37

Jade eyed King taking in the tall dangerous stranger in the foyer of the Academy. Her eyes slid over to Vala who couldn't help but shift uncomfortably under the scrutiny. Still, Vala didn't put any distance between herself and the NightStalker.

"Are the rooms ready?" Vala's slightly raised eyebrow goes ignored another moment as Jade takes her time assessing the pair in front of her.

"Uh, yeah." Hayden answers. "Guest wing." He motions to the left of the staircase, following the wandering eyes of the NightStalkers.

"You certainly moved up." Abby quips in a dry tone that's missing amusement. It's more of an accusation and Vala knows there's a conversation pending with the woman suffering the loss of her friends.

"I traded one annoyance for three others and a bunch of miny-Slayer's." Vala casts an eye over King, the 'annoyance' both he and Abby know she's referring to.

"Hey," King joins in the moment of banter, Zoëy's hand tucked into his. "Zoëy doesn't think so."

"She's a sweet girl." Vala replies dryly. "Doesn't know any better." She motions to Zoëy who steps away from King and looks up at the adults.

"Hello."

"Zoëy Sommerfield." Jade extends her hand with a smile. "You're our newest addition. I think you'll find this place pretty cool."

"It's big." Zoëy admits. Just the Manor leaves her feeling overwhelmed and awed. Her eyes skip to Vala's who offers a warm reassuring smile. "You live here with all of them?"

"Yeah, and we have about seventy girls – Actives- in the dorms." Vala explains then points to each of the adults. "This is Jade. She's -."

"Awesome." Jade cuts in with a smirk. "I have to put up with Vala." She offers with a wink and a slight whisper everyone can hear.

"You're no peach." Vala retorts. "These three are the annoyances I traded King for. Hayden, Rhys and Garth. There's a fourth around here somewhere." She waves in the general area of the foyer thinking of Yuma. "They're responsible for security on campus- the Manor, the dorms, the grounds and off site. Hayden also teaches weapons and combat skills." She says the last to Abby and King.

"Don't worry." Jade assures. "We have two Doctors on call- live in, actually. The clinic is just past the garden. Can't be too careful."

"Doctors?" King echoes. The idea doesn't inspire much confidence for their well being.

"We're not infallible, Hannibal." Vala points out. "Matthias and Theodore are Sr Watchers, both doctors-."

"Theodore's a surgeon." Jade adds. "In case we ever need one."

"They're safe. And this way there's no need to explain how one of our girls got hurt because she was taking down some tentacly monster, vampire, werewolf, demon- whatever."

"People tend to think we're crazy if we start on 'vampires are real'." Hayden shrugs.

"He should know." Rhys snorts, amused.

"Oh," King agrees. "We know."

"Well," Jade cuts the chit-chat. "I can show them up-."

"Thanks." Vala turns towards the stairs. "I can manage."

"Great, so do I remind you of the council meeting today or will you be down in 1o?" Jade smiles, waiting for the slight annoyance to pass over Vala's features.

"I'm here. So yeah." Vala replies shortly before heading up the stairs with King, Zoëy and Abby following.

September

They're settling in.

At least here they won't have to worry about being surprised. State of the art tech and over the top security system not to mention over 70 capable, trained Watchers and Actives ready to defend out school. Our second line of defense is just on the other side of the US- east coast … It wouldn't matter anyway.

I did this to Zoëy.

I agreed to Call the line and now Zoëy is part of this.

Zoëy…

One more girl I dragged into this mess.

… I just never expected…

And Gemma, two Potentials from the same family? How many of us are related in some way to one another? That five degrees of separation that connects everyone in the world to someone else…?

But I never considered it. I didn't think of my family. Almost two decades without them … it was easy to forget I wasn't an orphan like Faith of Buffy.

She's going to die.

Zoëy…

Both of them.

Jeez, how many more?

Who else did I screw over because we wanted to close the Sunnydale HellMouth?

I told Zoëy we shouldn't live in 'what if' but I can't help wondering, if we had fought, just the three of us, Slayer's… couldn't we have spared these girls?

What else have we done because we chose this road instead?

O0O0O0O0O

The large conference table faced a wall with three large flat screens. Five faces looked back from those screens. It was difficult for King to keep his snarky comments to himself because the blond girl with the Capt. Fury at her side really needed to be commented on. The only adult on the screen was busy wiping his 'spectacles' while the brunette on the far left was eyeing him up and down like he was some juicy steak.

