***Note: This chapter was so big that I had to divide it up into two parts***

***Summary: The gang reacts to the identity of the girl. Seth converses with two interesting people***

CHAPTER 10

The silence in the room was staggering. It was as if all the oxygen had been siphoned out as the group of onlookers held their breaths, transfixed. There had been no gasps of surprise, no witty remarks to break the tension or exasperated huffs of disbelief.

For once, everyone was speechless.

The girl patiently studied the six faces gaping at her in astonishment. She smiled inwardly her mother's…no, at Buffy's bubbled eyes. She would not call her 'mother'. After what she had done, all maternal privileges had been revoked. Her eyes traveled to the equally disbelieving expressions of the Scoobies to her left. Despite her animosity towards the whole situation, a tingle of sadness bubbled through her. She smiled sweetly at Xander; she never had the chance to meet him. Willow and Tara; it had been more than five years since their sacrifice. Her gaze drifted over to the longhaired brunette holding the glass, her eyes wide with excitement. Dawn. So sweet and innocent now. Faith wanted to cry for the dark path awaiting Buffy's sister. Notwithstanding that, she hoped that her presence could somehow change that. She prayed silently for small miracles.

And of course, there was her rock; Spike.

"What did you say?" he whispered, the first to break the silence. She stifled a grin. He was always the first to recover.

"I said that my name is Faith and I'm this woman's daughter," she said, her eyes falling back to the Slayer. The words were spoken with undisguised bitterness. But there was something else buried within the tone. Something that was as visible to Faith as her hostility was to Buffy. Hope. Longing. Family.

"Sorry for playin' the devil's advocate, luv, but you can't be her daughter," Spike said, his words devoid of conviction.

Faith laughed tiredly. She turned un-hostile eyes to the vampire. "Look at this face. Look at hers. I mean, you can see the resemblance, can't you?" "Well…yeah, but that doesn't mean much, luv. That's to say that we are on a Hellmouth and weird things happen on…" Spike paused, "do you know where you are?"

She sighed, annoyed. A very Buffy-like trait, he thought. "Yes, I know where we are. 1630 Revello Drive. Sunny-hell, California. Home of the Boca Del Inferno, better known as a Hellmouth." Her agitation disappeared and her eyes became serious, "I grew up here."

"Grew up here?" Buffy finally asked, her voice a shell of its usual vibrancy.

Faith smiled longingly and toured the living room. Everything was so different, yet still the same. The mantle where she had broken her mothe…Buffy's crystal bears. The coffee table broken when a tickling lesson from Spike had gotten out of hand. And the couch where she first said 'mommy'.

It was too much. Tears streamed down her face at the memory of happier times. She collapsed on the couch, hugging her arms tightly against her petite body. Faith knew the trip would require her to deal with nearly faded memories of times of content. The three years since she had seen him die and her mother--and Buffy, taken had depleted her of all hope. She had fought and killed thousands of demons before the Master had finally caught up with her. Faith shivered at the thoughts of her nine months at the hands of the Master's favorite lieutenant, Seth. The things he had done to her…

"Noooo," Faith screamed. She was oblivious to her fingers digging into the flesh of her bare arms. Blood pooled around her nails and down her arms. She barely registered a gentle voice and loving touch envelop her.

"Shhhh, it's alright," Buffy cooed. "I'm here. I'm not going anywhere." Buffy didn't know why, but felt it had been important to say that. She lifted Faith up into a tight hug. At first, the distraught girl refused comfort until Buffy ran her hands through the girl's hair. It was enough to melt Faith into the tiny slayer's loving embrace.

"It's okay, pet," Spike assured, kneeling before both women, "me and Buffy here'll take care of you." He didn't even try to hide the torrent of emotions wracking his soulless body. It was difficult enough for his eyes to travel across her scarred body but to sit through her cries of agony only steadied his resolve to kill whoever was responsible for her current condition.

"I can't go back," Faith choked out. "I can't. I know I'm supposed to, but I can't." She buried her face deeper into Buffy's chest.

"Why not, sweetie?" Buffy asked, unsure of what to say.

"Because you're not with me," she managed between heaves. She looked up into Spike's sympathetic eyes. "And you're dead…" it was all that she got out before she was again overtaken with uncontrollable wails of despair.

