Giles rereads the passage for the fourth time. It made no sense, "One born to a slayer will die by the hands of evil. Such pure innocence killed by the hand of evil, will cause a surge in evil, bringing about the end of the world." Again he looked through the pages, this simply could not be, it was to happen within months. He sighs wondering if there's something he's missed. But at this moment there's a bigger evil to deal with.
Buffy tosses in her bed, she sees the child looking so scared. She feels the fear run through her. The child's hair has long, brunette hair with slight curls in it. She's being held by two large demons. Buffy starts toward the child, but is stopped by an hand, "You can't help her right know." Faith says.
"Get your hands off me." Buffy says, "They're gonna hurt that little girl!"
"I know, they do this every night. Been dreaming it for months." Faith says.
"Why don't you stop it?" Buffy asks.
"I can't, I tried." Faith says looking at Buffy. "Been a long time B."
"I don't have time for idle chat." Buffy rushes forward.
The child turns, "Mommy help me! Mommy!" she screams.
Buffy stops in her tracks, "Mommy?"
"That's a new one on me B. You got something to tell me?" Faith says from behind her.
"I...what...no..." Buffy shakes her head, she watches as they kill the child, unable to help the child. She watches the portal open, and a huge horned purple demon emerges. He eats the other demons first, then several kids and a young girl.
"Holy Shit, that's my sister he just ate." Faith says.
Faith wakes in a cold sweat, wondering what the hell happened. She's in LA, at the hotel where she's just helped them resoul Angel. It had been hours ago, but she had finally slept. These dreams had plagued her, but never had Buffy been in them, nor had they ever been so vivid. Her breathing returns to normal and she climbs out of bed...
Buffy paces in front of Giles, "I'm telling you this demon was horrible looking. And what they did to that little girl... and then he ate the people...and Faith was there and there was something about a sister."
"He ate the child? You're certain he ate the child that called you Mommy?" Giles questions.
"Yes, but that can't be can it?" Buffy says.
"And Faith was in this dream?" Giles cleans his glasses thinking.
"Yes, Faith was there, she said she had been dreaming it for a while." Buffy stops pacing the length of the apartment. "What does this mean?"
"I wish I new. However, it would appear to be connected to prophecy I read the other day. The end of the world will be brought about when the blood of a Slayer's child is spilled." Giles says putting his glasses back on.
"Yeah yeah yada yada, what's it got to do with me? I don't have kids, and I'm not having them for a good long while so this prophecy can't be connected to the dream right?" Buffy puts her hands on her hips.
"The prophecy is set to happen in mere months." Giles says.
Buffy frowns, "But the child has to be a Slayers kid, and well, I don't have kids and Faith's been in prison so..."
"So we have to find this child. I'm going to call Willow, tell her and Tara to get home." Giles says, "Whatever they are doing can be dropped, this is far more important."
"Right." Buffy says as Giles dials the number.
Willow hangs up the phone as Faith makes her way down the stairs, "Morning, how ya feeling?" she asks.
"Pretty good for having the shit beat out of me." Faith says, "I'm five by five Red."
"Good, you won't mind taking a road trip then" Willow says.
"Road trip where?" Faith asks moving to pour herself some coffee.
"Sunnydale." Willow answers hopefully.
Faith spits her coffee out, "You want me to go back to Sunnydale?"
"There's some big bad brewing and I was thinking since you're here and well alive and all maybe you could come help. I'm not clear on the details but something about a Slayer dream and I'm sure Buffy would like to see you. Okay so she sorta vowed revenge but hey, that was before you were rehabbed, I'm sure she'll be okay with it. And we really could use you, with the big bad and all. You took on Angelus I'm sure there's nothing you can't take on and feel free to stop the rant anytime know." Willow takes a deep breath swallowing hard.
"Donno Red, I was kinda enjoying the ranting. Look I'm sure ya'll can handle whatever it is that's going down on the Hellmouth. But I could raise some hell for sure. Give B a run for her money." Faith plants a smug smile on her face.
"That's Faith for she'll go." Willow smiles at Tara.
"Yeah look, about all that stuff...I'm really like REALLY sorry T." Faith looks at Tara.
Faith jumped out of the car, yelling she would find Buffy. She makes her way through the town, 'God it's weird being back here' she thinks. She's going through the graveyard when she hears the commotion, she approaches finding Buffy dueling one evil looking Vamp. When he pens her to the ground, Faith takes her chances and stakes him, "No need to say thanks B." she smirks down at the blond on the ground
"Faith what are you doing here?" Buffy said jumping up brushing the dust from herself. "And for your information I had everything under control."
