Disclaimer: I don't own the Characters from BtVs or Harry Potter. Neither do I own the song that belongs to Alanis Morissette. Also the idea of soul rings/ medallions comes from Mel Odom's book from the Angel Series called Bruja.
Leaving the door to slam behind her as she purposefully walked into the club. Each step was exacting she looked around the room covertly before walking over to the bar and ordering a beer. Her informant had told her that this was where the deal was going to go down and she was primed, it had taken weeks of research and utilising almost all of her network to get this in tell, This deal couldn't go through no matter what; those had been her orders before she had left tonight.
Glancing round the club warily she couldn't help but smile, this was the kind of place she had spent the majority of her teenage years after dropping out of school and finding out she was a chosen one. Not the only chosen one of cause their had been the almighty Buffy who was considered the chosen. Faith well she was the spare, expendable who no one would miss if something should happen to her. Well that's what she'd thought any way.
It was still early in the evening for people to have ended up here but there were a couple of groups drinking and laughing, starting to build up the mood and a few couples sitting in dark corners. She was pretty sure that they weren't who she was looking for. The gang she was looking for were a mix of demons and assorted others that were dealing in mortal souls, stolen from their victims and trapped in medallions which they wore around their necks in battle. Not just for decorations they were a weapon which when released forced the soul to defend it's keeper til death.
She looked up as she heard the familiar opening notes to one of her favourite songs bang out on the Jukebox, she had first heard the song when she had moved to Sunnydale and it had hit home immediately. It described how she felt then, and how she had always felt.
I hate the world today
You're so good to me, I know
But I can change
Tried to tell you
But you look at me like maybe I'm an angel underneath
Innocent and sweet
Knocking back the last of her beer she got up and walked to the empty dance floor, walking to the middle she began to move her body to the music loosing herself to it, moulding her flesh to music and letting it flow through her.
Yesterday I cried
Must have been to see the softer side
I can understand how you'd be so confused
I don't envy you
I'm a little bit of everything
All rolled into one
She became aware of someone joining her on the dance floor, she looked up and saw the woman who had started dancing next to her; long red hair, dark red twisted up in a knot on the top of her head, a few strands hung free and breezed against her porcelain skin, contrasting with the dark denim jeans and black vest which she wore. Her eyes sparkling and her lips parted into a smile.
Faith looked at her for a moment before it dawned on her who the other woman was. She carried on dancing but moving closer, leaning into her she shouted "Fancy seeing you here Red? Long time."
Willow smiled and nodded at the seats by the bar Faith had just vacated, they moved towards them and Faith ordered them two beers as the music continued to play.
I'm a bitch I'm a lover
I'm a child I'm a mother
I'm a sinner I'm a saint
I do not feel ashamed
I'm your hell I'm your dream
I'm nothin' in between
You know, you wouldn't want it any other way
Knocking the bottles against each other Faith looked at the woman sat next to her and said,
"No points for guessing that we're both here for the same reason."
Willow was looking at her hand intently and took a drink and nodded.
"Surprised to see you Wills, how longs it been six years?"
Willow met her eyes shook her head and said,
"Seven, seven years and five months since the First and Sunnydale was destroyed."
Faith thought for a moment, flashes of memories from that time flooding her mind as she focused on her surrounding and nodded saying,
"Sounds about right. So are you going to tell me what you've been up to for all these years, or are we going to wait in silence waiting for the scum bag to appear?"
Willow threw back her head and laughed saying
"Same old Slayer, wants all the juicy gossip but doesn't want everyone to know she cares."
"I'm hurt, you know me I don't care a shit bout any of you, just trying to make conversation."
There was a glint in Faith's eyes as she said that, it might have been true once, but not any more. She was truly interested in what the red head had been up to for all these years, having not seen her since the rest stop they had made before LA when Willow had disappeared leaving only a brief note saying that she needed time and space.
"I guess you could say I've found myself."
Willow said not really wanting to give too much away to begin with.
"What bout you?"
Faith signalled the waitress to order another round of drinks. She knew that Willow was holding back but go it, it had been a long time and they'd not been that close to start with, sounding each other out as always, never sure what side they were on.
