Immortal: the Virtual Series
Episode 2.10: You Were Once But Are You Now? Pt 2
Written by the Karen
Original airdate: June 11, 2005
Episode rating: K+

-Part 1-

Connor knew something was on Faith's mind, something she wasn't telling him. He knew it could be a number of things, from the spell Willow was having problems finding, to something else in her life she wouldn't talk about. He tried to get her mind of whatever it was by taking her to her favorite club for some dancing. But he wasn't in the mood to party any more than she was, and he spent the first two hours complaining about his classes. He hated getting up every day to go to class.

She was listening to him whine when she saw someone familiar pass by in the crowd. She left off stirring her drink with her pinky finger, sitting up to watch him. She excused herself, leaving her purse, following the vampire and the slutty red head he was with. She had to cross the dance floor to follow them, but she got caught in the crowd. Every way she turned, there were people all around her, some coaxing her to dance, and she was getting more and more frustrated, but she somehow managed to keep her cool.

By the time she got outside, they weren't anywhere to be found. She searched the back alley with an urgency she couldn't explain. Her heart was racing, loud in her ears. She was afraid she'd find something she didn't want to.

A scream pierced the air.

She rushed through the thick air towards the noise. She stopped dead in her tracks a s she rounded a corner. She saw him hunched over the stick form of the red head. Then he let her go and the body slumped to the ground, discarded.

"Angel," she breathed, shaking her head, taking a step back. Her shaky voice carried in the quiet alley. Cars whizzed by the alley opening, but they were in another world.

"Faith," he turned to her, still with his vampiric countenance showing to the world, blood smeared on his lips. She saw in his eyes, even at a great length, something that scared her. Not her death, nor another's, or even evil. There was no hate in his eyes, only lust. For her.

Then he ran into the muggy night, leaving her standing in the middle of the alley, shaking and confused. She knew now that she had to tell Buffy. She had seen him kill. Somehow, Angelus was back and they needed to do something about it.

She pulled the heavy door open, entering the dark and stuffy club. Suddenly, she would rather be anywhere else in the world than that club. Or in her shoes.

--

"It's Angel," he barked into the cell phone as he strode down the crowded street. He had an appointment at ten, the man had said he'd return to meet him.

"Is everything set?" he asked. "You're leaving tonight? Good," he listened a moment, "She's fine, a bit stressed, but she still has no idea. She's also here, and she's gotten really good at keeping things to herself, Buffy doesn't have a clue," he listened, lengthening his stride as the street he wanted came into view, "We're still on for tomorrow, yes. I'll see you then."

--

"Connor, I've got to go," she said, reaching the table and grabbing her stuff, "I'm sorry. I had fun…" she lied, not looking at him.

"What's wrong?" he asked, catching a glimpse of the confusion and fear in her eyes.

"Nothing-"

he grabbed her arm, pulling her around to face him, "Don't lie to me. I know you better than that."

"I just need to talk to B is all. Nothing important."

"Is there something wrong? With her? The twins? My Dad?"

She shook her head at each question, but her eyes flashed when he mentioned his father, "I have top go," she pulled out of his grasp and ran out of the club.

"Faith?" he called after her in vain. He slammed his fist against the table, fighting his urge to follow her. If she didn't want to confide in him, then that was her problem, he decided.

God damn it! He loved her so much, and he thought she felt the same, she had told him so much about her, things she said she had never told anyone before, and then something like this happened, and she slammed the door in his face. Someday, she would have to make a decision, one that neither of them would like.

--

She ran all the way to the apartment, almost completely across town. As she banged on the door, she sucked in great lungful of air.

Then the door opened, and Kathy was there, "F-Faith, what's wrong?"

She pushed her way past the girl, "Is Buffy here?"

"She's sleeping." She stared at Kathy, realizing how stupid her question had been. "What's wrong?" Kathy asked again.

"I need to speak with Buffy," she said, heading towards the back room.

But then Angel came out of the bedroom, closing the door behind him with great care. She stopped dead in her tracks.

"Faith," his voice held surprised, but as she glanced in his eyes, she couldn't find any of the lust that had been there just a half an hour before when she had seen him last.

"I need to speak with B," she said guardedly, "It's important."

"She's a sleep. I can't let you wake her up. The twins tire her out so quickly, not to mention the stress…" he looked away from her, and she couldn't help but think he was an awesome actor to pretend that he still cared for her, "If you'd tell me, I can-"

"Go to hell!" she spat, turning and running past Dawn and Kathy, slamming the door behind her. She knew none of them would believe her, without proof. She hated leaving Buffy in the care of that monster, but it washer word against his, and they would believe him and not her.

