MAY IT BE
NOTE: I don't own the Scoobies and I don't own AI. If I did then I would be sitting on truck loads of money and hiring someone to do my homework for me.
A/N: This takes place two years after season seven of Buffy and season four of Angel and parts of it are AUed. Buffy and crew went to stay at Angel's hotel, you know since their home went all ka-boom like, and Spike (not dead Spike) is in San Diego. Also Angel still owns W&H, just lives at the hotel.
CHAPTER 1Spike Dalton walked upstairs to his apartment, which was located above the cafe he owned. He expected to see his daughters in the living room, watching TV and eating all things not nailed down. When he saw no one in the living room he made his way into the kitchen, which was an eye sore.
Bowls of unfinished cereal lay scattered around the stove and sink, spilled milk and juice covered the floor, and there were several boxes of ice cream on the kitchen table where Beth, Spike's five-year-old daughter, sat eating a swirl of chocolate and vanilla.
Spike started, "What the bloody- was there a tornado warning I missed?"
Beth flashed her blue eyes in his direction and giggled lightly. "You're funny... sometimes." She went back to her ice cream.
"So what happened here?" Spike asked, glancing around. "Where Nick?"
Beth shrugged, "I think Nicky got kidnapped by aliens." She thought then. "Or maybe she's going to go have sex," Beth stated, having absolutely no clue of what the word meant.
Spike's eyes widened and he shook his head. "Better be the first time," he muttered before giving Beth a stern look. "What have I told you about making a mess in the kitchen?"
Beth smiled and used her angelic voice. "What makes you think I did it?"
"Not going to lie are you?" Spike smirked.
"Course not," Beth replied, shaking her head, making her black hair bounce. "OK, I did it. But, Daddy, you wouldn't make me clean this up would you?" She batted her eyelashes.
"By yourself?" Spike said. "No, not that evil. But you are going to help me and then I'll make real food afterwards."
Suddeny Spike's other daughter, fourteen-year-old Nicole, raced into the kitchen, tossing off the pair of headphones she wore. "Hi, guys. Let's eat," she rushed, grabbing three plates from the cabinet.
"Nick, we need to talk," Spike began.
"Later, Dad. Gotta make dinner," Nicole said.
Spike gently took the plates away from his daughter. "Where were you? I thought you were up here all day."
"I know, I know," Nicole said with an eyeroll. "But I just figured—"
"Figured you wouldn't call?" Spike cut her off. "Yeah, I caught on to that one already, luv."
"Look, Dad, I know my job," Nick said, pulling the ponytail out of her hair and running a hand through the dark brown locks. "Come home, fix something to eat for the kid. I got that."
"Could have fooled me," Spike stated.
"I figured you'd be here and could have handled it," Nicole continued. "I mean you don't need me every ten seconds."
"That's not the point," Spike insisted, keeping the calm in his voice. "You know what you're supposed to do and I expect you to do it."
"Hey, I—" Nicole began again then heard the doorbell go off. "Whoa. Total saved by the bell moment."
Spike rolled his eyes and headed for the door. When he opened it the brown eyes of the dark slayer met his in a lock. Faith stood on the other side, clad in dark leather pants and a black t-shirt that read trouble in crimson letters across it, a purse on her shoulder.
"Hey," Faith greeted, before holding out a letter to him. "Telegram for Captain Peroxide."
"Thanks," Spike said slowly, surprised to see her. He took hold of the letter before looking Faith over. "Nice pants."
Faith glanced down at her leather clad legs. "Yeah. Sale at trash and clash."
Spike tore open the envelope Faith had handed to him and began reading the message inside. His eyes grew a little as he finished it. Spike met Faith's eyes again, a surprised expression on his face, even more so surprised than when he had first seen Faith.
"Hard to believe, huh?" Faith said.
Beth walked up suddenly and quietly. She squinted her eyes at Faith, who looked very familiar. "Faith?" Beth questioned.
"Hey, kid," Faith smiled down at her.
"Faith!" Beth abruptly cried out, getting fond memories of the woman before her. She went over and gestured for Faith to hoist her up, which the Slayer did. Beth glanced from her father to Faith. "What's wrong with Daddy?"
Faith shrugged, "You know, just mail. Bills, early Christmas cards, B getting married, the usual."
A/N: I would like to pretty much thank my friend Anica for this story since it was origionally an RPG idea of ours. Also, I would not have been able to do this without my friend, Pyro Bear. So thanks, Anica and Pyro. Please review.