The Mayor

Title: The Mayor

Author's Name: SavageLove

Fandom: Buffy The Vampire Slayer

Pairings: Buffy/Faith

Ratings: PG-17

Feedback Email Address: ImNDeepThoughts2@aol.com

Chapter 12: The Mayor Vs. The Family- Part 3 Xander and Dawn

Notes: This chapter is focused on Xander and Dawn (not as a couple) and what they do to help out Faith and Buffy. This chapter and the two chapters before this one are happening in and around the same time.

~~~~~

Xander pulled into a parking spot in front of the Magic Box, which was reserved for employees. He turned the engine off, checked his shirt pocket to see if the list was still in it, and then got out of the car. He looked at the shop and felt a dull ache in his chest. He hadn’t been back in the Magic Box since he found Anya dead in the middle of the floor from a relapse of her cancer. Xander took a deep long breath and walked into the shop. Xander looked at the center of the room but felt a strange sense of clam. He felt no pain. Xander sighed when he realized why that was. Willow cleansed the place, took away the memories and stuff. Made it so that people would want to come here. Xander shook his head and looked at the counter that had a girl behind it and she was reading a girly magazine. Xander, even though he owned the shop, didn’t know the girl’s name. He let Willow handle the shop affairs since she’s more into witch-y stuff.

“Hey,” Xander said, as the girl looked up and put her magazine down.

“Mr. Harris,” the girl said, surprised. “Hi.”

Xander was taken aback. “You know me?” Xander asked.

“Willow has a picture of you, Buffy and her on her desk,” the girl said. “Oh, I’m Sally, by the way.”

“Nice to meet you,” Xander said, taking out the piece of paper from his shirt pocket and handed it to Sally. “I need these items, no questions asked.”

“Sure thing Mr. Harris,” Sally said, taking the piece of paper from him. Sally went to the back of the shop to get the items listed. Sally, a few moments later, came back with the items in a canvas bag and handed them to Xander. Xander took the bag and quickly left the shop. Xander got into his car, started it and headed for home, but made a quick stop at the video store. He picked up three movies and some snack-age.

Xander then got home and gave the magic stuff to Willow and had a fight with her when she told him that she was going to New Gotham for the stuff. He quickly left and told Faith that he had gotten movies for her and went to go and get the TV and VCR and brought it up to Faith’s room.

“So, why are you doing this again?” Faith asked, as she watched Xander set up the VCR and TV that he had brought up from the living room. He had surprised her with movies and snacks. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to make friends, she did but she didn’t want pity.

“I thought that we could hang out,” Xander said.

“Did B or Red put you up to this?” Faith asked.

“No, I just wanted to hang, talk, watch movie, and pig out,” Xander defended. Faith raised a brow and shrugged. “I go Superman, 12 Angry Men, and Finding Nemo. Which one do you want to watch first?”

“12 Angry Men,” Faith said in a ‘DUH’ voice.

Xander laughed and put the movie in but didn’t start it. Faith looked at Xander and realized that he seemed upset. Faith sighed and raised a brow. “I take it that you want to talk,” Faith asked, though it was more of a statement.

“Would you mind?” Xander asked, hesitantly.

“Talk,” Faith said, simply.

“Willow is going to go to-“ Xander started.

“I know she told me. She seemed to think that this was the only way. I don’t like it and I don’t think that she should go but she is more stubborn than Buffy and I put together. She very adamant about doing this without our help. Besides, she can handle herself,” Faith said.

Xander was slightly taken aback. She had just said what he had wanted to say and what he had wanted to hear. Not only that, but he didn’t know Faith knew a word like ‘adamant’. Ok, so he had a hard time picturing her as some one who is brain-y. It was still sinking in that she had already graduated from college.

“I know she can but I just worry. There’s nothing that I can do. I feel helpless,” Xander said, sitting on a chair next to the bed.

“Because you’re mortal?” Faith asked.

“Huh?”

“Think about it, you are the only mortal around here. Buffy and I are slayers with super powers and stuff. Willow is a witch. Hell, even Dawn most likely has power since she was a key,” Faith said and then paused. “Don’t tell Buffy, but I had Willow look into Joyce. Joyce is a potential slayer.”

Xander’s eyes widened. “You’re kidding!” Xander said, shocked.

“Nope. I’m not. I wish I were because I don’t want a life like that for her. Anyway. Not only that, but you are in a house full of women who could beat you up. But, you are not useless. We need you Xander,” Faith said.

Xander looked at Faith like she had three heads. “Say what?” Xander asked, stunned. Xander shook his head sadly. “But you don’t need me! Why would you need me? I’ve never need helpful. All I have ever done was get into trouble and have Buffy save me, even when I was trying to save her. I’m just errand boy. They send me out on errand when they go and fight so I won’t get hurt. Or they leave me here with Dawn. I’m not useful!”

“SHUT UP!” Faith yelled out.

Xander stopped his babbling and stared at Faith. Faith shook her head at Xander. Willow babble must be contagious. Faith shook her head and took a deep breath.

“We need you. You might be a mortal but you are more powerful than Buffy, Willow, Dawn, Joyce and me combined. When Willow tried to destroy the world, who stopped her and saved the world without violence, but with words and love? You did. If it had been Buffy, she might have had to kill Willow. But you were the only that did it; you saved the world with words and love. Love is the most powerful weapon against evil,” Faith said.

Xander sat there saying nothing; he was just too stunned to say anything.

“And, in a way, you saved me. Angel wasn’t getting through to me while I was in prison. Sure he got through to me when I was out on the streets but that doesn’t mean anything. He was just there when I finally broke down. It would have happened no matter what. It was just that she was there at the time. It could have been a Watcher with a gun pointed to my head. But that’s not the point,” Faith admitted. “He said he forgave me and that he understood, but coming from him, it didn’t really mean anything. He’s a vampire; it is my job to kill vampires. I wasn’t all that sorry for what I did to him. Sure he was sorry for what he did but that didn’t make a difference to me. He didn’t ask for his soul. He was cursed. He had no choice but to except his soul and try to do good to make up for what he had done. But you, you brought me hope. You made me want to reform and shit. After everything I did to you, you forgave me and gave me a second chance. So, hence the saving me.”

Xander opened and closed his mouth, much like a fish.

“And, Buffy and Dawn so need you. They damage things all the time. If you weren’t here, we would be with out furniture. You’re like the man of the house who fixes stuff. And Joyce needs you the most,” Faith said.

Xander got his voice back and asked, “Oh? Why does she need me?”

“Because you are a guy,” Faith said.

Xander looked at Faith with a blank face.

“Xander, think about it. She has two moms and two aunts and one uncle in the house. You will be like a father figure. Think you can handle that?” Faith asked, smirking.

Xander’s mile was so big Faith thought it was going to consume his face. “I guess I can,” Xander said.

Faith smiled before whining. “Can we watch the movie now?” Faith pouted. Xander laughed as he pushed the play button on the remote. He shook his head slightly.

“Faith? Thanks,” Xander said.

“No problem X-Man,” Faith said. “Now shh… the movie is starting!”

“Yes ma’am,” Xander said.

Xander sat back and silently watched the movie with Faith. He may not have been much use in helping Faith get rid of the Mayor, but he could keep her entertained so that she wasn’t bored.

“Hey, where’s Dawn?” Xander asked suddenly.

***

Dawn left the house and walked to the end of the driveway and looked around. ‘Guess, I’ll take the long way to the park,’ Dawn thought and then took off. Dawn walked around Sunnydale, looking at everything that was familiar and all the things that held memories. Some memories were fake, the monks had given them to her but then others were real, ones that she had made on her own. She walked around for a while before headed to the park, going the long way.

As Dawn walked, she couldn’t help but smile. The small form pressed to her chest was making happy content noises as she walked. She’d never thought she’d get to be an aunt. Not since Buffy, the Trouble with Boyfriends Vampire Slayer was well, bad in the boyfriend department. Her first boyfriend was Pike and he was great because he understood her but he didn’t know when to let up and it got him killed. Then there was the 246-year-old vampire named Angel who slept with Buffy and turned evil, died, went to hell, came back, caused havoc and left Buffy broken hearted. Then there were a few little guys like Parker. Then there was Riley who had Buffy’s heart, mind, body and soul but couldn’t see it, he was jealous over bearing and too protective, he let vampires drink him, he then felt her, came back married and left her again even more broken hearted than she already was. But before some of those loves. Before Angel came back there was Faith. Dawn knew that Buffy had always deeply loved Faith. Dawn should know since she read her sister’s diary. There in all truthful words, Buffy admitted that she had always loved Faith, from the moment that she had seen her. But now things have worked themselves out… sort of.

Dawn shook her head and continued to the park while rocking the baby slightly. Dawn entered the park and went to find a spot where she could see the little kids play but still have some privacy. Dawn found a nice shaded tree and set down the baby things and sat down with the baby still in her arms. They baby had been lulled into a deep sleep as Dawn had walked into the park and Dawn was slightly grateful. She wanted to think for a little and wanted some peace to do it. But at the moment, that wasn’t going to happen since two guys and two girls from school were coming her way. Dawn sighed and tried not to look at them, hopping that they would go away.

“Hey, freak,” one of the boys called out.

‘I guess that they just won’t go away,’ Dawn thought. Dawn ignored the comment and made sure that the baby was still asleep.

“Hey, freak, answer me when I’m talking to you,” the boy said, now standing in front of Dawn.

Dawn looked up and glared. It was Divan, Nikki, Amy, and Liam. “What do you want?” Dawn snapped.

Divan ignored Dawn’s question and looked at the baby in her arms. “You got a kid now slutty?” Divan asked, smirking. Divan, had, at one point, a crush on her, but she didn’t feel the same. Needless to say, the guy didn’t take rejection good. So now, he picked on her endlessly with his friends.

“No, nimrod, she’s my niece,” Dawn snapped. “Could you be more stupid? You would have seen if I was pregnant since school only got out two months ago. Dim-wit.”

Divan’s eyes widened and he lifted his foot to kick her but Nikki stopped him. “You can’t do that. If you hurt the baby, you might be in worse trouble,” Nikki said.

“Come on man, let’s go. Let’s not waist our time on this freak,” Liam said. Divan nodded. The four popular kids shot Dawn a glare before walking off.

