Learning to Crawl
by Suki
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: ME owns the Buffy cast, I own the rest.
Author's Notes: Sequel to The witch's council.
Dedication: To my wife cuz she makes me want life in big chunks.
And Tori (sexy redhead) and eilzalover, you guys are great thanks for
the encouragement.
Feedback: Please, please and yes. Thanks.
"Run…come on he's gaining on us."
"I'd rather fight!"
Deni stopped and turned and got into a fighting stance. Olivia pulled up and turned in time to see Deni collide with the newbie vamp. She started to run back when she heard a voice call to her.
"Olivia, stay." Buffy walked towards the two fighting on the ground.
Buffy crossed her arms over her chest and stood watching them wrestle.
"Aren't you going to help her?" Olivia was out of breath and watched as her girlfriend fought the vampire.
"Nope." Buffy said this very matter of factly.
"She could get hurt?" Olivia started forward to help Deni. Buffy grabbed her and pulled her back.
"She needs to learn a lesson, now stay put!"
Deni was on the ground with the vamp on top of her just inches from her neck when he turned to dust.
"Ewww." Deni got up spitting and coughing out vamp dust.
"Why did you stop me I was getting a handle on it." Deni was dusting of her cargo pants and sighing as she scowled at Buffy.
"Sure right, that's why he was about to take a taste?" Buffy turned and started walking out of the cemetery. Olivia and Deni fell in behind her.
"You okay?" Olivia asked but kept her face forward.
"Yup five x five!" Deni was cocky and it drove Buffy crazy.
Buffy turned on her heels and got right up in Deni's face.
"Don't use that phrase you got me kid?"
"What's the problem Buffy? I'm sorry okay I shouldn't have fought that vamp okay?"
Buffy was still just inches away from the younger slayer.
"No it's not okay, you could have gotten killed, you need to listen to me, you got that?"
Buffy grabbed Deni by the collar and shoved her towards Olivia.
"You see her? She's the reason you need to care, and the innocent people out there they are the reason you are here." Buffy turned and started to walk again.
"Man I hate it when she gets like this."
Olivia looked at Deni "She's right ya know."
"Are you gonna start on me too?"
"Deni stop, Buffy is our watcher and the longest living slayer…I say we listen to her okay?"
Olivia looked at her girlfriend and folded her arms around her. "Come on baby you know she's right?"
Deni could not deny Olivia anything, she caved.
"Ya, she's right I should have listened to her." Deni's eyes were down cast and Olivia knew it took a lot out of her to admit she was wrong.
"Come on let's go home." Olivia took Deni's hand and they followed Buffy out to the street.
Faith rocked her daughter on her hip and looked at the clock.
"1 am!" Faith paced back and forth in their bedroom at the new house.
"Shhh Mommy will be home soon." Amber was starting to cut teeth and was up fussing.
Faith stood in front of the Victorian windows and watched for her wife to get home with the two young slayers. It had been a long time since their wedding and moving back to Sunnydale. They had purchased an old mansion that belonged to an old movie star. It suited them all well everyone had their privacy but still they were together. Sophie and Willow grew close over the past year and were now sharing a room across the hall from Buffy and Faith. Dorian and Kate lived on the first floor with Angel, who now at six was in the first grade and developing her magick ability much to everyone's dismay. Many a vase or window was broken with Angel's spell that had gone awry. They were all family now. The two young slayers were on their break from school and as agreed they were in Sunnydale for the next few months training with their watcher Buffy Summers.
Faith heard her wife climbing the stairs and by the sounds it was not a good night of training.
"So let me guess the kid pissed you off again?" Faith still bouncing Amber on her hip chuckled a little.
"She had the nerve to say Five x five…can you believe it?" Buffy pulled Amber into her arms and hugged the little girl and wiped her runny nose. "Did you feel any new teeth?"
"Nope, but I am glad you are home." Faith kissed Buffy and pulled at her bottom lip as they parted. "So B feel like taking care of your other favorite girl tonight?" Faith winked and raised her eyebrows.
"Let me put Amber down, then I'll met you in the shower? Sound good?"
Faith could still be shocked by Buffy, she knew her wife wasn't a prude but aggressive Buffy or forceful Buffy could be a real turn on.
"Um sure B meet you there."
After getting Amber to fall asleep Buffy found Faith sitting in their claw footed bathtub filled with bubbles. Candles were lit all around the room casting dim shadows.
"Wow how romantic!"
"The only thing that would make this more perfect is you in here now." Faith smiled up at her.
Faith watched as her wife stripped in front of her, she marveled at how much fuller Buffy's body was now that she had a child. Her body was now that of a woman and Faith couldn't love her more.
Buffy sank into the warm water and placed a leg on either side of Faith's hips. Buffy wrapped her arms around Faith's neck and pulled her in for a kiss, Buffy parted her wife lips with her tongue and kissed her deeply.
Faith slipped her hand down in the warm water and sought out Buffy's center. The blonde sighed in Faith's mouth as the fingers slipped between the folds and entered her.
"Oh god Faith I love you." Buffy rested her forehead against Faith's as she rocked on her hand. Faith lowered her mouth to Buffy's breast as she stroked in and out. She curled her fingers upward to hit the spot the she knew would drive Buffy over the edge. It didn't take long before Buffy came around Faith's fingers.
"You are the best you know that?"
Faith laughed as she lifted Buffy out of the water dried her off and carried her into the bedroom.
"Sleep now B you're tired." Faith laid her down on the bed and spooned in behind her.
"I am not tired Faith." Buffy turned in Faith's arms and faced her. "Faith I want to see you touch yourself." Buffy asked shyly.
"You mean in front of you B?" Faith was blushing and wondering just what she was asking.
"Yes Faith I want you to touch yourself and I want to watch." Green eyes met hazel and Faith could tell Buffy was serious.
Faith leaned back on the bed and spread her legs; Buffy was on her side resting her head on her elbow.
"You are beautiful Faith."
"Oh god!" Faith sighed and she played with her lips and dipped her fingers in her pussy.
Buffy's head was reeling. She was watching Faith masturbate this was fantasy she could now cross off her list.
Buffy leaned over and nipped at Faith exposed nipple watched as her wife rubbed her own clit back and forth.
"Cum for me Faith?" Buffy never took her mouth off the brunette's breast as she spoke.
"Oh god Buffy I love you." Faith managed to choke out.
"That's it baby cum for me." Buffy nipped again at Faith's breast sending her into an orgasm; it gently took over Faith rippling out then washing over her in waves.
Faith looked down and watched Buffy as she sucked on her nipple.
"That was hot B!" Buffy smiled against the nipple.
She made soft kisses down Faith's chest to her navel and dipped her tongue in and continued down, she inhaled deeply when she reached Faith wet pussy then began to lap and suck. Faith moaned and cooed as her wife made love to her and lit the fire in her again bringing her to another orgasm.
After a while when they were sedate they lay in each other's arms.
"B, I never did anything like that before."
"Me either Faith." Buffy was sleepy and she was resting her head on Faith's shoulder with her eyes closed.
"No B, I mean I never trusted anyone enough to give myself like that."
Buffy looked up and noticed Faith crying.
"Thank you Faith."
Faith looked at Buffy confused. "Thank you, me…for what?"
"Giving me that gift, trusting me. Thank you baby." Buffy reached up and kissed her on the cheek.
"I love you B, so much."
Deni tip toed down the hallway, when she got to Olivia's door she tapped lightly as to not wake anyone up.
Olivia sprang from the bed and made her way to the door, she quickly ushered Deni in and silenced her with a kiss.
"I thought you would never get here."
"Sorry, I didn't want to piss Queen Buffy off anymore. Besides did ya hear them, they go at it like rabbits!"
"Shut up and kiss me!"
"One of these days Buffy is going to catch her sneaking into Olivia's room and all hell is going to break loose!" Kate leaned over Dorian to turn the bedside lamp off.
"Hey I'm reading here?" Dorian looked over the top of her glasses at the blonde.
"I can think of other things to do." She looked seductively at her partner.
"Are you trying to seduce me my dear?"
"I didn't know I had to try?"
Dorian blushed; she brought her lips down to Kate's and kissed her fully.
"Never my love, never."