"Me? Well I've been with B and the gang re-building the watchers council. I guess re-imagining it might be a better way of describing what we're doing. Its not the same its for the slayers now not against them, they're individuals not just replaceable weapons or tools. Of course kids today have a cheek on them, they've started to refer to me as Ma'am."
Willow giggled but Faith carried on saying,
"It's weird, I always thought of myself as this monumental screw up the expendable one, the example of how not to be. And now I've got kids looking up to me and using me as a role model. I'm not sure whether to be pleased or scared."
Willow smiled at her reaching across the table to squeeze her hand and said
"You're a good role model, as a living example of how making mistakes doesn't have to ruin you life. You may have made some messes and caused some real chaos but you still fight the good fight. When shit hits the fan at least you can be depended on to take the right side. Even if it did take you a while to realise which side the right one was."
Faith smiled and said
"Thanks, that really means a lot to hear you say that."
Willow laughed and said "I would win the monumental screw up award anyway- but you'd be a beautiful runner up."
Faith laughed and drank more of her beer before saying,
"Stop flirting do-gooder, Now are you going to tell me how you've found yourself or not?"
Willow grinned and said,
"Well after I left you at that rest stop I ended up in London. I thought I would check up some old friends from my time in rehab. The more time I spent with them the more relaxed I became. I was really worried about the amount of magic I could feel it was in everything I did, every moment I was. That spell to activate the slayers,it opened me up and I was so scared in case it led to me having a relapse. Figured that that would be the best place for me to be if something did happen. And I guess it was."
Faith grinned having guessed the direction the story was going in.
"So what's his name then?"
"His name?"
She asked blushing at the question,
"Yeah well there's a guy I can tell, which is a bit of a surprise since the last time I saw you, you weren't really swinging that way,"
Willow blushed even deeper before saying.
"Alright you've caught me, his name is Remus."
Faith grinned and said,
"Knew it. So...?"
Willow grinned back at her and said
"I met him at work, we're both teachers. We've been dating for about five years and we're getting married next year."
Faith whistled, life was obviously going good for Willow, she was glad after all she had been through the red head really did deserve some happiness in life. Unfortunately things were about to get a bit more serious,
"So tonight, I know it's the same reason as me, but I'm here on behalf of the watchers council and Wolfram and Heart. And unless I missed a real crucial memo about you being back, who you here with?"
Willow looked serious for a moment and said
"Can I trust you not to say anything to anyone about seeing me, or about what I am about to tell you?"
Faith didn't say anything but watched the red head as she continued.
"In the world there are three community's which exists. The human one and the demonic one, both of which you are aware of, I live in a third community, the magical community."
Faith had a small grin on her face as she said,
"Little late their Red, I know all bout the magic community have probably for a lot longer than you, on account of my dead beat ma being a witch and all."
Willow looked shocked,
"Your mother was a witch?"
Faith nodded before saying
"Being a heroin addict isn't something exclusive to the human world you know, her name was Anna Lupin she graduated from some school here in England before meeting my father having me and turning to drugs to help her through the day. Seems she was pretty good in the day."
"Lupin?"
Willow asked laughing, Faith looked mad for a minute and said
"What's so funny bout that, I'm Faith Lupin didn't you ever wonder what my last name was? I mean I wasn't just born Faith Faith y'know."
Willow stopped laughing and said,
"It's not that, Lupin's a great name it's just I'm wondering how your going to cope when you realise that this time next year I'm going to be your aunt?"
Faith stared at her for a moment and said,
"Remus... Lupin? My mom talked once or twice about having a brother, but I never really paid that much attention to her... Hey is he round here? Cause I'd like to meet him."
Willow smiled and said
"He's not here now, but if your not doing anything later come home with me, you can meet him in the morning..."
She finished her drink quickly and said
"I think trouble just came walking into the bar, are you ready for some fun?"
Faith grinned and said
"I am trouble"
Faith wiped the remaining traces of dust off her trousers as they left the bar. She loved a good fight early in the evening, left her on a high for the rest of the evening and starving. In her pocket the medallions were secured, empty without the soles that would have been trapped in them, it chilled her to think how they would have suffered if that deal had gone through.
"So where now?"
Willow turning left out of the club and walking down a dark alley way turned to Faith when they were out of sight from the main road and said,
"Well if you just hold onto me we can go home."