Dawn sighed and leaned back against the tree, trying to hold in the tears. Dawn looked down at the baby. She was happy and unhappy at the same time. She loved being at home. Faith was her bestfriend and they could always talk. Willow and Xander were her friends too and they treated her like an adult. Even Buffy treated her like a friend too, sometimes. But that was only at home. At school she was unhappy and miserable. She had no friends. She had been labeled as a freak and no one would talk to her unless they had to. It might have to do with the fact that the only three friends that she had died a year ago, mysteriously. At least, mysteriously to everyone but her.. It had been all Dawn’s fault. She and her three friends had snuck out of the house and went to the Bronze. On their way home, they had been jumped by a pack of vampires. Dawn had started to fight them when she felt a pain in her eyes. Her eyes had opened wide, and fire shot out from her eyes as she set the vampires on fire. But it had been too late, her friends had been drained. She hadn’t saved them. So, now, people stayed away from her because they knew that she had been there.

Dawn shook her head and get out a blanket and laid the baby down beside her. The baby fussed a little, so, Dawn ran a hand over the baby’ tummy in a soothing manner. “Shh… it’s okay,” Dawn murmured reassuringly to the baby. The baby yawned and quieted down. Dawn smiled down at the baby. Dawn took one of the baby’s hands in hers and gently stroked it. The baby’s skin was so soft.

Dawn closed her eyes, sighed and resumed her thinking.

But that wasn’t what was really bothering her. Sure, it still hurt that her only three friends left her, but she got over it, sort of. She wasn’t exactly attached to them; she learned to never get attached to anyone again. When your mother dies and your sister dies two times, you get kind of distant to other people. It was easy to be around and love Buffy, Faith, Willow and Xander, simply because they have almost always been there. She just had trouble letting new people in. But, that wasn’t what was really bothering her. Hell, the fire coming out of her eyes didn’t even bother her, well, maybe a little bit, but she was more confused than anything else. What was really bothering her was the fact that she kept having these dreams and she wasn’t sure what they meant. They were confusing the hell out of her. Is she really like that? She never thought about it before. Well, once maybe, with the whole Willow thing, but she pushed it off as wondering and loneliness.

Dawn, having been brought out of her thoughts, blinked, and looked down at the crying baby. Dawn looked at her watch and saw that it was one o’clock. She had been gone for four hours. ‘No wonder she’s crying. She’s hungry,’ Dawn thought. Dawn gathered the stuff and the baby and headed home, taking the short way.

When Dawn entered the house, she realized that Faith was going to be pissed that she had been gone for so long and hadn’t checked in. Dawn took the baby to the nursery first and then went into Faith’s room. Dawn walked into Faith’s room to see… a very pissed of Faith.

“DAWN! WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN FOR FOUR HOURS?” Faith growled out.

Dawn paled. “I’m sorry. I walked around town for a little bit. I then took the long way to the park. I went there to think about… some stuff. I guess I lost track of time,” Dawn said, on the verge of tears.

Faith closed her eyes and willed her anger down. Faith opened her eyes and her expression softened. “It’s okay sweetie. Just, next time, please try to call or something. I was worried sick,” Faith said gently.

Dawn nodded and muttered, “Sorry.”

“Come here, sweetie,” Faith said.

Dawn walked over to Faith and lay down besides her and gently hugged her, even though Faith couldn’t hug back. Dawn lay there for a moment, thinking and just feeling. “I wish I could do something to help you,” Dawn said, sadly.

“What do you mean?” Faith asked.

“I wish that I could be more useful in fighting the Mayor,” Dawn explained.

“Dawn, you are being useful. You’re taking care of Joyce while your sister is at work. Buffy and Xander are feeling the same way. Hell, I feel the same way and it’s me he’s in. I can’t really do anything at all,” Faith said. “But don’t feel useless, because you are being useful. Everyone plays a part in the Scooby gang. Buffy and I are the fighters, Willow is research and plan gal, Xander is errand boy and now with the baby, you are the babysitter.”

“I still feel useless,” Dawn said.

Faith nodded. “I know. Everyone feels useless when they can’t help out they’re loved ones. Now, go and get Joyce and bring her here, she must be hungry,” Faith said.

“Alright,” Dawn said, getting up and heading out of the room.

***

Over the seven days that Willow had been gone, there was an almost normal routine in the Summers household. Buffy would go to work, Xander would talk to Faith, the Mayor came out for a few hours, and Dawn watched the baby. Willow calls a few times a day and gives a full report on the progress of getting the third item. Although, Dawn swears that Willow sounds so happy when she is talking about ‘Barbara’. This confused Buffy and Xander since they haven’t been the ones who talked to Willow ‘cause Dawn was the one who got the reports. Faith and Dawn weren’t confused at all. Faith and Dawn knew that at some point that Willow would find someone new. Sure all of her other dates and short term relationships went bad really fast but sooner or later Willow was going to open her self back up to love.

At the moment, it was seven a.m. in the morning and Willow would be back at nine o’clock p.m. that night. Dawn had brought in the rocking chair from the nursery and was rocking the baby and talking to Faith. It was Thursday and Saturday would be the pool party. Xander had gone out to get some things for the party.

“Faith, can I talk to you about something?” Dawn asked, suddenly. She got up and put the baby in the bassinet and then pulled the rocking chair closer to the bed.

“Sure Crack of Dawn,” Faith said, looking at Dawn and realizing that something was wrong.

“You know how I’m not real…I mean I am but I’m not?” Dawn asked.

“Huh?” Faith asked, confused. Then realization dawned on her (no pun intended). “You mean being a key?” Dawn nodded. “Yeah? So?”

“Well, I think something is wrong with me,” Dawn said.

“What do you mean?” Faith asked, worried.

“I’m going to tell you something that not even Buffy knows,” Dawn warned. “But you can’t tell her.”

“Dawn, I can’t promise that. Not if it has to do with your safety,” Faith said.

“I don’t think it does,” Dawn said, unsure.

“Just tell me and we’ll see if I should tell Buffy or not,” Faith said.

Dawn nodded.

“Ishotfirefrommyeyesdustingvampiresayearago,” Dawn blurted.

Faith blinked. “Huh?”

“I shot fire from my eyes, dusting vampires a year ago,” Dawn said slowly.

Faith’s jaw dropped open in shock. “You… You… You… You WHAT?” Faith stuttered.

“I shot fire-“ Dawn started.

“Stop. I heard you, but how? When? Why? Where?” Faith demanded.

“Last year. A few vampires attacked my three friends and me. I got angry and felt a great pain in my eyes. Fire came out of my eyes and dusted the vampires but not before they drained my friends. I just told her that the vampires ran because they hadn’t noticed me,” Dawn said. When Faith said nothing, Dawn continued, “I think that I have some powers because I was the ‘key’. We don’t know what kind of ‘key’ I was. Maybe I could have been a goddess or something.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” Faith said. Dawn stopped her babbling. “So you think you got some powers and you are just mentioning them now?”

Dawn nodded.

“Why did you say anything before?” Faith asked. Dawn said nothing and Faith sighed. “Dawn, answer me. Why didn’t you say anything when it first happened?”

“I was afraid,” Dawn said.

“What? Why?” Faith asked, confused.

“Because… what the hell do you think would happen when Buffy and them find out? They’re gonna hate me! That’s what would happen. Everyone treated me differently when they found out that I was the ‘key’. I wasn’t Buffy’s true sister anymore. I was some…thing. Sure, now they treat me like Buffy’s sister but it took a long while for them to do so again. It’s like they felt betrayed by me because I wasn’t what they had thought. What do you think would happen if they found out that I had some ort of powers from being the ‘key’?” Dawn blurted. Faith stared at her wide-eyed. “They’d treat me differently again. I can’t handle that again. It hurts too much. I don’t want to be treated like a thing… a freak.”

Faith looked at Dawn with a little bit of pity in her eyes. She doubted that Dawn knew she had been crying the whole time. Poor kid. And that’s is what she was… a kid. Sure she had been some kind of ‘mystical key’ thing but she had been made human after all. The monks had made her human, put her under the protection of Buffy. They had given her faults, emotions and the ability to get hurt. She could make mistakes, she could die, and she could bleed, break something, and bruise. She could cry, she could laugh, she could be happy, sad, mad, and angry, she could be depressed and she could love. She was just like every other human being except that fact that she hadn’t been born. So what if she hadn’t been born, it wasn’t like it was her fault that she hadn’t been born but instead had been a ‘key’ that was supposed to open up a hell dimension. She wasn’t a ‘key’ now she was a ‘human’ now. A kid who was scared because of what she had been. So what if she was some ‘mystical key’. That hadn’t bothered Faith one bit. To her, it didn’t matter what you were, it matters what you are. Faith looked at Dawn who was silently crying and decided that she was going to have to tell Buffy or at least convince Dawn to tell Buffy the truth.

“Dawn?” Faith asked, gently. When Dawn didn’t look at her Faith tried to not laugh. Dawn was so much like Buffy, though the two of them denied it horribly. “Dawn, look at me.”

Dan looked at Faith, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.

“Dawn, you have to tell Buffy. This could be dangerous, not only to other people. I really don’t give a shit about them. I’m more worried about you. This could be dangerous to you. You could hurt yourself,” Faith said, slowly. “Either you are going to tell her or I will tell her.”

Dawn looked at Faith and tried to be pissed but she couldn’t be. Faith was right. This could be dangerous. Not only dangerous to her but also dangerous to others. Dawn considered for a moment. There were enough problems at the moment with the whole Faith being possessed by the Mayor. “I’ll tell, but only until after this thing with the Mayor has been resolved,” Dawn said.

“Promise me that you will tell your sister,” Faith said, in a no none-sense voice.

“Promise,” Dawn agreed.

“Good, now, go put the baby into her crib. The Mayor is about to come out,” Faith said, her body tensing.

Dawn’s eyes widened and she quickly, but gently got the baby and headed for the nursery. As the bedroom door closed, Faith arched her back in pain and bit back a scream that was threatening to come out. Every time the Mayor possessed her it became more and more pain full.

“Come now Faithy. You know you don’t want to fight me and even if you wanted to, you can’t stop me. So why do you even try?” the Mayor sneered.

“Shut up you stupid bastard,” Faith screamed before the Mayor took over.

Chapter 13: The Mayor Vs. The Family- Part 4 Show Down

Notes: The spell that Willow does is in Norwegian and since I don’t speak or know how to write in Norwegian (even though I am a 1/9 Norwegian) I used a translator on the Internet. So for anyone who does know how to speak or write Norwegian and it is not correct, I do apologizes profusely.

(In English it says:
I call upon the Powers That Be to help me fight the evil that is within a body that it does not belong in.
This body suffers from the evil with in and will die unless it is taken out.
I beg of you to bring an end of the possession and bring forth the evil within.
I beg of you to bring out the evil and send it to hell for all of eternity.
I beg of you to bring out the evil and send it to hell for all of eternity.

Come forth Evil and face what you should.
Leave the body that you possess and go on to hell.
Leave the body that you will kill to make your own and face the hell you deserve.
Leave the body that in the end will destroy you because of the light it brings to the world.
Leave the body that you possess and go on to hell.
Leave the body that you possess and go on to hell.
Leave the body that you possess and go on to hell.)

