Disclaimer: I don't own Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Author's note: I know it's been a long time since I've updated and I'm sorry but here it is now onto to the story.

Warning: this chapter mentions child abuse.

Xander was in the library alone. He wasn't researching he was just reflecting and the library had been the only place that hadn't had anyone in it. The only downside was that the air conditioner in the library wasn't working. Although Xander was used to African temperatures he was wearing the wrong clothes. The forecast had said it was suppose to be cold and well it wasn't. The door opened interrupting his thoughts and Xander looked at the person coming in.

" Xander." the person wasn't exactly the first person he wanted to talk to but Xander replied.

"Hey Faith." They hadn't been in the same room alone together since Faith had tried to kill him. But Xander could see she was a different person then the one who tried to kill him. She was avoiding making eye contact, which Xander took to mean that she was ashamed of what she did.

"So..." Faith trailed off. After about a minute in which Faith starting pacing back and forth, Xander decided that he would answer in fashion.

"So..." She stopped pacing and turned to face Xander.

"Xander..." she sounded like was going to say something important but didn't say anything. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she released it and opened her eyes she was looking at the floor.

"Faith." Xander started then found he had no idea what to say. That it was Ok that she tried to kill him. It wasn't, he could stand being around her as long as there were other people with them. Xander understood that Faith was on the path of redemption like Angel. That she was didn't like what she had done. But she had never apologized.

Xander understood to a degree why. She was used to be alone, a lone ranger, she tore apart the only friendships she had ever had. She had killed people and she had distanced herself from it telling herself that she didn't care. It was hard to reach out to people when you were used to be being along. But Xander wasn't enough of a white knight to start the conversation. If Faith wanted to be forgiven she would have to work for it and have to ask for it.

Xander discovered that the library was getting even more hot and discovered that sweat was beading on his forehead and if he didn't stop it sweat would roll down his nose. Xander lifted his hand and wiped off the sweat that was building on his forehead. When he put his arm down Faith was starring at his arm. Xander's heart skipped a beat she didn't see it did she?

"How'd you get that?" she asked inquisitively with her eyebrow quirked. Oh she did ,so not good so very very not good. He needed to ask for clarification, maybe talking about something completely different from whatever he was thinking.

"Where did I get what?"

"That huge scar on your upper arm." Xander heart sunk she just had to see that, hopefully he could play her off like everyone else.

"Oh, some kid poked me with a sharp stick when I was a kid."

"Really... it looks like a cigarette burn to me. " she said not nastily or accusing. Just making an observation. Xander almost got up and ran out the room, but that would just be painting a big neon sign on his head that said couldn't take care of himself.

"Does B know?"

"Know what?" she moved up her sleeve and pointed to a scar on her shoulder blade, that was almost a mirror of my own."

"My father did this to me, when I played too loud while he watched the Superbowl." Xander closed his eyes.

"I'm sorry."

"Look Xander, I'm not looking for sympathy, I just telling you that you can tell me... if you want..."she trailed off. Xander head went spinning off in two different directions. She knew she knew how it felt. How horrible and how demeaning it was. How scared Xander had always been at home, never knowing if his dad would just hurt him or hospitalize him. How he had tried to forget what happened to him ever since he had left. She knew how he felt. It also explained why it was so hard for her to get close to them, and to a degree why she betrayed them. He didn't trust her with everything, but he knew that she wouldn't tell because it would be admitting what happened to her.

"He did it because..." Xander closed his eyes to prevent tears from falling."Because I wanted to play at my friend Jesse's house, my father said no and I didn't take no for an answer . I should have but I didn't know" Xander said.

"It was the first?" Faith asked knowingly and Xander nodded and said.

"Yes." there was a pause Xander could tell Faith wanted to ask something but was having a hard time spitting it out.

"Did your dad ever say he was sorry?"

"The next day but only that time, at the time he only complain because I made him drop his beer. You?"

"He didn't say it then, he was sober for 10 days and he said he was sorry. He said it again in advance because he knew he couldn't stay off the sauce."there was another pause then Faith asked.

"So I repeat my question. Does B know?"

"No she's a hero she shouldn't have to know."

"So I'm guessing that means no one knows."

"They don't need to. Have you told Robin?" she smiled sweetly.

"I love him, I really do but he already has issues, I don't need to add mine to his."

"So in other words we both have slight trust issues." making a joke but Xander wouldn't be Xander if he didn't make a joke when things got really bad.

"Yeah I think we do." Faith said softly and the conversation again faded to silence. In which Xander got to thinking, their conversation made them close. No one else know that his father used to beat him. Not even his mom she had been too drunk to notice. His friends with his help passed it off as him being a bad fighter. But it had always been better then them knowing the truth, no matter how annoying being side lined was. Also his anger over the years melted way from seething to simmering. He no longer hated her or despise her. He even trusted her to an extent.

"Xander I'm...I'm...I'm going to sit over here. " Faith then sat down.

Xander could tell she was trying to say she was sorry but couldn't get it out. It was okay they had time, eventually she would be able to say it and eventually he would be able to truly forgive her. They just existed in semi-comfortable silence for a few minutes, then there was suddenly an announcement on the PA system.

"All persons to the auditorium. " Robins voice came over the intercom. Xander got up and Faith followed. The trip to the auditorium was made in silence, and since it was close it didn't take them very long to get there. Xander headed for a seat just like he was picking a seat for a movie. In the middle of the middle of the theater it was just the way he liked it. Xander sat down and was slightly surprised when Faith sat down next to him. She leaned over and said quietly.

"I don't imagine were all going to watch a movie." Faith gave him a small sad smile. " It's apocalypse time isn't it?" Faith stated sounding nonchalant.

"Yeah, I can't see why else we'd all be here. So what kind of apocalypse do you think we have on

our hands? Is it the one demons who tried to sacrifice themselves or we dealing with Glory type , and the First type?"

"I don't know, personally I'm hoping for something we just kill and get it over with." after that there wasn't any conversation between them. The auditorium was buzzing with speculation from the slayerettes, who didn't know they should be afraid very afraid.

After a few minutes Robin got onto the stage, only confirming Xander fear that things were about to get apocalypsey. Faith whistled appreciatively and Xander turned to look at her along with most of the slayerettes, all of which had big smiles on their faces.

"They don't know it's apocalypsey, why worry them until Robin does?" Robin looked right at her looking stern but Xander and Faith could see he was slightly amused.

"Thank you Faith. Now I bet your all wondering why I've gathered you all here... We have a problem." all the talking and whispering stopped even the slayerettes know that we have a problem wasn't good. Robin paused for a moment presumably to gather his thought Xander. Then he cleared his throat and said.

"We found a prophecy, a portal from Goriden will open from somewhere in Cleveland at any moment. Goriden is well, a demon dimension other then that we have no clue what going to come out. Now it's possible that the demons from Goriden are peaceful. Possible but not very likely. Generally demons will kill you rather then look at you. There is very little know about Goriden except that soon we will be hosting some of the inhabitants."

"On the very likely chance that they are less then peaceful, we are the only defense to keep them back. I've already called back up but it won't be here for a few hours and no one near can fight them like we can. We're all Cleveland has, and I for one intend to fight them so that civilians don't have to. "

"Now I'm not ordering anyone to fight. This is a fight in which few if any will walk away from. If you choose not to fight, no one will think any less of you. However those that are going to fight, I suggest you take whatever time we have left to arm yourself and call your loved ones. That's all." he started off the stage and the was silence hanging thickly in the air. No one spoke no one moved everyone thought about the impending apocalypse and how this would likely be their last night on earth."

Review please :)