FIC: After All Our Nightmares (7/?)

"So you like playin' soldiers?" Rex nodded shyly at her question. "'Kay," she ruffled the little guy's hair, "how 'bout you be the humans," Faith picked up the colourfully-painted figures they'd picked up from a toy shop on the way out of L.A., "and I'll be the elves." Rex nodded again. "Kay," Faith took a hold of the lil guy under his arms and lifted him up, "but on one condition, you give me a big smile and say please Faith."

The boy's bottom lip quivered almost as if he was gonna cry, but then he managed a quick squeak. "Please Faith."

"Ah," Faith pulled the three year old into a loose hug, "I'd love to play with ya, sweetie." Faith's eyes narrowed as she sensed a familiar presence behind her and gently put the boy down, ruffling his hair again as she did so. "How 'bout you start settin' your guys up while I talk to Angel. Don't go anywhere mind?"

"Yes Faith," the boy nodded.

Faith's heart did a flip flop at the boy's dutiful obedience. "Aw, you're a lil angel ain't ya." Faith kipped up and turned to face the silhouette in the darkness. "And you're kinda big Angel aren't you?"

The broad-shouldered vampire stepped out of the darkness, hands in pockets, and a rare smile on his face. "I've been called worse." The demon chuckled. "Often by you."

Faith grinned back at her best friend. "Yeah, but I can't use that sorta language in front of the kid can I?"

For some reason Angel's eyes saddened, probably thinkin' of the years he'd missed with Conn. "You do a great job of looking after him."

Faith shrugged and looked down at her sneakers as she reddened, embarrassed by the praise. "Ain't hard, Rex is a sweetie," she glanced at the toddler, "aren't you honey?" Rex beamed and waved at her, so she waved back.

"I don't think you're giving yourself enough credit," Angel reproved.

Faith shrugged. "I know what I always wanted but never got as a kid, love. And this little munchkin makes it real easy."

"Right," Angel shuffled self-consciously from foot to foot before continuing. "You'll have to keep Rex close to you, kids need watching especially these days."

"Well duh, I'm not fu-freaking idiot, Angel," Faith retorted before flashing a dimpled smile. "The lil guy can sleep in my sleepin' bag with me. It's not like Xan's been in a giving mood recently anyhow."

Angel sighed long-sufferingly. "Feel free not to share."

Faith snorted. "What's the fun in that?"

"Need to pee-pee," Rex squeaked.

"Oh fu-, fun," Faith quickly amended before glancing towards her friend to ask him to take the boy only to find he had melted back into the shadows. "Bastard," she muttered under her breath before holding out her hand to Rex. "Grab a hold, kid, we'll find a nice tree or somethin' for you to spray. Come on."

* * *

Angel smiled sadly as he watched his friend lead the boy into the bushes by their van. It was heartening to see just how readily Faith had taken to the role of Rex's care-giver, but when the truth came out about Rex and the others she would be hurt and angry.

It may even cost him his closest remaining friend and last real link to Buffy.

Angel sighed deeply, the conflict between his friends' happiness and saving the world weighing heavy on his heart. There was no contest really of course, but if the world required this sacrifice, was the world itself with its inequalities, injustices, and atrocities really worthy of saving?

Angel's eyes narrowed at a flapping sound overhead. Looking up he let out a gasp at the grey-skinned monstrosities diving down at them. "Trouble!"

* * *

Xander grimaced as he tossed and turned in his sleeping bag, although he and Faith hadn't exactly been 'active' in the past few weeks, he missed her huddled next to him. He wanted to tell her that but something, pride, fear, a need to punish himself for living, prevented him. And as a result he couldn't get to sleep-.

"Trouble!"

Angel's bellow crashed through the night prompting Xander to throw off his blankets and scrabble desperately for his shotgun. "Yes!" he gasped as he grabbed hold of the gun's barrel and swung it up, finger tugging on the trigger.

