~Authors' Notes:
Eternity: This is our first fanfic together; I hope you all enjoy it. We don't own Cowboy Bebop or anything else, so there's really no point in suing either one of us. Each one of us controls certain characters. I am Faye Valentine and Spike Spiegel.
Midnight: And I am Jet Black and Julia. (Just a note: Julia won't be showing up for a while)
Eternity and Midnight: Enjoy!
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The moon was out, glowing in all of its perfect radiance. Faye watched from her umbrella covered outdoor café table as children holding their parent's hands scampered across the street, little red shopping bags in hand. Christmas on Ganymede was wonderful.
She sipped her coco and decided to go inside. It was getting cold, but she didn't want to leave the cozy little café just yet. So, Faye picked up her briefcase and her mug before trudging inside. The room was decorated in red and blue garlands, wreaths hanging on all four walls. The quiet sounds of a jazzy Jingle Bells filled the café and the warm air from the heater made her a little sleepy.
Faye resisted the urge to rest her head on her arms and go to sleep right there on the table. She had a reputation to protect, believe it or not. Who would have ever though that she, Faye Valentine, would become a successful businesswoman? Sure, she still made stops at the local casino every once in a while, but she had learned to be a little bit more refined.
Not only that, but she lived alone. She didn't depend on anyone. She had a cat named Jester who she adored. He's was a lot better than that mutt, Ein.
Faye cringed inwardly, thinking about Ein. It might have been five years since she left the company of the Red Dragon's leader, the hacker Ed and the horrible cook Jet, but she still missed them. Why did she leave? A foolish fight she had had with Spike, of course. Doesn't all ending of relationships, even those of companionship, happen that way?
Misty, the owner of the café, came over. Her lean, tall frame was agile and made Faye wonder what she had been before being a waitress. It didn't matter, of course, but that was just a little something that ran through her head every time she saw Misty. She had a graying sweep of brown hair and the most shocking cerulean eyes Faye had ever seen. Her lips were thin and long, but she was still pretty.
"Do you want another refill, Miss Valentine?" she asked Faye politely.
"No," she declined with a small smile. "I think I'll be leaving once this cup is finished."
"Alright. I'll bring the tab," she said with a smile before walking away.
The door opened and the little bell above the doorway chimed merrily. Faye looked up, only to see a young woman speaking to Misty. Misty smiled, and said something that made the girl's eyes turn to Faye. They were a familiar tawny color. She walked towards Faye -more like bounced- and sat down across from her. "Where have you been all of this time, Faye-Faye," she said in a reserved, fashionable soprano.
Faye blinked at the girl, taking in her tanned face, her flushed cheeks, her reddish hair that was pulled back in a ponytail, and her tawny cat eyes. "Edward?" Faye asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
She nodded, a self-satisfied smirk on her face. A navy blue sweatshirt and a pair of blue leggings covered her still skin-and-bones frame.
"Edward?" Faye repeated.
She nodded again. Faye knew this could go on for hours, so she closed my gaping mouth and regained some composure.
She smiled. "We were worried about Faye."
"We?" Faye repeated.
"Spike, Jet and Ed," she clarified. After a long pause, she continued. "Why'd Faye go away?"
Faye went silent, remembering five years ago, some time around this time of the year.
* Flash Back*
"You're still in love with her, aren't you?" Faye asked, shuffling the deck of cards in her hand.
"What?" Spike asked, looking up from his magazine. He looked around, as if making sure Faye was talking to him and not someone else.
"Julia," she clarified in a matter-of-fact tone.
He glared at her. "Give it a rest, Faye. Jesus, you're like the damned CIA."
"Well excuse me. All I wanted to know is if you were over the dead girl yet." Faye knew that was harsh, but the pain inside of her heart and his spiteful words had egged her on to say it.
He gave her a look that made her want to cry. His expression was so hurt and pain filled. Faye could see that he was trying to mask it with fury. Anger is easier than pain. "Spike, look, I'm sorry, I-"
"Get out. Just get the hell out of my ship and don't come back. I don't want to see your face, hear your voice, or mention your name ever again. Get the hell out. NOW!"