Faith laughs, "Good to see you too B. Came to raise a little hell, wanna join in?" Faith smirks.
"So that's it, you just think everything's ok?" Buffy asked looking at Faith. "Just because you're here it doesn't change what happened."
Faith drops her stake, "No, I don't okay? It's not okay." She shakes her head, "I came here to help, if you don't want it I can go. But I know you had the dream, and I know that Willow wouldn't have brought me here if I wasn't seriously needed. So lets get the job done and I'll be outta your hair." Faith says.
"Fine lets get back. See if the others have found out anything else." Buffy said walking out of Restfield Cemetery.
"So you're really in that big of a hurry to get ride of me?" Faith yells after her, "You know, I'm different. I'm not that person, but you wouldn't know that. You haven't even talked to me and you're making judgment. I just helped resoul your ex." Faith finally runs after Buffy.
Buffy whipped around looking right at Faith. "Why should I even try? I wanted to be your friend and you made it perfectly clear the feeling wasn't mutual."
Faith bites her tongue, "It wasn't, but that was so long ago." She shakes her head, "I wanted it all, I wanted to belong and no matter how hard I tried I didn't. I'm not gonna make excuses for what I done, but you gotta hear me when I say that was somebody completely different. She was scared and alone and a kid. She didn't know what to do with this power. But me, I know what to do with. I'm not a scared kid anymore. And I'm asking you to trust that. If you can't trust anything else, trust that I am one of the good guys. I've got a feeling we're in for the fight of our life, and there's gotta be some sort of trust." Faith doesn't meet Buffy's eyes, and curses herself hearing the emotion in her own voice.
The last time Buffy had seen Faith this vulnerable was in the motel room when Kakistos was after them. It broke Buffy's heart but she still felt that tug in the back of her head reminding her of all the things that she had done. But hadn't Angel done a lot of things too and still she found it in her heart to forgive him. "Faith, I..." Buffy began, not knowing exactly what to say. "We have a lot of things to work through but I'm willing to try and work things out if you are."
Faith finally looks at Buffy, "I'm willing B. I promise you, you'll see a change." Faith starts walking, "We should get back, say hi to crew huh?" She stuffs her hands in her pocket, "So got a boy toy?" Smiles over at the blond beside her.
"No" Buffy replied, "It's complicated."
"I dig complicated B." Faith laughs, "Come on give me something, I've been locked up tight with a bunch of women." Faith seems to think on it for a second, "You're not like doing another Vamp are ya?" She sees the look on Buffy's face, "Oh my God, you're doing another vamp?" Faith busts out in fits of laughter, "Oh this is wicked cool."
"You don't even know what happened last year do you?" Buffy asked not amused by Faith's assumptions, even if they were true.
Faith sobers up, "No, I haven't had any contact from any of you since I went to jail, nobody but Angel..."
"Did he tell you I died, again?" Buffy asked watching Faith's face for a reaction.
Faith stops in her tracks, "You died? Again? Damn girl, you gotta stop doing that." Faith is quiet for a moment, "I new something had happened, I could feel it, but nobody told me. I'm sorry B."
"Willow brought me back. It's just I was happy where I was. That's what started the whole thing with Spike...I couldn't understand why I let him do those things to me." Buffy said becoming upset thinking about it.
Faith can sense Buffy's upset "Look whatever the deal, it's over and done with right? You're here and whoever you wanna bang is you biz." Faith looks up, "Wow, can't believe I'm back at this place." She follows Buffy up the steps to the front door.
"Yeah." Buffy said as she stepped into the front door.
Willow sees Buffy come it, "Buffy, Faith...oh she found you."
"Yeah she did." Buffy stated, "So have you guys found out anything?"
"Well we did. I hacked into the computer records, and well..." Willow pauses, "This kid...how old was it in the dream?"
"Bout two I guess." Faith surprises everybody by answering.
"Wait you mean, you really were dreaming?" Xander asks.
"Yeah know what'd you find Red?" Faith asks.
"Well I hacked into the computers at the hospital, and went back a couple years, I thought it was a long shot, but you know you were always bragging on who you were sleeping with and well it's not like we all visited or anything. And I couldn't come right out and ask you because to be perfectly honest you still kinda scare me and it's not that I don't like you but you know the whole knife to my throat thing...but you're perfectly rehabbed, which is respectable. I myself kinda got into a little trouble with magic, it wasn't a big deal. I didn't like go to jail, matter of fact there's really not a jail for stuff like this and..."