Olivia slept with Deni splayed across her. She pushed the hair off of Deni's face and wondered what she would do without her when training was over and it was time to go back to Australia. But she didn't want to think about that now she just wanted to enjoy her time with the other slayer right now. Being a 'Slayer' seemed to come so easy to Deni, the strength the agility and the attitude it required and her girlfriend sure knew how to push their watcher's buttons. Olivia worried that if Buffy found out about their midnight meetings she just might blow a gasket.
She didn't want to worry about that now Deni was here and she was real and she loved her with all her heart. They had a grueling training session with Buffy in the morning and she knew she better get all the rest she could.
Willow Rosenberg tossed and turned in the bed she now shared with her lover Sophie; the sight of her niece Amber plagued her. In her dreams she could not wake the little girl, no matter what she did she couldn't wake her. She ran with the child in her arms looking over her shoulder waiting for the invisible force that was chasing her to catch up.
"Baby wake up come on you're dreaming!"
Sophie shook Willow trying to roust her out of her nightmare.
"Will please wake up."
Willow awoke with a start, crying and out of breath. Sophie pulled her into a hug.
"Will what's up what were you dreaming about?"
"Amber, I was dreaming about Amber, someone was chasing us and I couldn't wake her, oh it was awful."
"Shh it's just a dream." Sophie tried to comfort her.
"No…not in Sunnydale and not to us, dreams are always prophetic."
"Do you want me to go get Buffy and Faith?" Sophie started to get out of bed when Willow stopped her.
"No let them sleep, it's only a few hours till morning, we can tell them then."
She lay back down and curled into Sophie and tried to remember all the details of the dreams, they would need to know everything if a big bad was coming to Sunnydale. Willow shuddered at the thought of someone or something going after Amber. The little girl was every thing to her Mommies they worshiped the little girl and so did Willow. Amber was a happy toddler with a mess of curls and an ability to get into anything that you left out. She seemed to inherit Buffy's temperament but Faith mischievous side. She wasn't looking forward to telling Buffy or Faith that she thought Amber might be in danger.
"Faith quick come here she's gonna do it this time!"
Amber swayed and stepped backwards; then forward then completed four steps and fell into Faith's arms.
"She took her first steps I can't believe it." Buffy was about ready to burst. "I have to go tell everyone, be right back, oh and Faith get the camera!"
With that Buffy headed across the hall to Willow and Sophie's room and started to knock on the door.
"Will you up and decent cuz I'm coming in."
"Sure come on in." The two witches hadn't gotten much sleep since the nightmare.
"Will, she walked four steps not much but huge don't ya think, come on you gotta see it she's with Faith right now come on, Sophie you too get up come on." Buffy was in full babble mode.
"Was that English?" Sophie laughed and pulled on a sweatshirt and followed the two out to the hall.
"I got to go get the girls, Olivia will be so happy." Buffy was jumping up and down.
"Buffy wait, I'll go…." Too late she was already out and up to the loft rooms to go get Olivia and Deni.
"Olivia, it's me Buffy." Buffy tapped lightly on the door and opened it. She looked over the rail into the converted attic space. Her first thought was to yell, her second thought was to yell, and then she felt an overwhelming sense of peace wash over her. Deni was on top of Olivia kissing her gently on the lips her hand was caressing her cheek and she was whispering words of love to her. Olivia had such a contented look on her face that Buffy didn't have the heart to break it up. Why did she need to break it up, they were in love. If someone had tried to stop her when she was that age she would have done exactly what they were doing, going behind Buffy's back.
She backed out of the doorway and closed the door without a click.
"Note to self ….explain door locks to Olivia and Deni."
Buffy made her way back to the living room where she found everyone watching Amber stumble and bow and rock to a few steps.
Faith was so proud. She scooped Amber and hugged her.
"Did you see her B, she's gonna be running before you know it!"
"Yup she's our little superhero."
"Well Buffy that could be very true." All eyes turned to Dorian. "When Pam did the work up on you and Faith she found out a lot about you."
Faith remembered the doctor that delivered Amber and helped Buffy through her short but hand crushing pregnancy. Pam had started a file for the witch's council on the Slayers body capabilities etc.
"She could have very well inherited all the slayer abilities you and Faith possess."
"So what you're telling me is we may have a super slayer on our hands?" Faith looked at the girl in her arms and wondered how anybody that little could one-day maybe be a slayer.
"Could be, and thank the goddess she has you two to look after her."
"And her witchy grandmother." Angel piped up.
"Amber has all of us." Olivia and Deni had finally come down stairs and added their two cents in.
"Sleep well Denise?" Buffy turned to look at the girls.
"Ya sure." Deni flopped down in a chair and pulled Olivia with her.
"And how about you Olivia, sleep well?"
"Umm, yes Buffy thank you." She knew they had been caught.
"B, leave it." Faith looked over at her wife and winked.
"We will talk later." Buffy pointed at the girls.
"Yes Ma'am." Olivia added politely.
"Denise?" Buffy was facing her with her hands on her hips.
"Oh ya right sure talk later."
"Umm Buffy now that everyone was here I need to tell you about a dream I had last night well a nightmare, not really a dream, it was about Amber."
"Will breath, what about Amber?" Willow now had everyone attention.
"Well, I was trying to wake Amber and I couldn't."
"Oh god she wasn't dead was she?" Faith felt as if her heart had stopped.
"No, no Buffy …." Faith was clutching Amber and the look of panic on her face was so painful for Buffy and Dorian to look at.
"Faith it's okay slow down, let's see what else was in the dream." Buffy pulled her wife down to the couch and put her arms around her and her daughter.
"Go ahead Will."
"Well, we were running and something was chasing us, I was holding Amber, I think we were underground in a tunnel I am not sure I'm sorry."
Sophie tried to comfort Willow she knew that telling Buffy and Faith about this was very taxing to her.
"We.. what do we do B, we don't even know if it's vamp or a demon..?"
"Calm down sweetie. Dorian, can you and Sophie do a spell to see what this is about?"
"We could try to astral project in to Willow's dream?" Sophie looked towards Dorian.
"Have you ever done it?" Dorian asked.
"Once, but not for anything like this."
"Sophie it could be very frightening, can you keep it together?" Dorian was worried about her.
"I can do it."
"Mom can't you just do it the spell thing?" Faith hated to ask her mother but she knew she was a very powerful witch.
"She can't Faith." Sophie spoke up.
"She is Amber's grandmother, she couldn't be objective she would get sucked into the trauma."
"And you won't Soph?" Faith raised her voice and Buffy stepped in.
"Sophie I don't understand, Dorian is very powerful."
"Yes she is but you can't mix magicks with emotions, it's very dangerous. Dorian is just too close to Amber she loves her so much it would cloud her and she would end up running with Willow and not looking to see what was chasing her."
"Okay I get it so what do we need to do?"
"We can do the spell today, I just need to go to the magick shop for some supplies."
"We can take Sophie so she has protection."
"Thanks guys, we should really think about that now, travelling in pairs not after dark and all."
"Okay so we meet back here at 12:00, okay?"
Everyone went their separate ways leaving Buffy and Faith with their daughter who at the moment was playing with the cross around Faith's neck.
"It will be okay baby I promise." Buffy tried to reassure her.
"B, I can't loose you or Amber, I don't think I could survive it, I wouldn't want to live without you guys."
"You won't have to worry about it Faith we aren't going anywhere, never."
Buffy took her daughter in her arms and hugged her; she squirmed out and down to the carpet where she was now crawling towards her toys. "Leave it to our daughter to walk before she learns to crawl."
Buffy took Faith hand and kissed it as they sat and watched Amber play.
"Never Faith, never!"
"I love you B."
Faith had been inconsolable since Willow had told them the news of her dream.
Buffy was worried about her wife she had no idea how to make Faith understand that she would never let anything happen to their daughter. Buffy way of dealing with this news was to train and she was currently taking if out on a blocking dummy. She hit it back and forth; backhanded it high kicked it and started again.
"Hey Buffy, your hand is bleeding" Willow was trying to get Buffy's attention.
"It's okay Will not like it won't heal by morning." Punch, punch kick.
"Buffy stop!" The red head worried that Buffy was going to lose it.
"Will I know what I am doing if this thing comes I want to be ready."
"Buffy you are ready, just go be with them, play with Amber. And I think Faith needs you."
Buffy slumped down the exercise room wall and started to cry. All that she was holding was finally coming out.
"Willow what if I can't do it what if I…"
"Buffy stop we will handle it all of us we are a team."
