2002

Sunnydale

"What's his trauma?" Faith asked over her glass of orange juice, and tilting her chin in Spike's direction. It was morning and she had been surprised to find herself in Buffy's house. Sometimes she still expected to wake up in a cell on a hard cot. But this morning she'd opened her eyes to sunshine and a soft chenille blanket.

"Angel's coming." Dawn replied. "Buffy told him last night and he's been grumpy all morning."

"Where is B, anyway?"

Dawn shrugged, "She said she had to make a grocery run, then stop off to see Willow at her parents'."

"They're all coming today, aren't they?" Faith asked softly, staring into her juice.

"Yeah, I think so." Dawn replied sympathetically, "But don't worry, Faith. I can tell you're different now. They will, too."

"I guess. I mean, maybe Willow will."

"Willow's very understanding." Dawn agreed supportively.

"But Xander's another story."

"Why?"

Faith smiled sadly at the teenager, "You're too young to know."

Dawn rolled her eyes, "Fine. I have to go to Janice's to work on a project for History. Tell Buffy I'll be home by three."

Faith nodded and finished her juice as Dawn bounded out of the kitchen. Moments later, the back door opened and Buffy came in carrying two full grocery bags. She waved at Faith with her free hand and took the bags to the table setting it down. Faith leaned against the counter and watched as Buffy started to unload enough food to feed an army. She had to admit, the blond slayer looked really good. She had gained weight (duh, pregnant) and she looked less anorexic than the last time Faith had been in Sunnydale. And she seemed almost content.

"What are you staring at?" Buffy asked casually without turning around to face Faith.

"You're doing pretty good, huh?"

"Yeah." Buffy said with a half-smile, "Things are...better. I keep thinking that, you know, it's too good to last for too long."

"I know the feeling." Faith agreed, "So. Spike's in a peachy mood."

Buffy snorted and shook her head, "He says he's leaving the state until Angel goes back to LA."

"What's up with that? I thought Angel was his sire or something."

"He is. But, they never really got along, I guess. I don't know the details why."

"Hm."

Spike laughed from the living room, "I can hear you both talking, you know. I have excellent *vampire* hearing."

"Well then, why do you have a problem with Angel?" Faith demanded, standing in the doorway.

"He's a bloody idiot." Spike replied, "Good enough reason for you?"

"It'll do. For now." Faith shot back with a shrug.

Just then, there was a knock at the door. Spike raised an eyebrow at Faith, "You mind getting that? Sunlight and all. You know how it is."

Faith rolled her eyes and went to get the door.

"And who the Hell are you?" Hank Summers demanded from the other side.

2003

Los Angeles

It was past noon when the inhabitants of the Hyperion rose from their beds. After the girls' night out at Carita's and the men's adventure with the slime demon, bedtime had been after 5 am.

"I need coffee." Dawn groaned, leaning her forehead against the countertop, "The kind not made by Cordelia if at all possible."

"Hey!" Cordelia protested, "I make excellent coffee."

"Just humor her." Angel said jokingly, "Or else she'll just drive you crazy till you give in."

"Shut up, you...you...vampire."

Angel chuckled, "Hey, I got a call from Giles the other day." He set a mug of coffee in front of Dawn, "He wants to know if any of us are interested in flying over to London for Christmas."

"You don't celebrate Christmas." Faith reminded him.

"I know. Vampires don't, usually. But, Connor deserves a Christmas." Angel smiled at the baby, who was currently half-asleep in Gunn's lap, "Plus, it's an excuse for everyone to see eachother. And Buffy will have an actual excuse not to see her father at Christmas. It'll work out for everyone."

"I'd love to see England again." Wesley chimed in, "It's been too long."

"Yeah. He needs to get his fill of the mother country before he goes through scone withdrawal." Faith deadpanned. Wesley pinched her playfully in the side and she reciprocated with a kiss on the lips, "Watch it, Watcher."

"You guys are so disgustingly cute it makes me want to hurl." Dawn muttered.

2002

Sunnydale

"I'm Glinda the good witch." Faith retorted, "Who the fuck are you?"

Spike chuckled, "Oh, I like her."

Buffy poked her head out of the kitchen, "What's going on?...Dad?"

Hank pushed past Faith and into the living room, "Buffy."

"Dad, what're you doing here?" She crossed her arms self-consciously, hiding the slight bulge in her abdomen.

"I requested some information from my accountant on the financial situation youa nd your sister are in. Little did I know that your debts would be so high."

"You came to talk about my bills?"

"No. I came to make sure Dawn is being taken care of properly." Hank said, "Do you realize that your money situation has taken a nosedive in the past two years?"