"Ahhh!" One of the Gargoyles, he recognised them from Giles' books, his heart caught at the memory of the so proper Englishman, swept in at him only to spin in the air when his bullets tore through the beast's side, a hideous caw erupting from its mouth. Blood leaking from the wound in its side, the monster dived back in, only to take a shotgun blast that tore one half of its head off.

But even as that gargoyle hit the ground, another swept in, its claws raking the air as Xander rolled away from it, the shotgun bucking twice in his hands as he sent lead into it, wincing slightly as it fell away and his finger clicked empty. "Oh hell." Xander gulped as he looked up at the remaining gargoyles sweeping down on the camp.

"Impudent curs."

* * *

"Trouble!"

Rex barely had time to look up anxiously at her, her own eyes looking fixedly away from the urinating kid, when gunfire broke out. "FAITH!"

Faith spun around the instant the boy started screaming, snatching him up into her arms and rocking him from side to side as she peered into the shadows and whispered into the sobbing boy's ear. "Hey lil guy, it's cool," she soothed, "my gang will," she groaned as she realised the frightened boy had continued peeing after she'd lifted him, soaking her, "deal with 'em." Telling herself she wasn't her mother, she calmed herself before continuing. "We're not gonna let anythin' happen to a little treasure like you are we?"

Rex peered up at her, scared eyes meeting hers. "Promise?"

"Hey," Faith kissed the toddler on her head. "I promise." Damn it, Faith continued peering into the darkness, the tantalising sounds of the fight drifting to her on the wind, it was real hard not to charge in, fists and feet flying. She looked down at Rex. But she had more grown-up concerns now. "No-one's gonna hurt my lil guy."

* * *

"Impudent curs!" Illyria growled as she grabbed one of the flying fiends by its ankle, swung the cawing thing overhead, and launched it into another one of its number as it swooped in. "You dare attack the God-King?" she screamed as the duo fell. Another swept down, but she grabbed it by its throat and squeezed, fingers tearing through and crushing flesh until the monster's head popped off.

All around was chaos, her companions fighting desperately for their lives against their enemy. Her companions, she sniffed disdainfully as she snatched one of the beasts by its leathery wing, yanked it to the ground and straddled it, hitting it with blow upon blow. In truth she protected the humans merely as a matter of routine, knowing her Wesley would wish it. For herself she cared less than naught for these lesser life-forms.

Although, she smiled as she punched clean through to the monster's skull, she did gain some small satisfaction from rending these beasts limb from limb for having the audacity to attack those under the protection of the God-King.

* * *

Faith took a breath as a silence appeared to fall over the camp. "So kid," Faith forced a confident tone, "ya wanna head back to the camp and see if Uncle Xan and the rest are alright? I bet they're wicked worried 'bout ya."

"You think?" the three-year old warily asked.

"A lil cutie like you," Faith kissed Rex on the forehead, "course they will." Faith sniffed. "'Sides I need to change my clothes, they're kinda dirty now."

Rex's eyes widened. "I'm sorry-."

"You were scared baby, no big." Faith crept through the darkness, only relaxing when she saw the others putting the camp back together. "What the hel-, heck happened here?"

"Gargoyle attack," Lockley said, eyes filled with her usual suspicion. Fuck her. "Surprised you weren't here helping us."

"I had the lil guy to look after didn't I?" Faith defended hotly. "Had to protect him."

"'Course you do Fait-," Angel sniffed. "Had an accident did you?"

"Ha, ha," Faith glared at her idol. "It was the kid, I need to get changed-."

"I hope," Illyria stared at her, "the child will not be noisy. I need the time for my meditation, and a squalling child will interfere."

Rex whimpered at Illyria's gaze. "You know you just give me the warm and fuzzies, Smurf, you really do," Faith sniped.

Illyria's glare turned glacial. "Only one could call me that, and that is not you. Be warned, I will not tolerate such disrespect."

Faith met the Old One glare for glare. "Duly noted. And I won't tolerate you scarin' Rex, you dig?"

Xander groaned from somewhere in the darkness. "Oh this is going to be such a fun trip."