Faith felt Buffy give way and made her way to the exercise room.
"B?" Faith found Buffy wrapped in Willow's arms crying.
Faith moved to pick Buffy up and place her on her lap.
"B, ya don't have to be super woman, I love you. I'm sorry for freakin' out earlier, I'm okay now, got my shit together and ready to train."
Buffy looked up at Faith with tears stained cheeks.
"No Faith, we are going to play with our daughter now, come on."
Sophie moved around the magick box collecting the supplies for the spell.
"Let me guess this is going on Buffy's imaginary charge here correct?" Anya by now was used to the scoobies helping themselves to supplies.
"Ya, I guess." Sophie was not in the mood for Anya.
"Maybe Faith's rich Mother can pay for it?"
"Anya, now is not the time to piss off a powerful witch." Xander made his way into the shop.
"Hey Xander." The black haired witch tipped her chin to him, seeing her arms were full of supplies.
"Here let me help you with that." Xander moved to take some of the items Sophie was gathering.
"Hey! You two can ya help out?"
Olivia and Deni were back in Buffy's old training room.
"What are they doing back there, I hope they aren't having sex in my store room!"
"Anya calm down I doubt they even have sex. Do they have sex?" Xander looked over at Sophie.
"How should I know!"
"That is none of your business." Deni came out of the back room dragging Olivia with her.
"I think it's time for Momma Buffy to have a talk with the little slayers about the birds and the bees." Xander reached over and pinched Deni's cheek.
"Hey knock it off, and I am not talking to Buffy about anything!" Deni slumped down into a chair.
"What is it with you and the Buffster, I mean everybody loves her, well except demon types."
"And don't forget Vampires!" Anya chimed in.
"She's always riding me, I think she hates me." She was flipping through a demon text.
"She doesn't hate you, she worries about you." Sophie was crossing items off her list.
"She's got a funny way of showing it."
"It's Faith." Anya added coolly.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Olivia perked up at hearing this theory.
"You remind her of Faith, it's simple really. "
"Anya explain it for us please." Xander rolled his eyes.
"Really you humans are so slow to pick up on things. You remind Buffy of Faith in her younger psycho days and she is riding you so she doesn't repeat the same mistakes."
"Wait don't you mean repeat Faith's mistakes?" Sophie spoke up.
"No her mistakes, Buffy felt responsible for Faith, and when Faith went evil Buffy still felt responsible, she said it was a slayer thing." Xander had witnessed Faith's unstable self too many times to forget.
"Well I am not going psycho, so she can get off my back."
"Maybe you should tell her that." Olivia moved to sit on the arm of the chair and wrap her arm around her girlfriend.
"Come on crew I am done let's head back to the house." Sophie picked up the bag and headed out of the magic box.
"Do you have any idea how strong the blood of a slayer will make me, much less the blood of an infant slayer, pure blood conceived of two slayers?"
"Yes my mistress." The vampire bowed in front of her.
"Now all we have to do is get the baby away from them."
"How large is the legion we have now?"
"They are many my mistress."
"Good start collecting humans and storing them for feeding I don't want many out. Let the slayer get comfortable and drop her guard."
"Yes Mistress." He bowed and walked from her bedroom.
"Did I tell you could stop!" She tugged on the hair of the girl between her legs start again, ohh yes right there." She ran her long fingers through the girl's hair. "If you're good I won't kill you I'll just take a little taste and keep you alive so I can play with you."
The girl sighed a small cry as she continued to lap at the vampire.
Sophie prepared herself for the ritual by meditating. Dorian, Kate and the others were getting ready for Sophie to astral project herself into Willow's dream and find out just who was after little Amber.
Willow climbed the stairs to their bedroom, she knew that Sophie was the only one to do this but that didn't make her happy about it. She entered their bedroom quietly and found Sophie sitting cross-legged facing the big bay window.
"You can come in, I'm done." Sophie stretched and untangled her legs.
"I didn't mean to disturb you I just wanted…"
"You just wanted to talk me out of it right?" She moved to stand in front of the red head. "God look how long your hair has gotten." Sophie was running her fingers through Willow's hair that had grown past her shoulders.
"Stop changing the subject."
"Will it's going to be okay, this is for the best."
"Best for them but not for you, I just got you I don't want anything to happen to you." Willow hugged Sophie with everything she had.
"Hey Will I have no plans on going anywhere so you're stuck with me okay?" Sophie kissed Willow on the lips. "Now come on we need to get started."
The room was ready and everyone was gathered. Dorian put Willow into a sleep trance.
"Sophie are you sure you can do this?" Dorian knew just how taxing astral projection could be.
"I am as ready as I will ever be, let's do this."
"Will, where are you?" Sophie was walking through Willow's dream; she could hear the red head, crying as she ran. The mist was thick and it was hard for Sophie to make out shapes. Subconscious thoughts would occasionally pass by her, Willow in class taking a test, Willow walking through a park with Tara, Willow making love to Sophie. It was hard to walk away from some of the thoughts but she needed to stay focused.
"No, no not Amber!"
Sophie heard Willow's voice again and ran towards the sound. Willow had the toddler in her arms she was running and looking over her shoulder. Amber's head was lolling from side to side as Willow ran.
Sophie ran to try to get next to Willow to see who was following her.
She stopped Willow and tried to turn her, Willow pushed off while still holding the child.
"Move or she'll find us." Willow looked right through Sophie, in the dream state she had no idea that Sophie was there.
As she turned she saw her. She was tall, she was dressed in black leather from head to foot, and dark curls ran down her back. Next to her were two vampires she must use as hench man. Sophie froze as the vampire mistress approached her; she wasn't sure if she would see her or walk past her as Willow had done.
The vampire strode up to Sophie and circled her, "So you are the young witch Dorian sent to find me. My you're pretty and powerful. It has been very hard blocking her all these years. I guess I don't have to anymore the cats out of the bag." Anna leaned in and kissed Sophie on the cheek as she was pulling away she bit down and drew blood, "ummm" she licked her lips. Anna then whispered into Sophie's ear, "tell my love I miss her and soon she will walk by my side, her and Angel. I am coming for my family, go and tell her make sure you tell her, I'm coming."
The vampire Anna laughed a cold laugh and walked away into the mist.
Sophie snapped away and put her hand to her cheek, a drip of blood ran down her face.
"My god Sophie what happened." Dorian was at her side in moments.
"Is Willow alright, please tell me Willow is okay?"
"She's fine she's starting to come out of it now. Sophie what did you see, please tell me!" Dorian was shaking Sophie trying to make her alert.
"Mom stop you're hurting her." Faith pulled her mother back and went to Sophie.
"Hey pal, nice journey?"
"She's coming Faith she's coming for Amber and for Dorian, everyone." Sophie was still trying to shake off the fog from the dream walking.
"Who's coming Soph, who?"
"Anna, Anna's coming she's a vampire."
"That's impossible I saw her die." Faith was standing above Sophie looking at Dorian. "I saw her die!"
"That vampire Kakitos must have changed her when you ran…I don't know I'm sorry. She had a message for you Dorian." Sophie's eyes were downcast she didn't really want to give the message.
Kate moved to place a reassuring arm around Dorian.
"She said "tell my love I miss her and soon she will walk by my side with our daughter, she's coming for her family," I'm sorry that's it, that's all."
"Kate it can't be true, it just can't be I would have felt her all these years I would have felt her." Dorian slumped into Kate's embrace and sobbed.
"She said she blocked you, I'm sorry Dorian." Sophie was exhausted.
Kate looked at Faith. "I need to get her into our room, Faith help me." Faith picked her mother up and carried her the flight of the stairs to the bedroom and put her on the bed.
"Faith don't go, please come here." Dorian was grabbing at Faith's shirt trying to pull her close.
"Don't let her take Angel please Faith, promise me you won't let her take Angel."
"I promise Mom I won't let her take anyone." Faith kissed her mother on the forehead and nodded at Kate.
She made her way back down stairs.
"Aunt Buffy is my other Mommy coming back? I don't understand?"
"I don't know sweetie I don't know." Buffy kneeled in front of the little girl.
"I won't go I want to stay here with Mommy and Kate mommy!" Little Angel was crying.
"Faith come in here." Buffy called to her wife.
Angel came running at her sister and threw herself into Faith's embrace. "Shh its okay Angel don't worry no one not even Anna is going to take my family away from me!"