"I--"

"How could you allow things to get so out of control?" Hank demanded, "I thought oyu had more responsibility."

Faith and Spike looked on silently as Hank tore into his daughter, mindless that there were other people in the room. Faith wondered if it would be considered wrong of her to break both his legs. Spike was just still and silent. He waited for the man wo stood yelling at his fiancee to say something that could constitute the breaking of his neck, and crossed his arms.

"Dad, things have just been tough lately. I was trying to get the bills paid." Buffy said desperately, "Why don't you sit down, I'll get you something to drink and we can talk about a solution--"

"I want Dawn to come live with me."

"Wha...What?" Buffy sank down into the armchair by the door, "Why?"

"You obviously can't take care of her." Hank continued, "And by the looks of it the company you keep can't be a good influence."

Faith's jaw dropped, then snapped back up. Well...he was kind of right. But how dare he!

"Dad, please. Can't we just talk--"

"I am so disappointed in you, Buffy."

Spike had had enough, in a flash he was up and in the man's face, "Enough." He snarled, "You've said enough, now get out."

"Who are you to kick me out of my own daughter's house?"

"I'm her fiancee, and I refuse to sit here and let you treat her like it's her fault that you haven't raised a finger to help her or Dawn in the past tow years."

"You're FIANCEE?" Hank said incredulously, glaring at Buffy from where he stood, "Please tell me this is a joke."

"It's not a joke, Mr. Summers." Spike said, the last two words dripping with acid and sarcasm, "Before you stormed in here, did you even stop to think that the fact that Buffy is completely broke is YOUR FAULT?"

"Excuse me?"

"You didn't even bother to come to your own wife's funeral."

"Ex-wife."

"It doesn't. Matter. Your children needed you and where were you?"

"I was on a business trip to Spain. I was unable to--"

"But you couldn't have called? And what about money? You have plenty of it. You couldn't have sent enough to pay off the bills? What kind of father are you?"

Buffy grabbed Spike's hand, "Spike, that's enough." She whispered, tugging him back gently, "Dad, Dawn is staying here. If you want, you can help us in other ways. But I can't let her leave Sunnydale."

"And why not?"

Buffy was quiet. She couldn't tell her father about the fact that Dawn wouldn't be safe without Buffy to protect her. She was still the key, and she was still in danger. But she could tell him the truth, "I need her to stay. I'd be lost without her here."

"Are you really getting married?" Hank asked after a long pause.

"Yes. In less than a month." Buffy replied.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Would you have cared?"

"Of course."

Faith shifted uncomfortably in the corner, and Buffy could tell that the other Slayer was just dying to say something.

"Faith?"

"Well...it's just...Hello? Did you just jinx the hell out of this while we were in the kitchen a few minutes ago? You are Murphy's Law in action, B."

"Who is she?" Hank demanded again.

"The truth?" Buffy asked.

"Yes, please."

"I'm an ex-convict. I just got released on parole for murdering a man."

Hank glared at Faith, "I don't like being lied to."

"Whatever."

"Dad, can you just...go? We can talk abut this tomorrow. I'm just really tired and I need a day to just think. If it bothers you so much that you don't think I'm taking care of Dawn, you should talk to her. Just...not tonight."

Hank regarded her for a moment, then nodded, "I guess I can wait. I'll be here by noon tomorrow. I intend to discuss this...wedding. I'm staying at the Hilton if you need me."

And after Hank left, Spike let out a growl that made both Faith and Buffy jump, "Bloody bastard. He comes here to yell at YOU for your money problems that are HIS bloody fault while he's staying all comfy at the soddin' Hilton! I should just--"

"Spike!" Buffy cut him off, "Spike, calm down. I can handle my father. But...thanks for, you know. Sticking up for me. It was sweet."

Spike quieted and took a deep breath, "I just didn't like how he was...blaming you."

"I for one, whould have kicked his ass." Faith spoke up, "But um...I'm trying to cut back on the violence."

"Thanks, both of you." Buffy said with a slight giggle, "I'm gonna go finish making dinner before everyone gets here."

As she disappeared into the kitchen, Faith turned to Spike, "What happens when her father finds out about the baby."

Spike shrugged, "Don't know. I reckon it's a good thing I'm already dead, don't you?"

Author's Note—This fic is moving Soooooo slowly, I know. Next chapter will have the rest of the day, with the Scoobies and Giles reacting to Faith, and will have more set in 2003. Then, I hope to move on to the day the Angel Investigations crew arrives by Chapter 13. Then things should scoot along pretty quickly. I apologize for the tediousness.