~~~~~

Willow walked into the house at six o’clock Thursday night and saw Dawn and Xander making fools out of themselves trying to get the baby to stop crying. Willow set her bags down by the door and snuck up on the two. The minute the baby saw her she stopped crying. Willow smiled and walked by a red faced Xander and a smiling Dawn and picked up the baby. Willow held the baby close to her and softly cooed at the baby.

“Hey baby, what did these mortal fools do to you huh? No one should live to see those faces,” Willow said with a straight face. But laughed at their indignant ‘HEY’! “Sorry, but come on. You two were just scaring her with those faces!”

Xander and Dawn conceded but then did a double take when they realized that it was Willow and she was home. “WILLOW!” They pounced on, but making sure to not hurt the baby, and hugged her and welcomed her home.

“I take it you’re happy to see me?” Willow asked, smiling. “Well, I missed you two too.”

‘I really doubt that,’ Dawn thought but didn’t say aloud. “So you got the three thingies?” Dawn asked.

“Yep, but I think we should do the spell tomorrow ‘cause I’m beat and I need all the rest I can get,” Willow said before they could suggest it.

“Good idea,” Xander said.

Buffy walked in a moment later dragging in a half dozen suitcases. “Willow, did you like buy half of New Gotham or something?” Buffy demanded.

Willow smiled sheepishly. “I only bought a few things. Barbara bought the rest for me,” Willow said and then mentally kicked herself. She hadn’t meant to tell them about that. She didn’t want to talk about Barbara just yet.

“Oh really?” Buffy asked and gently pushed Willow on the couch since she was still holding Joyce.

“Yes, but can I please explain later? We need to talk about what we are going to be doing tomorrow,” Willow said, easily evading the question.

“Yes, of course,” Buffy agreed immediately. “But don’t think that you will get out of tell me about this Barbara.”

“Yes master,” Willow sighed.

