The sky boiled. Black and formidable, it churned violently, spitting lightning and growling thunder. It rolled over the small city of Sunnydale like a giant cumulous beast. In an abandoned church, lightening viciously flashed across cold stone walls. Water ran down the windowsills onto the dusty floor, sporadically pooling like viscous black oil. If cared for, the church could have seemed quite homey, pleasant even. Yet, the years of disrepair and neglect had turned it into a run-down eyesore that people ignored let alone tried to restore. Even the vagrants and drug users left the place alone, finding it too ³creepy² for their illicit affairs.
Still, the church had a place, a purpose. A being. It sat waiting. Silently. As the years rolled by and its floorboards rotted, and the rats claimed the dark places home. The church waited.
The lightening rod atop the church blazed red-hot. The sporadic strikes that hit the rod had become a steady stream, growing stronger and more powerful with each strike. Soon, it looked as though the church were attached to the sky by one long white rope.
A vortex opened at the roof of the church. Red and black and orange swirling together, pulling time and space and dimension into one perfect whirlpool. Opening wider, a small dot appeared within the vortex. Something, or someone was coming through. Within seconds, the dot grew to the figure of a man. Screaming, he was tossed through the vortex with such violence that he bounced off the opposite wall.
The man involuntarily gasped for air. His lungs no longer needed the oxygen that he pulled into them. Yet feeling the need to complete his macabre re-birth, the man sucked the air into his lungs and screamed back towards the vortex. With that, the man, Angel, frightened, alone and back from the dead passed out on the cold stony floor.
Buffy lay in the bed of her motel room staring at a small picture. Old, tattered and worn it still held a special significance with the blonde slayer. A picture of happier times, simpler times. Before things got complicated. Before everything changed forever. The pain of staring at the picture seized Buffy by the heart, pulling and tugging, washing away the tough exterior that she projected. The tears came slow at first. The salt stinging her eyes as she wiped her face with the back of her hand. Yet, even that could not stop the flow of tears.
Just put it away, she thought to herself, itıs only gonna give you grief. But, Buffy found she couldnıt. The memories from long ago were a part of her that she just couldnıt put away. No matter how deep she buried them.
She was twelve in the picture. A picture perfect day spent at the Santa Monica Pier. Her father and mother draped behind her their eyes exuding same happiness that the young girl projected. Together. Happy. Alive. It all ended too quickly. Quicker than any of them would have guessed so many years ago.
The door to the bathroom opened. Faith, wrapped in a towel, exited the room. Still dripping, she rubbed a towel vigorously through her hair.
³I think thereıs some hot water left,² the brunette stated, the towel blinding her vision, ³who knew demons could be so slimy.²
Buffy quickly tucked the picture under the sheets trying to hide it from her lover. She ran her hands over her face, wiping away the tear stains, trying to hide her pain from Faith. It failed.
³Buffy?²
³Itıs okay. Iım all right.²
Faith clambered over to Buffy, seating herself in front of the smaller woman. Faith felt a stabbing pain in her heart. The pangs of guilt washing over her like a tide. Sheıd fucked up once and all she could think was that sheıd done it again.
³Hey, Iım sorry. Next time, Iıll add less haste. I get so impulsive, I know, but it wonıt happen again. Youıre the number one around here..²
³Faith.²
³I get so wrapped up in the slayage thing I keep forgetting weıre a team..²
³Faith.²
³Weıll do it your way from now. Thatıs me. Buffyıs right hand man, slayer, whatever..²
³Faith!² Buffy rose her voice not yelling but enough to catch Faithıs attention. She could see the fear in Faithıs eyes. Sheıd seen it many times in the past couple weeks. Faithıs fear the fear that she was going to lose her. Buffy knew it wasnıt true. Many times sheıd wondered what on earth it could have been to make the alternate world Buffy turn her away. Their lives could turn on the edge of a dime, and in an instant it could all be gone. This Buffy knew that. Itıd happened too many times to her in the past. But, sheıd finally found happiness. And no matter how fleeting their time was, Buffy knew in her heart of hearts that she wasnıt going to let Faith go.