'Kinda feel violated.' King frowned.

Abby didn't say a word.

The moment they drove up to the Manor it was clear that Jerycho hadn't come back because of the trappings the NWC provided her. By comparison, the NightStalkers had lost everything- everyone that mattered and the war with the House of Erebus was still going. They hadn't accomplished a damn thing…

"Ms. Rey has informed me of your situation-."

"Which is?" Abby cut in. She sat with her arms crossed, clearly upset that King hadn't gotten up to leave and there was no way Abby would leave without Zoëy. She wasn't going to lose her as well.

"I told him about the FBI." Vala inserted with a calm gaze. "Of Hannibal's wanted poster and by extension yours."

"We have people who can take care of that." Giles offers.

"V's not much with the sharing on you guys." Faith leaned forward, the low cut of her tank offered a good view of cleavage the Slayer seemed uncaring of sharing. "All we know is you're on our side. Still dusting vamps?" her dark eyes skipped between Abby and King.

"Yeah…" King nodded, eyes skipping along three screens and the people somewhere on the other side of the world.

"Cool." Faith sat back in her chair, boobs safely tucked away and grinned at the others. "See? Our side."

Buffy shook her head, eyes rolling. "You're easy."

"Was." Faith is quick to correct.

"And before we get off topic yet again." Giles sighs as he calls them to attention. "We'd like to extend you an invitation to join us."

Vala knew it was because of her. Because she asked them to help King with the FBI. Because she had to stay on, to do her duty, to fight for the girls she'd put in danger for their choice. Because she didn't want King to leave and be torn about where she belonged and where she wanted to be.

"Your experience and knowledge would be helpful." Xander added. "There's all sorts of vamps coming out of the woodwork these days- not that you haven't helped, Vala…" he was quick to correct.

Vala ignored him, her eyes on Abby who seemed to be the one to convince. "You wouldn't be alone."

"Let them think about it, Vala." Willow smiled at the NightStalkers.

"Hey," Faith called to Vala. "Heard you ran into some-."

"Ass ended demons supposedly wiped out back in the 13th century?" Vala quirked an eyebrow.

"Uh…" Faith did her best to remain serious but couldn't help the grin spreading on her face.

"That makes three extinct species, Giles." Vala sighed, her eyes turning up to the screen where he pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Yes, the shorted feed from your camera is-."

"Not my fault." Vala is quick to point out. "The boys are working on a secondary feed in case there's another demon out there with taser abilities."

"So, not PeterPan this time?" Faith chuckles.

"Sounded like he was helpful." Buffy chimed in with a curious expression lighting her features.

"He saved me a long drop. That's it." Vala scowled. "Giles-."

"You may not break his leg, his neck, arm or harm him in any way." Giles sternly prohibited hoping his order was followed.

"Thwarted again." Willow laughed.

"Maybe I'll get a yes one of these days." Vala scowled. "I'm hopeful."

"Children…" Giles sighed. "We won't be getting anything else done today. Please, don't be late for the next council meeting." His screen went dark.

"He was talking to you." Buffy pointed out.

"I was here." Vala retorted.

"Yeah, ten minutes after we were already done with our catch up." Xander shook his head. "You missed out, Vala. And we didn't get to hear about your friends."

"Oh, you're so getting 20questioned later." Willow warned.

"Shoot me." Vala sighed cradling her head in her hands. "Hey, pop that baby already so they can focus on you instead." She eyed Faith who laughed.

"I hear Jack calling." Faith's side of the screen went dark and a moment later Buffy, Willow and Xander were gone as well.

"So…" King swiveled in his comfy oversized chair to face Vala. "PeterPan?"

Vala closed her eyes holding back the groan of annoyance at mention of the vigilante who couldn't seem to get the hint. And then she blushed thinking she'd done a great job of sending GreenArrow a mixed message thanks to their … uhm … roll in the sack.

"Right." Vala straightened in her seat. "Let's get you two up to speed." The touch pad screen on the table lit up and the center screen on the wall came alive again. There were a dozen articles and short vids that played.

"GreenArrow." Vala muted the latest video of the vigilante. "StarCity's resident hero. A pain in my ass mostly." She taps the table again and a still of GreenArrow from her cam pops on to the screen. "He's sort of-."