*This can't be. This woman can't please her …not like I could, like I did.* Anna perched on the window ledge looking in at Kate curled around Dorian sleeping. It tore her up inside that someone else had claimed her mate and child no less.
The vampire side of her wanted to rip out the throats of everyone in the house but the hunter in her wanted them as prey. She wanted to lure the child Angel away, she wanted Faith to betray everything she now held dear. Most of all she wanted Dorian in her bed, she wanted her by her side as her mate, she wanted to turn Dorian make her one with the night.
Anna scaled the side of the mansion and peered in another room. Ahh this must be the little Angel…how sweet, the slayer is tucking her in. Faith, how sweet I didn't know you had it in you.
Faith's head shot up; her slayer senses went off the wall. She scooped up Angel and headed out the room.
"Buffy, Buffy." Faith yelled, she knew Anna must be outside.
"She's here!" Faith yelled as she walked down the hall to the room she shared with Buffy.
Faith was holding on tight to Angel.
"Faith don't let her take me." Angel was terrified.
"I won't Tiger don't worry."
Buffy had just finished bathing Amber and wrestled her into her nightclothes.
"Now Mommy is going to get your teddy and we can play a while."
Buffy stepped out of the nursery and into their room to get Amber's teddy bear. She looked around the room and finally found "Harold" sticking out from under the bed. Ever since Amber learned to walk Buffy and Faith found her toys strung all around the mansion.
"Come on Harold let's get you to the nursery!"
Before Buffy could think she heard Faith scream and started on a dead run for her daughter, by the time she got there Amber had been lured to the window and gone.
"Oh God!" Buffy held her hand to her mouth.
Anna was hovering above the window; she had Amber in her arms.
"What a good baby, she came right to her Grandmother!"
"NO!" Buffy threw herself at the glass.
With a piercing shatter Buffy hit the window. Shards of glass ripped threw her skin as she fell two stories down.
Anna laughed as she held the small infant in her arms.
"Now, now slayers can't fly." She walked in circles around Buffy sprawled out on the lawn.
"One down, this should shake your Mommy up a bit." Anna handed the baby over to one of her vamps. "Bring her to crypt." She grabbed hold of the vampire by the neck. "If anyone touches her, tastes her at all, they will deal with me." She let go and pushed him off at the same time, he staggered back and ran off. "Oh Dorian, come out."
Anna danced around the small tree that sat under Dorian and Kate's window.
"My love, I am waiting for you." She said in a sing song voice.
Dorian stirred in her sleep, something wasn't right. She tried to wake Kate but her lover seemed to be in a trance. She got up and gingerly made her way to the window. Dorian peered out into the night. The moon was splashed across the lawn; she could make out a body on the lawn.
"Faith!" Dorian screamed when she realized it was Buffy that lay in the grass.
She ran down the flights of stairs and made her way out of the house. Dorian turned Buffy over and quickly noticed she was in fact breathing.
"Buffy wake up, come on." She checked Buffy's pulse and looked for other injuries other than the cuts that were all over her body.
"My my, what a touching sight." Anna strode over to where the witch was kneeling in grass next to her daughter-in-law.
"No, no, Anna please." Dorian felt like her last bits of sanity would crack. "This is my family, please, please just leave us alone."
"I can't my dear, you are mine, don't you feel it." Anna had her hand on her now still heart. "I can still feel you in here you are the soul I once had."
She offered her hand to Dorian. "Come with me my love, I promise I will spare the others but I will have you and Angel."
"No! You are not touching my daughter." Dorian felt herself shake with anger.
"Your daughter! She's mine too, remember? I was there when she was conceived, she is part of me too."
"You died, the Anna I loved is dead, you are a monster!" Dorian's fists were clenched, she didn't remember standing up, but she was now facing the vampire.
"What about the baby?" Anna reached out and ran a finger down Dorian's cheek.
"Amber! Please tell me you didn't take my granddaughter?"
Anna nodded like a child offered a cookie.
Dorian started to chant, rage and pain flashed before her. The leaves on the ground swirled and danced, the trees seemed to bend with her will.
"Now, now my dear this won't solve anything, I will give you two days to get your affairs in order."
"I won't give you Angel!" The air crackled around Dorian.
"I will let the child go unharmed, promise love as long as you and Angel are by my side."
"No, I will go with you…." Dorian's words were stopped by the crashing sound.
Faith ripped the French doors from the hinge.
"Where is my daughter?" Faith had a crossbow pointed at Anna. "Tell me now! Where is my daughter?"
"Faith nice to see you too, what no hug?" Anna held her arms out to mock Faith.
Faith pulled the trigger on the bow and released the arrow; it flew through the air and settled in Anna's shoulder. The blow rocked the vampire but didn't knock her down.
"Now that wasn't very nice or accurate dear, I never could make you understand anything when I trained you, the heart, the heart is the spot! You were pathetic then and you are now."
"If you think I missed then you really didn't know me!" Faith still held the bow on her former watcher.
She pulled the arrow from her shoulder, "That will cost you."
"Faith no, we need her she has Amber." Dorian grabbed onto Faith's arm to get her to lower the crossbow.
"Two days my love…I'll be back." Anna turned and walked into the night.
"Oh god B!" Faith rushed to her side.
"Let's get her inside."
Buffy woke to find Faith by her side holding her hand.
"Please tell me it was dream?"
"I'm sorry B, she took Amber, she's gone." Faith laid her head down on Buffy's stomach and cried.
"Oh god no not my baby, Faith I am so sorry." She had lost their daughter let that monster take her, Faith must hate her.
"B, we will get her back." Faith got up to go.
"Faith, do you hate me?"
"God no B I love you." Faith rushed back to her wife's side.
"I can't forgive myself…what if something happens to her, what if she hurts her…"
"B, stop now, we will get her back I promise. You did everything you could to stop her, you threw yourself out a window to stop her! Rest, I'll be back, I need to talk to everybody about finding her."
"I'm coming too…." Buffy tried to get out of bed but Faith gently pushed her back down.
"B, have you seen the cuts on you? You need to let them heal, then we'll go after her."
Faith kissed her on the lips lightly and left their bedroom.
Dorian and the others were assembled in the living room trying to figure out the best way to go about finding Anna.
Dorian sat apart from everyone lost in her thoughts, she knew what she had to do, and she needed to give herself to Anna to save everyone. She laughed lightly to herself, just when things were getting so good.
"Honey, you okay?" Kate was by her partner's side.
"Ya I'm fine, but we don't need to have this discussion. Can I have everyone's attention." All eyes turned and landed on the witch.
"I am going to her, I'm gonna give myself to Anna so Amber can come home and you will all be safe."
This was met with a resounding NO, they all protested.
"Mom you can't we will find a way, that's the end of it." Faith turned away and started to give out orders.
Dorian started to chant very low under her breath no one seemed to notice they were too busy listening to Faith as to what each one would be doing.
There lay her family asleep; Deni was siting in a big over stuffed chair with Olivia on her lap. Kate was lying on the floor with Angel cradled in her arms. Faith had fallen on her way to protest to her mother not to do this as she felt the sleep taking her over. Willow and Sophie lay with their heads on the research table. Dorian stepped around them and made her way upstairs to change, on her way back down she stopped to see Buffy.
"Buffy I don't want you to blame yourself Anna is a powerful vampire she was a powerful witch at one time too."
"I let her take my life my daughter, I'll kill her!"
"I need to go now…I know where she is and I am going to her. Please tell Kate I love her so much, tell Angel I promise to see her soon, and Faith well tell Faith I love her and I am very proud of her, but I need to stop Anna."
"Dorian you can't go alone she's too strong…" Buffy tried to get up and the pain hit her.
"Buffy lay back down, you'll wake in a few hours…just promise me you'll tell them."
Buffy tried to call out to Faith to Willow anyone but the witch waved her hand in front of her face. "Sleep" was the last word she heard.
Anna lay with little Amber on her bed talking to the child. Her vampire side longed to devour her taste the blood of a slayers child, but she knew she needed to fight it, Amber was to be used as a bargaining chip…then she would drain her.
"Mistress, she comes." One of Anna's minions rushed into her chamber.
"Bring her in." Anna sat up and walked to the front of the bed.
Dorian was brought in with chains draped around her.
"My, my don't you look just the dish! Take the baby away" Anna waved her hand towards her granddaughter on the bed.
