Sunnydale Memorial Hospital, 1130 hours.
The two M.P's standing outside the doors of the secure wing of the Sunnydale Memorial Hospital had seen the people who killed their brothers-in-arms taken to the Army base under a full security detail at about eight that morning. It was about nine in the morning when they had seen Dr. Fraiser and Colonel O'Neill walk into the secure wing while Tara, Major Carter, Daniel and Teal'c followed the diminutive doctor as she pushed the bed carrying a sleeping Willow into the secure wing. The M.P's looked at each other before once of them looked through the small window on the door and saw Dr. Fraiser and the others push Willow's bed into Faith's room, while Major Carter talked to a surprised Joyce. They watched as Joyce stepped back and brought her hand over her mouth in shock as the Major told her what happened. The M.P's then looked at each other again and shrugged their shoulders before they went back to their duty of protecting the two young women who were in the rooms behind them.
While the M.P's were doing their jobs by keeping an eye out for any kind of threat, and by making sure that the only ones allowed in were on a list provided to them by Dr. Fraiser, they did not notice the young brown haired woman walking towards them in a silver and cream coloured dress. She stopped between the both of them and smiled, even though that they could not see her since she made herself imperceptible to everyone. But she couldn't stay too long as she started to hear grumbling from the Others.
Looking up, she could only frown before she told no-one in particular that she was just here to visit, that she wouldn't interfere.
"'Sides" said the young woman to herself when she looked back down at the doors, "the other Athena already interfered. And besides, the only to have some peppermint chocolate shake with hot dogs later is to gain physical form and eat… sheeesh."
The young woman glowed white as tendrils of white light travelled through the door and then coalesced again on the other side, reforming into the young woman again.
"Teleportation" said the woman as she walked to the door where Willow and Faith were being held, "can't beat that."
The young woman then teleported into the room as she walked towards Willow who was still sleeping on the hospital bed. She smiled at the redhead who was wearing a hospital issued gown under her bed sheets. The young woman then walked up to Willow's bed and looked at Tara who was sitting next to her, biting her nails nervously while looking worryingly at the redhead. The young woman then looked up and saw Faith, who was already sitting up as she turned her head and look at Willow, and then at Tara. The dark haired woman that the brown haired young woman knew was a Slayer told Tara that Willow was just sleeping off the painkillers that the surgeons had given her ; and that she'd awaken soon.
The brown haired woman then leaned over Willow, after Tara kissed Willow's forehead and walked towards Faith.
"You'll be alright, Athena" said the woman, "I can sense the mother of the Slayer coming back into this room. As are the rest of your friends. So I don't have much time. I just want you to know that I'm searching for the beast… she… it.. it's looking for something. Something very powerful. I know you do not remember, but mother and I have been able to look at what could be, I…. I've seen this world destroyed by this beast. I don't know if I can see you again, but… but…. be careful. Going through what these people call the Stargate will be dangerous, and… and… just be careful. I have always watched over you but now you have friends who can do that while I continue my search to find what that beast is looking for."
"Tara?" said Willow as the brown haired young woman saw the redhead move her head, "Tara?"
"Be safe" said the brown haired woman as she kissed Willow's forehead, "and goodbye."
"Goodbye" said Willow as Tara came up to her and looked at the redhead in confusion, while the brown haired woman looked at Willow with eyebrows furrowed.
"Willow?" said Tara, "why'd you say goodbye? I'm right here, so's Faith."
"Huh?" said Willow as she looked at Tara, and then at a grinning Faith who was waving her hand at the redhead, "hey, Faith."
"Red?" said Faith, "heard you got shot?"
"Yeah" said Willow before she turned to look at Tara, "I thought I heard you say goodbye."
"Huh?" replied Tara as she looked at Faith, and then at Willow again, "baby, I didn't say anything."
"Oh" said Willow as she tried to get up, but instead yelped in pain when she put pressure on her left shoulder. Winching in pain, Tara helped Willow lie back down on the bed as the redhead reached for her shoulder. She ran her fingers over the bandage on her shoulder, and flinched when she hit a sore spot. The redhead then looked back up at Tara, before snapping her head at the closed door, "did you guys see that?"
"See what?" asked Faith as she looked at the door, and then back at Willow and a confused Tara.
"I thought… no.. it was nothing" said Willow as she looked at the door again, 'I thought it was my light, the light that would watch over me whenever I was lonely… was it just here?'