Faye stood up. She also resulted to anger and threw the deck of cards at him, watching as they hit him in the face and fluttered into his lap. "Gladly." Faye turned, grabbing her sweater off of the floor and walking out.
* End Flash Back *
"Spike and I had a little argument and he told me to get out. I left," was all Faye said.
Edward frowned, looking down at the table. "Spike has been worried about Faye. He doesn't show it, But Ed knows. Ed can tell."
Faye smiled. "Well, Ed, why have you come here, to catch up on old times? Or is there another reason?"
Ed, after all of these years of flamboyance and happiness, security and surety, looked sad and confused. "Vicious is back."
"Vicious is dead," Faye argued.
"There have been some killings on Venus, and even a few on Ganymede, has Faye heard about them?" Seeing Faye's nod, Ed continued. "The people have all been killed by being gutted by a sword. Next to the bodies, the killer signs 'Vicious is back' on either the floor or wall."
"So it's a Vicious wannabe?" Faye questioned.
"Basically… but…" she paused for a long moment. "Each person has something… missing."
"Something missing?" Faye repeated, feeling a jerk in my stomach.
"Yeah. The police have kept that piece of info out of the tabloids, but for how long, Ed wonders? One person had their eyes missing, and another had their lips ripped off. Others have had some rather… interesting… places taken." Despite her try not to, Ed burst into childish giggles. Faye almost gagged. She had an idea what interesting part Ed meant.
The door opened again, and Misty's voice asking, "Welcome, do you want anything to drink or eat?" was declined by a savvy voice Faye knew all too well. Spike walked through the door, wearing a pair of blue jeans and a red sweater. Very Christmassy of him. Jet followed, wearing an identical outfit as Spike's, only his sweater was a royal green. What was with these people? Had they turned classy once Faye had left?
Faye stood up when they saw her. Jet and Spike both ambled forward, matching paces. When they came to a stop a few feet in front of Faye, she had to scoff playfully, "My lord, did you two become Polo wearers once I left?"
Like you have room to talk, Spike's eyes seemed to say. Faye was wearing a pair of black dress slacks and a white silk shirt with a black leather duster over it all. Faye knew she looked better dressed than half of the satellite of Ganymede, and that made her feel guilty all of a sudden.
Faye went up to Jet and hugged him warmly. "Hey you," she whispered. "Have you been taking cooking lessons like I advised you?"
He gave a grumbling laugh and patted her back. "Yep, this is our Faye alright. How did you ever manage getting a job with that sort of attitude?"
"Oh, where there's a will, there's a way," Faye laughed, pulling away. Faye then looked at Spike and tried not to frown. Here was Spike, in all of his messy haired glory, and she was hesitating to hug him. Oh to hell with it, She thought and hugged him. His arms wrapped around her tightly, as if she was the last stable thing in his life. "Hello again, Space Cowboy," She murmured. Faye could tell he was smiling.
When she pulled away, Faye sat down at the table and motioned for Jet and Spike to do the same. Spike pulled out a chair and sat in it backwards while Jet remained standing. "Ed told me about the Vicious wannabe," Faye informed them.
Spike nodded. "Yeah. We were thinking about tracking the guy down. Maybe even fixing the Bebop up and doing a little bounty hunting as well. This guy would rack in a lot of woolongs, and he had killed some Red Dragon members. We were wondering if you could… if you would…" Spike looked over and Jet who nodded in encouragement. Faye stared in confusion. "Do you want to join up with us again?" Spike finally finished.
Faye felt my heart skip a beat. She had nothing left to lose, not really. The only solid thing she had here was her job and apartment. The days of work were long and strenuous. Home life was boring. Hell, what else was holding her back?
"No," Faye answered.
"No?!" Ed, Jet and Spike all said simultaneously.
"Not until Spike apologizes."
Spike stared at Faye for a long moment before saying, "Faye, I never meant to say what I did five years ago. It was a stressing time and I was still trying to sort out my feelings. I am truly sorry."
"I am never going to let you live this moment down, Spike," Faye said with a grin. "What time do we ship out?"
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~Please Review~
Eternity's Angel of Mercy & Midnight Rain
SEE YOU SPACE COWBOY…