that I would be marrying Faith and have a baby...I would have told you, you were nuts!"
They heard the front door bang and Dawn showed up with pizzas.
"Yeah Dawnie!" Willow shouted.
Deni felt the wet grass from the dew on her feet as she slipped across the lawn. When she got to Olivia's window she climbed up the tree and had to make a perilously leap from the limb she was on onto the porch roof. "Thank god for slayer stuff."
Deni looked in the window and saw the most beautiful thing in the world Olivia was curled up sleeping on her side. Deni didn't know how long she sat there and watched her but she started to feel her legs cramp and decided to move inside. She lifted Olivia's window and creep in. She approached the bed and felt her face and noticed the tears slipping down her cheeks. Deni lifted the covers and slipped in next to Olivia, instinctively Olivia pulled Deni into a hug.
"How did you make your way past my Aunt?" Deni heard the sleepy voice of her girlfriend.
"The tree, then the porch, then you." Deni let out a sigh and snuggled down against Olivia.
"The porch is like 10 to 15 feet away from that tree...please tell me you didn't!"
"Okay I didn't, please I am okay, I'm here right? Quiet or someone will here us."
"I'm glad you are here I missed you." Olivia kissed Deni.
"Shh now go to sleep, love." Deni kissed Olivia again then wrapped her arms around her and spooned up behind her.
The wedding day was sunny and crisp. The fall leaves made a red gold and green carpet on the forest floor.
The coven had gone all out for Dorian's daughter, pots of mums and late fall daises lined the circle where the hand fastening would take place. Little votive candles hung from the trees for the night's celebration after.....Pumpkins were carved and garlands of gourds were strung and hung up.
Willow was nervous for Buffy. She was just plain nervous. She made Buffy and Faith their own broom to jump over for the fastening. They had gone over the ceremony but she knew Buffy wasn't really listening she was either looking at Faith or playing with Amber. Faith on the other hand wanted everything to be perfect, she sat for a long time reading over the ritual and driving Dorian crazy with questions. Faith was taking this very serious and her mother was very proud of her. Faith was going to make a wonderful partner to Buffy she was already a great mom in her own rite.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Willow looked up from her thoughts to find Sophie next to her.
"WOW, you look beautiful!" Willow felt as if she was looking at Sophie for the first time. She wore a sapphire dress trimmed in gold; it opened at the neck with two gold claps that were Celtic knots. Sophie's black hair was in a single braid down her back with a wreath on heather around her head. She had no shoes on but around her ankles she wore beads with little bells.
"Thank you! And I might add you are gorgeous! Did you make that broom?"
"Ya, you like it, I mean do you think they will like it?"
"I think they will love it!"
Everyone gathered in the clearing......Buffy walked down the path from one direction with Giles and Faith came from the other with Sophie.
Faith had never seen Buffy looking more beautiful. She wore a gold dress that sweep along the ground around her waist she had tied a gold sash, her hair was loose and it fell around her shoulders like fine silk. Her tiny feet padded along the forest floor and up to Faith.
When Buffy reached Faith the first thing she noticed was that Faith wore hardly any makeup she was almost natural, she had on just a little lipstick, her dark hazel eyes we on fire reflected in the emerald dress she wore. Her hair was loose also with braids on the undersides that held the feathers of the hawk and dove, for sight and for love. Sophie insisted she wear them.
Faith took Buffy's hands in her own as Dorian started the ritual.
Dorian spoke of the time Faith and Buffy had been together and how the two were soul mates, slayers and lovers and the goddess blessed them with little Amber, and a new family.
Shara and Lynn opened the circle with the rest of the coven and called for Gaia to bless the union and bind the two lives to each other, to bless their journey as warriors of the people. The ribbon was fastened around their writs. Willow came forward with the broom and they jumped over jumped into their future, they made their way to the fire still fastened to each other and jumped the fire as well as all the other guests.
Dorian and the other closed the circle and all spun out.....Dorian announced Faith and Buffy joined before the coven and friends and were to be treated as one as one soul.
"Faith, Buffy you may kiss your partner!"
Everyone clapped and yelled "so mote it be, blessings to you both."
Faith kissed Buffy with all the passion she could muster, this was it Buffy had given herself to Faith first in their bed by letting her mark her then in front of everyone with the ritual.
Faith felt the fall wind on her face as Buffy smiled up at her.
"We did it Faith!"
"I love you Buffy forever."
"I love you too Faith, always."
...continued in Learning to Crawl...