-Part 2-

It was late, and Connor had early classes, but she didn't care as she banged on his door. She needed physical comfort, and she only wanted to find it in his arms.

"Faith?" he asked, his voice full of sleep, and she felt a pang at waking him. But she disregarded it as she rushed into his embrace, kissing him fervently. He warmed to her kisses, pulling her closer, and she could feel him pressed against her body, but the contact didn't help any of the feelings of helplessness inside. She could feel the frustrated tears streaming down her cheeks. Then he ran his hand along her cheek, and he felt her tears.

With any other person, she would have run. Tears were emotion, and emotion was weakness. Weakness got you killed. But this was Connor, and she loved him. And part of her wanted him to feel her tears, and ask her what was wrong, though she knew it would break his heart.

He pulled away, confusion in his eyes, having never seen her cry before, "Faith, what is it?" he asked.

"It's your Dad," she sniffed, collapsing into his arms as the story poured out.

--

"The stars need new names," she purred, "Will you help me name them?" she was in the middle of a flowerbed, her hands deep in the soil. Her dress and body was wet and muddy. They were in Central Park because she wanted to see the stars again, not just hear their song.

"The city lights pollute the sky. There's no way ye could name 'em all accurately," he said, distracted.

"She's in your thoughts. But not the light one, the evil one- No, the one that could be like us with a push or two. She was one of us once, it taints her. It calls to her."

"But she has changed. She be not so dangerous now, and yet more so," he sighed, walking into the dappled shadows of a tree, resting his hand against the rough bark.

"She's tainted you! Just as the bad girl taints you."

"She be different than Buffy, and yet the same," he said as if she hadn't said anything, "Siblingless, parentless at a young age, she survived by sellin' herself. Naught better than a common day hussy. She be not the nuns I covet for their purity, chastity, but she has spirit, fire, that's hard to find in this day and age. You give a girl rights, and she walks all over you. She loses her submissiveness. But Faith, she was never submissive, likes it on top she does…"

Dru was beside him in an instant. She slapped him, and he fell against the tree as he reeled from her blow.

"You disappoint the moon, in love with the champions of the sun!" she seethed.

--

When she woke up, once again, she was alone. The house was silent. Her depressed tears mingled with the super heated shower as she tried to wash away her disappointment and shame.

She really didn't feel like getting dressed or cooking, but it was almost noon, her stomach was growling from the burden of feeding three mouths, and she had an appointment at six. She made a batch of cookie dough, but did not have the patience to bake them, so she ate the raw dough out of the large mixing bowl.

She sat on the couch, eating her prize, feeling rebellious. Angel's note told her that Willow was no closer to finding a spell than before. She turned on the TV to take her mind of her thoughts, but not even the pitiful trials and witty snaps of Judge Judy caught her attention, she put in a movie, Bambi. It had been years since she had seem the film. It had always been Dawn's favorite, while she preferred Cinderella, Snow White, Beauty and the Beast; she preferred fairy tales and romantic endings to deer and rabbits.

She smiled when Bambi first woke up, laughed when he tried to stand for the first time. She was feeling better about herself by the time Bambi called the skunk Flower, and she couldn't help but wonder what her children's first words would be. She loved all of Thumper's sayings, especially the addition to the clover speech. She couldn't remember why she hadn't been about to stand the movie, besides that Dawn watched it almost every day.

But then Man came into the forest, and Bambi lost his mother, and she burst into tears. No one was immortal, and she couldn't help but wonder if that would be her fate, leaving her children alone in the cold world when she died. Not if, but when; she was the slayer after all. Motherhood wouldn't, couldn't change that.

At 5:30, Angel hadn't shown up or called. And neither had Dawn, which was odd since she hadn't been going far from home since her accident. Then she remembered both girls were out driving. That left her in a loop, she wasn't supposed to drive, Angel's orders, and partially the doctor's, since she was about eight months along, and could go into labor at any time. She couldn't stand cabs or public buses.

Angel still hadn't shown up by 5:53, so she pulled on a light jacket, left a note, and started off towards the doctor's office. She hadn't done as much exercising the doctor had told her to, mostly because she didn't want to go to the pool just to exercise, and she wasn't supposed to lift weights, and she couldn't run with her stomach so large. The walk would be good for her.

Half way there, the cell phone in her pocket rang, and she dug it out, hoping it would be Angel, apologizing for not coming to get her. But the number wasn't Angel's, it was Faith's. She sighed and pushed the talk button.

"Hey, Faith. What's up?"

