Disclaimer: I don't own any part of Btvs or Ats
"My ride's here. Bye, mom," Buffy called to her mom, heading out the door. For a second she thought she'd made it, but then Joyce called her back into the house. "Dammit."
"Buffy, don't forget your sister," Joyce reprimanded.
"Half-sister, mom," Buffy stressed. Joyce ignored her and turned to the stairs.
"Faith! You're going to be late," Joyce called. A minute later Faith stomped down the stairs.
"I'm ready, I'm ready," Faith rolled her eyes. "Come on, B, let's go." Buffy huffed silently and led her sister to her boyfriend's car.
0o0o0o
"Hey," Faith slipped into the seat beside Spike at the Scoobies' table.
"Hey," Xander unglued himself from Anya's lips long enough to greet her.
"Anything new happen?" Willow asked.
"Nope," Faith shook her head before glancing at Spike. "Hey, Spike."
"Hey, Faye," he replied absently, engrossed in a guitar magazine Oz had lent him. The two were in a band, called The Dingoes Ate My Baby, and their conversation was filled with anything about their mutual passion. Spike's other passion was Buffy Summers.
"The Dingoes have a gig tonight," Willow reminded her excitedly. "You're coming, right?"
"Don't worry, Wils, I'll keep you company while these two are busy," Faith grinned and jerked her thumb at Xander and Anya.
"Do you mind if I bring my cousin?"
"I don't care," Faith shrugged, glancing discreetly at Spike. She'd had a crush on the British boy for nearly a year, but no one knew. "Is she like you? 'Cause then I'll like her." Willow smiled at the compliment.
0o0o0o
"And this is the Bronze," Willow led her cousin to the rest of the Scoobies.
"Wow," the girl looked around, being careful not to run into anyone in the crowded space.
"Faith," Willow caught sight of her friend and practically dragged her cousin with her. "Faith, this is Fred. Fred, Faith. Where's Xander and Anya?"
"Late," Faith rolled her eyes.
"Hi," Fred gave Faith a friendly smile. Faith returned it. "What's it like here, in Sunnydale?"
"It's all right," Faith shrugged, her eyes wandering to the stage where Oz and Spike's band was playing. "I mean, it's the mouth to Hell, but it could be worse. We could have vampires or something."
"Uh, right," Fred glanced at Willow, who just shook her head. The texan girl wondered if all of Willow's friends were like this.
After finishing the set, Oz and Spike joined their friends. "Guys, meet Fred," Faith decided to do the introductions. "Fred, that's Oz and Spike."
"Hi," Fred gave a shy smile and wave. "Willow told me all about y'all."
"Yeah, she's staying at my house for awhile," Willow added happily.
"Hello, ducks," Spike greeted the girl as he sat down next to Faith, Oz taking the seat next to Willow. "Where's the whelp and Ahn?"
"Probably just running late," Willow answered after kissing Oz.
"Hey, pet, I'm going home with you tonight," Spike told Faith absently. The two spending the night together asn't unusual, though he never attempted anything, much to the brunette's annoyance.
"What's wrong with Spike's place?" Oz asked. "Wesley visiting?"
"Yep," Spike growled, though he sounded more annoyed than angry to Fred.
"Who's Wesley?" Fred asked.
"Spike's cousin," Faith explained. "He's about twenty, but he always hits on us," she gestured to herself and Willow.
"It's because he can't get anyone his own age," Spike joked. "Besides, Ripper's probably making use of the master bed room with a trollop." Willow smiled sympathetically, Faith following suit, though it quickly turned to a smirk.
"Sorry we're late, guys," Xander interrupted, followed by Anya to the table. "Flat tire."
"Who's she?" Anya asked with her usual bluntness, staring at the unfamiliar brunette sitting across from her. Fred smiled shyly.
"I'm Fred," the Texan offered.
"Oh," Anya smiled. "Hi Fred. I'm Anya. And this is Xander, my boyfriend," she added as an afterthought.
"Hi," Xander gave Fred a small wave. "Don't worry about Ahn, she's just...very open."
"What's wrong with that?" Anya asked, evidently hearing something in Xander's tone no one else did.
"Nothing, Ahn," he reassured her. She seemed to buy it, but started sulking.
"Here, ducks, you want to dance?" Spike asked Fred, noticing her watch the dancing couples on the floor. She smiled and followed him to the dance floor, among the several couples already there. No one noticed Faith watch them wistfully, Willow and Oz headed to the crowded dance floor and Anya and Xander playing tonsil hockey.
0o0o0o
"What?" Faith's eyes widened.
"Faith, your father and I think it's for the best," Joyce tried to soothe her daughter, not too much happier about it than Faith. "You seem to be having a lot of trouble at school, and I can barely control here at home-"
"So you're sending me to L.A.," Faith's tone was a mixtureof sarcasm and shock. "I've lived my whole in Sunnydale, and leaving's supposed to make it better?"
"Well, you'll be with your father, and you might make new friends," Joyce tried to calm Faith.
"Since when don't you like my friends?"
"Honey, please," Joyce finally pleaded. "Try to see it from my point of view. I don't like it much either, but-"
"Then don't!"
"But it might be better for you," her mother continued as if she hadn't interrupted. "Please, it's only for a year. Then you can come back if you still want to," Joyce promised. Faith just glared at her as she left the girl's bedroom. Faith settled into her bed to brood. Her father was behind this somehow. She knew there was no other way Joyce would let one of her girls leave. God, she was going to miss her friends. Willow, Xander, Anya, Oz, she thought of her friends sadly...Spike. God, she already missed them. Whatever happened, she was going to come back at the end of the year, she promised silently. At least B will be happy, she thought sardonically. But she was going to miss Dawn, even if she was a brat.