³Yeah.² Faith sheepishly replied.
Buffy lowered her voice to a barely audible whisper.
³Would you hold me?² Buffy asked.
Faith looked into her eyes, the most beautiful she had ever seen. She could feel her heart melting as the words escaped Buffyıs mouth.
³Of course.²
Faith kissed Buffy lightly on the lips, putting all her love and faith into the scant contact. Then, she scooted herself behind Buffy, wrapping her arms around her as the two lay onto the bed. She could feel Buffy curling herself into her arms. Her head resting on Faithıs shoulder.
³Iıll hold you forever if thatıs what you want.²
Faith could feel Buffyıs tears on her skin. For an instant, she thought they would melt into her skin, burning into her heart. Her lover was hurting, and all she could do was hold her. But Faith knew, if thatıs what it would take to make Buffy happy she would do it.
³Promise me youıll never leave me, Faith.²
³I promise B. I love you. Nothing will ever change that.²
The door to Faithıs apartment burst open, ripping off its hinges. The Mayor walked hurriedly inside the room.
³Where is she?² he asked rhetorically.
He paced the room like a caged animal. Heıd bought this place for her. For his Faith. And now, she was gone. He jerked open a closet. Faithıs clothes still hung undisturbed. It was the same every where he looked. Her apartment left standing as if she never left or had no intention of leaving.
The Mayor sat down on the couch staring at the empty box that lay on the coffee table. He picked the box up. It was wooden, hand-made, the inside lined with deep crimson velvet where the knife heıd given her used to sit.
³I gave this to her.² He stated aloud. The cronies about him circling the room, sniffing it out. Oblivious to the Mayorıs pain, just doing what theyıre told.
³God, she loved that knife. She was funny like that. Not these kids today who are unappreciative to what their elders do for them. Faith was grateful, very grateful.²
In one hurried rush, the Mayor threw the box at a wall shattering it on contact. He ran a shaky hand through his hair, attempting to control his jagged breathing.
³WHERE IS SHE?!!² he screamed to no one.
The Mayorıs new assistant, Walter Bailey, walked through the broken door. He wasnıt as efficient, or intelligent as his predecessor. But, he did what he was told. He was polite and the Mayor liked him for now.
Walter let out a fake cough attempting to get the Mayorıs attention. The Mayor regained his composure turning to the young man.
³Anything?² he asked.
³No sir, nothing. I checked the bus station. The Bronze. The morgue. The schools. No oneıs seen her. Sheıs just..²
³Disappeared.² The Mayor finished.
³I made this. I posted them all over town as well.²
Walter pulled out a flyer from inside his coat handing it to the Mayor.
It was a picture of Faith.
MISSING
Faith
Hgt 5ı4²
Brown hair, Brown Eyes
Please call 555-1666
With any info and a Possible reward.
The Mayor began to giggle. He walked towards the large window caressing the photo.
³Mayor?²
³You know what I like about this town?² he asked, not waiting for an answer. Walter began to shift uncomfortably in his shoes. He didnıt know what, he just knew heıd done something wrong.
³The people, they do nothing. Children disappear in this town like a normal town loses bicycles. Crime happens and every one turns a blind eye.²
The Mayor crumpled the paper in his hands. Then turned and threw it at Walter.
³So, who do you think is going to notice another missing girl?²
Buffy burst into the library scaring the wits out of the gang. Theyıd gathered to go over the clues that Willow had attained regarding the Mayorıs ascension. As Buffy walked across the library floor, Giles rose from the table.
³Buffy, what is it?² he asked.
Buffy unfolded the flyer in her hand showing it to Giles.
