See Chapter 1 for disclaimers and general warnings
"It's actually kind of better than usual." Faith disagreed with a shrug. Meeting the few eyes that would face her, she went on to explain. "Well, this time beating the end of the world won't kill us, right? Unless any of you got some kind of heart condition. Actually safer than usual, none of us gonna get decapitated or eviscerated or-"
"I get the point." Buffy interrupted.
"Just keepin perspective." Faith shrugged. "So is there some sort of timeline to all this, British? All in one night? All in one place? Do we gotta eat funky herbs before it or do it during the full moon or something?"
"Ah, no, no herbs." Giles rubbed his forehead. "The uh...imbuing of the vessel with the essences of those who were present would have to take place within a circle formed through ingredients and incantation, but once the circle is present it will be absorbed by the vessel after the final essence is passed on. Once that is done there's no limit to how long we have to get the vessel to the hellmouth, but obviously we'd like to get it all done relatively quickly as the longer the seal to the hellmouth is weakened the longer citizens are at risk from the evil being emerging from it."
"So an all-nighter then?" Faith asked, looking unconcerned at the possibility.
"Er, no. As the final spell which takes place once you have arrived at the hellmouth is quite physically taxing I think it best that you be rested and ready for it. Maybe over the course of two or three days, if possible?" His eyes were closed at this point, having to force himself to discuss the process necessary.
"Fine by me." Faith shrugged. "I didn't understand what you said about the circle and shit, but just point me in the right direction."
The meeting broke up with everyone in a relatively somber mood. Faith was heading out the back door for a smoke when she was intercepted by Joyce.
"Faith? Can you help me with the dishes, please?" She requested in the motherly tone that was obviously more of an instruction than a request. Joyce almost laughed at the look on the girl's face – she appeared more scared by this than by any demon they had faced or the upcoming apocalypse. But she did as asked and made her way into the kitchen.
"Sure." She husked out. "Uh, wash or dry?" Joyce passed her a tea-towel in response and for a few moments they stood in silence. Faith grew increasingly less comfortable until she couldn't stand it anymore.
"I'm really sorry, I know you don't want me touchin' Dawn or B...or even you...why don't you just tell Giles it's all off? We can keep fighting whatever the hellmouth spits out." She insisted.
"Faith." Joyce stopped her with a hand on the shoulder. "It's not your fault. My concern isn't for Dawn or Buffy, although I do hate that all of us have very little choice in this. I'm worried for you."
"Me?" Faith looked confused for a minute. "Oh, like that I'll go psycho again?" She checked.
"No." The mother sighed as she resumed washing up. "I'm worried that you're doing this to make it up to us, to Buffy. I know you both put your lives on the line as part of your sacred duty, but sex...sex should never be a part of that. That's not ever a decision you should make out of obligation, or duress as Tara put it." She turned to look at Faith, but the slayer was focussing intently on drying a plate.
"'S'no big. It's just sex. I've done it for plenty worse reasons." Faith shrugged and stacked the plate with the others. Joyce wanted to protest but was faced by the reality that she would, in effect, be trying to convince someone not to save the entire world from being slowly overrun by the hordes of darkness.
"If you're sure." She eventually settled for. "But if you need to talk, if there's anything difficult or upsetting..."
"Thanks Mrs S. You're a real good mom." Faith said, softly and sincerely.
They finished cleaning the dishes in silence, and once Faith had hung up her towel Joyce fully expected the girl to leave. But Faith paused and turned to her, looking entirely uncomfortable. "Um...I just wanted to say..." She bit her lip and looked up at the older woman. "I dunno if I'll be the first or whatever, but I'll be real careful with little D." Faith figured even someone as cool as Mrs Summers wouldn't want details about how she'd make sure Dawn enjoyed the hell out of fucking her, but Faith was absolutely determined she would be as careful and considerate with Buffy's sister as she could. Joyce's hand clenched hard on the edge of the table she was standing at, but she looked grateful.
"Thankyou, Faith." She murmured, then left the room herself, entirely overwhelmed.
"So you're...okay with this?" Xander asked cautiously, knowing Anya's previous feelings on the topic of anyone else 'having' him.
"Well, it's better than dying a gruesome death at the hands of a multitude of demons." Anya sighed reluctantly. "And it's a fantasy of yours to be with two girls, so I'm sure it will be hot at least."
"Two girls?" Xander's mouth dried up at the words.
"Well sure." Anya glared at him. "You didn't think I'd leave you alone with that woman? We're a couple. We'll have sex with the slayer as a couple." She declared. Unable to interpret the tortured expression on Xander's face, she continued. "I know she's not as attractive as I am. But surely once you see us together-"
"I'm sure it will be fine." Xander hurried to interrupt before she caused his body to react in a way they were not currently in a position to address. While he did have some worries about the consequences for their relationship and the relationships between the white hats in general, he was also a virile young man with hot sex in his near future.
"Best apocalypse ever." He murmured. Anya smiled and nodded.
"Oh God Will." Buffy shut the door to her bedroom to allow for quality best friend time. "What do I do?"
"Uh..." Willow turned slightly pink in the face. "You mean general catastrophe rhetorical 'what do I do' or specific sex tips 'what do I do'?"
"What? Ugh! The first! Or..." She stopped her pacing with a sudden realisation. "Oh hell. Maybe both. I...so don't want to get that detailed with you. No offence. But then again...do I want to be alone in a room with Faith in charge? Oh my God." She flopped down on the bed, her face in her hands.
"Well...it could be worse. I mean...Faith isn't...unattractive." Willow tried to comfort her.
"But she has no penis!" Buffy mourned. "With the boys it's all about the penis! And it's so easy to tell what it wants! And so easy to make it happy...and how the hell am I meant to have sex with someone that will have slept with both my sister and my mother!?" She demanded.
"Um." Willow ran out of sage advice. "Get very drunk?" Buffy looked at her wide eyed.
"That...is a very good plan." She slowly agreed. She sighed, calming down from hysteria to standard misery. "And how are you going with it all? I mean, you're not a huge Faith-fan even if you are more familiar with the girl sex." She lounged on her bed in the classic gossip posture.
"I'm...kind of scared." Willow admitted. "I mean, what if she just pulls a knife and cuts my throat and is all 'ha ha ha to hell with the world, it will be more fun with demons anyway' sort of thing?" Buffy nodded her understanding at this reasoning. "And the thought of her with Tara...sort of makes me want to cut HER throat. Faith's." Willow added unnecessarily. "I mean, if Tara and I get back together...will it be weird because we've both been with Faith? Or what if Tara has sex with Faith and is like 'wow, that's incredible! I don't want Willow anymore'." Willow looked up to see Buffy's patient but sceptical expression. "I know. I'm being paranoid. But you asked how I felt." Buffy nodded once again, empathising with the situation due to her previous anxieties after the Faith and Riley Incident.
"I get what you mean. But you gotta remember, this is Tara. She's like the sweetest person ever. She wouldn't be all fickle like that." Buffy reassured confidently.
"But what if I get all paranoid and can't get over it? What if all I do is worry about if she's comparing me to Faith and I screw it up?" Willow looked distraught at the possibility, and Buffy stood up and pulled her into a hug.
"Then you're an idiot. If you guys get back together, you've gotta trust her Will. But," She pulled back and looked at the red head sternly, "I suspect if you do get back together you'll spend so much time...reacquainting yourself...you'll be left with no doubts as to how she feels about you." Willow sighed and rested her forehead against the slayer's shoulder.
"Thanks Buff."