"I saw Angel feeding on some girl last night." Buffy stopped walking. "I would have called sooner, but Connor was willing to skip class to hunt him down, so I spent all day talking him out of kamikaze."

"W-What?" Buffy stuttered.

"I'm sorry, I didn't want to tell you over the phone. I came by last night, but he wouldn't let me see you. He pretended like nothing happened-"

"He's been distant, but Angelus can't come back, Faith. He can't ever come back. You must have been mistaken."

"He knew my-"

"I'm late for an appointment, I've gotta go." She hung up, turning the phone off. It wasn't true, it couldn't be true. It was impossible.

Then her shock turned to anger. She couldn't believe Faith would do something like that! They had been making an effort to be friends, to let bygones be bygones.

But why would she lie? Why would she be so cruel all of a sudden? It couldn't be that she was telling the truth…?

She shook the thought from her head to find herself at the office, forty-five minutes late.

"Sorry I'm late," she entered the exam room, knowing she was the last patient of the day, and that the doctor would wait for her, "I couldn't get a ride. Exercise is good for me, right?"

"Buffy-"

"Please, let's just get this over with," she hopped onto the exam table, tossing her jacket into the corner. She lay back, pulling her shirt up to reveal her extended stomach and stretch marks in all their glory. The doctor didn't say anything as she squeezed the ultrasound jelly onto Buffy's stomach.

"Where's Angel?" she finally said conversationally.

"I…don't know," she sighed. He's been…cool lately." She didn't look at the doctor, not liking the thought that she knew they were having issues.

"Well, you're going through all these wonderful changes." She tried to be supporting, but Buffy couldn't help but bark out a laugh. Wonderful her ass. Stretch marks were not wonderful. "Most fathers tend to be jealous of their partners. You have nine months with these children that he can never have. You will have a special bond he will never begin to touch," she said softly, going through the procedure. "Everything looks fine. Just stay off your feet as much as possible. Call a cab if need be," she gave Buffy a reproving glance.

"You really should be on bed rest, Buffy. In fact, I'm prescribing it. I'm not going to hide the truth from you, I know you're strong, but there is no guarantee that you will be full term when these two are born. Depending on your muscle tone, you might not be able to hold them in."

"I don't think there's any problem with that," she muttered. To cover up her remark, she asked the question that was pressing on her mind, "So they're okay? They're healthy?"

"You will have two gorgeous babies in about a month," the doctor smiled, and Buffy's heart eased just a tiny bit at the smile. She remembered why so long ago she had insisted on seeing a woman, knowing she could never let a man do some of the procedures she knew would need to be done, knew Angel would never be fine with a man touching her.

"I know Angel doesn't want to know, he doesn't care as long as they're healthy…but what are they?" she asked in barely more than a whisper. She had promised Angel that they'd both be surprised, but she really hated surprises.

"Well," the doctor pushed the screen so she could see, "it appears to be a girl," she pointed out the fetus, "and a boy."

Buffy smiled, looking at the screen at her baby girl and her baby boy. In less than a month she would be a mother, and even with the news that Whistler had brought, her spirits were high. She would be a mother, and she would be bearing Angel's children.

The doctor asked her a few more questions, sleeping patterns, any discomfort, other than the usual discomfort of being pregnant, and then she let her go, handing her a towel to wipe the jelly off her stomach.

"Uh, Buffy, you're my last patient for the day, as you probably knew. Do you need a ride? It's not trouble at all." She asked as Buffy bent awkwardly to grab her coat.

"Nah, I'll call a cab, if you insist." She didn't know why she felt compelled to lie, but she did, "Thanks anyway." she smiled at the pretty doctor.

She went outside, and made a show of calling a cab. It had started to rain.

-Part 3-

Faith, once Buffy had hung up on her in disbelief, decided to confront Angel personally. She trapped him in the apartment. She had to wait twenty minutes before he showed up, carrying a strangely heavy box.

She didn't knock in the door, just pushed it open, confronting him. "Don't lie to me, I saw you groping that other woman, and I saw you kill. You called me by my name, damn it!

"Faith, what are you talking about?"

"You've been distracted, distant with Buffy, her own words, terse with me, and I saw you with my own damned eyes, feeling up that brunette slut! And then you killed that red head. You sure like sluts, don't you? Why don't you try me on for size, I used to get around well enough."

"The last person I fed off of was you," he said quietly. Her anger flagged as she saw the pain and remorse in his eyes.

"But-But I saw you, with the brunette and the red head…you were…"

"Brunette? What did she look like?" Angel's stomach sank, hoping his gut wasn't right, "Pale? Ballerina like?"