"Wait can't I see her please?" Dorian's voice sounded thick with desperation.
"Make it quick." Anna unlocked the chains with a wave of her hands and they clanged noisily to the floor startling little Amber and she started to cry.
"Shhh, Gramma's here, shhh." Dorian rocked the baby until she stopped crying and fell a sleep.
"How touching, really. Take her away." Amber was whisked away leaving them alone.
"So miss me?" Anna walked around Dorian taking in her shape admiring the curve of her full hips and ample breasts. "I miss your body."
"I miss the Anna I was married to the Anna that I loved." Dorian followed her with her eyes.
"You can't do magick in her you know, I did a spell…. Only I can cast here."
"We had a deal, I'm here leave my family alone!"
"I don't think so…where's Angel?"
"No deal with Angel, I will do what ever you want just leave her alone."
"Kiss me" Anna stepped in front of the witch.
"What?"
"Kiss me, I know you want to." Dorian could feel the desire coming off of Anna. "What's wrong worried about your sweet lover?"
"Leave her out of this." Dorian clenched her fists.
"Hit a nerve…you love her?"
"NO, not at all I, I."
"You're a bad liar Dorian you always were. Tell me you don't miss making love to me, the way I could make you cum, you loved the way I went down on you." Anna was whispering in Dorian ear, she could feel the resolve of her love waning.
"Please, don't do this to me, you have know idea what it was like when I lost you…"
"Then let it go…I'm here baby I'm here." Anna had her arms wrapped around Dorian as she caressed her breast and licked her neck.
"Oh god I missed you." Dorian turned in Anna's arms and hugged her. Anna's head reeled at the power the witch possessed; her blood must be intoxicating. She nuzzled in the long red mane taking in the familiar scent, she could feel the blood pulsing through Dorian. Anna's tongue traced the vein feeling it throb under her touch she nipped the soft sink and felt her knees go weak when she heard her love moan. Just one more push and her fangs would be in……
"NO!" Dorian pushed off and away from Anna.
"Oh Kate I'm so sorry, please give me strength."
Buffy shook Faith "Baby wake up please."
"B, what the hell is going on?" They helped each other up and moved to wake everyone else up.
It didn't take long for Buffy to explain her conversation with Dorian and everything that she planned.
"Well that settles it!" A very angry Kate pushed past Faith and made her way to the stairs.
"Where are you going?"
"To get her back."
"You can't go alone, you need us all of us, she put us to sleep to sacrifice herself don't cheapen it." Kate felt her world collapsing.
"Mommy don't go please stay." Little Angel was clinging to Kate and she was too catch up in her grief to notice Willow and Sophie had already started a locating spell.
"Deni you and Olivia get the weapons ready, Buffy you are staying here."
"Like hell I am, I am going to get our daughter back."
"B, you are not to full strength and someone needs to stay behind to look out for Angel."
"Faith I'm going! Olivia can you stay and take care of Angel?"
"Ya sure." Olivia looked at Deni and mouthed I love you, Deni smiled and said it back.
"Please take care of Angel!"
"I will Faith I promise." Olivia picked up the little girl who was crying.
"Kate are you up for this?"
"Try and stop me!"
"Found em!" Willow stood, "let's go."
Dorian felt the chains cut into her wrist and watched as the blood ran down the sleeve of her white blouse staining a path.
"You're awake, nice of you to join me."
Anna was sitting in the chair in the corner of the room lazily tracing patterns on the floor with her riding crop.
"If I remember correctly you always liked it a little rough my love, is that still true? Does Kate make you beg like I used to?"
"Please, just get it over with, I love Kate not you, just kill me."
"So you can beg…nice, say it again say please."
Anna licked the side of Dorian face, "Say it."
Dorian was exhausted Anna had beat her then chained her to the wall.
"Are you really enjoying this, I hate you, you will never have me, I love Kate not you, you're dead."
Dorian spit out the blood from her mouth, she was done begging she was done pleading with this monster.
"Come on, get it over with!" Dorian was yelling.
"You'd like that wouldn't you, make it quick feel nothing."
"I don't care, you are going to kill them all anyway, so I don't care, get it over with."
Anna's eyes flashed yellow she was full of rage, if Dorian wouldn't give herself freely she would just take what was hers. She grabbed the red head by the hair and pulled her head to the side exposing her neck.
Faith made her way through the path of vamp that Anna had protecting the entrance to the building. Her sword and stake knew no mercy as she plowed threw them.
Kate had the crossbow and took aim blowing vamps away as she walked through the doors. Deni and Buffy brought up the rear fighting hand to hand and staking vamps as they followed Kate and Faith.
"Faith wait, there is a powerful spell surrounding this house." Sophie sensed it and grabbed her friend to stop her.
"Well can you two do anything to break through it?"
"We'll try."
"Deni go with Kate and head up those stairs and see if you find anything, Buffy you're with me. Sophie make it quick okay we may need back up."
Kate and Deni got to the top of the stairs and they heard moaning. The blonde kicked the door but it wouldn't budge. Deni tapped her on the shoulder and moved her aside. Deni kicked the door and it splintered and fell in.
Kate saw her love chained to the wall, her head hung low, her shirt was stained with blood across the back where she had been whipped.
"No NO NO, please no." Kate pulled on the chains trying to free her love. "Deni help me."
Deni reached up and tugged on the chains "I can't they must have been magicked."
"Honey, it's me I'm here, we all are we are going to get you out of here."
"Kkkkate is that you?"
"It's me baby." Kate kissed her on the cheek.
"Kate get the baby, get the baby out." Kate looked at Deni.
"I'm on it." Deni looked around the floor she was on, she searched closets under beds. "She's not up here."
"Go get Willow we need to break these chains." Deni ran out of the room.
Faith and Buffy made their way through to what looked like an old solarium, the plants were over grown and the large pane of glass were dirty and clouded over.
"Wow ya feel that." Buffy felt her slayer senses go through the roof.
"Heads up B I'd say we found her."
"Well Faith nice to see you again, I see you brought the little Mrs.'s." Anna came up behind the slayers and startled them, Faith lashed out but her blows went right through the witch/vampire. "Faith, is that anyway to treat your watcher?" Anna's laugh was cold.
"You are not my watcher, she's dead, you are a poor substitute." Faith put herself between Anna and Buffy she had to be ready for anything.
"Look at you protecting your woman, what's the matter Faith afraid of little ol me?" Anna edged a little closer to the slayers and sniffed the air. "Ummm fear, it's pouring off the both of you. So Faith I see you still have that huge chip on your shoulder?"
"Shut up!" Buffy felt her blood boil at Anna's mocking of Faith.
"Don't let her get to you B."
"Aww how cute the little slayer protecting her mate, she is your mate right Faith? I can feel the connection, did you mark her?"
"Leave her out of this, if you want to mess with me go ahead, just leave my family out of it."
"Just like your mother sacrificing yourself, not your real mother, she was a whore, right Faith?" Anna laughed when she saw Faith go scarlet.
Buffy pushed against Faith she wanted to destroy Anna.
"Does your little wife know about prison Faith, your little liaison with a certain guard?"
Faith's head fell forward this was something she hoped to never tell Buffy.
"My, my you haven't told her what a pity. You see Buffy she's a whore just like her mommy."
"That's it, shut your mouth!" Buffy lunged but fell through the reflection of the vampire. Faith helped her to her feet, but Buffy shrugged her off.
"What is she talking about Faith?"
"She's messing with us B leave it." Faith glared at her ex-watcher.
"Faith really you loved it when you had sex with that guard come on admit it."
"Faith?" Buffy knew that what happened before her and Faith got together was in the past, but something about this wasn't right.
"B, leave it." Faith's teeth were clenched tight as well as her fists.
Anna was standing behind Buffy talking in her ear.
"She fucked him and she loved it, she loved the way he made her feel all dirty, just like the whore she is."
Faith was shaking; she couldn't look at Buffy.
"Baby?" Buffy was frozen; she could see the pain and horror that played across her wife's face.
"That's not true." She said it just above a whisper.
"What's that Faith dear, what's not true that you're not a whore or a slut or that you loved it more than I am telling your wife. You know once things get too hard she'll run out on you don't you Buffy?"
"Faith wouldn't do that!"
"Come on once a….." Anna never got a chance to get her last statement out when Faith yelled.
