Disclaimer: Since my name is not Joss Whedon, 'Buffy: The Vampire Slayer', 'Angel' and the characters associated with the show belong to someone who in't me. I also do not own the storyline, that is taken from gidgetgirl's 'The Lost Child Challenge' (details below) posted at the Chocolate Covered Strawberries Archive. Nell belongs to me, as do Rachel Knight and Reginald Humphries.

The Lost Child Challenge

When Faith was fourteen, she was raped by her mother's boyfriend. After that, she left home on her own, pregnant with the rapist's child. When she was found by the Council, her first Watcher took the baby, assuring Faith that it would be taken care of... the Watcher then was killed by Kakistos before she could give Faith more information. Now, years later, the child has come back into Faith's life.

Requirements:

- Faith dealing with mixed feelings about the child: a mother's love and the memory of the rape.
- The child having a Faith-esque attitude problem
- The council having had some hand in the child's conception
- The child having an amazing destiny
- Faith wanting to save her daughter from her own mistakes

Author's Note I: To Imzadi - I know, it was horrible of them. The main reason they didn't go with the far more humane alternatives you suggested was that they - or, more specifically, Travers - wanted to ensure that Nell would have no loyalty save to him. Remember what Willow said about her staff turnover?

Author's Note II: To C'est Magnifique - No, she can't. Once the portal's open, nobody can control the demons who escape. I'm afraid that poor Mr Travers is in disgrace at the moment, still lying where Nell threw him.

Chapter 9

"They're talking about me, aren't they?"

"I'm sure they're not." Xander assured her unconvincingly. "It's probably just research. Very boring."

Nell regarded him primly. "Uncle Quen. . ." A look of pain crossed her face. "I mean, Mr Travers said that a Slayer should always study hard and do her own research. That way, she is always prepared."

"Really?" Xander looked thoughtful. "And what else did he say a Slayer has to do?"

"She has to train every day and work really hard at her lessons because it's important that she be intelligent as well as strong. Like Buffy." She added with a slight note of hero worship.

"I see." Xander winked at the little girl. "I bet I know one thing that your tutors never taught you."

"What?" She asked curiously.

He gave her a broad grin. "The Snoopy Dance."

"Check out Xander."Buffy nudged her best friend, gesturing towards the enthusiastically dancing Xander and his audience of one.

"He's been practicing." Willow noted seriously. "He's gotten much better."

Kennedy raised a surprised eyebrow. "This is better?"

Even Giles allowed a small smile to cross his features.

Nell seemed torn between bewilderment and amusement at the spectacle before her

Faith watched, smiling sadly, as Xander coaxed the little girl to try her hand at the dance, instructing her diligently in the art of the perfect Scooby dance, listening to her soft giggles as she stumbled midway through the routine.

"Are you okay?" Buffy asked the other girl, seeing the serious expression on her face.

"Fine." Faith responded, not taking her eyes off her daughter. "It's just. . .this is the first time I've seen her be a kid."

"Are you absolutely positive about this prophecy, Giles?" Faith demanded of the Watcher. "It has to be Nell, there's no possible way that I could do this for her?"

"I'm sorry." His tone was genuinely regretful. "You are a sixth generation descendent of Rachel, and your date of conception does not match the one in the prophecy. If your daughter doesn't close the portals, the Seven Hells will remain open."

"But there's no specific time frame for when she has to do it?" The dark haired Slayer pressed. "She doesn't have to do it right away? We can wait until she's older, can't we?"

"We could." Giles allowed, his expression sympathtic as he regarded the anxious girl. "But we cannot know what will happen between now and the future, how many demons will manage to squeeze through the opening, how much damge they will do, how many people they will kill and, what if, God forbid, something happens to Eleanor, if she doesn't reach adulthood?"

Faith swallowed a lump forming in her throat.

She had mourned her daughter for five years, the mere thought of losing her was like a physical blow.

"Besides," Giles continued gently. "Once the Seven Hells have been closed, permanently, the Council will have no further use for Eleanor, no reason to fight to keep her. You will be free to take your daughter away from all of this."

"I guess." Her tone was dubious. "About the prophecy. . .does it say anything about Nell having to be alone?"

"Not a thing." Giles smiled. "We wouldn't miss this for the world."

Boston, underground.

Sitting at the centre of a chanting circle of demons, a robed priest opened his eyes, leavingthe state of meditation he had entered to induce a vision, a satisfied smile playing across his scaly features.

"My lord?" An acolyte inclined his head respectfully. "Have you seen what is to come."

"I have." His voice was deep. "The One approaches. Soon She will be with us."

TBC.