"Well, yeah…"

"God damn it!" he rushed out of the apartment without an explanation.

He found the right apartment and kicked the door in. But a barrier prevented his entrance, and he knew she had to be leaching off someone, "Dru! I know you're here!" he yelled into the apartment.

"The same, but so different," she floated into his sight.

"How did you do it?" he asked, pressing against the barrier in the off chance that it would fall and he could kill her.

"So many stars, so many worlds, so many dimensions. The stars see all, watch over all," she swayed her hands over her head, lost in her own world.

"You brought him from another dimension?" he roared, having known Drusilla enough to understand her ramblings.

"He's tainted, just like you. So much the same, but not so different."

"What do you mean, where is he?"

"Ruining you!" she spat, "You abandoned me! I will make your life miserable!" she screamed, "The moon spits on you!"

There was a crash of thunder and rain hit the windows, driven by a forceful wind.

"Mommy cries…where is her Daddy?" she asked, "One comes near, but it isn't the one she seeks."

It hit him that Buffy was missing, and he rushed out of the building, pulling out his cell phone as he ran.

--

She stood in the sprinkling rain, waiting for something. She almost hoped Angel would show up, apologize profusely, and take her to some expensive restaurant she was underdressed and too pregnant for.

"Buff," a voice said from beside her. She jumped.

"Thank god! Angel- "the nickname and his tone and Faith's call all came together, and her heart broke, "us."

"Whoa, ye catch on quick. I always knew you were bright. Whoa, can't say I'm liking the preggo look, Buff."

Tears welled in her eyes, "Go to hell!" she fought to get out of her closed throat.

"Ye sent me there, bitch. Not even me, but your lover boy, sweet Angel. He makes me sick, and so do ye, running back to him."

"H-How?"

"Wouldna ye like to know?" he taunted. "I've killed many pregnant women, why shouldna I kill ye?" he asked, advancing towards her.

"Because they're yours!" she cried, breaking down, "I wish they were his, but it was you!" she broke down, tears streaming down her face, but they were masked by the rain.

He took a step back, before catching himself. He had made a deal, "How that must hurt ya." The Irish brogue was slipping, his days outside of Ireland slowly presenting themselves in his voice. "You gave in to your lust, thinking no one would be the wiser, and yet you were caught. Caught with the forbidden fruit. You let yourself be a slave to your desires, and you got caught. I hope- they, did you say?- are as sadistic as I am, and they make your life the living hell you've made mine, being with that dog."

Then he ran off. Alone, helpless, broken, both heart and soul, blinded by tears, she backed up until she hit the brick wall, sliding down the rough exterior until she was sitting on the wet sidewalk.

Faith was right. Somehow Angelus was back.

And then it hit her. She only knew one way for Angel to lose his soul. And it hadn't been with her.

Whatever resolve she had had left broke. She had been strong after learning that one of her children was to be evil. She had stayed strong during Dawn's continued recovery. She had felt sorry for herself at Angel's snubbing. But she had never thought it would come to this.

She sat on the cold, wet New York city sidewalk, her will broken, her heart broken, and all hope lost.

"If there is a God up there, please, kill me now!" she sobbed.

Thunder crashed, seeming to rattle the sidewalk itself. Lightening streaked across the skyscraper filled sky. It started to rain in earnest.

--

Her cell phone was going straight to voicemail, and he had no idea where she was. Even the connection they seemed to share could not lead him to her. It seemed to be broken, and he hated that thought.

So he called the only person he could think of, "Will, Buffy's missing. I need a locator spell. ASAP. I have a feeling she's in danger." He hung up, calling Faith's cell. Before she could answer, he barked out, "Buffy's in danger. I want you and Connor to go look for her. Dawn and Kathy need to stay at the house incase she shows up. Her phones off."

"She said she had an appointment-" It was then that he realized where she was. He hung up the phone, breaking into a run.

--

"Miss? Miss, are you alright?" a limo had stopped at the curb, and someone stepped out, but she didn't look up, hiding her face in her arms.

"I-I'm fine. G-Go away! P-Please!" she didn't look up at him, didn't want his pity.

"You're pregnant," the guy's voice held mixed emotions, and she couldn't figure out if he was surprised or not, "Please, let me get you home. It's not trouble, really."

She looked up at him, tears and rain streaming down her face. She nodded, and he held out a hand to help her up.

Angel turned the corner as the stranger helped her into the limp. And then she was gone.

He stopped running, staring after her a moment, before returning to the apartment, calling Faith on the way. There was nothing more he could do. At least she was out of the rain. He just hoped she'd come home. Besides, he owed Faith an explanation.