"Willow, sweetie." Tara said grabbing Willow's hand.
Willow stops looking at Tara, "Right, I was rambling again." Shepauses, "Where's your daughter Faith?" she asks.
Faith blinks, "My daughter?"
"Faith has a daughter?" Buffy asked looking at Willow and then to Faith.
Willow nods, "Yeah she was born December 4th."
"There's no way I have a kid." Faith says, "I was in a coma on December 4th. had been for six months. I wasn't pregnant."
"The kid in the dream, she did call out mommy." Buffy pointed out to Faith.
"She calling to you B." Faith objected.
Willow clears her throat, "Do you know an Eliza Lehane?"
"Yeah, what's it to ya, and what's she got to do with this?" Faith asks looking agitatedly at Willow.
"It says she took custody of the baby, because you were in a coma, and I guess when you woke up you really didn't stick around to learn the finer points of your condition. Thing is I can't track her after she took the baby we lose the trail." Willow says watching Faith carefully.
"Is she the one that the demon ate?" Buffy asked, "She's your sister."
Faith sighs deeply, "Yeah two years younger then me. She was um, left with my Mom when I split."
Buffy shakes her head, "You mean you have a sister? And you've had a baby but you don't remember that part. What other surprises do you have for us?" she pauses, "Would she stay in Sunnydale?" Buffy asked, "I mean she is your sister wouldn't she want to see you?"
Faith laughs, "No, she wouldn't want to see me. She'd get as far away from me as possible. Eliza and I aren't like you and Brat. We ant all close a shit." Faith starts putting up the walls, knowing she can't show weakness, not right know. Although she also knows that Buffy can see through it.
Willow pauses, "She visited every day. They had a log book, and they put it into the computer. She visited everyday from August toDecember."
"That sounds like someone that cares about you." Buffy said, "Why else would she visit?"
Faith doesn't meet anybody's eyes, "I left her with my Mom. She...I mean...you don't understand. I taught her what she needed to know and then split. She was just a kid. And I came here. There's no way...she hated me...she told me she hated me..." Faith shakes her head in confusing backing toward the door.
Tara sensing Faith's unease spoke up. "Maybe we should get some rest. That'll give Faith some time to settle in." Tara suggested, "The rest of the gang will be here in the morning and we can talk it over then."
Faith, know at the door way leans against it, "I...um, I think I want to take a walk." she says.
Willow comes around the table, "Faith are you okay? I mean I know this is a shock, and believe me you've had several of those is the last few days."
"You want any company?" Buffy offered feeling she already knew the answer.
"Maybe another night B, I'm thinking I've had all the company I can take." Faith answers heading for the door.
Willow looks at Buffy, "You think she'll be okay?"
"She's got a lot on her mind." Buffy said, "It's gonna take some time."
"Well she did just fight Angelus, and he hurt her pretty bad. She was out for several hours, and we weren't sure she was gonna pull through. And then she wasn't excited about coming back here. But she's really changed Buffy. I mean she's like a whole new person." Willow ringer her hand hoping her friend understands.
"Yeah...it's just something to get used to. I mean she did a lot of bad things Will and I mean I know I should forgive her because Angel did worse things and I still managed to look over them." Buffy explained, "What do you think Tara?"
Tara looks up slightly horrified, "I think...well..." She takes a deep breath, "Her Aura says she's good. I mean I feel positive energy when she's around. I think she's scared that we'll turn her out in the street. And she did apologize, that should stand for something."
"Right, and she did go to jail. It couldn't have been easy to turn herself in." Willow says
Faith makes her way quickly out of the house, her mind wondering back to the last time she had seen her sister. Her one bag had been packed and she was headed for the door, "Fa, you can't leave me here, she'll be home any minute" Eliza's voice come through her thoughts.
"I can't take you Li, you'll just slow me down. Just don't piss her off and you'll be find." Faith told the young child looking into her sad eyes.
"But I don't piss her off Faith, and you know it!" The girl insisted, "I'll be good, I won't be bad like I am for Momma."
"You aren't bad." Faith says.
"Then why not take me with you?" Eliza asks, stepping closer to Faith.
"I'll come back for you." Faith says, knowing fully well she would never return for the girl.
"I hate you!" Eliza yelled, as Faith turns and makes her way out the door.