“I’m going to take Joyce upstairs and put her to bed, go to the dinning room and get something to eat. We’ll talk there,” Buffy said. Buffy put Joyce in her crib after changing her dipper and pajamas. Buffy leaned over and kissed Joyce on the forehead and wished her sweet dreams. She then went in and checked on Faith and gave her a quick kiss. She headed down stairs and into the dinning room to see Willow scarfing down some food. Buffy sat at the head of the table as she waited for Willow to finish her dinner. When Willow finished, she waited for Willow to say something first.

“Okay, here’s what’s going to happen. Well do the spell at the Magic Shop tomorrow morning. Xander and Dawn will stay here because then there will be less chance that I will be disrupted. No offense. Faith will need to restrain in case the spell doesn’t work as it should for some reason and makes the Mayor take over her quicker. It’s just a precaution. Now, Buffy you need to be armed to fight the Mayor if by doing this spell should give him a corporeal form. But, hopefully it’ll just send him to hell,” Willow said, and in a very unbabbling way. Which is gave her self a pat on the back for.

“That sounds like a plan, but how will we restrain her?” Buffy asked.

“Barbara gave me some stuff to restrain her with. She tested it on Helena and Helena couldn’t even struggle so it’ll work for Faith,” Willow said.

“Let’s take a look and test it on me,” Buffy said. She didn’t know who this Barbara was and didn’t trust her since she didn’t know the strength of a slayer. Not only that but Willow seemed too eager and that didn’t sit well with Buffy. Not that Willow shouldn’t find someone but… well… something was off.

“Alright,” Willow said. She went to one of her suitcases and got out the handcuffs and straightjacket. Willow walked into the dinning room and placed the two items on the table. “The cuffs are made out of iron and aren’t hollow. The straightjacket had metal lining in the back and the arms so it can’t bend.”

“Are you sure about that?” Dawn and Xander asked. They knew that slayers could do some unbelievable things some times.

“I’m sure. Barbara promised me that no one but Superman could get out of these,” Willow said.

Xander and Dawn looked at each other and thought the same thing. ‘Superman? Is there a real Superman?’

“I doubt that, put them on me and I’ll try to escape,” Buffy said, confidant.

“If you say so Buffy,” Willow said. Willow quickly put the handcuffs on Buffy’s ankles and then put the straightjacket on her. Willow stood back and watched Buffy struggle at full strength to get out of the handcuffs and straightjacket.

“Buffy, you can try to get out of the stuff now, it’s on you,” Xander said, after a few moments.

Buffy shot him a glare and said, “I AM trying to get out.”

“Oh,” Xander replied, trying not to laugh.

“Is that proof enough?” Willow asked, a little irrigated.

“Yes, now get me out of this damn thing,” Buffy grumbled.

Willow smiled and did as asked. “So this will hold Faith,” Willow said, trying not to smirk at the wounded ego of the slayer.

“Let’s hope so,” Dawn said.

“Well, I’m going to bed. I’ve had a long seven days and I need some sleep,” Willow said and then skipped down stairs to the basement.

“I wonder why she’s so skipp-y happy,” Xander said.

“Me too, but I’ll find out later after we take care of the Mayor,” Buffy said. Buffy got up and stretched. “I’m going up stairs with Faith for a while to talk about tomorrow.”

“’Night Buff,” Xander said.

“’Night Buffy,” Dawn said. Before Buffy could say anything, Dawn continued, “I know. Me. Bed. Soon.”

“’Night guys,” Buffy said as she left the dinning room and headed up the stairs to her bedroom. Buffy paused out side of her bedroom and then went to the nursery and got Joyce and then went into her bedroom to see that Faith was wide-awake. Buffy laid a sleeping Joyce inside the bassinet besides the bed before laying on the bed next to Faith and curling up to her girlfriend.

“Hey B,” Faith said, still staring at the ceiling.

Buffy lay her head on Faith’s shoulder and then put her arm around Faith’s waist and a leg around Faith’s legs. “Hey Faith,” Buffy replied.

“Willow’s back, huh?” Faith asked, still not looking at Buffy.

“Yep. It’ll happen tomorrow and then it will be over,” Buffy said, kissing Faith’s neck. “Then you’ll be back to normal.”

“Let’s hope so,” Faith said, in a dry monotone voice.

“Buffy lifted her head from its soft pillow that was Faith and looked at Faith with concern. “What’s wrong?” Buffy asked. ‘She better not be planning for the worst or something,’ Buffy thought.

“Promise me something?” Faith asked, still not looking at Buffy.

Buffy narrowed her eyes. “What?” Buffy asked. ‘I have a feeling that I am not going to like this,’ Buffy thought.

“If the Mayor does take over my body, don’t hesitate to kill him even if it’s my body,” Faith said. Faith knew she would have to get Buffy to promise because otherwise she would put people at risk to try and save her.

Buffy felt her heart drop and all of the blood leave her body at Faith’s declaration. ‘Why? Why did Faith have to ask me that? She knows I can’t promise that,’ Buffy thought.

“No, Faith,” Buffy started.

“No, B. You have to promise me that. From what Willow said I would be dead and in a hell dimension. You wouldn’t be able to save me. If you try to capture him and get me back, you could put the whole world at risk and I am not going to allow that. Promise me,” Faith said, turning to look Buffy dead in the eye. ‘She has to promise me. I wouldn’t be able to live if she risked the lives of others for me,’ Faith thought.

“I can’t,” Buffy said, an ache starting at the bottom of her soul and heading for her heart.

“Promise me,” Faith demanded.

“No,” Buffy said firmly, although she was wavering. Her resolve was breaking under Faith’s intense glare.

“I love you. Do you love me?” Faith asked, suddenly.

Buffy looked confused for a moment and answered, “Of course I love you!”

“Then promise me,” Faith said.

Buffy huffed out a breath. “Not fair,” Buffy declared.

“I know,” Faith said, smiling a little. “But you’re gonna do it.”

“Alright, I promise to kill you if the Mayor takes over your body,” Buffy said, tears in her eyes.

“Thank you,” Faith said. “Now kiss me.”

Buffy laughed at the demanded and leaned down to kiss her girlfriend. And because it might be the last time they ever could, they made love until they fell asleep in each other’s arms.

***

Willow lay on her bed imagining the outcomes of the spell that she was going to do tomorrow. She was scared. Even when she had been evil she hadn’t done anything that was this powerful. She wasn’t even sure if she could pull off the spell. She had done spells more powerful than this one but Tara had helped her and to two wiccans it was like a simple spell. There were three possible outcomes for the spell that she was going to do. 1) This spell could help the Mayor take over Faith faster and kiss Faith in the process. 2) This spell could cause the Mayor to be forced out of Faith and into his true demonic form and Buffy would have to fight him while Faith lay in a coma to recover. Or 3) The Mayor will be forced out of Faith and sent to hell leaving Faith to recover for a few days from the pain but not in a coma or dead. In any of those scenarios something could go wrong.

Willow picked up her cell phone and called the one person who could comfort her. Willow put an arm behind her head as she head the phone ringing.

~Hello~ a sleepy voice said.

“Hey Barbara,” Willow said.

~Willow, hi, what’s wrong~ Barbara asked, instantly concerned.

“I don’t think I can do it,” Willow admitted.

Barbara didn’t even try to pretend to not know what Willow was talking about. ~Willow, I know you can do the spell. There is nothing for you to worry about~ Barbara soothed.

“I’m not sure I can. I’ve never done anything like this on my own before. Even when I was evil I was never this powerful. Sure Tara and I did spells that were ten times more powerful… but that is just it. Tara always helped me. She was way more powerful than me and made it possible,” Willow babbled.

~Willow, sweetie… STOP! I know you can do this. Never ever doubt that. I also know that Tara knows that you can do this. And do you know why Tara and I know that you can do this~ Barbara said.