Faith grabbed hold of Willow's arm uncertainly and suddenly felt as if the whole world around her had stopped, it was as if she was being folded into herself and then suddenly she was gone. The houses became blurs and nothing seemed to exist any more. She was flying through sky and then suddenly she stopped and was in a darkened street standing next to Willow again. Willow was looking at her concernedly
"Are you ok? I know it's a bit difficult the first time."
Faith coughed for a couple of minutes and rubbed her stomach. "I'm fine, just a bit hungry."
Willow grinned and said,
"I forgot the Slaying factor, You guys were always hungry, Easily fixed if you want to come in though."
She was searching in her pocket for something. Faith waited as she did so assuming that it must be a key of some sorts. Willow suddenly pulled a piece of paper out of her pocket and handed it to her saying
"Look at it, memorise it and give it back."
Faith looked at the bit of paper; on it was written the headquarters of the order of the phoenix will be found at 12 Grimmauld Place London. She handed the paper back to Willow and said
"Well what happens now?"
Willow stood still staring in front of her and said.
"Just wait,"
Faith looked in the same place as Willow was, wondering what was going to happen. Suddenly there was a small movement as number 11 and number 13 started to shift apart from each other leaving a small hole. Suddenly the hole got bigger and bigger and then a house suddenly popped in between them.
"What the Hell?"
Faith asked, willow smiled and said
"This is home, kind of."
They both walked towards the front door and Willow pulled a key out of her pocket, she turned to Faith quickly before unlocking the door and said
"Don't say anything until we reach the kitchen, ok? That is really important."
Faith nodded and said
"Whatever you say Will."
Willow smiled and turned the key in the look opening the door as quietly as she could and slipping in as silently as she could motioning Faith to come in behind her. They both crept cat like down the corridor walking towards a door at the end of it where lights could be seen shining from underneath.
Willow reached the door first and opened the door quickly pulling Faith inside and shutting the door again.
"Well that was interesting."
Faith said giggling.
"Now where's this food you mentioned?"
Faith turned as she heard the laughter of many people from her comment.
"Ah, Red you going to introduce me to all these people or leaving me standing here like a fool?"
Willow smiled reassuringly at Faith; she knew that although Faith was brave and fearless in battle she had always found it difficult with people she didn't know. That was part of the reason she had had so much trouble when she had first moved to Sunnydale.
There were about eight people seated round the table. Some of them were in their teens, but the majority were adults. They all looked like they were on big family.
"Who's this?"
One of the men asked, Willow smiled and said,
"Everyone I'd like you to meet a friend of mine from home her name is Faith lu..."
"Wilkins"
Faith interrupted quickly,
"Faith Wilkins,"
Willow gave her an odd look for a moment and said,
"Well that was the easier bit, now I've got to introduce you to this lot. The woman with red hair is Molly, then that's her Husband Arthur on her left" Both smiled and waved Faith as they were indicated. Willow carried on with the intro
"The red heads are Molly and Arthur's youngest children Ron and Ginny, opposite them Harry and Hermione. They're students at the school I teach at, then Sirius and lastly Molly and Arthur's eldest son Bill."
Faith smiled awkwardly at them, not really knowing what to say. They all seemed so comfortable together she still found it hard being around happy families, it was something so far outside her comfort zone.
"Hi"
She murmured, but she didn't have to say anything more than that. Molly was out of her seat and walking over to the stove where a selection of saucepans were still bubbling and said
"I'm afraid there's not a lot left after this lot have been at it, and I only saved a bit for Willow because she missed dinner as well, but I'm sure they'll be enough and if not it'll only take me a minute to make some more and of course there lots of bread in the cupboard and with all the sweets the Twins keep bringing over..."
Willow touched her arm and pulled her towards the table saying
"You definitely won't go hungry here."
Faith found herself seated at the table between Hermione who had started to pour her a glass of juice and and Sirius who was chatting with Arthur. Almost instantly a large plate stuffed to the brim of chicken and ham pie baked potatoes peas and large chunks of bread was put in front of her, Hungry from the fight she started to tear into it. Swooning over the taste she smiled at Molly and said "Don't suppose you'd marry me would you?" to which the table erupted with laughter.