Faith wipes her eyes as she stumbles through the town. What had her mother done to Eliza ounce Faith wasn't around to protect her? And where was she know?Faith sets down on the curb staring out across the road, her sister's face coming clearly into view. Her soft curls bouncing about her shoulders, her lips pressed together defiantly, and her eyes. Her bright blue eyes, that turned to gray when the girl was upset. The eyes that lead to the soul. The eyes that told the horrible story of both girls childhood. The only thing that could visibly break Faith Lehane's heart, lay in words unspoke to the girl with those eyes. Faith looks up toward the sky wondering if her sister is beneath these very stars, only to see that the stars have gone and the sun is slowly rising. She sets watching it, until it's high above her head, then slowly makes her way back to the Summers house.
As promised the gang of Scoobies gathered the next morning. "Okay so here's what we know," Buffy pauses, "Both Faith and I had a dream where a little girl, calling one of us Mommy, was killed and eaten by this huge purple monster. Faith has been having this dream for a while." She looks at each in turn.
"Yes, and the prophecy clearly states that in order to bring forth the demon in the dream, the blood of a Slayers daughter must be shed." Giles cleans his glasses thoughtfully.
"And we found out that while she was in a coma Faith gave birth to a daughter. Four pounds two ounces, born December fourth, and left the hospital on December 26th, a late Christmas present." Willow recites with a smile.
"And Eliza Lehane, Faith's sister, was given custody. But we lost track of her." Tara speaks up.
Xander, who's setting across from Willow and Tara at the table, seems to be drinking in the information, "First of all, how come we didn't know she had a sister? And second, since when did Faith have a kid? And third, where the hell is the kid."
"All valid questions," Buffy says looking toward Faith, "Faith doesn't remember giving birth, and hasn't seen her sister in a couple years."
"Try about seven B." Faith says, "And I haven't got a clue where she would go. I know where I would go."
"And where, exactly is that Faith?" Giles asks looking at her.
"As far away from here as possible." Faith answers. "Hell, I don't even want to be here. She'd skip town with kid for sure."
"And she would need some sort of income." Buffy says.
"What's her middle name, maybe she's using it?" Willow asks preparing to type it into her computer.
Faith doesn't answer, "Faith!" Buffy says expectantly.
"You guys can not laugh, I'll kick your asses if you do." Faith says.
"I assure you, we will not find her middle name funny." Giles says.
"Hope. Eliza Hope Lehane." Faith answers.
Everybody looks downward, stifling giggles that have arose. "Mom's got something for the hippy names there huh?" Xander says.
"Dad." Faith says.
Buffy suddenly realizes why Faith would be so worried about the names, her father had given them to them. Perhaps the one and only thing he had given them, before leaving so hurriedly. Leaving behind two very young daughters.
After three days of searching Willow and Tara still had not found Eliza Lehane. Instead they had settled on researching the demon itself. In hope that the demon or it's lacky's one would lead them to the child. But as it would turn out, there was very little known about the demon or it's lacky's. And the only person, so to speak, that had ever battled and won against the Fabecata demon was none other then Angel. Buffy resolved to hold off as long as possible, however, with eight weeks to find and destroy this demon's lacky's, and a little girls life in danger, she finally decided she should call. Beside, by the end of the first week, Faith was driving her nuts. Their patrolling together was going quiet well, they're living together wasn't. Nor did it help that Faith had discovered her nightly visits to a certain blond Vampire currently residing in their basement. Also adding stress was the fact that Dawn was picking up Faith's ways.
Buffy let the phone ring, hoping Angel himself picked up. "Angel Investigations, we help the helpless." Says a crisp British voice.
"Shit," Buffy says under her breath.
"Pardon?" Wesley asks.
"Is Angel there?" Buffy asks into the receiver.
"Ahh, Buffy, how are you? How are things with Faith?" Wesley sounds rather pleased to hear from her.
"Demon, Big, Bad, Angel know." Buffy says more then slightly annoyed with the Britain.
"Right, you always were one for getting down to business, and I do respe..." Wesley is cut off by Buffy.
"Is Angel there or not?" Buffy says irritatedly watching Faith drink from the milk jug, "Get a glass."
"A glass?" Angel's voice says.
"Oh not you, Faith." Buffy says. "We've got a problem."
"What kind?" Angel asks.
"The demon kind." She says, "A demon named Fabecata, got lackies named Devocana. It says you're the only one to defeat him."
"Oh yeah, about fifty years ago. Big demon, and purple. Horrible creatures." Angel says, "He in Sunnydale."
"Something like that, what can you tell me?" Buffy says
"That you're in a world of hurt if he is. He can't be defeated by a living being." Angel says, "Whoever defeats him, must be dead, and he'll eat all the kids."
"What about his lackies? I mean we can defeat them before they bring him forth right?" Buffy asks hopefully.