“Why?” Willow asked. Before if anyone had ever mentioned Tara she would have shut down for days at a time. Now, she just smiled at her memories of her beloved. Barbara had helped her move on. She had listened to Willow rant, rave and cry about her lost lover. So, in a way, Barbara knew almost everything about Tara, so she could say with out a doubt that Tara would believe in Willow, no matter what.

~Because your power doesn’t just make the spell work. It’s your love for the people you are trying to save that makes the spell work. Power isn’t everything you know. It’s what you do with it and how you do it. Believe me, you are more than likely more powerful than Tara. Remember when you past out? I did a scan. You have three times more brainpower than Dinah and that is saying something. All you have to do is unlock it. The more afraid you are of doing evil, the more likely you will be drawn to do it. Sure, you did black magic, but you had no real training and by the time Tara tried to help you, you were lost already. But you have found your way back from it. From what I can see, you only use magic when it is absolutely necessary. Even then, you try and find another way other than magic. This is one of those situations that you need to use magic. And I know that you can do it~ Barbara said.

Willow smiled at Barbara’s lecture. In some ways she was a lot like Tara but in other ways she was nothing like Tara. Willow sighed.

“Thanks. I really needed that,” Willow said.

~Well, I did give you my number for a reason, though it was purely a selfish reason~ Barbara admitted.

“Oh? And what would that be?” Willow teased.

~To hear your voice~ Barbara said, in the most serious tone Willow had ever heard.

“Mmm…. Really?” Willow asked.

~Yes really. Smartass~ Barbara said, playfully.

Willow smiled and chuckled a little. “I miss you,” Willow said.

~I miss you too Lo~ Barbara said.

“Why do you call me that?” Willow asked, bemused.

~Lo~ Barbara asked.

“Yes. Not that I mind, but how did you end up calling me that again?” Willow asked.

~Well, from what you tell me, everyone calls you Will, Wills, Willow or Red. I wanted something that was my own to call you. That’s why you call me Babar isn’t it~ Barbara explained.

Willow blushed deeply and was embarrassed, even though Barbara couldn’t see her. “Well, yes, but I also call you that because it was my favorite cartoon when I was little. Babar was a king elephant. He was so cool, calm, smart and logical. You’re a lot like him. Well, except you’re a girl and he’s a guy and your not an elephant and…” Willow babbled.

Barbara was laughing and that stopped Willow’s babble. ~You are too cute~ Barbara cooed.

Willow blushed even harder. She looked at her clock and say that it was midnight here that meant it was close to four a.m. there. ~Oh, geez! I am so sorry. I didn’t realize how late it was! I didn’t mean to keep you up. You have school and… and you need your sleep,” Willow said.

~Lo, it’s okay. But, you’re right I do need my sleep. So, talk to you tomorrow~ Barbara asked.

“Yeah, talk to you tomorrow,” Willow said.

They said their goodbyes and Willow hung up the phone, feeling better about the up coming spell.

***

Willow and Faith sat inside of a circle what was surrounded by candles. Buffy was outside of the circle with a sword in a scabbard against her back. She had a knife and a stake in her belt. She had three knives that had poison on them in her boots. In her hands she had a sword. You could say she was going over board, but she wanted to be prepared. Which was why Faith was in a straightjacket that had a melt lining in the back and arms and had her ankles handcuffed.

Willow was still preparing the spell and they had already been at it for twenty minutes. For the first fifteen minutes, she put protection spells all over the Magic Shop so that no one could get in or out unless she said so. Then for five minutes she cast the circle around her and Faith and mixed the ingredients that she had needed to do the spell. Willow put the bowel with the mixed ingredients down. Willow picked up Redman’s Cross and the Eye of Odin. She put the Eye of Odin into the center of Redman’s Cross. They fit like a puzzle. Willow picked up Stifler’s Dagger and slid the blade into the Eye of Odin. When it could go no more, she turned it and there was a click as it locked the three pieces together. Willow set the three-piece figure down and pointed it at Faith so that the handle of the knife was pointing at Faith. Willow picked up the bowel and took a handful of the contents. She held her hand over the three-pieces and started to say the spell:

Jeg kaller på Kreftene Som Er hjelpe meg bekjemper det ondet som er innenfor en kropp som det ikke hører til i.

Denne kroppen lider av ondet med i og dør hvis ikker det tatt ut.

Jeg tigger av De føre en slutt av eiendomen og fører frem det onde innenfor.

Jeg tigger av De ta ut ondet og sender det til helvete for all av evighet.

Tre frem Ond og ansikt hva De skal.

Forlate kroppen som De eier og fortsett til helvete.

Forlate kroppen som De dreper lage Deres egent og vend mot helvetet som De fortjener.

Forlate kroppen som til slutt ødelegger De på grunn av lyset som det fører til verdenen.

Forlate kroppen som De eier og fortsett til helvete.

As Willow said the spell, she slowly sprinkled the stuff in her hands on the three-pieces. Her eyes had slowly started to turn white instead of black like they used to. This isn’t a black magic spell, not it is a Wiccan spell. Suddenly, a white beam shot out from the handle of the knife and hit Faith in the stomach. Faith screamed and it was Buffy could do not to flinch and run to her lover, but she stayed leaning against the desk where she was supposed to stay. Faith threw her head back and white light came out of her eyes and open mouth. Buffy eyes widened and she had to fight to stay where she was. As Willow kept up the chant, Faith started to rise from the ground and spun in a slow circle. Suddenly dark light started to come out of Faith’s mouth and floated around in the air. Buffy tensed and got into a fighting stance. The black light circled around in the air after all of it came out of Faith’s mouth and then settled a few feet in front of Buffy. As the black light started to take form, Faith fell to the ground unconscious and Willow past out from magic overuse.

“Damn, that can’t be good. They better be all right,” Buffy muttered under her breath.

The black light slowly started to take a form. And the form was… seven feet tall. The black light started to make a figure starting with huge claw like feet and slowly made it’s way up to a head with long horns on it. The demon was all black with scales, claws, horns and very sharp teeth.

“Hello, Slayer,” the demon said n the Mayor’s voice.

“Mayor?” Buffy asked.

p>“Yessir-y Bob. I’m in my real form this time,” the Mayor said.

“Well, I guess I get to kick your real form’s butt this time,” Buffy said and then lunged at him.

The Mayor side stepped her and pushed her back, sending her into a wall.

“By the way, my name is Alaki,” the Mayor sneered.

Buffy pushed herself away from the wall and took up a fighting stance again. “Well, Alaki, this is me kicking your ass now,” Buffy said swinging her sword at the Mayor. The Mayor blocked her attack and kicked her, sending her flying through the air and into the opposite wall.

“No, I think this is me kicking your ass little girl,” Alaki said.

While Buffy and Alaki fought, Faith opened her eyes and shot up into a sitting position. Faith looked around and saw Buffy fighting a demon. Faith quickly rolled over to Willow and kicked her a little to wake her up.

“Willow! Willow wake up and take this damn stuff off of me. I gotta help B!” Faith said in Willow’s ear. When Willow didn’t move, Faith did the first thing that came to mind, she bit Willow on the arm. Willow screamed and shot up and into a fighting stance. “Finally! Willow, hurry, get me outta this crap so I can help Buffy fight that really ugly demon,” Faith said.

“Oh, ok,” Willow said and turned Faith over onto her stomach. Willow took the keys out of her pocket and unlocked the handcuffs on Faith’s ankles first and then set to work on unlocking all of the locks on the straightjacket. As soon as the last lock fell to the floor Faith jumped up but Willow quickly stopped her. “Wait, I have to close the circle.”

“Then do it and do it fast,” Faith said.

Willow nodded and muttered a spell under her breath. “Okay, go,” Willow said, before passing out again.

Faith ran out of the circle and grabbed the sword that Buffy had thrown her. She ran up to Buffy and stood besides her as they faced the Mayor in his true form. Faith looked at the man she had loved like a father. The man who gave her everything and in return, broke everything she held dear.