"A pain in her ass." Jade confirms as she strides into the conference room. "Hi, so-."

"Jade is lucky I need her." Vala frowns.

"She really does." Jade agrees with a smirk.

"And that I'm not allowed to hurt the puny mortals." Vala retorts with a just a hint of a threat to her tone.

Jade just waves it off with all the rest. "Now," she takes a seat opposite of Abby and smiles at both NightStalkers. "Since I'm putting you to work so to speak. Let's get to know each other." She sets her own touch pad in her lap, the stylus held poised and ready.

"The sooner she gets your answers the sooner she leaves you alone." Vala warns them. She taps her screen and the questionnaire that Jade has on her pad pops up on the screen.

"Feels like Wheel of Fortune." King notes.

"No wheel." Vala points out.

"Or Vana White." Jade ads with a smile.

"No…" King smiles. "Evil pixie though…" he winks over his shoulder at Vala.

O0O0O0O0O

Fang strides into Vala's office without a nock. "Found it."

"Where?" Vala forgoes the scowl at being barged in on.

"It's going to be a mission just to get it." Fang warns.

"Isn't it always?" Vala challenges rising from her seat. "Where?"

"You can't do this alone, Vala." Fang's dark eyes drop to the messy desk, the maps and papers spread out- Vala's attempt at locating the Slayer Prophecy books. "You need a witch." She looks up and locks eyes with Vala. "Me."

"There's no other way?"Vala frowns. "None?" She doesn't like taking others with her into danger. It's not easy breaking out of the habit- 'you fight alone'. "I don't want to risk anyone else."

"You need me." Fang's eyes don't waver and Vala understands. She breathes a heavy sigh and moves around the desk to stand beside her.

"I can protect you." Vala is making a promise. Even if it means letting go of her book once more. This is what she does, protect.

"Alright. I'll need to prepare… then."

"Whatever you need." Vala acquiesces.

O0O0O0O0O

It's been a week.

They've fallen into a comfortable routine with the NWC. He can see that Zoëy is happy. She's been smiling a lot more in the last week than she had since …

It's been peaceful. Even Abby has settled in, taking up sparring with the instructors and helping with the girls. When she wasn't working out her feelings by beating up the bag or getting tossed around by the girls she spent her time in the large library reading through the books.

He'd tried it. But it was all about demons and prophecy's – creepy shit and he hadn't gotten a chance to spend any time with Jery. She spent her nights on patrol.

King wondered if Jery was avoiding him.

O0O0O0O0O

Abby strode into the head mistress' office without bothering to knock. She let the door close behind her aware of the dark gaze settled on her as she stopped in front of the desk littered with files and forms.

"Somehow," Vala sighed sitting back in her leather chair. "I don't think you're here to help with this mess."

"This was your choice." Abby pointed out. Not one ounce of compassion, no feeling in her tone at all.

"I have a responsibility to these girls, Abby." Vala didn't let the silent recriminations get to her. "I made a choice, yes. I have to live with the consequences of it. It isn't easy… because this isn't where I wanted to be."

"Comfy digs." Abby's eyes skim the plush office. "Nice threads." Her eyes take in the expensive suit, the simple jewelry. "I can see it's been a real hardship. Jery."

Vala couldn't help feeling guilty. If she hadn't left them … would they still be dead? Sommerfield… would Zoëy be an orphan?

"You shouldn't hold it in." Vala's quiet tone struck something in Abby. Her jaw clenched, her green eyes sparked with anger.

"You weren't there." The words spit out of her clenched teeth. "So don't pretend to understand."

"I know what it feels like." Vala's tone remained quiet. She didn't need to get up and yell, to give Abby the fight she wanted. "I know. Don't you think I feel guilty? That if I'd been there maybe Zoëy would still have her Mother. That if I'd made a different choice- if I'd chosen to stop from calling the line Zoëy would still be a normal little girl?

"What's this supposed to do?" Abby demands. "Because you say you feel guilty I shouldn't be pissed? That it makes all your lies ok-."

"That's not what I meant." Vala stood up. "You know it."

"You lied!" Abby yelled, her fist slammed into the desk. "You kept this and all of the others a secret-. We could've used the help, Jerycho!"

And there it was.

The NightStalkers worked in cells. They worked alone, in secret, away from others. It was supposed to keep them safe.