"He raped me B, he raped me." Faith covered her ears with her hands and was shaking her head back and forth.
"Oh god Faith." Buffy made her way over to her and tried to stop her to hold her.
"Rape, really. That's very sad." Anna was pacing in front of the slayers with her hands behind her back. "That's very terrible, I just had a thought, you sent her to jail didn't you Buffy?"
Buffy looked up quickly at Anna then back at Faith.
"That's right Buffy you sent her to the slaughter, she was raped because of you!"
Buffy backed away from Faith. "Oh god no, Faith I'm so sorry."
"Well my work here is done!"
The air around the image of Anna crackled then she vanished.
Olivia was on her third game of candyland with Angel, she had already played Barbie's and made popcorn to distract the little girl.
"When is mommy coming back?"
"I don't know sweetie, everyone went to help." Olivia was worried about Deni she knew how pig headed her girlfriend could be. The slayer saw the little girl tense and look around franticly. "Angel what's wrong?"
"Olivia something's coming???" Angel was up and clutching her doll, she could feel the energy of the witch approaching.
Anna orbed to the front yard of the mansion. "Now to just get the little brat to let me in. Sweetie its Momma, come on out."
Olivia and Angel made their way to the large windows and looked down, they could see her in the yard sitting on the grass holding her leg.
"Angel it's me Momma every thing is okay, Mommy sent me to get you."
"Mommy!" Angel yelled and ran for the door.
"No!" Olivia grabbed her around the waist. "She's lying to you, she's a vampire."
"Let me go I have to get to Mommy." Angel was crying and struggling to get loose from Olivia.
"Angel stop, that's not your Momma, Kate is your Momma remember?" Olivia knew the vamp was playing with the child's mind.
"Angel I'm hurt and we need to get Mommy invite me in, please."
Olivia tried to cover the little witch's mouth as she struggled with her. Angel bit down hard on her hand causing Olivia to remove it long enough for Angel to speak.
"Momma help me please come get me." Angel fought against Olivia.
"That should do it." Anna smugly made her way to the front door and tentatively tried the handle it opened.
Angel struggled and bit down again on the slayer's hand, "Please Angel no!" The little witch kicked and scratched until Olivia dropped her. She ran at the vampire.
"Where is my mother?"
Anna grabbed her arm roughly and jerked her "Shut up."
"I won't let you leave with that child." Olivia shook off the pain in her hand.
"Not another slayer, what is the council growing them now?"
Olivia lashed out at Anna; Anna dodged her and threw Angel out of the way.
"I think I will leave a message with you, on you."
Anna spoke a few words in a very old language. Olivia felt her limbs turn to stone, she could barely hold herself up.
"That's right dear relax and sit down. What shall I do with you, turn you, kill you, and torture you? Oh the torture scares you, then torture it is."
Anna bit down on Olivia's neck, she would just take a little. A slayer's blood could sustain her for a while. She would take the both of them. "I can feed off the girl and then turn Angel, this perfect."
Olivia lay a death's door. "Opps took too much I think. Oh well let's go Angel." She grabbed at the little girl's arms to tug her along.
"No, where is My Mommy and Kate Mommy?"
"Sweetie you don't have to worry about them anymore you are with me now."
"WHERE IS MY MOTHER?" The house started to shake Anna fought to keep her footing.
"Are you doing that Angel?" The vampire looked up as the ceiling cracked and came down on her.
Angel ran forward and tugged on Olivia's sleeve. "Come on we have to get up."
She soon realized that Olivia was not going to get up, she wasn't sure if she was dead but she wouldn't move.
"I need to find Faith." Angel ran upstairs to Buffy and Faith's room and pulled open her jewelry box; she was going to try a trick Sophie had taught her. If she thought very hard on something that belonged to someone they would hear her. She held in her little hands the Celtic clasps that her sister and Buffy wore on their wedding dresses.
"Faith it's me Tiger, I'm in trouble, please come help me, I think Olivia is dead." The little Wicca chanted this over and over in her head. She only hoped her sister could hear her.
"B, don't listen to any of that, it's not your fault."
Buffy was on her knees; the pain she felt was threatening to crush her chest. Faith was raped and it was her fault she had sent her to that place, why didn't Faith tell her what happened.
"B, please it's not your fault." Faith tried to get her wife to her feet.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Buffy looked up at her with tears running down her checks.
"Cuz I knew this is what you would do, can't you see why she did this, she wants us apart."
"Faith I am so sorry…."
"B, get up we need to find our daughter, that was the past, it's done."
Buffy looked through her tears at Faith. "Amber?"
"That's right baby! Amber, let's go, let's go get her back."
Faith went to step forward when it hit her.
"Faith what's wrong?" Buffy saw her falter and stop, she held her head.
"It's Angel, Anna is there and Olivia …. I think Olivia is dead."
"Come on."
The slayer rushed through the house and met up with Willow and Sophie as they found their way up the stairs to where Dorian was chained.
"She's in here." Deni pushed through the door.
"I can't break the chains, we both tried." Deni saw the look on Faith's face. "What's wrong?"
"Later, let's get her out of here." Faith knew if she said anything to Deni the kid would bolt and go after Anna on her own.
Sophie and Willow were able to break the spell and release Dorian; she fell into Kate's arms.
"Faith help me get her to the truck." Kate looked up at the dark slayer.
"You go, take Deni & Sophie with you, Willow and I will find Amber." She looked at her wife, she didn't want to leave but she knew her sister's life depended on it.
"Please find her B." She kissed her quickly and scooped up her mother and carried her out of the room.
Buffy's slayer sense were going off as she moved through the rooms.
"I think she's here Will."
"Goddess Buffy I hope you're right."
Buffy and Willow entered a large room with tapestries all around the walls. In the middle of the room was a stone alter, scattered around it were was a dagger and various herbs. Willow looked through the items trying to see what spell was performed or going to be performed.
"Buffy this feels evil."
"She's here Will I can feel it." Buffy started to feel along the wall pulling down the woven tapestries, underneath them were symbols written in blood.
"Yup evil." Willow said.
"Oh god Willow whose blood is that?" Buffy was frantic. "Amber, it's Mommy where are you."
"Buffy I can't tell what they were going to do here, I don't think they actually got to do anything…." Buffy yelling cut her off.
"SHE'S HERE!"
They pulled back a panel and found Amber sitting in a small crawl space.
"Oh god, baby come here it's Mommy oh god. Will call Faith tell here I have her." Buffy buried herself in her daughter and cried.
"It's kay Momma." The little girl held on to her mother tight. "Where Grammy?"
Buffy looked at her daughter, "Grammy's okay, she's with Mommy. Let's go home baby, Will did you call Faith?"
"Ya, but I can't here out of this ear she screamed so loud, they aren't at the house yet."
"We need to get there they are going to need some help.
They arrived in front of the mansion and were surprised to see the roof had collapsed. Deni bolted from the car and ran towards the house before Faith had a chance to put the vehicle in park. Faith tried to call after the younger slayer but she wouldn't stop. Deni pushed and pulled her way around the rumble to find Olivia. She rushed forward sliding to a halt on her knees in front of Olivia's body.
"No. No not her please not her." She had picked her up and cradled her.
Olivia's head lolled to the side and Deni saw the marks on her neck.
"She's not dead, I can still feel her." Deni hadn't noticed Angel sitting by her girlfriend, she was covered in dust from the ceiling collapse and what looked like blood.
"What?" was all Deni could choke out.
"She not gone…. Her spirit is still in her." Angel reached out on touched the still slayer on her heart.
Faith made her way into the house carrying Dorian, Angel immediately saw her Mother and got up to run to her.
"Mommy?" Kate scooped up the little girl "She's okay honey Shhh."
Faith made her way past them to one of the rooms and deposited her mother on the bed.
"Where's Olivia and Deni?"
Angel pointed over the pile of rubble to the two figures curled up on the floor.
Deni rocked the still form of Olivia "I am so sorry baby."
Buffy and Willow arrived and found Faith standing over the girls. Faith was startled when she felt Buffy take her hand, she turned and found her wife holding their now sleeping daughter.
"B?" Faith pulled the two into a hug. "I was worried that you wouldn't make it back."
"I'll always come back to you Faith." Buffy reached up and kissed her wife lightly on the lips.
Buffy let Faith take Amber. She kneeled down next to Deni.