³Itıs Faith, sheıs missing.²
Giles slowly paced his office. He was caught up in the book that Faith had found for him The Watcher Chronicles. As he read, he realized that this had changed everything. The Watcherıs Council had fallen into despair. Many killed in the line of duty, others too scared to fully commit to their duties. A series of events that had caused Giles to never become Buffyıs true Watcher. The Council having decided to give Buffy a more ³experienced² Watcher. And within a year, that Watcher was dead and Buffy was on her own. A series of random events, the proverbial butterfly wings, had caused his world to become a literal Hell.
But, somehow, it had all changed. Buffy had died at the hands of the Master the Pergagum Codex completed. Yet, miraculously, she came back. Giles didnıt know the why or the how, she just did. He had no reason to question it. Still, he had his suspicions. Giles thought that if he searched within these books maybe he could find the answer.
Everything had changed. They could all feel it. In nanoseconds, Giles had gone from the Watcher of none, to the Watcher of two slayers Buffy and Faith. Faith. Giles chuckled at the thought. Here was this child with her own personal demons, her cross to bare. Yet, he felt deeply that she was the key to it all.
Sure, it frightened Giles sometimes that the Watcher Council had put the fate of the entire world on the shoulders of these girls these children. But somehow, they persevered. The Watcher Council was in tatters. The world he knew was a literal Hell on Earth. And the slayer had died. And still, somehow, it had gotten better. Giles swore to himself that this time this second chance, he wouldnıt fail. Heıd make Buffy and Faith the best slayers the world ever knew. Heıd train them right. Heıd watch over them protect them. God willing, heıd give them the chance to see life on the other side of 20.
There was a large crash outside the office. Giles laid the book down and rushed out the door.
³What the hellıs going on?² he yelled.
An entire book-shelf lay sprawled on its side. Over a hundred books were scattered across the floor. Larry and Oz stood over the material not exactly sure where to begin.
³Sorry Giles.² Larry stated sheepishly.
³What happened?²
³We were just trying to get a book.² Larry replied, ³It was on top of the bookcase. I thought that was an odd place for a book so I tried to climb up the case.²
³Ever heard of a step stool?² Giles walked up the stairs, coming to help the boys.
³Yeah,² Oz interjected, ³And have you ever thought of nailing these book cases down?²
³They do seem to fall frequently.²
³Yeah.² Oz added.
The doors to the library opened. The two slayers walked in shoulder to shoulder dripping wet from the deluge outside. The two were practically soaked to the bone.
³Holy topple, Batman.² Faith exclaimed.
³Huh?²
³You know, Batman, Robin,² she paused noticing that no one had any idea what she was talking about, ³nevermind².
³We got your message Giles,² Buffy stated. She walked over to the counter pulling off her coat and laying it across the counter. ³Whatıs up?²
³Youıre getting water over everything for one thing,² he replied, still picking up the scattered books.
³Okay, sorry.²
Buffy picked up her coat and walked over to the coat rack, Faith on her heels.
³Why the urgency?² Faith asked peeling off her jacket. She noticed that Buffy was watching her. And Buffy was getting that look in her eyes.
³The rain.² Giles stated. He walked down the stairs heading into his office.
³Thatıs a new one to me Giles. I donıt normally associate rain with evil.² Faith snarked back at him. She turned to follow Giles into his office when she felt a hand sneaking into the back of her leather pants. Buffy gave a soft tug, pulling Faith into her body. She placed her mouth close to Faithıs ear whispering to her.
³Have I ever told you how hot you look when youıre wet?²
And with that, Buffy pushed her away and walked towards the table. If Larry or Oz, or anyone for that matter, had been paying attention they would have seen that Faith was blushing, badly.
Buffy plopped herself into a chair waiting for Giles to exit his office and explain what the hell was going on. Larry and Oz continued to pick up the books that were scattered across the floor. Apparently, they already knew the big revelation Giles was about to spring on them. Buffy watched as Faith walked towards the table. Her mind switching gears to ³other² activities. Buffy liked watching Faith walk, there was something about it that turned her on. Hell, everything about Faith turned her on. But, there was something about that walk. Faithıs sexy swagger, she liked to call it.
