Chapter 1: Then and Now

I have been lost in this god-forsaken place for so long. All alone in the dark…I can't help but sometimes wonder, what life would be like if…if I would still be there…with him.

Remembering her past brought tears to Faye's eyes. Her life was different now, she had changed but in some ways she couldn't let the past go. If the Faye now would have met the Faye then…she would look away in disgusted…and the Faye then would probably cause a riot.

"Hello honey." A handsome man greeted Faye with a kiss. This man, wasn't him…this man had dark brown hair, bright blue eyes, and muscular built. No, this was not he.

"Hi dear." She said sweetly. This angel like man sat across from Faye. A beautiful table in between them, complete with a rose and candles that lit sweetly. The restaurant was full of people holding hands and becoming lost in one's eyes. Faye for some reason didn't feel this from him.

"So how was your day?" he asked. The same question he asked everyday.

"It was go…" A jingling ring came from his pocket, and interrupted her. Same half answer she always gave him.

"I'm sorry…but it might be the office." He said digging in his pocket to find the noisy device.

Faye gave him a fake "its okay" smile. As he chatted away on his phone, Faye looked deeply at this man she married. How this "Thomas" wasn't her old Spike.

Spike…

His name sent shivers down her spine, and his face haunted her dreams. She remembered that night that she left. Edward wouldn't let go of her leg. Ein whined. Jet hugged her goodbye…and Spike was too late.

She loaded up her ship, and was ready to take off. She stood by her large machine and sighed.

"Can't believe I'm leaving." She said quietly.

"I can't seem to believe it myself." Said Jet walking down the platform toward her.

"Jet, you coming to say goodbye…or rejoice?" she questioned with a giggle.

"Hmm…both." He said with a smile. Quickly that smile faded away. "Why won't you tell me why you're leaving?" he asked.

Faye turned her head away and touched her stomach. She didn't want to tell him. She didn't want to feel more disgusting.

"Oh, it's nothing. I just feel I need to do more in this life." She lied. She felt she needed to get far away from the bebop…from Spike.

"At least wait for Spike to come home. He won't believe me when I tell him." He said with a little chuckle.

She again touched her stomach… "No, I can't…I need to go before I start to cry." She said sadly. She couldn't wait for Spike anymore…she was tired of waiting.

She smiled one last time at Jet and hugged him. Caught off guard Jet waited a moment to hug back.

"Thank you Jet. Thank you for everything." She said trying to hold back her tears.

"No problem Faye…you always have somewhere to come home to." He said with a fatherly voice.

As she flew off into the starry sky, she let tears fall they were cold salty tears. Tears she cried for him. She held her stomach…and felt the life that was inside…the life he helped to create.

As her ship fled deeper into the sky…she finally cried his name.

"SPIKE!" and wept as she flew deeper into the sky.

That night was so long ago, and she can still remember every detail. She just wondered what he said, what he did.

Here she is now, 5 years later…in a gorgeous dress, drinking red whine. When back then she would be in that reviling yellow outfit drinking cheap whisky.

Yes, she would have to say that her life is better than it was, but it was much more lonelier.

As she walked into her large beautiful home, a sweet tender voice called out to her.

"Mommy! Mommy!" A five-year-old girl came running to her. She had his smile on her face…his pulsing brown eyes, her silky purple hair, andboth theircouragous spirits.

"Hello baby girl." Faye scooped her up in her arms.

"Hi daddy." She said sweetly as he walked through the door.

"Hello Alexandra." He said talking on his phone.

"Mommy want to see something I made for you?" she said her voice was so precious.

"Yeah, show me." She said.

Alexandra…is the name of her daughter. Their daughter. When Faye looked into Alexandra's eyes she saw Spike. She had his eyes, his smile, and brought Faye so many memories.

"Spike? Can I talk to you?" Faye asked as she walked into Spike's room.

"Yeah? About what?" he asked lying down on his bed, never once he looked up.

"Uh, never mind…it's not important." She changed her mind and turned toward the door.

"It's there isn't it?" he said.

Faye stopped and slowly turned around. She nodded with her head low.

Spike gave out a small sigh…he sat up from the bed and walked over to her. With tears in her eyes…she said.

"I-I can't kill it."

Spike looked into her eyes and pushed back some of her purple hair. He got close to her face, but he hesitated and decided to pull away.

"Do what you want, but I'm not going to be a father to that baby." He said looking out his small window.

"You asshole…how could you do that! It's your child! Why do you always abandon things when they need you the most!" she yelled at him.

Spike didn't say anything, he didn't turn around he just left Faye there hanging.

"You jerk!" she said as she stormed out of his room. As Spike looked outside his window onto the dying sun. He let a tear drop fall.

"Mrs. Collins…Mrs. Collins." An elderly woman came into Alexandra's room looking for Faye.

"Oh Mrs. Collins this came for you. A man dropped it off." She handed her a envelope.

"Did he tell you his name?" she asked.

"Yes and he also said he was an old friend. Oh what was his name?" Said the old woman. Faye opened the dirty envelope and pulled out a clean white piece of paper.

On it was written:

IS YOU FAMILY SAFE?

Faye dropped the letter on the ground in fear.

"Mommy?" asked Alexandra.
"Delores what was this man's name?" Faye asked frantic.
"Oh I can't recall." She said,
"Do you remember what he looked like?" asked Faye.
"Oh yes he was tall gentleman, but he had long white hair. The poor dear was pale…I think he was sick." She said.
Faye suddenly knew who he was.
"Vicious." She said quietly.
"Yes that's his name…such a strange name as well." Said the old woman.
Faye looked back down at the paper. What did Vicious want?

TO BE CONTINUED…