Faith looked him in the eyes and said, “You die by my hands.”

Alaki smirked. “You can try little girl,” Alaki challenged.

Faith and Buffy looked at each other and nodded. As one, they attacked the Mayor. While Faith distracted him, Buffy placed the three knives with poison on them in places the Mayor couldn’t get them out.

“Faith! Why are you doing this? I loved you like a daughter,” Alaki screamed out in rage.

“If you ever loved me then you will die and go to hell so that I can be happy,” Faith screamed back.

The Mayor looked shocked at this and faith used that opening to shove her sword into his stomach. Alaki looked down at the sword surprised that it was sticking out of him. He grabbed the hilt of the sword and sunk to his knees. He looked at Faith in shock. It was almost like he couldn’t believe that she had just done that. He screamed out in pain as his whole body shook.

“B! RUN!” Faith screamed. She grabbed Buffy and ran to Willow. Faith three Buffy on top of Willow and covered the both of them with her body. The Mayor’s body blew and coved everything with this blue-green guck. Faith got up and immediately slipped in the stuff and fell face first into the blue-green guck.

“Faith! Are you ok?” Buffy asked, trying not to laugh.

Faith turned around and lay on her back. She tried to wipe the stuff off but she just smeared more on. “Yeah, get me something to wipe this crap off,” Faith said.

“Alright,” Buffy said. She flipped over to the counter and got some towels and water.

While Faith tried to clean herself up, Buffy tried to wake Willow up. She was having no luck waking the redhead up. Faith finished cleaning up as best as she could. She walked over to Willow and Buffy. She bent down and picked up Willow and put her on her shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

“Come on, let’s go home,” Faith said.

Buffy stood up and wrapped her arm around Faith’s waist while Faith put an arm around Buffy’s shoulder. With Willow over her shoulder, Faith led Buffy home and away from the memories of the Mayor and times of the past.