--

They rode around in the limo for awhile, she really didn't care where she was going, she just didn't want to go home and break the news to Kathy and Dawn, or tell Faith that she had been right. After about an hour, the limo stopped, and she looked up to stare at a familiar building.

"How did you-" she asked, turning to the man.

"I've been…watching over you. Think of me…as your guardian angel," he gave her a coy smile. A smile she couldn't return.

"Thank you…I-I just want to be alone right now…"

"I understand. Good night." He said as she let herself out of the car.

She stared at the building as the limo drove off, and then slowly started climbing the stairs.

-Part 4-

"She's here," she called out.

"We'll go on as planned, then. I've worked hard on this, I don't want it ruined for her." The assemblage nodded.

--

The apartment was dark when she entered. Closing the door, she leaned against it, sobbing once more.

"Buffy?" the voice came out of the shadows, and she jumped.

"Stay away from me! I know who you are! You're not him!" she cried, groping for a weapon.

"So you've met Angelus then?"

"What?" she asked, confused.

He moved towards her, placing his hands on her shoulders, and she didn't fight it. He sighed, "Drusilla's been in town for some time. I didn't tell you because I didn't want to worry you. She managed to get someone to bring Angelus here from another dimension."

"B-But Faith said-"

"I was wrong. I saw Angelus, but he didn't stay long enough for me to realize it wasn't our Angel," Faith said in the darkness, "I jumped to conclusions. You were right, Angel can't become Angelus anymore."

"B-But you…" she burst into tears, and the words came out in a torrent, "You've been so distant, and you always said you loved me, but you hadn't, and you don't find me attractive anymore, and the stretch marks, and you're never here, I never get to see you…"

"Shh…shhh," he soothed her, taking her into his arms. She let his familiar scent wash over her, and his words lull her fears.

She pulled out of his arms, "Why is Faith here? And why are the lights off?" she sniffed.

He laughed. She just stared, he was laughing at her. He must have seen her face, because he hastened, "I'm not laughing at you, in all of this, I forgot." He reached to flick the light switch, and she saw the apartment had been transformed. Streamers and balloons were everywhere. A pile of wrapped gifts sat on the coffee table.

"Whose birthday is it?" she asked, confused, as she saw her friends stand up from there hiding places.

He laughed again, and she let the sound wash over her, let it make her feel like everything was alright, "It's a Baby Shower, silly," he knew he was trying too hard to make her feel better, but when she smiled, he knew it was worth it.

"Those are for me?" she asked, her smile contrasting the tears still running down her cheeks.

"Uh huh. I invited your friends here to see you, too." He didn't mention that they were willing to stay until she had given birth, mostly for moral support, though they had missed her.

"Hi, guys," she said, running a hand through her bedraggled hair, feeling like something the dog had dragged in.

"I think your friends can deal without you for a bit longer," he said, leading her towards the bedroom. He led her through the bedroom and into the bathroom, where he helped her out of her wet clothes, and into the shower. Somehow his clothes ended up next to hers, and he joined her. She was afraid he might be repulsed by her stretch marks, but he didn't say anything about them as he ran the washcloth over her body. Just his touch made her feel loved all over.

Then he led her into the bedroom, choosing another outfit for her, something better than the sweats and tank top she had previously been wearing. When they reentered the living room half an hour later, she was in a much better mood, especially when she learned there was cake.

Soon she was surrounded by her friends, full of cake and ice cream, and other delicious goodies Angel had cooked up, ripping the paper off of gifts her friends had brought.

And after they had gone, Angel led her back into their room, and dispelled any of her fears that he didn't love her anymore, or that he found her unattractive.

--

"I upheld my end of the deal, send me back," he ordered the sorcerer. Dylan sighed, and set up the ritual to send the vampire back to his own dimension. Drusilla would never forgive him for it, but he couldn't have him running around forever. Already Buffy knew of the double, but it had given him a chance to get closer to her.

--

IN A DIMENSION FAR, FAR AWAY….

He opened his eyes after he felt the effects of the spell wear off, and stared at the castle he and his wicked princess ruled from. He smiled, walking up the stone walk.

She met him at the door, a look of fury in her eyes, "Where have you been?" she demanded, "You ran away, and you will have to pay the price for it," she threatened, and he smiled at the thought of all the ways his dark slayer would make him pay.

He pulled her to him and kissed her roughly. "Ah, Faith, what would I do without you punishing me for all my wrongs?" he asked once he let her go.

She pointed inside, her face stony, and he grinned again, following her orders. A dominant woman wasn't so bad…