"OK" said Faith as she watched Tara and Faith look at each other, "if you guys plan on getting it on right now… then just remember that I'm right here? I know getting injured by gunshot is cool and all, but come on… it's torture if I don't get to join in."
"Faith" said Tara as she and Willow looked at the dark haired Slayer, "we don't plan on doing that here."
"Hey" said Faith with her hands up as she grinned at the both of them, "like I said I don't mind if you start, but….."
"Ha.. ha.. ha" said Willow sarcastically as she grinned at Faith while Tara smirked,
"Thought I'd try" said Faith as the door to the room opened and Dr. Fraiser walked in with Joyce, and Colonel O'Neill.
"We can discuss it later" said Tara laughing as Willow looked at her girlfriend suspiciously while Faith gave the both of them two thumbs-up.
"Discuss what?" asked the Colonel as he looked at the three young women.
"Oh nothing" said Willow as she turned to the Colonel and smiled, "just discussing some… stuff….you know… girl stuff… such as…"
"I don't wanna know" groaned the Colonel as Dr. Fraiser and Joyce smiled at each other before looking at the Colonel, "I really don't wanna know."
The Summers Residence, two days later; 1200 hours.
It was two days since both Willow and Faith were discharged from the hospital; Faith having stayed an extra day due to her not wanting to leave Willow at the hospital by herself. After their discharge from the hospital, Joyce walked into the Summers home with Faith, who just looked around at the entrance as she remembered the last time she was here.
'Christmas' thought Faith to herself, 'it was nice actually, very nice.'
Joyce then took a hold of the surprised Slayer's hand and led her up to the stairs as Willow, and the other Scoobies walked into the home behind them. Xander was the last one in who closed the door behind him. They watched as Joyce and Faith reached the top of the stairs before making a right turn into towards two doors.
Faith walked next to Joyce as they came to a closed door where Buffy was standing next to while facing both Joyce and Faith.
"B" said Faith as she looked at Buffy.
"Faith" replied Buffy as she put her hand on the doorknob, "look, the both of us have done things to each other that's….."
"Cruel and stupid?" asked Faith with a smirk.
"Yea" replied Buffy, "and the both of us can't just wash those things of off us, but… I'd like to try and start something new. Better people, and better Slayers."
"Until you leave for the academy" said Faith as Buffy smiled.
"Yea" replied the blonde Slayer, "Slayers, emphasis on the 's'… at least I leave for the Academy. Then the title is yours."
"Sweet" said Faith as she rubbed her hands together, "and in the meantime we train together, slay together… find guys together."
"Faith" said Joyce as Faith and Buffy gave small smiles at Joyce. The older Summers woman then turned to Buffy and asked her to open the door to the room, "Faith, this is your room. I know it's not much now but…. we can spruce it up."
Buffy walked into the room, followed by Faith who saw a bed in the middle of the room against the far wall, a small desk, a small chest of drawers and an open closet on the other side of the wall. She walked into the room and slowly sat on the bed before quickly getting of it and turning around to look at the mattress.
"I know it's not much, Faith" said Joyce as the dark haired Slayer smiled, "it was all kind of last minute since we didn't exactly know when you'd wake up; and this was all I could get at the last minute. We could go shopping for some bed sheets, I mean… neither Buffy nor I, know what you like as far as colours go. Then I know you don't have clothes… or that you did but the hospital somehow managed to throw everything away since they figured you won't be waking up at all."
"Blue" said Faith softly as Joyce and Buffy looked at each other, "I like blue. You… you didn't have to do this, you know."
"Sorry, Faith" said Buffy as she stood next to her sister Slayer, "you're stuck with us now… so, yeah… there you go. You're getting blue sheets."
"I don't see it as being stuck, B" said Faith softly as Buffy saw the dark haired young woman look away and wipe her eyes, "it's just... I really don't know what to say?"
"Then how about some lunch, first?" asked Joyce, "We'll go out to the mall for some shopping and pizza? Colonel O'Neill and the others will be coming by for dinner before Willow has to leave with them tomorrow."
"Yea" said Faith softly as she walked past Buffy to the table, the same table that she had seen in her dream, "I'd like that."
Faith looked at the table as she imagine the books and the pictures she saw in her dream, the picture of her laughing with Willow and Buffy, the picture of her in a graduation gown as she stood next to Joyce who had her hand around her shoulder with a wide smile on her face.