"You need to let Sophie and Willow look at her, you need to let her go." Buffy's voice was so soft and comforting, Deni looked at her with watery eyes and nodded.
The witches looked her over and soon realized there wasn't much they could do the girl needed a doctor and fast.
"I'm sorry but we need to get her out of here to a hospital." Willow looked at Deni her heart was breaking for the girl.
"Already done!" Kate stood next to them her arms folded across her chest. Off in the distance they could hear the wail of the ambulance.
"How's Dorian?" Buffy said.
"Sleeping, I think she'll be okay."
"Faith?" Little Angel was tugging on her sister's coat. "She's under there." She pointed to the pile of rubble.
They all looked around shocked in the confusion of the moment they had forgot about Anna.
It took several charms and a few protections spells to secure the area that held Anna. Before they removed the debris they wanted to be sure she could not project her image or somehow vanish. As far as they knew the vicious vampire lay under the dusty grave.
"You know she could survive that right, I mean the ceiling falling on her right?" Willow paced back and forth.
"Yes Wills we know."
Faith made her way to the room her mother was resting in; she stopped in the doorway and looked in. Kate was sitting on the side of the bed holding Dorian's hand talking to her. Her mother had a huge gash across her forehead and one of her eyes was swollen.
"You clean up pretty good." Kate kissed her lover's palm then held her hand tight.
"Everyone is okay right Kate?"
"Everyone is fine, Amber is home, Angel is here and Deni called from the hospital that they were able to stabilize Olivia."
"Thank you for coming for me…I love you."
"I will always come for you, but if you ever do that again….." Kate's words were silenced by Dorian's lips.
"I promise." She said breaking the kiss.
Faith coughed a little to let them know she was at the door.
"Hey come here." Dorian held out her arms to her daughter. Faith found herself crying in Dorian's arms and not really remembering starting to sob. Kate waved a small goodbye to her lover and slipped out of the room.
"So, this is my big bad slayer?" Dorian brushed the hair out of Faith's eyes.
"Really tough right?"
"It's okay Faith, everyone is safe." She tried to comfort the slayer but she knew one last battle remained.
"I almost lost you, and Amber, and she tried to get at Buffy…" Faith's words died in a sob, she was again pulled into an embrace.
"Don't listen to a thing that woman said she's not Anna, she's nothing, she's a monster."
Faith's eyes were down cast the guilt shame and self-hatred that she was feeling were starting to get a hold of her.
"She, she told Buffy what happened to me in prison, what that guard did to me."
"Oh Faith, I'm sorry, Buffy loves you I know it in my heart, she would never feel differently about you."
"She does you know, love you and adore you." Buffy stood in the doorway. "I will never stop loving you Faith I don't care what monster comes along, I have my family now and no one is coming between us."
Dorian thought her heart would shatter as she watched the slayers comfort each other the love between them was so powerful.
"Oh my god that's it!" Dorian struggled with the bedcovers trying to get up.
"Mom hold on what are you doing you should be resting?" Faith tried to settle the witch down. Kate and the others entered the room after hearing the commotion.
"What's going on, honey you should be resting." Kate moved to help Dorian.
"I am strong enough for this, I have to be." Dorian felt the life bleeding back into her she knew how to make her family safe from Anna. The sad part would be she would have to kill her old lover her wife, Angel's mother and Faith's watcher the woman they had all mourned, the woman they had all loved.
Dorian dressed and tried to mentally prepare herself; Kate sat on the bed watching her.
"What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to stop her!" The determination in Dorian was scary.
"You're injured I can see you wince when you move, please stop."
"I can't besides I'm not that bad really." Dorian bent down to tie her boot and gasp in pain.
"See you're not ready for this you're hurt."
"It's a little bruise it's nothing really." Dorian touched Kate's cheek then kissed her. "After this is all over will you take me home? Take me back to Connecticut, I want to go home for a while."
"Sure, are you going to tell me what she did to you?"
"I want to wake up in your arms in our cottage by the lake and listen to Angel playing in the garden." The redhead was lost in thought.
"Dorian are you listening to me?" Kate was frustrated.
"Yes Kate I am, are you listening to me? I'll tell you everything someday, just not now okay?"
Dorian kissed Kate and walked out of the room.
By the time Dorian and Kate had made their way downstairs the others had readied the room and removed the debris from the vampire.
A large circle was drawn on the floor around Anna. Another larger circle surrounded Angel, Faith and Dorian.
"If you pull this off you may just be ready for Crone!" Sophie hugged her friend.
"I hope this work." Dorian rubbed her hands together.
"Tell me when you are ready?" Sophie and Willow moved around the outside of the larger circle they had placed the broom from Faith and Buffy's wedding, Angel's doll, Dorian placed the photo album containing the pictures of her life with Anna. Sophie, Willow, Buffy and Kate all placed items that belonged to them, items that touched their hearts and reminded them of love.
"That's the last of it, you ready?" Sophie laid down the last item.
"Ready as I'll ever be!"
Dorian took the large dagger and ran the blade down her hand slicing her palm. At the first drop of exposed blood Anna woke.
"Umm ladies all this for me?" Anna shook the dust from her clothes and walked the edge of the circle. "Now what do we have here?"
Anna reached out to touch Faith and was repelled back.
"Touch none that enter this circle with love." Dorian words echoed in the large room.
Buffy felt herself start forward when she saw Anna move.
"Buffy no, the circle will protect them, please have faith." Buffy looked at Sophie.. "You know what I mean!"
"So Dorian came to vanquish me, do you think you can?"
"By the love here I call to the goddess, take this soulless creature, from dust it began to dust it shall return."
Anna felt her skin burn.
"Dorian please I love you don't do this remember, when we decided to have Angel we were so happy?"
Anna worked her mind game, if she could distract Dorian maybe she could get past the circle.
Dorian squeezed the blood from her palm and spread the droplets around the circle.
"From my blood this family came, a daughter of light, a daughter of strength, protect them now cast out this demon."
As Dorian's blood dropped near Anna her flesh crawled on her bones she wanted to tear it off.
"Faith why did you let me die, why weren't you there for me?" Anna played on Faith.
Faith looked in the direction of Anna.
"Faith you can save me now, please Faith this hurts so bad." Anna had her arms wrapped around her body.
"FAITH!" Buffy yelled. "Faith look at me, we are life, you, me and Amber."
Faith looked at her wife. "B?"
"That's right baby, I'm here fight for me and Amber." Buffy grabbed hold of Willow's hand, Sophie held Willow's. "Fight baby." Buffy held on to their daughter as she looked on.
Dorian moved in the circle.
"With my blood I wash them, with my blood we are the same."
Dorian smudged Angel's forehead with her blood. Anna doubled over in pain.
"No!" She screamed in agony.
Dorian moved to Faith and smudged the blood on her forehead.
Anna's skin burned and started to smoke; she was writhing in pain.
Dorian, Angel and Faith joined hands. They chanted in unison.
"This blood is ours, this blood is the same, with love we are family, goddess protect us, banish this demon."
Anna's skin cracked and burned the most putrid smell came from her burning body.
The three turned to the outer circle and held their hands out to the others, pulling them into an embrace.
The remains of Anna's body turned to dust.
Dorian swayed the last bits of energy and power she had were leaving her. They were safe, her family was safe.
The crone crumpled to the floor.
Note: It was very hard to finish this...I know not why. To my wife, she's the reason. To Tori, cuz she's a brat and needs a spanking. Thanks kid.
Kate did as she promised she took Dorian home to Connecticut. The wind whipped around the cottages and snow heaped up around the pathways to the lake. The witches stayed close to home and close to the fires through the winter discussing plans for the spring rituals and spending time with each other.
Dorian sat propped up on pillows in the bed she shared with Kate. Since coming back Kate had not left her side; Dorian needed to heal from her battle with Anna and the loss she felt at vanquishing her. Dorian missed Angel, she missed Faith and Buffy and the others. Deni was back in school and hating it, she wanted to be where Faith and Buffy were, "Slaying". Olivia had healed and settled back into her routine of school and friends. The two girls missed each other and were counting the day until school would be out and they were back in Sunnydale training and with each other again. Dorian couldn't think of all of it now she needed to concentrate on healing and Kate.
"I am not leaving until you eat this!" Kate sat with the bowl of soup in her hand and the spoon poised at Dorian's lips.
"I am not hungry!" Dorian crossed her arms over her chest.