She noticed the water beads trickling down the leather pants that Buffy loved so much. How the wet shirt clung to Faithıs body, showing off the smooth lines and firm muscles of her stomach. The tattoo that encircled Faithıs arm. The redness around her ears, signaling her embarrassment or arousal.
God, Buffy thought, that girl is always horny. A slight smile creased Buffyıs lips as she thought about her partnerıs voracious appetite. How whenever Buffy suggested they do something, Faith always replied ³sex². Cımon, admit it, her inner voice replied, you like it. And she did, she loved the attention Faith exuded towards her. How she could look at Faith and know exactly what she was thinking. Sure, it wasnıt hard, 9 out of 10 times it was sex. Still, it was about her. Buffy knew that she was Faithıs world. Not in some bad co-dependent way, but in the way that made her feel needed, wanted.
Faith sat down next to Buffy. Buffy leaned over close to Faith, so that the others wouldnıt hear. As much as Faith loved Buffyıs ³flirtatious mode², she damn sure could pick the most inappropriate times to express it.
³Mmm,² she whispered into Faithıs ear, ³turkeyıs done.²
Faith looked down at her shirt and saw the two very erect nipples poking their way through the material. She immediately crossed her arms over her chest, her face flushing to a bright red.
³I hate you, you know that donıt you.² Faith mumbled back.
³I know,² Buffy replied chirpily, pecking a kiss on Faithıs cheek before turning back into her chair, ³And thatıs why I love you.²
³Here it is.² Giles exclaimed as he exited his office. He had another book in his hands, one of the many volumes that theyıd discovered hiding in the library.
³The evil rain.² Faith shot.
³No, the lull,² Giles replied, ³itıs over. The rain is just a sign.²
Giles sat himself down at the table, leafing through the pages of the book.
³You two arenıt from Sunnydale. I can tell you from experience that it rarely rains here.²
³Rarely? Try, at all.² Oz quipped.
³Yes, and weıve had three days of it. And from the looks of it, the rain has no intention of leaving anytime soon.²
³I still donıt get it,² Faith shifted into her seat, going into slayer work mode, ³what does the rain have to do with anything?²
³Hello,² Larry leaned over the guard rail, ³We are talking the Hellmouth here.²
³Exactly,² Giles continued, ³Iıve been going over the history of Sunnydale. Anytime thereıs a strong deluge of rain, three or more days to be specific, something bad happens.²
³Could we be a little more specific?² Buffy asked, ³something bad is not in my slayer handbook.²
³Ah yes,² Giles leafed through more pages, ³here, in 1879, it rained for 8 days straight. During that time, 7 children disappeared. It happened again in 1909, with the disappearance of 7 more children. And again, in 39 and 69. Itıs happened consecutively every thirty years for as far back as the history books go.²
³Good old Hellmouth, you can always count on something, canıt you.² Faith quipped.
³When you say children, what are we talking about teenagers?² Buffy asked.
³No,² Giles removed his glasses, pinching his nose to relieve the strain, ³Iım talking small children around 5 or 6.²
³Oh God.² Faith leaned back in her chair, not liking where this was going.
³How can we be sure that this is the storm that will be release this whatever?²
³Because,² Giles replied, ³Itıs already begun.²
He pushed a newspaper across the table to the two slayers. There in bold headlines was the story of a missing boy. He was around 5 years old, just a child.
³Heıs the second child to have disappeared in the last three days. The authorities are chalking it off to him slipping into a creek bed, wandering off theyıre calling it.²
³What do you need us to do?² Buffy asked.
³One of you will need to patrol during the day.²
³Why not both of us?² Faith held the newspaper before her, staring at the two little eyes.
