"Well hi to you too Wes. Is Angel around?" She still wouldn't raise her eyes to meet with his, her cheeks were even beginning to redden.
Fred had slipped out of the room, leaving the two alone. She figured it would be better for Angel to know Faith was here if what Cordelia told her was true about the girl.
"Why don't you tell me what you're doing here first?" His voice, now took on an irritated tone.
Defiance pushed any thoughts of shyness out of her mind as she lifted her eyes to meet with his. "I think I liked your first greeting better." With that, she leaned down and picked up her duffel bag. Standing back up, she gave him a hint of that smile she was so feared for and left. Slamming the door behind her as she left.
----- ----- -----
Fred knocked gently on the door. "Uhm.. Angel?"
"Yeah?" He asked, swinging the door open.
Fred shuffled from foot to foot, "Faith is downstairs."
Angel closed his eyes and nodded, he knew what was about to come.
"Faith is what?" Cordelia asked.
"Uhm, she's downstairs with Charles and Wesley." Fred hurried down the hallway and to the stairs before any more of the conversation took place in front of her. Cordelia could be very scary when she was angry.
"Faith is here?" She nearly shrieked, her arms wrapped possessively around the baby, pulling him closer to her body.
"I didn't think she would be out this soon... " Angel began, turning to face her.
"What do you mean you didn't think she would be out this soon? You've been keeping tabs on her? On her of all people?" The baby was beginning to grow restless, hunger lead to crankiness and finally the screams commenced.
"Cordy, don't overreact."
"Don't overreact? Okay, let me think about this logically. Hmm, she knocked me out, tortured Wesley and almost killed you." She walked past him quickly and made her way to the stairs, the baby crying in her arms as she stomped down the stairs. Glaring at Faith, she made her way to the kitchen. As she opened the fridge, she looked down to the baby, softening. "Shh, shh.. it's okay. Is Connor hungry? Num nums?" She pulled a bottle out of the fridge and walked over to the microwave.
"Daddy's gonna get yelled at. Oh yes he is."
----- ----- -----
Faith's nose wrinkled as she saw Cordelia walk past, Queen C with an attitude. Some things never change. What surprised her was the baby in her arms and Angel running down after her. Oddly enough, they resembled an old married couple.
He smiled to Faith, walking over to her. "Faith, I'd love to talk, but I'll be right back."
She nodded, still standing outside of Wesley's door. Fred, who grabbed Gunn's arm was pulling him upstairs. "Come on, everyone is angry."
"More reason to watch." He was being stubborn, arms crossing as he watched Faith.
"Charles." Already he felt defeated, his boys would call him whipped if they could see him now, taking orders from a petite country gal.
----- ----- -----
Wesley paced back and forth. He kissed, he really kissed her. She was probably disgusted with his actions. .. yet she didn't pull back, if anything she fully welcomed it. He groaned, pulling his glasses off. "I really am pathetic." He walked over to the door and opened it to find Faith's backside greeting him. And what a nice backside it was. He mentally smacked his hand for continuing to stare.
She didn't move. If he wanted her to move, he was going to have to ask nicely!
"Faith?" His voice, barely above a whisper, sounded his insecurities about her being present.
"What?" She crossed her arms, folding them against her chest. After all, she had to at least look like she was the same old Faith.
"Why were you released so early?"
"Would you believe me if I said good behavior?"
He chuckled, "Hardly."
Her arms fell to her sides as she twirled around to look at him. All the emotions she was so afraid to express were on the tip of her tongue, ready to lash out at him. Instead, she choose the easiest way out, act defensive and not hurt, "Fuck you." The look in her eyes said otherwise.
"No Faith, wait. What I meant to say is, why would they let an animal like you loose, to prey on innocent people?" He sneered, actually sneered. 'I hope those words cut as deeply as the glass games on the rooftop.' He stopped sneering when he saw her face.. falter. Her lower lip was trembling and tears, he could see actual tears brimming her eyes. No.. that was not supposed to happen! She was supposed to threaten him. He looked down, ashamed of himself. "Faith.. I.."
----- ----- -----
"Damn it Cordelia, she needs someone to give her a chance. She has nowhere else to go."
Cordelia glared at him as she fed Connor. The baby drank hungrily, making noises as each new gulp was taken. She looked down to the child in her arms and smiled. She knew he was right and sighed in defeat, "Well don't expect me to be buddy buddy with her."
Angel smiled, she could be such a push-over. He moved in for the kill, sliding his arms around her waist, pulling his family closer together. She in turn, rolled her eyes. Angel leaned down, kissing the child's forehead gently. "I gotta go talk to her."
"Still should have told me."
"I still should have told you. I know."
As Angel left for the lobby, Cordelia stayed in the kitchen feeding the child in her arms. The child she had grown to love so much after only a few short months.
----- ----- -----
Angel walked in to find Faith sitting on the sofa, face buried in her hands. His brows raised as he looked over to Wesley who was stammering. "Faith?"
She looked up at the sound of Angel's voice. Embarrassed, she wiped at her eyes, rubbing them till they were red.
"Everything alright out here?"
Wesley was dumbfounded, he wanted to apologize but nothing came out.
"Fine." Faith stood up, walking towards Wesley, who immediately tensed. She stopped in front of him and picked up her duffel bag. "I need to clean up." She became visibly shakey the closer to Wesley she got.
Angel shot a glare over to Wesley, then looked back down to Faith. He was amazed at how much she had changed, she looked softer now. "You have the whole third floor to yourself." He smiled, as if that would make it all better.
"Thanks. So uh.. Buff's alive again? That's us slayers, we just keep on ticking." She gave a soft chuckle, which had no real heart behind in.
In the meantime, Wesley still stammered out in the main lobby. 'That was awful. I feel like a monster.' He sighed softly to himself. She had done her time and was out on good behaviour, of course she was.