It took the better part of an hour before Faith had calmed down enough for Buffy and Spike to relax their embrace. Spike had joined in on the mother-daughter reunion minutes after Faith's second breakdown. Whatever the reason may have been, Spike was drawn to the girl even more. He had wrapped his strong arms around both women. Buffy smiled at him warmly, affectionately, the second time of the evening. But for once, he didn't dwell on the possibilities. Rather, he directed all his energies toward the whimpering mass huddled between he and Buffy. For the better part of the hour, he had rubbed concentric circles in her back, while he left the few comforting words spoken to the slayer. He was amazed at how natural Buffy was in soothing the girl. He had never seen her so tender. An unknown warmth spread throughout his limbs. Love surrounded him and he did not know its origin. All he knew was that it was there. It was almost enough to shield his mind from the revelation that Buffy would go on to have a child. A child conceived in love. It was hard to think about but he cast aside his emotions. There was always time to brood later.

Dawn was the first to reappear from the kitchen. The Scoobies had retreated to its confines shortly after the second outburst of tears. They had found their presence somewhat intrusive on the trio in the living room. Words were few and far between them with the obligatory "Do you think she's telling the truth?" thrown out on a handful of occasions.

"I…I brought you some water," Dawn said to Faith. She had waited to get the okay nod from Spike and Buffy before proceeding.

"Thanks, Dawn," Buffy said before setting the glass on the table. Her arm was still draped around the trembling form of Faith. Dawn smiled sweetly at her sister and made to retreat back into the kitchen.

"Don't go," Faith called. Dawn jumped at the sound of the girl's husky voice. It was filled with such hurt and pain that Dawn thought she, too, was going to burst into tears for the second time.

Dawn looked back to Buffy and Spike, unsure of what to do. Again, they nodded their consent, and the teenager sat on the other side of the table, knees drawn to her chest. Faith reached a trembling hand out to the water. It shook in her hand and threatened to spill. But instantaneously, two hands, one cool, the other warm, enveloped hers, steadying the glass. The moment was almost too much for the slight girl and she felt herself tumbling down into the shadows of despair again. She bit her trembling lip, drawing blood. Pain always had a way of rescuing her from her despair. She had to be strong, collect her thoughts. She had to tell them. There was so much they needed to know.

She studied at the concerned features of Spike and smiled. It was fleeting as she remembered the warrior's fate at her mother's hand. Yes, there was a great deal to discuss. Just not everything.

"You can bring the others in," Faith informed after a deep drink of her water. Where to begin? Maybe the reason she was here. Of course, she really didn't know why she was here. She had thought that Emerald had wanted her away from torture, but what was it that she said?

Only through the power contained in this locket will she be able to withstand the indwelling of the First within her.

Faith grimaced, trying to ascertain Emerald's meaning. She fingered the locket that was around her neck…

"Oh no," she said, standing in alarm. Buffy and Spike both stood in accordance.

"What is it, luv?" he asked.

"My…my locket. I had a silver locket around my neck."

"Is it important? Buffy questioned.

"Yes," Faith replied harshly. She looked at Buffy. The slayer had been taken aback by the disdain in her voice. Faith put an arm on the slayer and smiled weakly, "Yes it is important. Not only is it my only way back, but I need to use it to prevent my world from falling apart."

"Oh is that all?" Xander chimed, following Tara and Willow from the kitchen. "For a minute there, I was thinking something could actually be normal around here. But hey, a nice little silver locket number that holds the fate of the world in its itty bitty clasps, well," he shrugged, "well, I guess that is normal for this place."

Faith laughed humorlessly, "If you only knew. If you only knew." She plopped back onto the couch, emotionally drained. Spike sat down next to her.

"We'll find it, don't worry. I promise you. I won't let you down, baby bit," he said, his eyes filled with determination.

"You never have," she said softly, putting her small hand to his cheek. The coolness of his flesh against her warmth had always soothed her. She dropped her hand when she felt Buffy's penetrating eyes boring into her back. Faith smiled inwardly. Jealous? She gazed at Spike lovingly before planting a quick kiss on the cheek. She then made her way to the center of the room.

"Take a seat, pets," she said, regaining her earlier flare, "I've got a lot of stuff to lay on you."

Seth sat in the corner of the bar, hands resting in his lap. A cocky grin was fixed to his face as he observed the two figures in front of him. He had made his way over to their table after sending a limping Primus and a handful of other demons out searching for the slayer. He knew where she would be and he had sent them there. Except for the small detail of bringing the slayer, his slayer, in unharmed, they had complete autonomy. Now, he listened to the prattling of this pathetic, yet powerful warlock and a very interesting woman.

Even with his night vision, Seth failed to make out her face under her cloak. It was as if she was void of form. But he didn't need to see her to feel the power coursing through her veins. It was like nothing he had felt before. It was evil, pure and simple. And for the first time, Seth felt a pang of fear.