³Well, this is just one particular demon. We still need to watch for vampires. You wonıt be alone, Larry and Oz and myself are here for back up. If we donıt stop this creature. We wonıt get another chance until..²
³Until Iım 47,² Buffy gasped. Faith chuckled at the remark. Sure, it was callous and self-absorbed. Still, sometimes humor was the best defense against the ugliness that constantly surrounded them.
³Well then, I guess we have a lot of work to do.² Faith slapped her hands on the table, rising from the table and heading towards the coat rack.
³Donıt worry Giles,² Buffy stated as she stood up, ³weıll stop whatever this is.² She walked over to her Watcher patted him on the shoulder then headed towards the coat rack.
³Besides, he doesnıt stand a chance against two slayers.²
³And the worldıs best Watcher,² Faith interjected as she handed Buffy her soggy coat.
³Wait,² Giles called to them. He rose from the table and approached the slayers. ³Thereıs something else. With the heavy cloud cover you two should watch out for vampires as well.²
³Donıt worry Giles, we got it covered.² Buffy reassured him.
³Thereıs one more thing.² The girls looked at him as he reached into his pocket. The Watcher fished a 100-dollar bill from his wallet handing it over to the girls.
³Here, take this.²
³Giles, I, we canıt except this,² Buffy replied, not quite sure what to do.
³Think of it as payment, for your services,² Giles added, ³Use it to buy food or something, clothes maybe. Itıs the least I can do.²
³Thanks Giles.² Was all Buffy could muster as she took the money from Gilesı hand. The two girls exited the library as Giles headed back to help Larry and Oz replace the books.
³You know Giles,² Oz stated, ³I could use some money.²
³Yeah, me too.² Larry added.
³Good, you can use it to replace my broken bookshelf.²
Buffy and Faith walked in silence for a couple moments. Each caught in their thoughts. Finally, Faith spoke up.
³Well, that was weird.²
³Yeah, I guess so.²
³You know he cares about you, donıt you?² Faith asked.
³Cares about me?²
³I donıt mean cares about you. Not like that. Youıre more like a daughter to him.²
³I suppose.²
³Whatıs that supposed to mean?²
³People change. Thereıs no telling how heıll react once he finds out about us.²
Faith mulled over the thought. The old Giles, the Giles she knew was down with her and Buffyıs relationship. Hell, even Buffyıs mom was down with it. Things here were similar to her old world. But, you never really knew how people would react to ³the news² until after theyıd gotten it. Thatıs when you knew who your friends really are. Faith thought about Buffyıs friends. Her other friends Willow, Xander, Cordelia. They were cool with it as well. That is, until Faith fucked it all up.
³Stop it.² Buffy snapped Faith from her thoughts.
³What?²
³Youıre doing it again. That whole I screwed up thereı thing.²
³Sorry,² Faith put her hands in her pockets, not sure what to do. ³Bad habit.²
³Besides,² Buffy took Faithıs arm into her own, ³We donıt have to think about that now. Weıve got lots of other stuff to think about.²
³Oh yeah, like what?²
Buffy waved the bill in front of Faithıs face.
³Like what weıre going to do with this.²
Faith spun Buffy into her arms, wrapping them around the smaller womanıs waist. She planted a kiss on her lips, deep, parting her lips and massaging the inside of her mouth with her tongue. Buffy let out a loan moan from the back of her throat.
³You have a one track mind,² she exhaled.
³And you still havenıt tried it with whipped cream.² Faith purred.
Buffy paused on the thought. The wheels in her mind turning. Finally, a coy smile crossed her lips. Buffy grabbed Faithıs hand and began pulling her out of the high school.
³Itıll take us fifteen minutes to get to the motel.² Buffy stated, breaking from a half-trot into a slow sprint.
³Ten if we cut through the golf course.² Faith added.
The two ran out the doors and into the street. Neither caring that their half-wet clothes would soon be completely wet. They wouldnıt be wearing them for long anyway.