Cordelia walked into the lobby, baby and bottle in tow. She watched as Wesley pieced things together for himself before disappearing into his office. "Wesley's a nut, oh yes he is! Yes he is." She made faces down at the baby who was trying to smile behind the bottle.
----- ----- -----
Faith sat down on the bed, it was a little dusty.. but it would do for now. She looked around the room, it was drab. She hadn't expected a welcome wagon, maybe something a little better. But then, why would she receive anything other than the cold shoulder from these people? If not worse..
"You're out."
Faith nodded as she looked up to Angel. Yeah, awkward silence. "So.. "
"Are you alright? It's the question du jour around here."
"I'm fine." At this point Angel knew everything was not fine, because when a female tells you that after some type of situation.. she really is not fine, but wants to be left alone. "Angel?"
"Yeah?"
"They don't want me here, I can go."
"Are you kidding? Of course they want you here."
"I can tell you're lying."
"Just give them time to adjust, that's all I'm asking for. I'll introduce you to Fred and Gunn. Lorne too. How's your singing voice?" Angel asked, his dimples making their first appearance of the evening as he smirked.
"My singing voice?" She asked, perplexed.
"Yep, singing voice."
----- ----- -----
The lobby seemed a good place as any to have a bit of kareoke. Fred, Gunn and Wesley sat on a circular sofa watching Faith as Angel stood behind Lorne, waiting for the verdict to be passed down. Cordelia sat on the bottom two steps, keeping an ear open for the baby as she waited for Faith's humiliation to begin.
"You want me to sing? Nuh uh. This is crazy. Crazy." Everyone remained quiet as they waited for her to begin. "No. No. I don't even.. "
Lorne was beginning to grow tired of this, "Look Sugar Baby, I can't read you unless you sing and these guys really want me to read you. So sing, for them."
She resigned herself to the fact that it wasn't going to be any easier on her if she passed this up, so she began.
"I took my love, I took it down
Climbed a mountain and I turned around
I saw my reflection in the snow covered hills
The landslide brought me down."
She stopped, but Lorne waved his hand, bringing her further along. The funny thing about it was, she didn't suck as much as they thought. In all reality, her voice had a raspy sweetness to it.
"Oh, mirror in the sky
What is love
Can the child within my heart rise above
Can I sail through the changing ocean tides
Can I handle the seasons of my life"
Wesley held his breath as he watched her, she was absolutely stunning. But it wasn't her voice, it was her demeanor that caught his attention. Fred smiled, it was a nice choice of song. Gunn waited in silence. Lorne smiled, this songbird wasn't giving off any negative vibes of any kind.
"Okay Tweety, that's enough. No problems here, none that should be voiced at the moment. You and me are going to have to talk later." He winked at her.
"So, he can read me.. by singing? That sucks, what if the person can't sing?"
Angel crossed his arms as everyone's eyes fell on him. Faith laughed, actually laughed for the first time in a very long time.
"Ugh, he sings the worst songs!" Cordelia said as she walked over to him, placing her hand on his shoulder.
"I do not."
Gunn coughed, "Mandy."
"Ramblin Man." Cordelia smirked.
"Toora Loora."
"Aww Fred, not you too. You guys are killing me." Angel shook his head in mock disappointment, he couldn't help it if he had a horrible singing voice. He certainly did like to sing though.
"Wait a minute, so you've all sang?" Faith asked as she looked from face to face, receiving confirmation from each until she reached Wesley, whom took that moment to give more of a look of apology then an answer.
Cordelia placed her hand on her face, her thumb resting against her cheek as her fingers went to her forehead. "Uhm guys.. I'm having a vision."
Angel turned, wrapped his arms around her body possessively. Faith didn't look too confused, as Angel had explained about the visions somewhat in between visits.
"What do you see?" His fingertips, soft and feathery against her face as he pushed her hair back.
"Tall guy, slimy. Really slimy. Sonoma Drive."
Wesley went over to the cabinet holding all the weapons. Faith was torn between watching Angel and Cordelia's interactions and Wesley.. being so masculine. Gunn followed after Wesley, taking a very shiny axe down. Wesley decided to go with the crossbow. Faith would have done the same, knowing that gave her a little bit of satisfaction. Maybe her former watcher did rub off on her somewhat. It was rather satisfying to watch him act so manly, unlike the bookish geek she once knew.
----- ----- -----
Cordelia, Faith and Lorne had stayed behind. While Lorne tended to his favorite job, which was babysitting, Cordelia took the chance to lay down some ground rules with Faith.
"So, your out of prison."
"Yep." she said as she handed Cordelia a glass of water.
"Well just so you know, we're not going to put up with a repeat performance."
Faith only nodded, the counselor in prison had told her if she had nothing nice she could say or do, just smile and nod. In all reality, there were two Faith's pulling at her. She hated to say she had a good and an evil Faith, but she did. The evil Faith was telling her to punch the bitch in her face, while the good Faith was telling her to count to ten, no need for all the aggression.
----- ----- -----
An hour later, Wesley and Fred walked in the door. Angel and Gunn followed behind them at a distance. Drenched in slime.
"I swear to God, he was wearing all leather!" The two girls who remained behind were laughing so hard, tears came to their eyes. Fred and Gunn didn't understand why this was truly a unique sight to see, but Wesley and Angel did. Which left them to wonder which of the two they were talking about.
"Yuck, that stuffs disgusting." Faith said as she stood, watching the slime drip from Gunn's chin and fall to the floor.
Angel looked annoyed. He ran his hand through his hair, pulling back a handful of slime. Yep, spend a little time doing your hair when you wake up and look what happens?
"How'd everything go? Is everyone okay?" Cordelia asked, she too now standing.