"Yeah, I mean they're bad, but you can defeat them." Angel pauses, "However, when you kill one, two more come back in it's place."
"Two more?" Buffy asks taking a seat shocked. "Then how do we keep them at bay?"
"Well, the only way to do it is through magic. If they're magically killed, then they won't mulitply." Angel says.
"Great, so there's a spell to kill them?" Buffy asks.
"Why are you asking all these questions Buffy?" Angel asks.
Buffy sighs, "Faith has a daughter and her blood is the key to open the portal to bring forth the Fabecata demon. But we can't find her."
Angel is quiet for a long moment, "Sophie."
"Excuse me?" Buffy says.
"Faith's daughter, her name is Sophie." Angel says, "I know where she is."
"You know where Faith's daughter is?" Buffy asks shocked. "What else are you hiding?"
"Buffy it's not like that, Eliza was a kid herself, she was scared she came to me..." Angel sighs, "Do you want to know where she is or not?"
"Yeah, I want to know." Buffy says.
"She's in Sunnydale. She's been doing some...work for me." Angel says.
"She's in Sunnydale? What kinda work?" Buffy asks standing up and moving out of the room, as Faith puts the milk carton down and follows her.
"She collects things for me. She's staying at the mansion. She's been there since she brought the baby home. I started letting her collect things for me when Sophie was a few months old." Angel says, "But you don't want to go barging in there. You'll need a plan, let me get in touch with her." Angel says.
"We don't have time Angel." Buffy says.
"Trust me, you'll need to make time. I'll call you as soon as I've made contact with her." Angel says, before hanging up the phone.
Buffy sighs walking into the living room, Faith still hot on her heals, "Well?" Faith asks.
"She's in Sunnydale, she's at Angel's mansion, she's been working with him." Buffy says rubbing her temple. "He wants us to wait until he can contact us."
"What? You can't seriously be considering waiting." Faith shakes her head walking around the room.
"We'll give him a few hours. I mean, what can really happen in a few hours?" Buffy says.
"She's right here in Sunnydale! We know exactly where she is, and you're saying we can't go get them? You don't get this do you, she's my freaking baby sister!" Faith raged.
Buffy crosses her arms, "Faith, you're losing your cool." She says simply.
Faith laughs, "You're really not gonna go?"
"Not until Angel calls, and you aren't either." Buffy says.
Faith feels the rage boiling inside her, "I gotta get outta here, take a walk, kill a few vamps..." She says heading for the door.
"Don't go to the mansion!" Buffy yells after her.
Willow makes her way to the door, to be pushed past by Faith, "Where's she going?"
"To Angel's mansion if I had to guess," Buffy rubs her weary eyes.
"To...Angel's...what?" Willow look from Buffy to the door Faith just slammed behind her.
"Come on, I'll explain," Buffy says with a sigh.
Faith is so deep in thought she's surprised by two vamps, quickly staking them she starts ounce more walking. Her mind is racing with thoughts of what she'll say to her sister. She hadn't seem Eliza in years, and never laid eyes of Sophie. Sophie, her mind is stuck on the name. She wonders if it's short for Sophia. Or Stephanie. Faith likes the name Sophie. She had never admitted it, but she had always liked that name. "Sophie" she tested the name under her breath. Her daughter Sophie. Faith's casual walk turns to a fast paced one, and by the time she's within sight of the mansion she's running. She passes a window, and sees it out of the corner of her eye. A young girl, with soft black curls, leaning over tickling a tiny child, with the same soft black curls. Uncontiously Faith touches her own soft black curls. Her eyes rest on Eliza first. She's about Faith's high, obviously she had a growth spurt after Faith left home. She's thin and tanned and generally beautiful. Faith marvels at the woman before her, trying her best to connect her to the scared child she had left behind. Eliza throws her head back and laughs, the sound flutters like music to Faith. She remembers that laugh, although rare she had heard it many times before. There's been many times Faith herself was the willing cause of that laugh. Faith's eyes linger on Eliza, her Eliza, a moment longer before heading to the child laying on the floor. She's rolling in a fit of giggles, a teddy bear wrapped tightly in her little arms. She's a thin child, small, Faith thinks, for her age. Eliza picks the child up, moving to a chair in the corner of the room, and picks up a book. She snuggles the tiny child on her lap, and begins, obviously to read the book. The child's giggles ounce more flutter to Faith, and she realizes with utter surprise that the child sounds like her. Blink furiously at the tears threatening to block her view of the scene before her she curses her own emotions. Faith watches the pair long after Sophie is sleeping and Eliza has began her own nightly ritual...