"Please sweetie for me, just a little?"
"Okay, just a little." She smiled at her partner and sipped the soup.
"Hey that's good, I can feed myself."
"I know but humor me I like taking care of you." Kate scooped another spoonful and offered it up.
"Really I feel silly I am the one that takes care of everyone."
"I know can't you just let me do this one little thing?" Kate pleaded with her.
"I can think of other things you can do to make me feel better." She winked at the blonde.
"Oh no, not until you are stronger!"
"Kate, I have been in this bed for two weeks I think I am done healing." Dorian pulled the bed covers to try and get out.
"Two weeks yes, the first week you tossed and turned and healed from a huge magic jolt you put out, for gods sake Dorian you had scorch marks."
"I did not!" Dorian said with a smirk.
"You're such a drama queen!"
"Nice, the woman I love thinks that I'm a drama queen, don't they call gay men that?"
"You need to rest so in the spring you can marry me." Kate winked.
"Are you asking me Kate?"
"Yes Dorian I am, will you marry me?"
"Oh yes!" Dorian threw her arms around the blonde and dragged her onto the bed.
Buffy tip toed down the hall. "Are they asleep?"
"Yes finally." Faith closed the door to the nursery with a small click.
She met her wife half way.
"Hello you."
"Hello yourself." Buffy wrapped her arms around Faith's waist.
"Finally alone time, I actually get to have adult conversation." She reached up and kissed her wife.
"Conversation is not what I want." Faith pulled Buffy towards their room.
Once inside the privacy of the room the two women kissed and tugged at each other trying to pull their clothes off.
"Stop!" Buffy yelled.
"What, come on B?"
"Take it off for me all of it and slow." She stretched out on the bed to watch.
Faith slowly peeled the layers of clothes she wore off. Now naked she stood in front of her partner.
"Don't move let me look at you."
Buffy stood and walked around the brunette, occasionally she would drag her fingers across her back or buttocks.
"You're beautiful ya know." She kissed Faith's shoulder.
"I don't think I can take much more." She swayed as Buffy licked a path down to her lower back.
"Well you have to wait cuz I haven't given you permission to move yet." She squeezed Faith ass and gave it a soft slap.
"Undress me." Faith blindly obeyed Buffy she had never seen this side of her and she liked it.
"Now, pick me up and place me on the bed." Again she did as she was told.
"Lay down with me."
Faith crawled up the bed and lay very still next to her wife waiting for instructions.
"You like this don't you?" The brunette nodded mutely. "Don't move." Buffy jumped from the bed and disappeared into the walk in closet. "Close your eyes, and don't open them or I'll stop."
She made her way back to the bed with four silk scarves. She lowered her lips to Faith's and whispered.
"Give me you wrists." She tied each one to the bedposts then repeated the same action with Faith's ankles.
"Open your eyes." The expression that met Buffy was of pure lust and trust.
"I know you can easily break free but don't!" She tweaked Faith's nipple.
"Oh my god B!"
"Oh and the only words you are allowed to say is yes and stop, if you say stop I will." She kissed her on the lips and moved down to a nipple.
"You like this?" She nipped the perk nipple with her teeth then sucked on it.
"Yes."
"Glad to see you follow the rules." She moved to the other breast. "Do you want me to lick your pussy Faith?"
She was trying to not arch her back into Buffy's touch but she was on fire.
"Yes!" It came out husky and wrapped in desire. "Yes, yes, yes!"
Buffy traveled the length of her wife's body nipping, licking her way to Faith wet center. The blonde dipped her fingers into the wetness.
"Is this all for me?"
"Yes" was all she heard.
"Ummm, all for me." Buffy dove in she lapped at Faith swallowed and drank from her wife; her head reeled from the scent.
"Oh god Faith I love you." She thrust her tongue as far as she could in.
Faith screamed yes and bucked up.
"Now, now Faith hold still." Buffy's chin was perched on Faith's stomach.
"Yes!"
"Want me to continue?"
"Yes!"
Buffy dove in again this time she sucked and pulled on Faith's clit occasionally dipping her tongue into her flowing juices. With strong hands she lifted Faith bottom up she gripped it and squeezed.
This brought on another raspy YES from her wife. Her tongue danced over the tight nub, she could feel Faith was close. The wetness was running down Buffy's chin and down to Faith's tight opening. The blonde lubed her index finger and swift pushed it into the first knuckle.
This sent Faith over the edge. She thrashed her head back and forth calling over and over yes, yes, yes.
Buffy lightly licked her wife until her spasms subsided. She loosened the ties that held her and pulled her into an embrace.
"You okay, you can talk now?" The blonde said between the soft kisses she was planting along Faith's jaw.
"I, I love you so much." Faith wrapped her arms around Buffy and pulled her as tight as she could to her body.
"I love you too, you seemed to really like that."
"I loved it, you okay with it?"
"I trust you Faith, I'm okay with it."
"Good cuz you're next!"
Sophie closed the book she was reading and looked over at Willow who was fully involved in a book "Raising children with the Goddess".
Sophie looked at the cover and smiled.
"Are you trying to tell me something?"
"Ahh what?" Willow stumbled over the words trying to draw her attention back.
"The book what's it for?"
"Oh just, nothing, just reading."
"Willow you're in babble mode and as endearing as it is please stop."
"Stopping with the stopping." She twisted an imaginary key and tossed it.
"Seriously Will what's with the book?"
"I want well if you want, someday, you know maybe a baby." The red head knew she was babbling but she couldn't help it.
Sophie laughed she couldn't believe how much she had fallen in love with Willow over the past year, the witch had found a huge spot in her heart.
"Are you laughing at me?" Willow pouted.
"Never, I was just thinking what a great Mom you would make." She pulled the red head into a hug.
"Good cuz I think WE would make great Moms!"
"Willow are you asking what I think you're asking?"
"What do you think I'm asking, well I know what I'm asking, I was thinking that maybe someday, when, well you me and a baby it could work."
Sophie loved every little babble, quirk and sputter about Willow.
"I think I got what you're asking and the answer is yes, someday, probably sooner than later."
Willow squealed and jumped on the bed, landing squarely on top of Sophie.
"Thank you." Willow wrapped her arms around Sophie and kissed her.
With a flick of her finger Sophie shut off the lights.
The morning found four very tired women and two very out going little girls.
Faith padded down to the kitchen and found Buffy making breakfast for Amber and Angel.
"Mamma!" Amber yelled and tried to get out of her high chair.
Faith pulled her out and swung her to her hip and kissed her wife.
"Hi Tiger." She ruffled the little girl's hair. "What's wrong?" She hadn't gotten a rise out of the little witch.
"I miss Mommy and Kate mommy, besides there is snow there and we can sled ride and make snowmen." She rested her head in her hands and batted her eyelashes at her sister.
"B, can I have coffee, please."
"Here is your coffee, and how are you feeling this morning?" Buffy whispered the last part in her ear.
"Ummm, just fine thank you, and yourself?" She swatted Buffy on the butt as she walked away.
"Don't tease!" The blonde laughed as she walked away.
"So can we go home Faith please?" Angel had gotten up from her seat and wrapped her arms around the still groggy brunette.
"B, help here?"
"You are on your own, call your Mother!" Buffy turned back to the stove.
"Good morning all." Sophie and Willow entered the kitchen holding hands.
Amber pulled and tugged from Faith's arms to get at Willow.
"Hi baby." Willow kissed the little girl and listened while she talked baby talked and a few real words came through.
"Really I never knew!" Willow exclaimed and made Amber laugh.
"Aunt Willow will you ask Faith to take us home?" Angel was now looking for another ally.
"Home as in East Coast, Connecticut?" Sophie perked up.
"You want to go home sweetie?"
"YES!" Sophie and Angel answered at the same time.
"Fine I'll call when the hour is reasonable." Faith settled down to a large plate of pancakes Buffy had set in front of her. "Thanks baby." She wrapped her arm around the blonde's waist.
"Should we pack?" She looked down into sleepy brown eyes.
"Yup, cuz you know once she hears their little voices we will be going."
Buffy walked from the kitchen to change Amber and start packing.
"Are you going to eat those?" Sophie looked over at Faith's full plate.
"I love B, but she's the worst cook." Faith pushed the plate forward.
"I heard that!" Faith rolled her eyes.
"Yeah we are going home!" Angel yelled.