"I want all of it" said Faith softly to herself as she recalled what her alternate said, to be better. She reached into her back pocket and took out the tablet. She placed it carefully on the table before brushing her fingers on the screen, "I'll make you proud."
"Faith?" asked Buffy as she and Joyce stood at the doorway to give her some privacy, "you alright?"
"Yea" said Faith as she turned around and smiled at the two Summer's women, "I think I'll be alright."
"Good" said Joyce as she nodded her head, "cause you have to some rules to follow, the same as Buffy."
"Awww" said Buffy and Faith together, "do we have to?"
"Yes" said Joyce with a grin as she turned around and headed to the stairs, "I'll put up the chores for the both of you."
"Heh" said Buffy as she looked at Faith, "I'm glad I don't live here."
"I heard that!" shouted Joyce as Buffy winched, "your chores will be for the weekend, when you come back for laundry and food."
"Mom!" shouted Buffy as she turned around and headed towards Joyce, but not before giving Faith a small smile as she walked out the door.
"Yeah" said Faith as she looked around the room and nodded her head, "I think I'll like this place."
The Summers Residence; the next day, 1300 hours.
Willow was standing at the bottom of the stairs with Tara, who had a handbag on her shoulder, while the other Scoobies were in the Kitchen putting away the dishes after their lunch. Also, they wanted to give Willow and the blonde witch some privacy while they were in the foyer talking.
"So" said Tara nervously as she and Willow sensed eyes on them before looking at the kitchen where Joyce and the other Scoobies suddenly looked away and tried to keep busy. Suppressing a laugh, both Willow and Tara ran up the stairs where they sat near the top, "so… when are they picking you up?"
"Fifteen minutes" said Willow as she smiled at the blonde and held her hand tightly, "I wish there was more; time between us, I mean."
"I'll think of you" said Tara as she noticed the brown coloured bandage whose outline could be seen through Willow's blue top, "and I'll see you again in a few months."
"Can't wait" said Willow as she kissed Tara's cheek, "come visit me after I'm done with the basic training?"
"Of course" replied Tara, "by the time you're done with that, I'll be in Colorado. And I can visit you every week as your really, really good friend of course; not your lesbian lover who has got to have fun every night."
"Nice one" laughed Willow as Faith interrupted them by shouting from the kitchen.
"Hey!" Faith said as Willow and Tara stifled their laughter, "go into details… we can hear you."
"God please no!" shouted both Joyce and Buffy.
"Yes, please!" shouted Anya and Xander as the two young women just laughed before shouting no, followed by sounds of Faith, Xander and Anya booing them.
"Now that's done" said Willow as she looked at Tara, "any news about your family?"
"The Colonel said he knows someone at the FBI" said Tara, "something about conspiracy to kidnap me across state line, or something similar."
"I can't believe they did that" said Willow as she caressed Tara's cheek, "and I can't believe you didn't tell me until last night, once everyone was asleep."
"I'm sorry" said Tara softly, "but I really thought you'd be afraid of wanting to be with me."
"Never" replied Willow as Tara smiled, "I'll never be afraid to be with you."
"I… I.." said Tara as she reached into her handbag and took out a small box, "I want you to have this."
"What is it?" asked Willow as she opened the top of the box and then looked up at the blonde with her eyes wide open, "this is a dolls-eye crystal, right? I've heard about it and… I mean it's used to focus magic. But Tara, I…."
"No" said Tara as she held on to the redhead's hand, "it used to be my grandmother's, I found it one day after she died.. she told me that it brings protection and good luck.. so…. Well… I want you to have it."
"Tara" replied Willow as she looked at the crystal that gave off a pink hue, "I cant keep this… this is a family heirloom."
"It's a gift to you" said Tara as she kissed her cheek, "please?"
"Alright" said Willow as she nodded her head after closing the top of the box, "how about you think were you wanna keep it when we move in together after graduation."
Tara looked at Willow surprised before the blonde woman asked her if she already thought that far into the future.
"Yea" said Willow, "after I graduate. I wanna move in with you."
"Cool" said Tara as the both of them kissed before they heard the familiar sound of a car coning up the driveway.
"In a few months, then?" asked Willow as she brushed Tara's cheek with her fingers.
"Yes" said Tara, "can't wait."
"Same here" replied the redhead as she smiled at Tara.
TBC.