"You fear me, Vampire," she said, interrupting his thoughts. It wasn't a question. "That is good. You should fear that which your nature was born from."

"Well that may be the case, deary," he quipped, leaning forward, "but I didn't come over here for you to tell me what I may or may not be afraid of. I came over here because…"

"You want the slayer," the disfigured man interrupted. He laughed bitterly. "If you'd only come a few months earlier. I had the ins on her friend. Had her comin' to me, beggin for more. I miss my sweet, little strawberry."

Seth snorted with disdain. "Whatever bro," he waved the dark-haired man off. "You are not the reason I came here. She is." His gaze ground into the other man's eyes, goadingly.

"I understand that," the warlock spoke, his fury rising at the lack of respect, "I also understand that you are a vampire," the last word was spit out in contempt.

"Great, he's not too mental," Seth mocked.

"And as a vampire talking to a practitioner of the dark arts, I advise you to watch your tongue. Lest you are indifferent with losing it."

Seth's brow furrowed with concentration before he exploded with excitement.

"I finally know who you remind me of. Mickey Mouse. What the fuck was that flick called? Oh yeah, Fantasia. See, the thing is, little Mickey wanted to play big bad sorcerer when the master left. Thought that messing with the big bad stuff wasn't so hard." He lowered his voice menacingly. " You know what happened in the end, son? He got in way over his head and a nasty slap on the wrist for his trouble. He was lucky his master was so nice. I'm not. So don't get yourself into shit you can't get out of…" Both men stood simultaneously and the warlock uttered several unintelligible words before jagged edges of light struck Seth in the center of the chest.

Nothing happened.

The vampire laughed tauntingly before striking out with his inhuman speed. His hand clasped around the warlock's neck, pinning him against the wall. The man's feet flailed weakly, desperate to find purchase where there was only air. He clawed at the vampire's steel grip, the world blackening more each moment. Seth pulled the strangling warlock toward him and whispered playfully to him.

"Did I forget to mention, trick master, that a magic ward protects me? Yep. You can throw light shows and chairs at me to your heart's content. It won't matter. Oh, and I've even got a nastier treat for would-be stakers." He released his grip and the warlock fell helplessly to his knees, gasping.

"Impressive," the veiled woman said. "I didn't even sense such a ward on you."

"Well, the spell caster was powerful like that," he said, taking his seat.

"Indeed," the woman said, concealing her dismay. She should have been able to detect any magical barriers and yet she had been ignorant. One thing the vampire had said was right: who ever had cast that spell was powerful all right. Just more powerful than he knew.

"So," Seth remarked, rubbing his hands together eagerly, "let's talk. Now, the way I see it, we can all profit from working together. Well, so long as Junior over here…"

"Rack," the rising man choked out.

Seth put his hands up in defense. "Sorry. So sensitive. Anyway, like I said we all can profit from this little arrangement. From what I can gather, Rack over here, though extremely tacky, wants his little 'strawberry' back. Me? All I want is the slayer-my slayer-back in the best possible condition. Now, my midnight love, what is it that you want?"

The woman chuckled softly and Seth was mesmerized by its litany. She leaned forward and removed her cowl. She was breathtaking. Her jet-black hair danced atop slim shoulders. Obsidian eyes peered out from under perfectly sculpted eyelashes. What little light reached the table glinted off her bronze skin.

"What I want? What I want? Well, I'm not one to want more than is necessary. I just want the sister."

"The sister?" Seth questioned. Then it hit him. "Oh the pint size Summers. What's her name again?"

"Dawn."

"Oh, now I remember," he lied. In truth he knew little about Dawn save for the bits and pieces he had picked up from Emerald. "So, what do you want the kid for?"

The woman smiled seductively and Seth felt his demon cringe. There was something about her that just didn't sit well with him.

"Who, or what, are you?" he heard himself ask.

"That's a difficult question. I have so many names. I myself sometimes forget," she joked. "However, I was originally known as the First."

"The First? The First what?" a recovered Rack inquired.

"In time, gentlemen, in time," her melodious laughter again filled Seth's ears. "But for our purposes, you may call me Jennifer. And as for why I want the kid; let's just say I owe the slayer."

***what do you think? Well, part two of Revelations will be up sometime tomorrow. I just have to edit it. Fair warning, it will be kind of a sad piece but some questions as to who Faith is will be revealed. (some, not all) Now could you be so kind as to tell me what you think***