Chapter 14: Faith’s Big Day

Notes: There are two songs in this chapter. The first one is ‘Unchained Melody’ by the Righteous Brothers. The second one is ‘All I Have To Give’ by the Backstreet Boys.

~~~~~

Faith yawned and stretched her arms across the…empty bed. Faith opened her eyes and looked around the room. Buffy was nowhere in sight. Faith panicked for a moment but then remembered that the pool party was today. Faith moved to get up but felt something on her chest. She looked down and saw a letter taped to her chest. Faith took it off of her shirt and opened it. It was…. a birthday card. Faith raised a brow. On the front of the card was a picture of a guy naked with a black box covering his private parts. At the top it said, ‘If you want to see the guy with out the black box, open the card’. Faith, bemused, opened the card and nearly choked with laughter. On the inside of the card had the same thing, instead of the box being there, the box had been cut out so that there was a hole in the card and at the top it said, ‘See, no more box. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!’. Faith looked at the card and saw that Buffy had written in it.

‘Faith, happy birthday. Yep, I found out about your birthday. I’ve known about it since before we got together. Giles had gone to England to fix the Watchers Council and start making it how it should be. He had found your file and sent it to me. I know all about your past. Everything. I’ve known for two years. I guess I just really didn’t want to believe that. But when you told me, I heard the way your voice sounded so broken, I realized that it was real. I should have told you this soon and I am sorry that I didn’t. I know you like your privacy and I respect that. But that is all in the past. Right now, your future is waiting outside in the backyard for your birthday party. You have two choices. 1) You can leave and catch a train to where ever. Or 2) You can come out to the backyard and begin your life with your family. Love you, B.’

Faith sat there stunned. Buffy had known about her past for all of this time! She had known for two years and she never tried to visit it me in jail! Faith was pissed and way beyond pissed. Faith flung her hand out to hit the wall but hit a picture in stead. Grumbling under her breath, Faith bent down to pick up the picture. It was a picture of her and Buffy looking at each other. It had been taken recently. Faith sighed and put the picture on the nightstand. She looked at the picture and saw the love in her eyes and Buffy’s eyes as they were looking at each other. Did she really want to throw away way she had here because she was angry that Buffy had knew about her life before she had told her? Did she want to risk losing her bestfriend and other friends? Did she want to risk losing her daughter? Did she want to risk losing her girlfriend? Mmm… nope not really. She had worked too hard and for too long to have something like this and she wasn’t going to let it go because of something stupid. She wasn’t going to act like the old Faith.

Faith got out of bed and went to her and Buffy’s closet and got out her bathing suit. It was party time after all. She then went into the bathroom, got dressed into her bathing suit, brushed her hair and put it in a ponytail and then brushed her teeth. She then headed for the backyard and her jaw dropped open. The backyard had been transformed into a party haven. Xander was working the grill and Dawn was acting as a DJ while Willow was setting up the table and Buffy was setting the gifts on a table. But that’s not all. Gunn and Wesley were putting the finishing touches of glass-like stuff from the house to the back fence and from one end of the fence to the other. Faith knew what this was. This glass aloud Angel to see the sun with out combusting into a fireball and then into ash. But while the two men were going that, Cordelia and Fred were putting up party streamers and such. They had already put up a banner that read ‘HAPPY 23 BIRTHDAY FAITH!!!’

Faith stood there as she watched everyone finishing up what they were going. No one noticed that she was standing there watching him or her. They all seemed to be into getting her birthday party ready. She knew that Angel was in the house finishing the cake in the basement. She’s a slyer who has super smelling but she didn’t want to ruin the surprise. For once, she liked the surprised and wanted many, many more. Faith looked over and saw the play pin. It had been so long since she had last held her daughter. She walked over to Joyce and picked her up out of the play pin and held her close. She smelled in the baby’s essence and sighed. She sat on one of the deck chairs and held the baby close to her as she watched everyone make a fuss over her birthday. No one had ever made a fuss over her let alone her birthday. Faith looked down at the baby and gently cooed at the little girl. The baby waved a fist at Faith. Faith took the little fist and kissed it gently a few times before looking back up. Faith smiled when she saw Buffy walking over to her. Buffy mouthed ‘I love you’ to Faith and Faith mouthed ‘I love you too’ back at Buffy. Buffy walked up and stood in front of Faith for a moment and then leaned down and kissed her on the lips. Buffy took a seat next to Faith and held her hand.

“Happy Birthday,” Buffy said after a while.

“Thank you,” Faith said. “You didn’t have to go through all of this trouble for me.”

“Yes, I do… we do. I realized something. I know we’re not supposed to drudge up the past, but last night I was thinking. We didn’t make a big deal out of you. We left you out of things. We used you and left you to sit and wait in your crappy motel room. And we haven’t done a much better job for our second chance. Sure we’re together but we haven’t really made you a part of our group yet. So, today we are,” Buffy said.

“B…” Faith was truly touched, but she didn’t need that anymore. She had that she ever needed and she had what she had ever truly wanted.

“Don’t, just let us do this, k?” Buffy said, taking the baby from Faith and putting her into the play pin.

“Alright,” Faith said getting up from the chair. If Buffy wanted to do this for her, she wasn’t going to stop the stubborn little blonde.

“Good,” Buffy said and then pulled Faith to her for a searing kiss. Buffy kissed her long and hard for a few minutes to allow Angel to sneak Giles and Oz over to where everyone was standing. Buffy broke the kiss and smiled at Faith and then pointed over to the others. Faith turned and her jaw dropped when she saw that everyone was there. Buffy led Faith over to the people awaiting her.

“WELCOME TO THE SCOOBIES!” Everyone shouted out. Faith smiled widely as she and Buffy walked over to the group of the Original and newsiest Scoobies. Xander, Willow, Giles, Oz, Angel, Cordelia, Dawn, Fred, Gunn and Wesley were all looking at Faith like they were really proud of her. Each one pulled a very surprised and embarrassed Faith into a hug. Faith finally pulled back and shuffled her feet nervously.

“You didn’t…” Faith tried to say.

“YES WE DID,” everyone shouted before she could finish the sentence.

Faith sighed. She was going to say that they didn’t need to do this because she had already felt like she had belonged, that she knew that she was finally apart of the Scoobies. But if they didn’t want to listen, then… oh well…

“Well, whatever, let’s get the party started!” Faith said.

“Alright!” Dawn and Fred cheered.

“Well, lunch is ready, so why don’t we eat first,” Xander said.

“Aww…. Spoil sport!” Dawn, Fred and Faith whined.

Everyone laughed and headed for the tables to eat. After everyone ate, Angel brought out a huge cake. Angel set the cake down in front of Faith and light twenty-three candles. Everyone sang ‘Happy Birthday’ and told her to make a wish. Faith looked around and smiled. ‘I don’t have anything to wish for. I have everything I could ever want,’ Faith thought. ‘Then again, I could always use a motorcycle.’ Faith closed her eyes and blew out the candles as everyone cheered. As Angel started to cut the cake, Gunn and Oz started to hand Faith presents.

“What’s all this?” Faith asked, confused.

“Presents,” Dawn said. “You get presents on your birthday… DUH!”

“Oh,” Faith said, smiling. “I knew that. But you already did more than enough.”

“JUST OPEN THEM!” Dawn shouted.

Faith smiled. Well, she hadn’t really stopped smiling, it just kept getting bigger and bigger.

“Here, open this one first,” Fred said, handing Faith a blue box. Faith took the box and ripped it open. Inside the box were three super soakers. Faith smiled wickedly and shot a look at Dawn. Faith went through the rest of the presents. Oz got her a guitar with a case. Gunn got her the amp, staff paper and some music books. Xander and Willow bought her several video games. Dawn bought her two journals. Buffy got her a dress that she was instructed to wear for their date tonight.

“Well, my gift compliments Angel’s. So here,” Wesley said, handing Faith a big box. Faith took the box and opened it. Inside were leather pants, a biker’s jacket, biker boots, gloves and two helmets.

“You bought me biker stuff,” Faith said. “So does that mean…?”

Angel rolled a motorcycle up to Faith. “I bought you a motorcycle,” Angel said.

Faith sat there stunned. “What? Why?” Faith asked.

“I figured you could use it,” Angel said.

“Wow,” Faith said.

“Yes, well that just leaves my present doesn’t it?” Giles asked.

“Yo, G-man, you didn’t have to. You being here is enough,” Faith protested.

“Uh huh. Well, let’s just say that I know you and you won’t take to being the housewife while Buffy works. And I also know that you won’t take to any ordinary jobs. So, I bought you a building. It has been completely redone on the inside. It’ll be a martial arts center where you can teach kids to defend themselves. Not only that, but kids who don’t have proper homes or don’t have any homes will be able to live there. It’ll be like an orphanage but better,” Giles said. Faith’s jaw dropped open. “I figured that this would be the best thing for you to do. You’ll be able to work with kids in a way that you know how and you will be able to help kids who are like you in many respects.”

“Wow, G... Giles. Thanks, this means a lot to me,” Faith said.

Giles pulled Faith into a hug. “I know it does,” Giles said and then bent down and whispered only loud enough for her to hear. “Plus I’ve given you a way to take care of your family. I know how much taking care of the people you love is important to you.”

“That’s Giles,” Faith said.

Giles released Faith from the hug. “No problem,” Giles said.

“Can we play with your water guns now?” Dawn and Fred asked.

“Hell ya!” Faith said.

Ten minutes later, Giles, Angel and Wesley were on the deck talking about L.A. stuff. Gunn and Xander were in the pool wrestling. Oz was cooking some more food for everyone. Buffy, Willow and Cordelia were in long chairs sunbathing. Faith, Dawn and Fred were playing with the water guns that Faith got for her birthday. Willow, Buffy and Cordelia were talking about old times when suddenly Buffy was hit by a spray of water.

“FAITH!” Buffy yelled out while Faith was trying to hide the water gun behind her back.

“Yes?” Faith asked, innocently. Suddenly a water bomb fell on Faith’s head. Faith looked at Dawn. “HEY! Was that one of mine? You can’t just go and steal one of mine!”

“You shouldn’t mess with a Summers, cause then you have to mess with all of them. Plus, it’s a free country,” Dawn said and then ran away while Faith chased her.

“You know Buffy, you don’t need to have any more kids,” Cordelia started.

“Faith is a big kid herself,” Willow finished.

“True, but only when Dawn and now Fred is around. She was cheated out of a childhood. Leave her to her fun,” Buffy reprimanded. “But Cordy, you shouldn’t talk since your girlfriend is playing too.”