"I can't change that." Vala quietly admitted. "I can't bring them back." Her eyes stung and her throat closed up. She would give anything to change it, to give Zoëy back the family the NightStalkers had been to her, to bring back her Mother…

"Death is your gift." Abby repeated. "You said that, told King and he's wrong. Because that's what you are and it is your fault."

Vala flinched at the door slamming shut behind Abby. She could tell herself Abby was just venting. That her words were out of anger and didn't mean anything… Vala could lie to herself but the heavy pit in her stomach wouldn't let her.

'I let them down.'

And she hadn't gone back. Didn't bother to look back …

O0O0O0O0O

King dozed in the plush chair across from the huge bed draped in cream and burnt red. He didn't get what all the pillows were for but the one he grabbed was oh so soft… he'd sat, waiting and waiting figuring Jery would have to come in eventually.

The door opening is was jerked him out of his doze.

Vala stopped, her eyes spotting King in her reading chair.

"Hey." King stood up, shoved the pillow back onto the chair before it fell on the ground.

"Hi." Vala quietly replied. She glanced to the door she'd closed behind her as if to leave but this was her room so…

"You've been busy." King noted, hesitating to step towards her.

"Yes." Vala still didn't move any further into the room. She wondered if King would find this the perfect moment to call her out just as Abby had done.

"Haven't seen you." King started towards her. His eyes following the hesitant expression in her eyes.

"You have…I've been around." Vala quietly protests. But she hasn't been available to him.

"It's not the same." King gently smoothes an inky strand behind her ear; his fingers gliding down her cheek in a caress. "I miss out midnight tea parties."

"I've … been … patrolling." Vala tries to hide the breathless note of her voice and fails. "You know…"

"I missed you." King's hands rest on her shoulders, his thumbs lightly caressing her collar, his eyes locked with hers.

"Me too." Vala admits offering a sad smile.

"You survived the HellMouth." King points out.

"A lot of girls didn't." Vala shook her head, thinking of the dead girls and the ones in her dream that left her covered in blood. "We Called the line … I killed them. I chose to make them Slayer's and they died so we could live." Vala had always felt those girls had died- paid with their blood- for her survival on the HellMouth.

"You didn't pick them, Jeryc- Vala." King corrects himself with a huff.

"Why aren't you mad at me, Hannibal?" Vala looks up at him confused. "Why aren't you pissed I lied about who I was? About my name-."

"Whoa, hey." King frowns. "Vala. So what?" he shrugs. "That's the name your parents gave you, its not who you are. I know who you are." He reaches up to her cheek and wipes the tear leaving a glimmering trail and offers a soft smile. "You're my evil pixie."

Vala utters a soft laugh and rolls her eyes. She quiets and her brown eyes trace his face. "I thought you'd be mad, hate this version of me … I, I was afraid to back. Staying here seemed easier." Vala confessed.

King sighs, his hands slide down her arms and pulling her flush against his body. "Is it?" because King feels out of his comfort zone. There's too many people around, too many kids- girls! Giggling, teen-age girls beating on grown ass men and heading out every night with StarCity's resident Slayer to kill monsters.

"Different." Vala replies. Because this isn't how she was trained. It was supposed to be 'One girl' not an entire world of them.

"Yeah." King agrees. "I don't know…"

Vala feels her chest tighten painfully. She wouldn't blame him for wanting to leave, for telling her that's what they decided… it'll hurt, because she doesn't want him to go, she doesn't want to lose him but she can't force him to stay and she can't go with him either.

"Hannibal…" Vala pulls in a breath from somewhere, her voice steadying before she utters another word. "Its- this is a big change. I know and if you-. If you're not…" Vala leans into his chest, hiding her face in his shirt. It's harder to say than she thought.

"Are you… trying to get rid of me?" King is sort of amused.

"No!" Vala exclaims, her eyes meeting his. "No, I'm just-. I don't want to make you stay if that's not what you want. I mean I'd love for you to stay. I- you don't have to decide right now, Hannibal. I'm not rushing-."

King knew as soon as she started rambling. He didn't need to hear an explanation, he knew.

His pixie wanted him.

Vala slipped her arms around King's shoulders, stood on her toes and let him kiss her into silence. As long as he didn't say he was leaving, Vala would let him kiss her anywhere he wanted!

O0O0O0O0O