Cordelia narrowed her eyes and stuck out her tongue at Buffy. Buffy smiled back at Cordelia sweetly before looking over at Faith, Fred and Dawn fight each other with water guns and smiled. Buffy then let her eyes travel to the other people in her backyard, her family that had grown over the years. Sure, a few people had been lost, but they were remembered and new people came in all the time. Well, not all the time. But new people came and filled in the places to help make new memories. People moved away, but they still stayed in contact.

“So, what are you going to do tonight?” Cordelia asked.

“Huh?” Buffy asked, snapping back from her thoughts.

“Your date with Faith tonight. What are you going to do?” Cordelia asked again.

Buffy motioned for Willow and Cordelia to lean in close.

“We’re going to the beach and eat while watching the sunset. Then I’m going to propose,” Buffy said, softly so that Faith wouldn’t be able to hear her.

Willow and Cordelia’s jaws dropped open. They stared at Buffy for a few minutes then screamed and jumped on her. Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at the three girls but went back to what they were doing before, chalking it up as a girly girl thing.

Willow and Cordelia pulled back and shot Buffy with questions.

“When did you decide to pop the question?”

“When’s the wedding?”

“Are you sure you two are ready for this?”

“What made you want to do the marriage thing?”

Buffy held up a hand to stop the questions. “In order of the questions. I decided last week. I dunno. I’m positive. We’re ready for it,” Buffy said.

“I hate when you do that,” Willow said, pouting.

“I agree with the hacker,” Cordelia said.

Buffy smiled sweetly at them. “So, Willow, can you watch Dawn and Joyce for us? We won’t be back until late tomorrow,” Buffy said.

“Sure, no problem,” Willow said.

“Thanks,” Buffy said.

***

Faith was pacing back and forth in the living room, waiting for Buffy to come down for their date. Faith had no clue as to why they had to leave so early for their date. It wasn’t even night yet. She was wearing the dress that Buffy had gotten her and had let Cordelia apply her makeup for her. She was starting to get nervous. Why was everyone going through so much trouble for this date? It was just a date wasn’t it? Wasn’t it? If so then why the hell was everyone giving her knowingly glances and pats on the back? What the hell was with the smirks that Cordelia and Willow were giving her? Like they knew something that she didn’t.

“Are you ready?” Buffy asked from behind Faith.

Faith turned around to tell her that she had been ready for the past hour but her words were stuck in her throat. Buffy looked a vision. She was wearing a white dress, had her hair up with a few strands hanging down, perfect amount of makeup and a thousand-watt smile. Faith opened and closed her mouth for a few minutes, in an impression of a fish.

Faith cleared her throat and choked out, “Yeah, B. I’m ready.”

Buffy holds out a hand for Faith. “Then, let’s go,” Buffy said.

Faith took Buffy’s hand and follows her outside to the car. Buffy got into the driver’s side and Faith got into the passenger’s side. Buffy took out a scarf and held it up to cover Faith’s eyes.

“Why do you need to cover my eyes?” Faith asked, suspiciously.

“’Cause where we are going is a surprise,” Buffy said. “Trust me.”

“Alright,” Faith said, taking the scarf and tying it over her eyes. “Let’s hit the road! But not literally cause that would hurt.”

Buffy laughed and drove off. They talked about the past week and about nothing at all. Buffy had stopped on the way and had gotten their dinner. Then she made a quick stop at their hotel and dropped off their duffle bag. It was two hours later and they had finally arrived at their intended destination. Buffy told Faith to stay in the car for a few minutes and went to set up their picnic on the beach. Buffy put a large blanket on a large smooth rock that over looked the beach. She then put a few candles around the rock and lit them and then made a quick fire in a fire pit. She then put out the food and put the radio on the blanketed rock. Buffy walked back to the car and got Faith out of it. She then led the still blindfolded Faith to the blanketed rock. Buffy untied the blindfold and wrapped her arms around Faith from behind.

“Surprise,” Buffy said softly.

Faith was speechless for a few moments. “Wow, you… just… wow,” Faith said.

Buffy smiled and rested her chin on Faith’s shoulder. Faith leaned back into Buffy’s embrace. “Hungry?” Buffy asked.

“Yeah,” Faith said.

Buffy and Faith sat on the blanket and ate their food in silence. It wasn’t and an uncomfortable silence, no it was one that said everything and nothing at all. They finished their meal and Faith held Buffy as the sun was setting over the ocean. Faith ran her fingers through Buffy’s hair and marveled at the silky softness. Faith gently kissed Buffy’s temple. ‘This moment couldn’t be more perfect,’ Faith thought. Suddenly Buffy got up and held out her hand.

“Dance with me?” Buffy asked.

“Always,” Faith said, taking Buffy’s hand and getting up.

Buffy bent and turned on the radio and turned on the c.d. player and pressed play. As the song started, Buffy pulled Faith into her embrace and lightly kissed the darker girl on the lips.

Oh my love
My darling
I've hungered for your touch
A long lonely time
As time goes by so slowly
And time can do so much
Are you still mine?
I need your love
I need your love
God speed your love
To me
Lonely rivers flow
To the sea
To the sea
To the open arms
Of the sea
Lonely rivers sigh
"Wait for me, wait for me"
I'll be coming home
Wait for me.
*
I've hungered for your touch
A long lonely time
As time goes by so slowly
And time can do so much
Are you still mine?
I need your love
I need your love
God speed your love
To me
Lonely rivers flow
To the sea
To the sea
To the open arms
Of the sea
Lonely rivers sigh
"Wait for me, wait for me"
I'll be coming home
Wait for me.
*
Oh my love
My darling
I've hungered for your touch
A long lonely time
As time goes by so slowly
And time goes by so slowly
And time can do so much
Are you still mine?
I need your love
I need your love
God speed your love
To me
To ...
Ooooooooooh.

Buffy pulled Faith down for another kiss as another song came on. Buffy wrapped her arms around faith’s neck as Faith wrapped her arms around Buffy’s waist. Buffy lay her head on Faith’s shoulder and Faith lay her cheek on top of Buffy’s head.

Buffy marveled at the innocence of Faith.

I don't know what he does to make you cry
But I'll be there to make you smile
I don't have a fancy car
To get to you I'd walk a thousand miles
I don't care if he buys you nice things
Does his gifts come from the heart? - I don't know...
But if you were my girl...
I'd make it so we'd never be apart

But my love is all I have to give
Without you I don't think I can live
I wish I could give the world to you... but
Love is all I have to give

When you talk, does it seem like he’s not
even listening to a word you say ?
That's ok babe, just tell me your problems
I'll try my best to kiss them all away...
Does he leave when you need him the most?
Does his friends get all your time?
Baby please, I'm on my knees
Praying for the day that you'll be mine!!

But my love is all I have to give
Without you I don't think I can live
I wish I could give the world to you... but
Love is all I have to give

To you... Hey girl, I don't want you to cry no more - inside
All the money in the world could never add up to the love
I have inside...
I love you

And I will give it to you
All I can give, all I can give
Everything I have is for you
But love is all I have to give

But my love is all I have to give
Without you I don't think I can live
I wish I could give the world to you... but
Love is all I have to give

But my love is all I have to give
Without you I don't think I can live
I wish I could give the world to you... but
Love is all I have to give to you

Just as the last of the sun was going down and the song started to end, Buffy dropped to one of her knees and held out a small ring box to Faith. Faith, who had been about to ask what was wrong, stopped when she saw the small ring box. Faith looked completely confused. Buffy took Faith’s left hand and looked into her eyes.

“Faith, from the moment that I have met you, I have felt something special for you. Before I was too young, too stupid, too self-absorbed, too high and mighty and too afraid to admit what I felt for you. I was bitchy, critical, self-righteous, pain-in-the-the-ass, stay-at-arms-length asshole to you when you first arrived the first time and when you came back here to make things right. We both made mistakes in the past and in the present. All I know is that I love you more than anything. I did love Angel, but that was a first love high school crush thing. With you it’s a love you from the tip of my soul to the depth of my heart kind. For the past week or so I felt like I was dying. Not because I couldn’t touch you intimately, but because I thought I was going to lose you, again, to the Mayor. I know that if you ever die I could go on living but it would only be a half-life with out you. You are my soul mate, the love of my life, for now and forever. Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?” Buffy asked, finishing just as the sunset and the song ended.

Silent tears were falling down from Faith’s eyes. Faith opened her mouth but nothing came out. Faith took a deep breath and spoke from her heart. “B, that was the most beautiful thing I have ever heard,” Faith said, on a happy sob. ‘I guess this moment just got more perfect,’ Faith thought.

“Is that a yes?” Buffy asked hopefully.

“That’s a hell yes,” Faith said. Buffy slid the ring on Faith’s finger and picked the girl up and spun in a circle. They both laughed as Buffy spun them around in a circle. ‘Thank god for slayer strength!’ Buffy thought. Buffy lowered Faith down and kissed her until air became an issue. “I think we should go back to the hotel, don’t you?”

“Oh, yes, god,” Buffy said, huskily.

They quickly packed everything up, jumped into the car and headed for the hotel. Buffy parked the car in front of the hotel and she dragged Faith up to the fifth floor and into their room. The moment the door closed Faith picked Buffy up and walked into the bedroom. Faith gently laid Buffy down and lay herself on top of the smaller woman. They forced back their urgency and slowly undressed each other.

“I love you so much,” Faith said, laying Buffy down onto her back.

“I love you more,” Buffy said, holding out her arms for Faith. Faith smiled. She lay between Buffy’s legs and propped herself up onto her elbows and looked down at the light of her life. Faith lightly traced Buffy’s lips with a fingertip. Faith bent down and lazily kissed Buffy. Faith slowly trailed her hands down Buffy’s body and then back up to cup the small pert breasts. Buffy moaned and arched into her hands. Faith traced Buffy’s nipples as she kissed the smaller woman senseless. Faith broke the kiss and looked into Buffy’s lustful half closed eyes. She started to move a hand down Buffy’s body. She cupped Buffy’s sex and marveled at how wet the little woman already was. Faith slowly slid two fingers into Buffy’s dripping sex. There would be no teasing but no rushing either. Faith moaned as Buffy slid two fingers into her. As one they started to move together. Faith lowered her head and captured Buffy’s lips in a slow passionate kiss. Buffy brought her free hand up and tangled it into Faith’s hair. Buffy then wrapped her legs around Faith’s lower back and buttocks. Faith broke the kiss and laid her forehead against Buffy’s. Faith buried her head into Buffy’s neck as they built up a powerful release. Suddenly, Faith threw her head back and howled out Buffy’s name as she came, while Buffy arched up into her and screamed Faith’s name as she came.

Faith removed her fingers from Buffy as Buffy removed her fingers from Faith. Faith rolled over taking Buffy with her. Buffy curled up into Faith’s embrace. Faith ran her fingers through Buffy’s hair and gently kissed Buffy’s temple.

“I love you, B,” Faith whispered.

“Love you, honey,” Buffy whispered back before they both fell into a peaceful sleep.